Don't Furr-get the Cat Pet Sitting

14/12/2022

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Those who know me know I used to be an army dog trainer. I learned two things while I was in the army working with dogs, both are still a daily part of my life.

First: you always sort your dog out before you sort yourself out.

Are they thirsty or hungry? Do they need anything at this point? Every day without fail, I follow this rule that I learned so many years ago. Dogs’ can’t just fill up a water bowl, they can’t stop a griping hunger in their stomach on their own, but we can. So I choose to meet their needs before I work on my own, and I always will.

Second: you always move at the slowest man’s pace.

This lesson taught me everything about living with older, slower dogs. As dogs get older, they run less. Older dogs sniff more. They sniff everything. Senior dogs might be stiff and achy and need to cover less ground, but they cover that ground at a slower pace.

Please consider their needs and go at their pace.

It’s not fair to leave them behind or pull them along.

04/11/2022

🤤🤤 please see pt 1 👇👇😁

04/11/2022

When you love sharing your toof boogers 🤤🤤🤤

31/10/2022

It is my work of art.. 😏

29/10/2022

27/10/2022

🤪🤣🤣🤣

27/10/2022

Just lounging around waiting for Friday to be here 🥱

(Photo credit to Instagram page loopyloola1: www.instagram.com/loopyloola1)

27/10/2022

27/10/2022

So wholesome... 😊

19/10/2022

What's the word you're not allowed to say? You know, the one you have to spell out... 😂
And yes, he did get his treat 😁👍👍

15/10/2022

If your dog is energetic and over excited, scatter feed them. Use their meal if they have kibble and it will motivate them or some tiny bits of smelly food cut as small as possible then throw them all around your garden. It will use up their energy and make them unbelievably happy at the same time. Plus it will give you a little space too.

15/10/2022

"You can only reinforce behaviour, not emotion. Comforting your dog won't make their fear worse, it will make them feel safer."

What a powerful image from Kelly Brown at Waggle Tails Dog Training!

This is so very true. Turning away from your dog when they need comfort, doesn’t create a resilient dog. Instead it creates anxiety and diminishes trust.

Letting your dog know you are there when they need you, builds confidence and gives them the ability and courage to explore the world feeling safe and empowered!

10/10/2022

photo by Caroline

10/10/2022

BIGGEST MYTH OF ALL . . .
Probably the most widely spread myth is that you should put your hand out to let a dog sniff so they know you're a friend.
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⁉️ WHY IS THAT A MYTH

🧫 Did you know that some dogs have been used to sniff out cancer cells in a petri dish? They can do this because olfaction in dogs is their memory system, their primary sense in dealing with the world.

👃🏼 Dogs have 20 times more scent receptor cells than humans, and the scent-processing section of their brains is larger than ours.

🍔 Where we might say, "Mmm, I smell burgers!" a dog would say, "I smell: fried ground cow muscle; imitation cheese made with vegetable oil; wheat bun; a dozen sesame seeds; one day-old lettuce; partly green tomato; spices in a tomato-based sauce, all touched by the hands of a human!" Dogs smell in minute detail!

🧼 It's safe to say that dogs can smell you before you enter their personal space. You putting your hand up to their nose only lets them smell what you had for lunch & what type of soap you used to wash your hands!

🤜🏼 What a hand in the face of a dog can do is appear threatening. It can sometimes be a good way to get bit if you do it in the "just right" circumstances.

🤔 Dogs that don't appear to care might care once you start to pet them. Likely this indicates a misunderstood body language cue that was not taken into account.
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⭐️🐕 Read the dog's body language ‼️
❓Is the dog giving signals of wanting to be approached?
❓Is the dog moving toward you?

📸 Learn more dog language, here: http://bit.ly/2qXZowE
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🤷🏼‍♀️ SO, HOW SHOULD I GREET A DOG?

👉🏼 If the dog wants to be pet she'll start coming toward you.

👉🏼Then the dog might sniff you, then you may pet her, on her side or under her chin.

👉🏼 If she moves away or shifts she may not be comfortable with the greeting. Stop & allow her to move or walk away.

👉🏼 Some dogs just don't care to be greeted by others. This is ok!
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🎥 Watch this wonderful video on how to properly greet a dog! https://youtu.be/Bu1n1mPCCOo
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–
Stacy Greer, CPDT-KA
Copyright© 2022

10/10/2022

Have you been told it’s a good idea to put your hand in the dog’s bowl while he’s eating or to remove then return it? Not so. If anything, it illustrates humans near food are intrusive. It’s important to teach your pup or dog that people are predictors of good things. If you must pick up your dogs bowl while he’s eating always add something delicious before returning it! The above notion stems from outdated “show him who’s boss” nonsense. Your dog knows who the head honcho is. He knows you provide the food.