Dream Team Canine Coaching & Consulting

Puppy Training Tip: What is the single most important thing to teach/focus on with your young puppy?! Having fun together 🐾💜 Building a bond of trust, joy, mutual respect, and companionship comes first and foremost. Get to know one another. Build a partnership. Take time to understand how your pup views the world. Laugh a lot. Love even more. Puppy Train & Play 🐾💜

Announcing a brand new puppy program, "Puppy & Parent Life Skills". This five-week course is designed as a continuation upon graduation from Puppy Train & Play, or for puppies ready to join a group class environment. We will focus on learning the key skills that set up for success - for the dog AND for the human; especially in preparation for Adolescence. Course includes: Self control games Stay with duration, distance, and distraction Counter-surfing prevention Leave it & Drop it Really Reliable Recall Loose Leash Walking & Intro to Heel Work Energy/arousal management Door manners Calm greetings with humans and dogs For details and bookings, please visit www.DreamTeamCanineCoaching.com/group

I recently experienced a situation in which I was so deeply disappointed. I have been reflecting a lot over the past few weeks. Where is the dog industry headed? Do I stand alone in my perception of my own dogs, my clients, and the impact I wish to have upon anyone who meets me. Do I stand alone in my approach to value dogs as family members with thoughts, emotions, memories, likes/dislikes; to never use compliance, fear, force, compulsion, or intimidation in my relationship and coexistence with these beautiful companions - these companions who can see me in ways that no one else ever has, who wake up every day happy to see me, who wait longingly for my return, and whose loyalty will forever be unmatched. To approach the dogs I work with, with an attitude of respect for them as individuals, and to treat your family member as I would want my own to be treated. Are my values for humane, ethical, force-free, and fear-free interactions between dogs and humans too much to ask for? Is it too much to expect? To expect from professionals, certified professionals, family members, and friends? You see, it is easy to be kind. It is intuitive to be kind. It takes extra energy to be negative in a relationship. Being unhappy and instigating conflict is exhausting. Why do so many humans choose to add aggression and violence in their words, actions, and relationships with their dogs? It takes extra energy to add aggression. You don’t need to be professionally certified to know how to be kind. Shepie is my heart dog. He changed my life. He is the reason I am alive. There are no words for the gratitude and respect I feel for Shepie. He is the dog who taught me everything I know. He is my reason. Shepie taught me an important lesson. I talked about this with a dear friend and it really hit home. When you approach a dog, it isn’t about what you “want to fix” or “want to correct”. It’s about the “who” and the “why”. When you start asking “WHY” is my dog

🧘‍♀️Should you teach your dog to Take a Deep Breath? Deep Breathing functions very similarly in dogs as in humans. It is a biological tool that helps us to self-regulate, to relax, and to remain calm. Can you remember the last time you ran away from a hornet or a spider? Your heart rate was up, you were sweating, screaming, constantly checking to see if it came back your way, dodging pretend shadows that could potentially be another hornet, taking a moment to catch your breath. Someone is trying to carry on a regular conversation with you. "What? Sorry, I missed what you said." Now imagine someone asking you a math problem in that moment. Did you even hear them? Of course not! You were busy fleeing for your life! (or is that just me... 🫣🤣) Your dog experiences a similar struggle when they encounter a triggering stimulus that challenges their coping abilities. Their response is both emotional and physiological. If your dog is unhappy, for whatever reason, your first step is to create distance between your dog and the triggering stimulus. Once you are at a safe distance, you can help your dog to relax by asking them to Take a Deep Breath. It is hard to enjoy the environment if you are on guard, on watch, looking for the next potential threat, or really haven’t shaken off what just happened. Did you know that dogs must close their mouth in order to smell or breathe through their nose? If your dog is panting, has an elevated heart rate or breath rate, is anxious, afraid, nervous, upset, etc., then teaching them to track an odour stream that wafts directly to their nostrils will require them to close their mouth, flare their nostrils (the folds/flaps on the sides of their nose that move up and out when they take a deep breath), and ultimately, self-regulate! Deep Breathing can: 🐾Decrease hypervigilance 🐾Decrease panting 🐾Lower heart rate and breath rate 🐾Aid the dog in reaching a state where they are able to think, learn, and respond

