Calmer Canines

25/06/2024

16/05/2024

It's been a while, but I'm finally back to writing my blog! Check out the newest post here: https://www.calmercaninestraining.com/post/patterns-not-routines

16/04/2024

Rattlesnake avoidance training! It's that time of year....this is your last chance to sign up for this innovative snake avoidance course to teach your dog to avoid rattlesnakes whether they are by your side, ahead on a hike, or by themselves on your property.

April 27th-28th from 9am-5pm in Corona 92878

https://baddogsinc.com/shop/rattlesnake-avoidance-training-through-positive-reinforcement/?fbclid=IwAR1YJf2_XHVf-1J4Br0tkTrV85hjU5jhDCjqXQYjg_pqRjmaPG4OdV6EOvI

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25/11/2023

You may have heard whispers of a new canine respiratory virus. It's important to be mindful of where you take your dog and of the dogs you allow them to socialize with, and be able to recognize signs of respiratory disease in your dog and others. Don't allow your dog to share food/water bowls or toys with dogs outside of your household, and avoid large gatherings of dogs (such as dog parks or dog beaches).

If your dog doesn't truly need to attend a large dog day care, I would personally avoid that for now as well (which also keeps the dogs that do need to go safer). You don't need to keep your dog locked up at home, just be cautious and mindful, and contact your vet with any questions.

https://www.cnn.com/2023/11/20/us/mystery-dog-illness-spreading/index.html?fbclid=IwAR1uupAMwjB4G-uN6NEJrSJfXI-cq5JQZGMmHcr9Vlo2zOmwUco3UWcslDI

From New Hampshire to Oregon, researchers are trying to figure out what’s causing an infectious respiratory disease among dogs that has turned deadly in rare cases.

13/03/2023

RECALL ALERT: Omega-V3 soft capsules under various brand names (mostly veterinary hospitals private labels) have been recalled due to potentially elevated levels of Vitamin A. Since Vitamin A is fat soluble, excess amounts can't be excreted by the body, causing toxicity. Some early signs of Vitamin A toxicity include: drowsiness, irritability, abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting. Please check the following link for a full list of affected brands, and call your vet if your dog has eaten any of the affected product, or if you have any other concerns.

Complete details of the Stratford Care USA, Inc recall as reported by the editors of The Dog Food Advisor.

11/02/2023

RECALL ALERT: Elevated levels of Vitamin D in Purina Pro Plan Veterinary EL Elemental (PPVD EL). While Vitamin D is an essential nutrient, Vitamin D toxicity from elevated levels is very serious. 7 Lot codes and 2 UPC codes (8lb and 20lb) are involved. Please click on the link below for more information.

Complete details of the Purina Pro Plan Vet Diet recall as reported by the editors of The Dog Food Advisor.

25/10/2022

Important information for parents of infants: The Safe Sleep for Babies Act has been signed into law.

This outlaws the sale of inclined sleepers, crib bumpers, and other unsafe "sleep" products that have linked with over 200 infant deaths. While infant swings do not appear to be included, it's important to note that babies should never be unattended in a swing, let alone left to sleep unattended in one, due to risk of their head falling forward, closing off their airway. Parents are being urged to discontinue use of these products immediately.

From the article:
" “People should be able to trust that if baby products are for sale, they’re safe. There is no place on store shelves or online listings for infant products that fail to align with expert safe sleep guidelines.” - Oriene Shin of Consumer Reports"

https://www.consumerreports.org/child-safety/safe-sleep-for-babies-act-inclined-sleeper-crib-bumper-ban-a3847072461/?EXTKEY=YCRADVOCACY_TW&fbclid=IwAR2r8DK1uvMI1RdCmvcuTx9v0gPQuY3vo2LXBpE_Ex66-Cz91dlyU_z-E18

President Biden has signed into law the Safe Sleep for Babies Act, which bans the sale of inclined infant sleepers and crib bumper pads. Consumer Reports has linked the sleepers to dozens of deaths.

17/05/2022

It's rattlesnake season, and folks are likely to be running in droves toward "rattlesnake avoidance" or "snake breaking" training courses. Unfortunately, studies are showing that none of these programs have been proven effective, and there is great risk for unintended consequences. You can read more here, from BADDogsInc Family Dog Training & Behavior

https://baddogsinc.com/rattlesnake-training/?fbclid=IwAR3njQPVRG8fvYOpge6VmXKXDlRy5hbOI-FDlCTbxA-W1423VJWlFgDnZTk

Rattlesnake training or "snake breaking" sessions are very popular in the spring and summer, but are they safe and effective?

