Free State Canine

08/10/2024

Is your dog's off-switch broken? Hoping to relax with a good book or your favorite show, except your dog takes that as a sign to start bugging you or misbehaving? 🦟 😈

Give me about 5 minutes, and I'll fill you in on why this happens, and how to help your dog fix their off-switch, so that wind-down time for you is also wind-down time for them...

29/08/2024

27/08/2024

🚌 🍎 It's back to school time (aka 'the most wonderful time of the year')...

Whether you're sending kids back to school, college, or just getting ready for autumn schedule shifts, this usually leaves some newly 'blank' spaces in most people's schedules.

This I know to be true:

Nature abhors a vacuum

So that blank schedule space is about to be filled, with projects, catching up with friends, or scrolling our social media feed.

We've got a wonderful opportunity to have a HUGE impact on our dogs' physical and mental well being, by dedicating some of that 'new' time to a daily (or even weekly if that's all you have) decompression walk.

Decompression walk? What's that, you say?

I'm talking about a longer (at least 20 minutes, but 45-60 is even better), casual walk on a long line (or off leash if your dog is reliably trained) over uneven, natural surfaces.

This type of walk provides:
⭐️ physical movement at a trotting pace, which satisfies our dog's migratory instinct
⭐️ the opportunity to engage in sniffing exploration
⭐️ stimulation of a whole bunch of muscle groups that don't see much action on a typical neighborhood walk, which in turn creates...
⭐️ stimulation and re-balancing of the different parts of a dog's brain
⭐️ a chance for YOU to get some movement, fresh air, and relaxed time enjoyed with your best buddy

What's holding you back? Let me know 👇

28/06/2024

🎉 We have another Sunday Specials clinic class this weekend!

When it’s too hot to play outside, having a few indoor games your dog enjoys in your bag o’ tricks can help keep them from going stir crazy.

Drop your favorite dog emoji below, and I’ll send you details

27/06/2024

Does your dog swim in freshwater? Read this post 💡

Blue-green algae can look like “pea soup” scum on the water or discolored water … but it’s actually bacteria.

It’s bacteria that can photosynthesize and grow into large colonies that form blooms, often found near shores as the wind moves them along the surface. 🌊

People can become very ill when their skin comes into contact with toxic blooms, and the same is true for your dog. It can be deadly if they lick or drink any of it. 🐾

These blooms produce toxins that can cause:
- Liver damage
- Liver failure
- Muscle tremors
- Seizures
- Paralysis

Symptoms in your dog may appear in as little as 30 to 60 minutes after exposure or may take up to 12 to 24 hours to appear. 🚨

Watch for these symptoms:
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Bloody diarrhea or black, tarry stool
- Pale mucous membranes (gums)
- Jaundice (pale or jaundiced gums)
- Seizures, muscle tremors, muscle rigidity, or paralysis
- Disorientation
- Coma
- Excessive salivation or tearing
- Blue discoloration of the coat, skin, and mucous membranes
- Difficulty breathing

If your dog’s been swimming and then exhibits any of these symptoms, it's critical to take your dog to a vet as soon as possible. 🏥

👉 Read more:
https://bit.ly/3L1cO63

👉 Home test for blue-green algae:
https://bit.ly/3RLa4NX

👉 Shop blue-green algae test:
https://bit.ly/3L0lEkL

22/06/2024

Confusion =/= disobedience 🔥

Dogs, just like us, can get a bit flustered in new situations. Before you slap them with the "stubborn" label, consider if they're just feeling a tad unsure or overwhelmed. Knowing this difference is key to nailing your training game. 🐕🤔

Key Takeaways:

🤔🚫 Confusion isn't defiance. Know the difference.
🌟 Show some patience. Newbies need varied approaches.
⚠️ Don’t rely only on e-collar zaps for quick fixes; fairness is the name of the game.
📖 Master the art of reading your dog's body language everywhere. Even top dogs get distracted sometimes..

