Wondrous Tails Dog Training

22/08/2024

How good are you at reading your ? While some of our pups' stress signals are pretty obvious (growling, lifting lip), some can be much more subtle! Some commonly missed signs of stress, anxiety, or discomfort include:
1) Sniffing the ground: Dogs will sniff the ground to self-soothe, avoid eye contact, and otherwise indicate that they are not a threat and don't want any trouble.
2) Lip licking: Frequent licking of their lips or the air can indicate anxiety or discomfort. Often called a "tongue flick," these are rapid lip-licks done in the absence of food.
3) A tense, closed mouth: A dog’s mouth may appear tight or closed when they are feeling stressed or unsure. This can be a sign that a dog is about to bark, snarl, or lunge at a perceived threat.
4) Fast, high wagging tail: While a wagging tail can be a sign of happiness, a rapid wagging can sometimes indicate nervousness or agitation. A wagging tail on a dog displaying any other signs of unease, or in scary situations, often indicates stress.

Other stress signals can include fast, rapid panting, yawning, pacing or weaving, tense ears and eyebrows, "whale eye" and more. Learning when your dog is trying to communicate discomfort is a vital skill for any dog owner.

10/08/2024

Today is ! Today is a wonderful day to show your furry friend just how much they mean to you. Here are some reasons why you should pamper your pup on this special day:

1. **Strengthens Bond**: Spending quality time with your dog and giving them special treats or experiences can deepen the bond between you and your pet.

2. **Shows Appreciation**: Dogs bring so much joy and unconditional love into our lives. Spoiling them is a way to show your gratitude for their companionship.

3. **Enhances Their Well-Being**: Treats and special activities can boost your dog’s happiness and overall well-being. A bit of extra care can make them feel loved and valued.

4. **Provides Mental Stimulation**: New toys or puzzles can stimulate your dog's mind, keeping them engaged and entertained.

5. **Physical Activity**: Activities like a special walk, playtime, or new agility challenges can help keep your dog physically active and healthy.

6. **Reduces Stress**: Extra pampering can help reduce your dog’s stress and anxiety, making them feel more secure and content.

7. **Creates Happy Memories**: Special days like this can create lasting, happy memories for both you and your dog.

8. **Spreads Joy**: Your dog’s happiness will radiate, and that joy can be contagious, making everyone around you smile.

What are you doing today to spoil your best friend? Let us know in the comments!

23/07/2024

❗ DOGS AGAINST PUPPY MILLS❗ It's Day - a day raising awareness about the cruel reality of pet store puppies and the puppy mills that they come from. These large-scale breeding facilities treat the dogs like products. The dogs live in cramped, overcrowded, and filthy conditions without proper veterinary care, food, water and socialization. The puppies are then trucked across the country to be sold in pet stores and online. Pet stores misrepresent where their puppies come from and continue to exploit them for profit. If you’re considering adding a new pet to your family, we encourage you to adopt from a local shelter or rescue, or learn how to identify a responsible breeder to ensure you’re not supporting cruel breeding practices like those found in puppy mills. For more info click here 🧡 https://bit.ly/4cEeZZD

08/06/2024

Happy ! Every day this week we'll be posting a different way to show your dog how much you appreciate them.

Idea #7: We wouldn't be dog trainers if we didn't suggest training! Trick training is a great way to bond with your dog. Teach them something new, fun, and silly.

07/06/2024

Happy ! Every day this week we'll be posting a different way to show your dog how much you appreciate them.

Idea #6: Does your dog have favorite chew, Kong stuffing, or snack? Splurge a little this week and buy it for him. After all, he deserves it ❤️

06/06/2024

Happy ! Every day this week we'll be posting a different way to show your dog how much you appreciate them.

Idea #5: Invite your dog's best friends over for a playdate! If your dog isn't too hot on other dogs, are there certain people she really loves? Whoever your dog's best friends are, invite them over for some doggy fun.

05/06/2024

Happy ! Every day this week we'll be posting a different way to show your dog how much you appreciate them.

Idea #4: What is your dog's absolute favorite thing? Hiking? Swimming? Fetch? Agility? Trips to the beach or dog park? Whatever it is, find the time to let your dog engage in his absolute favorite hobbies.

04/06/2024

Happy ! Every day this week we'll be posting a different way to show your dog how much you appreciate them.

Idea #3: Take your dog somewhere new! New places are very exciting for dogs. It doesn't have to be anywhere far, or fancy. Take a quick trip to a new pet-friendly store, bar, or park. Take a walk in a different part of town. Go on a hike your dog's never been on.

03/06/2024

Happy ! Every day this week we'll be posting a different way to show your dog how much you appreciate them.

