Nice Dog, Scarlett

07/01/2025

Happy Canada day! 😎🐕🌞

06/29/2025

Here's a quick way to boost your dog's confidence and help them decompress. All you have to do is scatter some treats in the grass ☺️

Want a quick confidence booster?
A way to lessen stress hormones?
How about a a way to calm them down too?
Mental enrichment....yup this covers that too.

"So i just throw food down.....why?"
Because this taps into their natural instincts.
It is rewarding for them to figure out where that next piece of tasty food is and you are encouraging them to have a "mental workout" too.

Many dogs don't get enough opportunities to just "be a dog".
This game can help them to decompress, focus and challenge them.
All at the same time!

Start small, don't rush this.
You can absolutely encourage them but when they get the hang of it....leave them too it.

This little "game" is powerful 💪

06/28/2025

Great safety tips for outings with your best friend😀

If you're planning to join the Pride Parade festivities with your animal companion, make sure they’re comfortable, safe, and having fun, too. Try a dress rehearsal before the big day, avoid glitter and hair dye, and always listen to your pet’s body language.

Whether they rock a costume or cheer you on from home, your pet can still be part of the celebration.

Get tips to prepare for a paw-some Pride: https://ontariospca.ca/blog/pride-parade-fun-with-furry-friends/

06/28/2025

When training, it's not just the dog that's learning 💕

When we are choosing to teach our dogs gently, we are choosing to teach ourselves patience. And that’s a wonderful thing to learn and practice.

06/26/2025

Useful information if you're going to have guests over for a summer BBQ, it's a good idea to let your guests know in advance that the best way to greet your dog is to pretend they're not there - at least for the first few minutes 💕

"What ?.... Lick our lips around dogs?
As crazy as it sounds, yes.

We are mimicking those all important calming signals they can give.
Calming signals can help dogs decipher our intent.

Especially important for nervous or anxious dogs.

✅Don't crowd them, give them space
✅Be mindful how you move, but.....there is a fine line between slow deliberate moving and totally unnatural "stalking" movements.

Limiting eye contact is also important.
Staring for many dogs can be interpreted as "threatening" or "rude".

Watch those feet movements.
Walk lightly and softly.
Big steps with heavy footwear can be scary.

Many people are a bit "taken back" when people that work with dogs just "ignore" their dog.
It isn't because we are being rude.
We want to make a great first impression on them and gain their trust quickly.

The best way to greet?

"What ?.... Lick our lips around dogs?
As crazy as it sounds, yes.
We are mimicking those all important calming signals they can give.
Calming signals can help dogs decipher our intent.
Especially important for nervous or anxious dogs.

✅Don't crowd them, give them space
✅Be mindful how you move, but.....there is a fine line between slow deliberate moving and totally unnatural "stalking" movements.

Limiting eye contact is also important.
Staring for many dogs can be interpreted as "threatening" or "rude".

Watch those feet movements.
Walk lightly and softly.
Big steps with heavy footwear can be scary.

Many people are a bit "taken back" when people that work with dogs just "ignore" their dog.
It isn't because we are being rude.
We want to make a great first impression on them and gain their trust quickly.

The best way to greet?
Well...you don't really.

Sounds harsh but it really is a great way to help a dog relax.

06/05/2025

So many things we can change when we make little changes to ourself and our environment!

“This breed just trains differently.”
… No it doesn’t!

Positive Reinforcement is the same science used to train:

🐘 Elephants to shift migration paths and present feet for care

🐬 Dolphins to offer blood samples and perform object recognition

🐟 Fish (yes, fish!) to swim through hoops and target

🐦 Parrots to station, wave, and accept nail trims

🐓 Chickens to complete obstacle courses and discriminate colors

🐁 Rats to detect landmines and tuberculosis

🦁 Lions to voluntarily accept injections

🐳 Whales to collect urine samples on cue

🐢 Tortoises to follow targets for veterinary exams

🐱 Cats to recall, crate themselves, and cooperate with nail trims

🦋 Butterflies to fly to specific areas on cue

🐕‍🦺 Dogs of EVERY breed to build trust, engagement, and new skills

🙋‍♀️ Humans (using the exact same learning science) to change habits, emotions, and behavior

If it works on a whale…
It’ll work on your Mallinois, Corso, ACD, Presa, Pyrenees, Mastiff etc. etc. etc.

“My dog won’t eat outside, so positive reinforcement doesn’t work.”

Your dog not taking food means something. It might mean:

• They’re stressed
• They’re near threshold
• They’re uncomfortable or in pain
• They have GI upset
• They’ve learned that training means pressure, and confusion.

Food is a primary reinforcer. If an animal isn’t taking it, we don’t say “welp, that’s it then”—we have to ask why.

We look at the emotional state.
We pause and re-evaluate the environment, the pace, the pressure.

We don’t skip to punishment just because snacks didn’t land. Instead we get more data.

Positive reinforcement works on every species—because learning is universal.

The question isn’t “will it work on this breed?”
The question is: “do I know how to teach with positive reinforcement correctly?”

What it takes is:
✔️Timing
✔️Skills
✔️Motivation (the dog’s, not just yours)
✔️And a trainer who is educated and understands thresholds, trust, and behavior science—not just control.

Every animal learns.
And no breed (or animal) needs a heavy hand.

PS: I mean… we couldn’t fit an ecollar/prong/choke collar on a dolphin… so we needed to learn some solid skills. Thank goodness for the humans that did!

05/05/2025

Make sure your pets are a part of your emergency plan!

Emergency Preparedness Week is a great time to make sure every family member is protected—including your pets!

The Ontario SPCA and Humane Society encourages you to:
- Prepare to shelter in place
- Have an evacuation plan that includes your pets
- Assemble a pet emergency survival kit

Promise to Prepare at bit.ly/EPWeek-2025 to get a FREE digital 72-hour Emergency Preparedness Workbook AND be entered to win 1 of 12 pet first aid kits!

04/14/2025