04/05/2022

Pet Center, Inc., based in Los Angeles, has been warned by the FDA as they are making treats in completely unsanitary conditions. While no treats have been recalled at this point, please do not feed them to your pet as they are a risk to your dog and everyone in your home. For more information, you can read an article with highlights of the conditions here:
https://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/dog-food-recall/fda-warns-pet-center/

The full warning letter from the FDA can be found here:
https://www.fda.gov/inspections-compliance-enforcement-and-criminal-investigations/warning-letters/pet-center-inc-621716-02282022

CGMP/Food for Animals/Prepared, Packed or Held Under Insanitary Conditions/Adulterated

02/05/2022

Suzanne Clothier has many, many "words of wisdom" that she shares with the world, and here are some of them:
"This study confirms what all good breeders have known forever: genes are not destiny. But they sure as heck do matter."

Narrowing down what breed group/type of dog will likely best suit your lifestyle will help you select the right individual dog for your family. Knowing what the "bell curve behaviors" are for your breed while also understanding that there are outliers (and that every dof is an individual with their own personality) is critical to the success of owning and caring for your dog.
https://suzanneclothier.com/breed-personality-study/?fbclid=IwAR2WYOEu4U_Ybz0jeNF_iD1VZmnLw6VdCYNEesLfGO3rCKphcaUT6hsTct8

The original study: https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.abk0639 I’ve now read several of the articles written on this study, and chose this one as...

08/04/2022

While there may still be issues caused by dog food with high levels of legumes (peas, chickpeas, lentils, etc), the data shows you don't need to panic about DCM if you do feed a grain-free dog that contains them. Breed predisposition is still the highest risk.

https://thesciencedog.com/2022/04/06/the-disconnection-between-grain-free-foods-and-dcm/?fbclid=IwAR1a0Vldn75mWOVnF4Cn-Ze1J1q6zLGbv_G-1s0judpCkDq6k3qx-z-kWpM

Almost 4 years ago, in July of 2018, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration released a public alert stating that they had reports of an apparent increase in the national incidence of Dilated Ca…

05/03/2022

These are absolutely fantastic infographics for games and activities for kids and dogs to do together! Great work Trailblazing Tails!

12/11/2021

Our latest YouTube video and blog post have teamed up to cover the same topic: bonding with your new puppy or rescue dog! And, these activities are fun for any dog, not just new ones!

https://youtu.be/ExXTxI0yWMA

https://www.calmercaninestraining.com/post/5-simple-bonding-activities-for-your-new-puppy-or-rescue

Use these games to teach your puppy their name and start to create trust, familiarity , and a strong bond. Play together, offer puzzle toys & chews, and take...

18/09/2021

An excellent post written by fellow Family Paws Parent Educator Andrea Breen of ABCs4Dogs in Canada. Modeling and teaching your child the concept of consent will ALL beings should begin in infancy, and teaching your dog that they can give or deny consent in a non-violent way starts the day you bring them home!

(NOTE: The book Cooperative Care: Seven Steps to Stress-Free Husbandry by Deborah Jones, PhD is an excellent tool for learning how to help your dog through life's necessary unpleasantries such as ear cleaning, nail trims, tooth brushing, and other vet care and grooming actvities.)

Read on for Andrea's post
https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=335185511739043&id=100057427900519

***Update: I've turned this into a Blog post that can also be shared off of FB. Here's the link: https://andreabreen.ca/2021/09/20/some-thoughts-on-sexual-violence-and-childrens-relationships-with-dogs/***

I want to share some thoughts about sexual violence and children's relationships with dogs. It's a long one, so you might want to grab a cuppa.

As a critical developmental psychologist, professor, parent educator, and dog behaviour practitioner, I think A LOT about what kids learn through their relationships with dogs. And it has me very worried--for both our dogs and our children.

This week, people across Canada are reeling from horrific accounts of sexual violence during orientation week at one Ontario University. The terrible truth is that sexual violence is pervasive on our campuses. In 2019, The Student Voices on Sexual Violence Survey showed that 23% of Ontario University students experienced a non-consensual sexual act in the past year. These numbers focus on victimization, but they also suggest a disturbing truth about perpetrators--those who commit sexual violence (most often, but not always men) are not rare monsters. We live in r**e culture, and perpetrators are our neighbours sons, brothers, fathers, and partners.

As a society, we are raising children to be violent. We are raising them to believe that they are entitled to others' bodies, entitled to inflicting violence.