Watch the first 45 seconds. Read ⬇️, then watch the rest! Routine teeth brushing time 🦷 I do this with cooperative care using a chin rest, and the communication cue “Teeth” to let him know I’m about to lift his lips and touch his teeth. Cooperative care empowers Rogue to feel like he has a choice in the care routine, and the communication cue “Teeth” eases anxiety by telling him what to expect. The rules of Cooperative Care: When Rogue’s chin is in the chin rest, he is consenting to care. When his chin is not in the chin rest, he is no longer giving me his consent. Care stops and only starts again when he places in chin back in the chin rest. You can see in this clip that he offered and withdrew consent quite a bit! Patience. Observation. I am quick to stop when he withdraws consent. He seems willing, but he is conflicted. Teeth brushing is normally a breeze with Rogue. But knowing the former, is what causes human frustration. “I know you can do this. Stop being difficult.” Listen to the dog in front of you. The dog in front of me says he isn’t so sure about this. It’s important for his mental health, for his trust in me and in others, that I listen. So. Why the aversion tonight? I changed toothpaste brands and Rogue finds the taste and odour offensive. In later clips, he licks it up while sneezing and furrowing his brow at the smell. I can’t smell it. But I’m not a dog. 5% of my brain is dedicated to smell but nearly a third of his is!! He is way better at smelling than I am. When the brush on my finger gets close to his teeth, ears flatten and you can see his lips tighten to his teeth and his nose twinges. He moves his head higher in avoidance. You can see some tongue flicks as well - not uncommon when you’re brushing teeth (we swish our tongue around too), but in this context it’s likely a stress signal. I know this new toothpaste isn’t going to hurt or harm him. But he doesn’t. And he trusts me. It’s my duty to t

Cooperative Care ✂️🪮 Care and grooming routines are not something we do TO our dogs. They are something we do WITH them. That is the essence of Cooperative Care. We empower the dog with the agency of choice and consent, we ask for their cooperative in the care provided, and we genuinely listen to their answer. Dogs, like humans, deserve the respect of being able to consent to what happens to their bodies. I am brushing knots out of Shepie’s fur and it’s uncomfortable. I listen to when he offers consent, and when he withdraws it. Because I do that, he trusts that I won’t betray him by restraining him or carrying on anyways. And with that trust, we are able to accomplish so so so much more. My boys get brushed once a week. Imagine instigating conflict in your relationship every week. Eventually, your dog will either - (1) go into learned helplessness where they do not fight back, but it’s NOT because they’re “okay” and happy about what you’re doing … it’s because they are helpless and know they have no choice, or (2) escalate in their communication of discomfort (growl, air snap, bite). Both of these are avoidable and preventable with fear free cooperative care. Shepie loves a chin rest. And I happen to think it’s pretty cute too. #fearfreepets #cooperativecare #fearfreegrooming #fearfreetraining #trainwithcompassion #positivedogtraining

Oh Deer!? No problem! In this video, Shepie offers some absolutely beautiful behaviour and neutrality around the nearby deer (less than 80 feet from us). We hung out playing frisbee for 9-10 minutes while the deer moved around on the trail, eating the foliage. Shepie air-scented, maintained a visual, listened for the deer, and made consistent choices to come back to me when in doubt about what to do… without even needing to be called by me. He didn’t need my help at all in order to leave that deer alone. He made his own brilliant choices to play with me and let the deer continue in peace. Would it surprise you to know that early in his life, Shepie would lose his marbles with fireworks at the end of the leash when he saw deer? That his chase and prey drive are fairly strong? I often hear folks who use a shock collar tell me that they vibrate/beep/shock to remind their dog to come back, when off-leash, and/or for “safety reasons”. I don’t need startle, fear, force, or pain, or the threat of punishment, to achieve what happened in this video. Ultimately, these are life decisions from my dog. Why am I, his human partner, worth choosing to be around in comparison to the natural desire to chase prey (or herd)? Why does my dog maintain awareness of ME and choose ME consistently without being prompted? What have I done to prepare him for this situation? Because I might scare him if he makes the wrong choice? Nope. Because I was nagging him with verbal cues, yelling, or using high-value food as a bribe? (yes, thats a thing too and it doesn’t necessarily lead to a confident and independent thinker). Nope! Because our reward history together is so so so much greater than anything else, that it is very clear in his mind that choosing me, WORKS! Its fun! Its engaging. Choosing me never fails him. I am never mad for a slow recall, I don’t scold him or punish when he lingers too long smelling the deer, I don’t start to freak out and scream, I don’t squash his