Idea #2: Create some DIY puzzle game enrichment for your dog. Roll some treats in an old blanket or towel. Ball kibble up in scrap paper and put in an egg carton. Create a recycling "dig box" for your dog with some old newspapers and cardboard boxes. Cut some holes in a clean soda bottle and fill with kibble. The possibilites are endless and can create hours of fun!

02/06/2024

Happy ! Every day this week we'll be posting a different way to show your dog how much you appreciate them.

Idea #1: Take a nice, long sniffy walk. Let your dog lead the way. She gets to stop and sniff whatever she likes for as long as she likes. Your only job on a sniffy walk is to keep your dog out of dangerous or inappropriate places.

01/06/2024

Join me next weekend for a good cause!

The Furry 5K Fun Run and Walk is on Sunday June 9, 2024. It includes the following events: Furry 5K RUN and Furry 5K WALK.

31/05/2024

Proper socialization is the #1 most important thing you can do for your new puppy. But what does that actually mean? A lot of people assume "socialization" means having your pup meet lots of other dogs and people, but it is so much more than that! Proactive socialization is the process of introducing your pup in a positive, happy, fun way to as many situations, people, places, objects, and sensory experiences as possible. Proper proactive socialization sets your pup up to be a confident, calm, well-adjusted adult dog. It greatly minimizes the risk of anxiety and reactivity in the future.

Want more socialization tips? Check out our blog post! https://www.wondroustails.com/post/puppy-socialization-tips

Comment PUPPY on this post to receive a free PDF of our puppy socialization guide!

09/04/2024

For National Dog Bite Prevention week, we are looking at three of the top reasons why dogs resort to biting. Biting is complex and can have many causes, but these three factors are often huge contributors.

1) Dogs that are punished for displaying warning signs are more likely to skip them in the future. If your dog growls, lifts his lips, do not scold, hit, or punish that behavior. Back off, evaluate the situation, and contact a certified professional to work with your dog.

2) Dog body language can be complex, but it is our responsibility as dog guardians to interpret it appropriately. Early signs of fear, stress, or discomfort can include moving or turning away, "whale eye" a tucked tail, ears pulled back, tense eyebrows, a tense, closed mouth, lip-licking, yawning, sniffing, and shaking off. When these signals are ignored or misinterpreted, dogs may escalate to more extreme measures.

3) Dogs will often hide their pain as a survival mechanism. If you notice a sudden behavior change, including biting seemingly "out of nowhere" get your dog evaluated for pain or sickness immediately.

Being good dog guardians means being aware of the reality that any dog is capable of biting. According to the National Institute of Health, fifty percent of children will be bitten by a dog before their 12th birthday. It is on us as adults and responsible dog guardians to prevent these tragic situations.

Is your dog displaying warning signals? Contact us today for an evaluation.

08/04/2024

It's National Dog Bite Prevention Week. Check out this graphic from the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). We will be focusing on how to this week using positive reinforcement and a solid understanding of canine body language.

How can we all work together to help prevent dog bites? Experts from the National Dog Bite Prevention Week collaborated to develop these important tips and information - including the top 10 states reporting dog bites and how to prevent dog bites - in our infographic.

Remember - we can all work together to . Learn more by visiting our National Dog Bite Prevention Week page: https://bit.ly/3a3EzWJ

26/03/2024

As dog professionals, we hear a lot of nonsense about dogs. Below are three of the most common things we hear clients say that have no basis in the current scientific understanding of canine behavior and cognition.

1) A wagging tail is a sign that your dog's emotions are high. It does NOT mean that your dog is happy. Stressed, anxious, scared, and frustrated dogs often wag their tails. Pay attention to the angle your dog is holding her tail and what the rest of her body language is saying before determining that a wagging tail equals a happy dog.

2) This is by far one of the most common misconceptions out there about dogs. There is currently no scientific evidence that dogs experience guilt. In fact, a study performed on the "guilty look" dogs give us revealed only that the look appears to be triggered by scolding, regardless of whether or not the dog had done anything wrong. The "guilty look" is just a learned behavior to appease their humans' upset voice and body language, not an admission of guilt or an expression of shame.

3) Dominance theory has been soundly debunked. Dogs are not looking for a "pack leader" or an "alpha." We owe them better than to treat them based on outdated and dangerous ideology.

23/03/2024

What first time dog guardians need to know about dog training to get better results and build their relationship with their dog.

19/03/2024

Puppy socialization is so important! Between six and sixteen weeks of age, puppies are sponges to every experience, sight, sound, smell, person, place, and object they encounter. This is a critical learning period. By providing puppies with positive experiences during this time, we can help ensure that they will approach new things with confidence throughout their entire life. Make all new experiences positive and back up or slow down if your puppy shows any signs of stress or fear.
It can be difficult to catch every single thing your pup might encounter in their lives, but below are four things that we see missed very often.