In the last couple of years, I've been delving into research about the links between various forms of violence against humans and violence against animals. This research comes from many different fields--Critical Animal Studies, Disability Studies, Indigenous Studies, and others (e.g., see work by Billy-Ray Belcourt, Sunaura Taylor, Nik Taylor & Heather Fraser). There's also some great non-academic work, like this must-watch TED Talk by Kim Brophey: https://www.ted.com/talks/kim_brophey_the_problem_with_treating_a_dog_like_a_pet

Our relationships with dogs is a confusing mix of love, devotion, domination, and violence. As Australian social work scholar Melissa Laing put it in a recent article on interspecies families, family pets "are kin who reside in a liminal space between subject and object". They are family and they are property.

This is a dangerous mix.

And here's how it too often plays out in kids' relationships with family dogs--We buy adorable puppies to satisfy our children's emotional needs (often with zero thought about what this is like for dogs). We teach children that humans are masters who are to be obeyed, that disobeying is to be disciplined, that resistance in the form of growls, barks, and (when those are ignored) bites is to be punished--even with death (dogs who bite children are euthanized far too often). We show kids that it’s ok to drag the beings they love around on collars and lock them up alone in cages.

All of this is practicing the wrong things. We should be teaching our children how to truly see another being for who they are, to recognize when they are uncomfortable, that it is always ok for someone to say "no". Instead of teaching them to be "masters", we should be teaching children to be humble in their relationships, to learn and grow through gentleness and love.

Every child who lives with a non-human animal should be raised to understand that animal's species-specific body language and they should have a deeply ingrained understanding of consent. For this to happen, kids need adults to consistently model and teach ways of being in relationships with dogs that gentle and respectful. It does no good to tell children to be gentle, and then to turn around and force the dog into submission.

Children learn from their family relationships--including their relationships with the family dog. For the sake of both dogs and kids, we need to do much better at teaching the right lessons.

Below is a list of resources and suggestions for families with dogs.

Thank you for reading,
Andrea Breen

Teaching Dog Body Language:

There are lots of great resources available for teaching kids how to interact with dogs. For teaching dog body language, I recommend the Dog Decoder app, the book Doggie Language, and, for younger children, the Dog Detective colouring pages by https://www.familypaws.com/. I also suggest parents check out the resources at thefamilydog.com/stop-the-77/. Turid Rugaas' book, On Talking Terms with Dogs is a must-read for everyone who has a dog.

Teaching Consent
Understanding dog body language is essential for understanding consent, so the above resources are a good start. The following excerpt is an example of what consent can look like when greeting an unfamiliar dog (taken from one of my articles in Today's Parent magazine https://www.todaysparent.com/family/family-life/is-your-new-dog-nipping-humping-or-playing-rough-with-your-kids/)

The big thing to teach kids is that dogs should always get to choose whether or not they’re touched. Most kids are taught to ask the dog’s owner if they can pet the dog, but it’s important to also ask the dog! Dog’s Trust in the UK has some great handouts to help parents teach their kids dog safety and I like to use their approach. Here are the steps:

Approach calmly to the dog’s side and stop at least an arm’s length away. Humans like to greet face to face, but head on greetings can make dogs nervous.
Ask the dog’s owner if you can pet the dog. If the owner says yes, you can say “hello.” But here’s the trick: Don’t stick the hand out. The “sniff test” that most of us were taught is actually an unsafe way to greet a dog. Dogs’ noses are so powerful they can detect cancer—we don’t need to help them smell us by putting a hand in their face.
Wait for the dog to approach. If she does, great! Dogs prefer to be pet gently on their side or shoulder. For most dogs, being pet on the top of the head is scary. If the dog doesn’t approach, then she’s saying “no thank you” and it’s time to move away calmly.
Be sure the dog can choose to move away at any time. If she does, then let her go on her way.
Your children will need you to support and give them reminders about their interactions with dogs, but it’s worth the effort. You’ll help keep them safe around dogs and might even be giving them tools—like a strong understanding of the importance of seeking consent before touching—that can help them be safer in their future relationships with other humans.

04/09/2021

25/08/2021

16/03/2021

I have seen way too many "uncomfortable moments" (and even bites) happen from kids trying to "boss" around their dog. While it's important to involve your child in the training of the family dog in *age-appropriate* ways, your child should not be *in charge of* the dog's behavior. Remember to be a fair parent to your child and your dog!

Truth.
Let's set our kids and dogs up to be SAFE & HAPPY!
Dogs know that kids aren't just little adults and we put them at risk if we put them in situations where they need to 'be in control'. Parents set the boundaries, kids, and dogs have fun within them.