6am enrichment! If you are going to feed that food anyways, why not make it count? Meet their nutritional needs and mental stimulation needs in one meal. This is my guys’ favourite way to start the day ☀️ #canineenrichment #enrichment #mentalstimulationfordogs #happydogs #boredombusters #braingamesfordogs #startthedayright #riseandshine #dogtrainer #dogtrainerlife

A sunset loose leash seminar on Fredericton’s northside green? Gorgeous! What a beautiful backdrop for a session about making walks more enjoyable for both ends of the leash. Thanks to everyone who came out! #looseleash #trainingwithdistractions #positivedogtraining #rplus #forcefreetraining #positivereinforcement

Shepie 😭 7.5 years old and still full of surprises! We have been working on this trick since he was 6 months old… I’m not even kidding lol. Jumping that close to my body, letting me grab him so suddenly, holding him up in the air - all those things were heck no’s until… 🪄 magic happened today! Building confidence and trust never stops. Shepie, you sure know how to make me feel special! 💜🖤 #myheart #australianshepherd #trickdog #confidenceiskey #lovethejourney #neveradullmoment

Have I told you yet that I LOVE Cooperative Care? Shepie suffered a large and deep wound, as though impaled by a stick (maybe rebar), while swimming in the river last night. We have swam at this exact location for the past 3 summers without incident. Unfortunately, accidents happen. I performed pet first aid when I discovered the wound, which kept it clean, dry, and hopefully reduced risk of infection or complication. I monitored his breath rate and heart rate to assess his pain, and withheld food, knowing he might need anesthetic at the vet for any procedure or stitches. Unfortunately, the on call vet was unavailable and our next option was also busy with higher triaged emergencies. This meant I called our awesome team at Douglas Animal Hospital at 8am sharp… and they had Shepie all stitched up & home by 9:30am! We have a veterinary crisis on our hands… all of our vet clinics are overwhelmed. It is important to be compassionate. Despite adding something unexpected to their day, the staff at Douglas greeted us with a smile. They rock! Luckily, I am certified in Pet First Aid, knew what to do, and had my loaded first aid kit and tools ready for moments like this. I truly do think all pet parents would benefit from knowing basic pet first aid, pet safety, and having a pet first aid kit at home! Especially during this time, when getting in to see a vet may take a bit longer than it used to pre-pandemic. We as pet parents can take more initiative to help our care teams - and our pets. In this video, I am reintroducing the Elizabethan Collar to Shepie. He will be required to wear it when I cannot supervise him. One of Shepie’s cooperative care positions is a chin rest on his care blanket placed on my lap. This is where we have built a lot of confidence, safety, and he knows he can “opt out” of the care and that he will be respected. Remember - “care” is something that we do WITH our dog and we need their consent. Can you imagine a Doctor not having you

You don’t need a leash to walk your dog. Listen with sound!

Tips and tricks for a Fear Free veterinary visit! #fearfreepets #fearfreecertifiedprofessional #cooperativecare #positivedogtraining #dogtrainer #dogtrainingtips #dogtrainingadvice @fearfreepets

Even an Arctic freeze 🥶 can’t stop us from meeting our daily physical and mental needs! At these temperatures, humans can get frostbite within 5 minutes. This process is actually faster for dogs 😳 A dogs nose, eyes, ears, and stomach are relatively unprotected from the elements. Plus, dogs sweat through their paws; moist paws on -40oC ice? Ouch! While coat type, coat colour, health, age, size, and weight do play a role in an individual dog’s tolerance to cold, this arctic freeze wind chill presents a significant safety risk to your dog. Stay safe and active inside! If outside today, please leash your dog - being off lead and getting lost or going missing in todays weather is not worth the risk. Mindful movements and cavaletti exercises are excellent for mental stimulation, physical exercise, building confidence, body awareness, and so much more! 🥰 You can do this with broom handles, hockey sticks, chairs and some creative thinking! #dogtrainerlife #canineenrichment #fitpaws #cavaletti #dogtraining #stayhome #staysafe #dogsarefamilytoo