Read this article by Dog Trainer Robin MacFarlane for the full lesson:
https://www.dogtra.com/blog-and-events/e-collar-training-for-the-stubborn-dog

05/06/2024

🎉 Now open for enrollment 🎉
Introduction to E-collar, a small-group class beginning June 23

In this class we'll teach you how to properly introduce and use an e-collar (remote training collar) to reinforce key training ideas.

You'll learn to gently and effectively communicate with your dog, even at a distance, which means your dog's learning (and listening!) no longer depends on your being less than a leash-length away.

Imagine your dog having the freedom to run, explore, and be a dog, while YOU have peace of mind, knowing they'll come back when you call... ✨✨✨

leave your favorite dog emoji below and I'll send you details!

20/05/2024

Something to consider this fine Monday…

💯

Show your love for dog sports in style! ShopCanineAesthete.com. 🛍 🐾

18/05/2024

⏰ Last chance….⏰

Let’s get your dog (and you!) ready to enjoy the lovely spring weather together…

Join me this Sunday (yup-TOMORROW) for Patio Dogs, a 90 minute clinic class focused on calm, settled behavior, navigating narrow spaces and passing people and dogs, ignoring food or other items that may drop, and strategies and tactics for the humans to maximize success

🔎 Details below

16/05/2024

👀 🐶 👀 🐶 👀
LOOK at all the dog-friendly restaurants right in Annapolis! (Thanks BringFido !!)

Let’s get your dog (and you!) ready to enjoy the lovely spring weather together…

Join me this Sunday for Patio Dogs, a 90 minute clinic class focused on calm, settled behavior, navigating narrow spaces and passing people and dogs, ignoring food or other items that may drop, and strategies and tactics for the humans to maximize success

🔎 Details below

13/05/2024

🥳 New thing coming! (for my local Maryland peeps) 🥳
Focused-topic clinics, to help you and your dog enjoy success in specific real-life scenarios, one at a time

First up: Patio Dog

Because the weather is getting nicer, and more and more restaurants and coffee shops have outdoor seating and welcome pets, let's get our dogs ready to join us!

We'll focus on calm, settled behavior, navigating narrow spaces and passing people and dogs, ignoring food or other items that may drop, and strategies and tactics for the humans to maximize success.

✅ Link to sign up in comments

09/05/2024

Ew.
And yes, several of these can affect humans

02/05/2024

Welcome handsome (handfull!) Bodhi 😍

Looking forward to helping you make your family proud!

01/05/2024

See the progression here?

A huge majority of behavior complaints I hear could be prevented by not giving the dog more access to space than they’ve earned.

And pssst!

You as the dogs owner play a big role in helping them earn those privileges 😉

Dogs need to prove their ability to make choices that align with our taught expectations BEFORE they’re put in a position to fail. Otherwise, they’re just going to do what makes sense to them.

23/06/2023

Whose dog struggles with noise-sensitivity? 🎆🎇⛈️⚡️

Who has a young puppy, and would like to make sure they don’t DEVELOP noise-related fears?

I’m thinking about holding an online workshop to teach owners how to change that, starting now. Just in time for holiday fireworks, but also summer storms, loud landscaping equipment, garbage trucks, and other big scary noises.

Wanna know more?

22/06/2023

If you’ve followed this page for a minute or two, you’ll have noticed I don’t often recommend specific products. But this app? It’s a game changer because it satisfies one of the most important criteria for distractions: you can control it.

👍👍 highly recommend 👍👍

There’s still time to make some significant impact for your dog before the every-weekend-all-summer fireworks extravaganza really gets going!

20/06/2023

Working fast and “engaged” is Brady’s sweet spot! 💃 🕺 But, like many dogs he may not choose “slow” on his own…so we teach him how to find it.

20/06/2023

Here’s another tiny task you can complete in just a few minutes, to help ensure your pets’ safety this summer!