Dog Balancing

14/08/2024

This is a long but informative article on the myth of Dominance theory with humans and dogs.

https://www.mosselbayadvertiser.com/News/Article/LifeStyle/dog-dominance-theory-a-debunked-myth-202408140251?fbclid=IwY2xjawEp4QxleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHXIGTupPK2kE4-3Wt9CNziwRlFYc5XrhDTHMBjaJd7l0aMP4a3lAHfeVVg_aem_EsNtL7p5meie7MT-XuW9Cw

LIFETYLE NEWS - In 1947, Rudolph Schenkel,...

06/08/2024

There is another way a dog can acquire fear, and that is from the environment they live in.

Nothing that can be done about things on the left-hand side of this graph. That is history. By counterconditioning behavior coming from bad experiences, and slowly introducing dogs to other dogs and the world itself things left of the graph can be overcome.

Fear is the easiest things to condition in dogs and the hardest to resolve. Fear can come from many places, many of which we don't control. This infographic is my most downloaded and shared resource. In fact, many vets and Veterinary Behaviorists use this handout with their own clients! Link in first comment to grab your own copy.

29/07/2024

Our guests this Sunday morning.

26/07/2024

Our guests this week. Coco, Sasha, Roy, Lela, and her bestie Ayla.

14/07/2024

Our guests this weekend.

29/06/2024

Our guests for this weekend.

24/05/2024

"A professional organization called the Association for Pet Obesity’s Prevention (APOP) recently released a report stating that most of the dogs in the U.S. are overweight, their owners don’t know it, and their veterinarians don’t feel comfortable talking to their clients about it"

Vets not talking about this with their clients is doing a major disservice to them. My clients know I have no problem with this when I see their dog(s) coming in overweight.

When a dog is overweight, its body is usually in an inflammatory state which leads to a whole host of health issues that shortens their lives.

https://www.whole-dog-journal.com/blog/canine-obesity-its-a-big-problem/?sc=BL20240523-WeightFitnessHandbook&st=email&MailingID=3067&utm_source=ActiveCampaign&utm_medium=email&utm_content=Canine%20Obesity%3A%20It%20s%20a%20Big%20Problem&utm_campaign=BL20240523-WeightFitnessHandbook&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR1ysL1W6kfDiyP9kMtZy21o51APn_V8mpenleLtlYXExf-9YIDKZ7idfMk_aem_AWpekiq7m6YaDraLou8U5J339t1FSL34MRdA9fZg1cG4F4DJjC1RuJEyb23Yzsh48B59wZRkEuOX-U-Qe84V2yYc

Canine obesity is a growing problem that is frequently ignored by pretending an overweight dog is simply a large breed one.

01/04/2024

Loki and Shuggi are holding down the Hotel this week.

07/03/2024

23/02/2024

Our guests this week are Paxos, Mochi, and Mako.

16/02/2024

Paxos and Cooper are holding down the Hotel.

10/02/2024

Phoenix is our sole visitor so Lela is keeping him company.

30/01/2024

Cooper is our single guest for this week and Lela is keeping him company!

22/01/2024

For those of you who have leash-reactive dogs, this graphic might help you to know when to disengage from whatever your dog is focusing on.

21/01/2024

We got a break from the moisture from the sky, and now it is time to say cheese!

06/01/2024

Our guests this cold Saturday Morning. Nala, Coco, Taco, and Baby Blue.

27/12/2023

Not only do dog owners don't know how to use these dangerous leashes, but the brake has been known to fail which allows a dog to run out into traffic - or at the end of the leash which results in a fast yank backwards.

DOG OWNERS PLEASE BE RESPONSIBLE!

The point of this post is that dog owners need to be responsible when using retractable leashes. Many people do NOT use them properly thus resulting in injuries to people and dogs.
Just making a general point to use discretion.
Every dog owner needs to take responsibility!

25/12/2023

Merry Christmas from Cleo, Penny, Stella, Ayla, Taco, Maisie, Max, and the Dog Balancing Hotel!

24/12/2023

The Dog Balancing Hotel on a cold Christmas Eve morning.

23/12/2023

Our guests for this Christmas holiday.

23/12/2023

This breakdown of dog play is fantastic. I watch Lela and Ernesto play this way in the living room every evening. Each will exchange roles, going from passive to aggressive with such fluidity, it is amazing to watch. Our guests PJ and Cooper also have their play dance, and so do Ayla and Lela.

16/12/2023

For years I have talked about why I'm not too fond of Dog parks, and why they are NOT beneficial to dogs.

A. It is not a space for socialization. Socialization should ALWAYS have a positive influence on puppies or adult dogs. Dog parks fail in this because dogs can often have negative experiences there.

B. Not all dogs enjoy going to them. Only a small percentage of dogs are hypersocial or totally anti-social. Most dogs fall in the middle which means they may or may not enjoy being around a bunch of strange dogs.

C. Dog parks can teach dogs bad habits and inappropriate behaviors.

D. Dog parks are full of bacteria that can lead to potential diseases. It is also easier for germs and viruses to spread among dogs in a dog park, and you don't know which dogs are sick or which are not.

Here is a terrific article that provides more perspective on the pitfalls of Dog parks.

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/06/smarter-living/the-dog-park-is-bad-actually.html?unlocked_article_code=1.EU0.yWzQ.S0CtXHCvmUUC&fbclid=IwAR13A0zxnh4Xbeqh-eynXrUjPZVTDd-ng9WbBQJLntDcFgIBkkSvCRKE61w

Dog parks may seem like great additions to the community, but they’re rife with problems — for you, and for your dog. Here’s what to know before you go.

15/12/2023

Having talked about this many times with my clients, I agree with this gentleman's assessment of the Dog Park.

14/12/2023

Keep this in mind before you adopt a dog and after as well.

23/11/2023

Happy Thanksgiving from the Dog Balancing Hotel and its guests.

21/11/2023

Our wonderful guests for this Thanksgiving week. They have been so quiet and orderly, that I almost forget they are here!

28/10/2023

I have been saying this to all my clients who would listen. Please take the time to watch this video, it will help your dog live longer.

This video shows you how simple and easy it can be when preparing your pets a fresh meal.We also talk about the percentages your pets should be getting based...

11/10/2023

Our guests for the week...Shaka, Paxos, and Fred.