🤸‍♀️ Trick Training classes starting January 31st! 🎪 Trick training builds confidence, strengthens your relationship, and creates a bond of joy as you and your dog embark on a fun, dynamic, and engaging journey together. Trick training takes two - both you and your dog - and you will both grow as a team throughout this experience. Your Instructors: 🤸🏼‍♀️Me! Zoë Hunter, your Certified Trick Dog Instructor, awarded CTDI Trainer of the Year 2022 🐕‍🦺 Shepie, Trick Dog Grand Champion, Expert Trick Dog-Masters 🐶 Rogue, Trick Dog Champion Details: Date: 4 week program starting January 31st Time: 6pm Cost: $120 +HST payable by etransfer only Class size: 4 dogs per class This class is open to dogs and handlers of all skill level. No past experience in trick training is necessary to join. Participating dogs must be comfortable working in close proximity to other dogs. To register, visit www.packmentality.biz/book-online #tricktraining #trickdog #ctdi #domorewithyourdog

Christmas Tree in a Box 🎄 by Puzzle Dog! 🧩 This enrichment game was festive, fun, and just what my boys needed! All you need is a box, toilet paper rolls, glue/tape, and some fabric squares! Follow the DIY instructions here: https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=613649630563036&id=100057540125421&mibextid=qC1gEa Puzzle Dog, we love you and all you do for advocating and teaching humans about canine enrichment! Please follow her page for some amazing ideas, products, and services! Mentally stimulating activities are crucial for your dog’s mental well-being and ability to be a calm, confident, and content canine with a wonderful relationship with their humans. #canineenrichment #mentalstimulationfordogs #happydoghappylife #diy #braingamesfordogs #nosework

Yesterday’s Recall Refresh seminar was awesome! Recall is a choice - why choose YOU over the other super duper awesome cool things of the world. Yesterday these teams worked to build that bond. Well done everyone! Thank you to all who came out and participated 💛 #recalltraining #recall #dogtrainer #dogtraining #buildyourbond #relationshipcenteredtraining

Shepie had a “victory visit” today! A victory visit is a veterinary visit focused on creating positive associations in the veterinary environment and building a memory bank of fun rather than fear, anxiety, and stress. It introduces them to the care environment in a way that involves no pressure and a fear free approach. Rogue had his annual vet exam today, so it was a good time to bring Shepie in as well and have fun, rather than be poked and prodded like he has been lately. Here I am engaging him in a “find it” game to get him actively exploring the room and sniffing. Sniffing is a stress reliever so this is a great activity to do when you enter the exam room! I also ask him for his favourite “cool dude show off” tricks to see if I can elevate his mood. He happily performs with his Shepie pizzazz. #fearfreepets #prepareforthevet #happydoghappylife #beproactive #emotionalwellbeingmatters

Have you heard of the Pack of Joy? Pack Mentality’s virtual trick training club got to attend an exclusive trick training seminar today where we focused on body awareness and coordination skills! I took 63 photos and want to share all of them, but Facebook limits me to 10 photos per post. So, I made a video! I hope you enjoy how brilliant and fun these pups were today! Easily the highlight of my week! Interested in joining the Pack of Joy? Leave me a comment below! #tricktraining #ctdi #trickdog #bodyawareness #buildyourbond #sundayfunday #dogtrainer #beweirdwithyourdog #domorewithyourdog #packofjoy #frederictonnb

A litter of eight 8-week-old Wirehaired Pointing Griffon puppies took over the classroom today for their own socialization and confidence building hour. These pups did ALL of the things, no treats necessary. They were super excited to explore and try new things; I think they were eager to show off their brilliance and how much they have learned already in their short little lives. They LOVED the tunnel and the wobble board the most. By the end of the session, we got some super sweet snugglies in. I also snuck in a nose to tail on each puppy for more socialization to touch and handling. THIS is how you socialize young puppies. THIS is how you set up for success from day 1. Socialization doesn’t start when you bring your new puppy home; it starts with the breeder/rescue as soon as that puppy is born. These puppies embraced everything with all their little hearts. When people imagine what I do for a living, I’m certain this is what they picture. 🐾♥️ #puppies #puppy #puppytraining #puppysocialization #puppyculture #wirehairedgriffon #setupforsuccess