Paws for Success

23/06/2025

Those old grey chops may not appreciate a puppy.
They may just want some peace and quiet as they age.
We may want our older, calmer dog to play with our pups to help them learn skills....but many find a puppies energy "intrusive".
They just want some peace.

Bows?
Misunderstood.... and they can be for a range of reasons.
Many bows can be signs something "unwanted" is about to happen.

Favourite toy? 🧸
Other dogs around?
That can be risky, especially if that item is truly coveted.

Playstyles.
Allowing your quieter dog to be around highly energetic dogs can be an issue.
This is generally not the way to convince dogs to be more "playful".

Feel free to share to those that may need it or save this if you are wanting to explore play more.

20/06/2025

A lot of my clients seem to be very uncomfortable with the idea of separating their dog and child for safety reasons. But I recently had an epiphany - they all assumed that separation was the same as isolation. And it's not.

Using management strategies, such as using a a baby gate between living spaces in the home, provide separation between the dog and child. But neither the dog or child is isolated. Everyone can still see each other. The parent can still interact with everyone. And with time and patience, everyone can be very comfortable and safe with such an arrangement.

So now, I am always reminding clients that "Separation is not the same as isolation." It's simply a way for parents to function and do the impossibly difficult job of raising kids and dogs together.

18/06/2025

We often think of trauma as something that happens to an individual, a specific event, a particular hardship. But what if that trauma can be passed down through generations?

It turns out, this isn’t just theory. In both humans and animals, generational trauma is real and we’re starting to understand just how deep it runs.

One of the most striking studies on this was conducted with mice. In this experiment, researchers exposed a group of male mice to the scent of cherry blossoms while delivering mild electric shocks. Unsurprisingly, the mice began to associate the smell with danger and displayed clear signs of fear whenever they encountered it.

Here’s the extraordinary part: their offspring, and even their grand-offspring, were also afraid of the cherry blossom scent, despite never having experienced the shocks themselves. Analysis showed changes not only in behaviour but in the structure of the mice’s brains and even their DNA. Trauma had left a biological imprint that was inherited.

This concept of epigenetic inheritance may explain why some dogs, particularly those from puppy farms or rescue situations, can present with significant behavioural challenges even if they’ve never experienced direct abuse or trauma themselves.
In puppy farms, for example, generations of dogs may be born into high-stress, deprived environments. Mothers often suffer extreme neglect, lack of enrichment, and chronic stress. Their puppies even when adopted into loving homes can carry the emotional residue of that experience. It’s not just poor socialisation. It’s a history written into their nervous systems.

Understanding this changes everything.

When working with fearful, reactive, or shut-down dogs particularly those from difficult or unknown backgrounds we must approach them with greater compassion, patience, and a trauma-informed mindset. It’s not always about “fixing” a behaviour, but understanding its roots, and giving the dog a chance to feel safe enough to start healing.

If you’re living with a dog who seems stuck in fear or overreacts to the world in ways that don’t make sense you’re not alone, and they’re not broken.

16/06/2025

Please take a listen or watch this great conversation between Paws for Success's own Sherry Steinlein and Bethany Bell on Bethany's podcast "Rewriting the Rules." Sherry and Bethany discuss what they are trying to accomplish for their own dogs as well as their client's dogs, and what their philosophies as trainers and mediators have evolved to be over time.
The episode is entitled "Why Ethics and Dialogue Matter - Scrapping Obedience and Rewriting the Rules with Sherry Steinlein".

Find more here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xK2fKXIx0gk

Canine Dialogue Dynamics

15/06/2025

Happy Father’s Day dog dads. Thank you for all you do.

12/06/2025

A lot of my clients seem to be very uncomfortable with the idea of separating their dog and child for safety reasons. But I recently had an epiphany - they all assumed that separation was the same as isolation. And it's not.

Using management strategies, such as using a pen to cordon off an area for a child to play, provide separation between the dog and child. But neither the dog or child is isolated. Everyone can still see each other. The parent can still interact with everyone. And with time and patience, everyone can be very comfortable and safe with such an arrangement.

So now, I am always reminding clients that "Separation is not the same as isolation." It's simply a way for parents to function and do the impossibly difficult job of raising kids and dogs together.

10/06/2025

There are lots of options for masking scary sounds in your dog's environment. Here's one you may not have thought of.

07/06/2025

“I can speak personally re: the absolutely wonderful experience that I had working with Sherry Steinlein…I’m grateful for the relationship that was cultivated since working together.
Sherry helped me with my 2 beautiful babies and always took the time to explain things to me that were much deeper and more important than the basic commands that most people think is all they really need when training a dog. Her education and knowledge, compassion and kindness are what helped me navigate my beautiful dogs and their needs and it is what has helped me give them the life, emotional space and understanding to live together in harmony. Her personalized approach backed with extensive knowledge and research is what is imperative to success.
I am forever grateful and will always recommend her highly and use her again when it is time for me to introduce another beautiful dog to my family.”
Thank you, Jennifer, for your kind words about Sherry and Paws for Success!

05/06/2025

Dealing with stress in dogs can be hard.
Especially when they can’t tell us what’s wrong with words.

But they are telling us — in the way they move, the way they look away, the way they hesitate or freeze. Maybe they’re quieter than usual. Maybe they’re clingier. Maybe they’re suddenly “naughty” for reasons that don’t make sense.

Your dog isn’t giving you a hard time — they’re having a hard time.

When we slow down and really listen to them, we start to understand. And when we understand, we can help them feel safer, more secure, and more like themselves again.

Dogs need to be heard, especially when they’re struggling.

03/06/2025

JUST SHAKE IT OFF

A “shake off” is one of many types of body language and is one of the easiest ones to notice.

The shake off can provide us with important insight as to how our dogs are feeling.

Besides being a very effective way to get rid of dirt, bugs or water - dogs can remove up to 70% of water in one single shake off - the shake off is often seen just after something that a dog needs a mental reset from.

It’s a way to flush out adrenaline and could be compared to us taking a deep breath to reset our nervous system and calm ourselves down.

Dogs instinctively know they feel better when they just shake it all off!

It’s their way of saying “Phew, I’m glad that’s over, now I can put it behind me and move on”.

Shaking off is a positive way to calm down, reset and cope with stress – be that negative or positive stress.

It’s a healthy way of transitioning from one emotional state to another.

It’s important to be aware that shake offs may sometimes be caused by an underlying medical issue like an ear infection, allergies, itching or pain.

If you notice a shake off, look at what has just happened beforehand. This will provide a good clue as to what it is that your dog feels they need to reset from.

01/06/2025