1) People in uniforms and hi-viz gear can be scary to dogs. Befriend your mailperson and give your pup plenty of good experiences around them. All of your future delivery people will appreciate it!

2) Fast-moving, loud, or unexpected things on wheels are terrifying to dogs! Spend some time getting your puppy used to these objects. Especially if you live in a bike-friendly area, it is critical to raise a dog that can coexist with wheeled things.

3) Spend time with your pup handling all parts of their body. The groomer and vet will need to touch ears, tails, nails, toes, faces, mouths, eyes, ge****ls, and a**l glands. A dog that is used to routine handling of all parts will be much less stressed when the vet or groomer does it.

4) Bring your puppy in for happy visits to your vet's office! Most vet staff are delighted to see puppies. Pick off-peak times of day (ask your vets' office, but most of the time midday is a good bet). You can go in, get a few treats from the front desk and leave, or if someone's available, they can bring your puppy into the back for some snuggles and snacks. This will make vet trips much less traumatizing in the future.

Got a new puppy? Want more socialization tips? Reach out to us today!

19/03/2024

Want a calm, confident pup? Check out these proactive puppy socialization tips and start your journey to a well-rounded companion now! 🐾

Discover five crucial puppy socialization tips for a well-adjusted dog. Learn how to create positive experiences and build confidence in your furry friend.

16/03/2024

That last one is maybe the #1 biggest dog misconception I can think of. Wagging tail does not always mean a happy dog!!

11/03/2024

Did you know you can help meet a lot of your dog's daily social and mental needs by just letting her sniff around outside? Sniffing is a dog's primary way of obtaining information. Taking your dog on regular "sniffaris" will let your dog learn about the other dogs and people in her environment. Sniffing is especially important for dogs that are insecure, anxious, or reactive because it helps them learn about their triggers in a safe, distanced way. Learning can help those triggers feel less scary in the future. Sniffing is also a soothing behavior that can diffuse stress and anxiety.

For more information about why your dog needs to sniff, check out our blog post! https://www.wondroustails.com/post/why-dogs-sniff-everything

06/03/2024

When the weather is as bone-chillingly awful as it has been the last few weeks, no one wants to go on long walks, not even dogs! Here are some fun, engaging activities that you can do indoors with your dog during times like this. All of these games require minimal supplies and can be played in our tiny Seattle apartments. We like these games because they engage both mind and body for your dog. Games like this are a great addition to any dog guardian's enrichment repertoire.

What games do you play with your dog? Let us know in the comments! And don't forget to save this post!

27/02/2024

Let's talk good urban manners. Walking your dog in a dense urban area like Seattle has different rules than walking in suburbia or on forest trails. Follow these simple guidelines to be a respectful neighbor and keep our sidewalks, parks, and neighborhoods enjoyable places to live and walk.

What other good neighbor practices do you follow? Let us know in the comments below!

24/02/2024

Curious about why dogs love to sniff? Dive into the fascinating science behind their sense of smell and learn how to make walks more enriching for your furry friend! 🌿

Why can't my dog walk more than ten feet without wanting to stop and sniff? Why does she drag me over to trees and dead leaves? What could possibly be so interesting?

24/02/2024

You may have heard that dogs have a good sense of smell, but did you know how incredible your dog's nose really is? They have 100-300 million smell receptors in the nasal cavity compared to the 6 million in humans. It is estimated that they can smell anywhere from 1,000 to 10,000 times better than people. They can detect odors at a concentration of one part per trillion. That's like being able to find a teaspoon of sugar in 20 Olympic swimming pools! Dogs can detect a drop of gasoline amidst the wreckage of a burned building, find human remains in archaeological digs, and even detect cancer, malaria, and Parkinson's disease.

Dogs gather an astonishing amount of information from a single sniff. They can sniff a tree and know what dogs are in the neighborhood. They can recognize the smell of a dog they haven't seen for years, or sniff a new dog friend and tell if they're male or female, happy or aggressive, healthy or ill. Sniffing is a dog's primary method of communication and learning about the world.

29/01/2024

Had a great time at this weekend! Learned so much about the science of dog behavior, the mechanics of training, training other species like cats, horses, and lions (😱), and creative and accessible training ideas for dog owners with disabilities. Zuko had a great time practicing behavior chains and being my long-suffering test subject for all my new ideas😆

22/01/2024

Here's a secret: "Sit" is overrated.

Many people fall into a trap of asking for a "sit" when they really want a different behavior altogether. Check out this post to discover how to train four essential obedience cues to level up your training.

Almost all dogs learn the cue "sit" at some point. Many people default to "sit" in all situations in which they want their dog to listen. And, while "sit" is a great cue for your dog to know, it is far from the be-all and end-all of critical obedience cues. Many trainers will advise that your dog sh...