All About Canines

Every 2 weeks I come to The Feed Store on Petaluma Avenue, in Sebastopol. I set up my advertising, and talk to folks about their dogs, offer general advice & encouragement.

I can do my job well when I connect with a dog's people. Together we form a training team. My knowledge & expertise combined with an owner's first hand experiences with the dog, allow us to formulate a plan with the dog's welfare first, making a positive difference.

Have you ever wanted to say NO! to your dog?

Of course. Using words, particularly words to chastise them, can come with a negative, harsh "tone" which can be scary to a dog. In doing this, you are chipping away at your relationship & throw doubt in your dog's mind, as to your trustworthiness. Plus, how is it teaching them what TO DO?

Here is a list of ways to mean NO, but you "say" nothing!
* hand signal - fingers together, palm towards the dog
* not acting in response to a demand behavior
* walking away from the dog no eye contact
* turn your head (& thus, eyes) sideways away from the dog
* turn your whole body away, slowly
* when reaching the end of the leash, you give them no more, like moving with them
* when coming thru a door, & your dog goes to jump at you, back up & close the door between you. Then try again
* putting rice paper on a window to block a view
* social isolation - time out, also practiced by dogs, & other animals like bees, chimps, wolves & humans too
* silent treatment - distancing yourself emotionally, so you can re-group & repair.
Words can be overused when living & working with dogs. Let's use words with positive passion & encourage behaviors we like! Need some help? Please get in touch thru my bio.

Sammie is already 9 months old! Day Training allows me to keep working with her, when her people are busy.

Changing environments & contexts for dogs can be challenging. When they learned a skill, it likely at home0. Now, ask this same skill in a different "context" and you may get nothing at all, a blank stare, a smile but no action! This is not stubborn. This is I don't understand. Dig deep, and go back a step or 2 in their learning & introduce the skill in the new context.

Generalization is the term used for this depth of learning, showing skills in multiple contexts. This comes with time, practice and resilience on your dog's part, to trying new things.

If you would like help perhaps through a Day Training package for your dog, reach out thru my bio above.

Puppies are irresistible, right?

This is Athena, a 4 month old mixed breed angel. She recently found her forever home.

Puppies, however, do not come pre-programmed! We have to teach them stuff! Like, where to potty. I teach the small world inside & lots of outside time, way.

We must be patient, and be ready to let them age into better bladder control. They will begin to seek you out to open a door, and you realize they're on to it. But, don't stop there! Keep up your rewarding, watching for clues that they need to go, and limit access inside.

If there are accidents inside, you may have been too quick to build their inside world. So, make it smaller again, and watch for their not being able to settle = I need to go outside. It'll happen. If you need help, please reach out. My contact info. Is in my bio.

Do you use signage to help your dog?

Sweet, 5yr old Yumi, a Shiba Inu, lived in isolation until recently, when she was gifted new opportunities.

Much of the world is new and scary to her. We are working on desensitizing her to her immediate environment, with the plan to extend this as she becomes more settled. She is guarded of her personal space, so, slowly, and with the aid of brightly displayed signage, she can meet new people with appropriate distance and no touching her for now. Smiles don't go unnoticed!

She loves treats when she is in an environment where her emotions don't shut off the desire for them. So, if she can take treats, her owner knows she is in a workable environment, and influencing her emotions may begin.

If you need some help with your pup, or you know someone who is struggling, you'll find my contact information in my bio above.