18/02/2021

My newest blog post about choosing a name for your puppy or newly adopted dog.
https://www.calmercaninestraining.com/post/most-popular-dog-names?fbclid=IwAR3XJNvfzvXpVnRBD83ZeUFzuYRiKrO7QPRCyMcjz-r2s7AoZGJbgTFxeWY

28/01/2021

DOG & CAT FOOD RECALL - DEADLY AFLATOXINS

SportMix and Pro Pac, Nunn, and Splash brands are currently involved. Find full info here (and sign up for free recall alerts!):
https://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/dog-food-recall/recall-expands/

Complete details of the Midwestern Pet Foods aflatoxin recall of January 2021 as reported by the editors of the Dog Food Advisor.

07/01/2021

LIVE Online Group Classes are back!
Learn faster in the safety of your own home.

Our 7 week Building Blocks manners/basic obedience course for all ages is available online for $150. You get 7 hours of live instruction, access to all class recordings and homework notes, membership in a private Facebook group for support, and feedback on 1 homework video per week. In addition to come, sit, down, stay, leave it, and walking nicely on leash, you'll learn life skills to help your pup navigate the outside world with vets, groomers, strangers, and other dogs. Limit 5 dogs.
https://www.calmercaninestraining.com/bookings-checkout/building-blocks-group-class

Saturdays @ 3:30pm starting 1/30

07/01/2021

LIVE Online Group Classes for Treating Frustration, Fear & Reactivity in Dogs

Our 7 week Reactive Anonymous course is now available online for $175. This class is equally helpful for dogs who bark & lunge as is it for dogs who run & hide. You get 7 hours of live instruction, access to all class recordings and homework notes, membership in a private Facebook group for support, and feedback on 2 homework videos per week. You'll learn skills for decreasing stress and increasing focus, making walks go smoothly, and how to teach your dog to safely face their fears and frustrations using BAT and other techniques. Limit 5 dogs.
https://www.calmercaninestraining.com/bookings-checkout/reactive-anonymous-group-class

Saturdays @ 2:00pm starting 1/23

01/01/2021

DOG FOOD RECALL

Sportmix dog and cat food from Midwestern Pet Foods have been recalled due to aflatoxins (toxic mold). Please check out Dog Food Advisor below and/or the FDA's website for more details

https://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/dog-food-recall/sportmix/

Complete details of the Sportmix dog and cat food aflatoxin recall as reported by the editors of the Dog Food Advisor.

27/12/2020

As someone who lost a dog to lymphoma, I only wish this test were available a few years ago. My dog Hollie was a bonafide mutt, but if you have an older dog of any breed or a breed that is at a high risk for cancer (which includes, Golden Retriever, Boxer, Rottweiler, Doberman Pinscher, Beagle, Great Dane, Standard Poodle, Bernese Mountain Dog, Cocker Spaniel, and German Shepherd), I think it would be worthwhile to ask your vet if they can perform this test at your dog's annual wellness checkup.

Texas A&M CVMBS has introduced a simplified oncology test that allows for early diagnosis in dogs.

04/09/2020

RECALL ALERT

Sunshine Mills is recalling multiple brands of dog foods due to high levels of aflatoxin (toxins created by mold). These brands include: Family Pet Meaty Cuts, Paws Happy Life, and Heartland Farms. See link for full information (and you can sign up for free dog food recall alerts).

https://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/dog-food-recall/sunshine-mills/

EDITED TO ADD: Sunshine Mills has also recalled their Chicken & Quail formula of Nature's Menu dog food due to potential contamination with Salmonella bacteria.

https://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/dog-food-recall/natures-menu/

Complete details of the Nature's Menu dog food recall of August 2020 as reported by the editors of the Dog Food Advisor.

25/08/2020

My latest blog post is all about the best collars, harnesses, and leashes to ensure enjoyable walks with your dog.

Image ID: A Jack Russell Terrier is holding a folded leather leash in his mouth as he lies on a doormat in front of a door.

https://www.calmercaninestraining.com/post/kate-s-favorite-things-collars-harnesses-and-leashes

Walking your dog can be an excellent way to bond with your dog, get some exercise, and reinforce training with distractions, but the equipment you use can make or break your dog walk. First, we want to make sure that your dog is safe and secure and cannot get away from you, but we also want to make....

18/08/2020

Join us for the next LIVE Online Group Class starting Sunday 9/6 at 2:00pm. Learn all of the basic cues/commands, polite manners, and how to navigate social situations - for puppies and dogs 8 weeks and older. $150 for 7 weeks of live instruction/coaching plus feedback /coaching on submitted weekly homework videos.

26/07/2020

25/07/2020

We are aware that our website is currently down. We apologize and we are working to fix this. Feel free to call or message us on Facebook with any questions you may have.

UPDATE: We are up and running again, and we are about to rebuild the website in the coming weeks. We'll keep you posted if there are any more interruptions to the site, and you can always reach us here!