Let Pets Decide Whenever They Can
When waiting to cross the street with your dog, it’s nice to use the word, “Wait.” I say, “Sally wait. Let’s watch.” I want her to understand that we should check before we cross just like you would with a small child. HOWEVER, I don’t make her sit. The way she wants to wait is up to her. Sometimes she sits; sometimes she stands. If it seems like the wait is too long, she may even lay down. That is her choice. Sometimes we feel like we have to micromanage… Continued
What You Need to Know About Kitten Socialization
Are you fostering kittens, or have kittens of your own? One of the most important gifts you can give them is effective socialization. Socialization is about more than just introducing kittens to people. It’s about providing kittens with positive exposure to new stimuli: such as people and animals, environments, objects, and situations. Before I discuss the right way to socialize, I want to point out that the main socialization window for kittens is from two to seven weeks of age, but it can extend up to 14 weeks. During this… Continued
Enjoy Loose Leash Walking Your Dog – Part 2: Your Leash Walking Tools for Success
Let’s Look at Leash Walking Equipment What We Recommend: A well-fitting, non-restrictive harness. For larger dogs and those dogs who tend to pull, we recommend a harness that has both front and back rings as, if needed, the leash can be attached at both points. Alternatively, a front-ring only harness is a good choice. Using the front attachment will assist you while you and your dog are working on your leash walking skills as, if your dog pulls towards something, the front leash attachment point will cause them… Continued
Teaching Puppies and Dogs to Love Their Harnesses
Introducing your puppy to a harness for the first time can be daunting for you both. For many puppies, the first time they wear a harness is often the first time they go for a walk- but it shouldn’t be! Outside has lots of new sights, sounds and smells they may never have experienced. This coupled with a strange piece of equipment they’ve never worn before and your puppy’s first walks can turn out to be a disaster. If you’ve rehomed a new dog, or purchased a new… Continued
Enjoy Your Time Loose Leash Walking Your Dog – Part 1
Do you have a dog that pulls you along like a steam train pulling freight? Do you secretly dread walking your dog because they pull the leash so tight that it makes your arms and shoulders ache? If so, walks are probably miserable for you, and, undoubtedly, for your dog too. We believe that when a dog cannot walk “nicely” that this can become a welfare issue. Lots of dogs who pull along their owners soon find themselves being left home alone. This reduction in enrichment and exercise can be… Continued
Why We Should Think Twice About How We Are Training Our (Service) Dogs
Service dogs have up to two years of training under their belt. This is so they can be prepared for doing their very important job for their handler. With all that training and the continued work they do throughout their lives, shouldn’t we be careful not to do anything to cause any medical problems or physical issues in the future if we can prevent it? Most people now know that dog collars can do harm to the dog’s neck so why are they still being used? Let’s Take a Look… Continued
When is it Okay to Touch an Assistance Animal?
Seeing more service animals in public can be exciting for any animal lover, but it raises an important question: when is it okay to touch an assistance animal? Service Animal Tasks Assistance animals are most often dogs, and they have been trained to perform medically-necessary tasks for their handlers. Some examples of this could be a guide dog performing alert behaviors for a visually-impaired handler, or a psychiatric service dog grounding their person during a panic attack. Unlike therapy and comfort dogs, service animals are trained especially for… Continued
Help Prevent Separation Anxiety Related Problems with The Flitting Game
There’s a two-part game that I call The Flitting Game. This game, and The ‘Where’s Your Dinner?’ Game, are the preparatory stages for building your dog’s confidence and sense of security. Together with careful management and avoiding leaving your dog alone before they can cope, these are the foundations for preventing separation anxiety related problems. STEP ONE To play, start off by choosing two adjacent rooms, ideally the kitchen and living room. Set the timer on your phone (silently) for five minutes, then make multiple trips from one room to the next;… Continued
Shared Blog Post: How to Love and Survive Your Teenage Dog – and Keep Your Sanity!
The following article was written by Barbara Hodel for The Pet Professional Guild Australia (PPGA) in 2022. Did your sweet, adorable little puppy seem to turn into an unruly teenager, almost overnight? We are sharing this post because people can be surprised and challenged by the changes in their dogs as they transition from puppy to adult. And it can be a struggle for the dogs too! The practical and empathetic tips shared here will help you truly love and survive your teenage dog. An excerpt: They have forgotten their training… Continued
A Few Basic Rules About How and When to Approach a Dog Safely
Sharing the following rules and teaching them to both adults and children can help everyone stay safe. Is It Safe to Approach a Known Dog? You may assume that it is safe in certain contexts to approach a dog that you know. However, you still need to exercise caution and respect the dog’s space. Every child – and adult for that matter – should be taught a few basic rules about how and when to approach a dog. The majority of dog bites occur in the home with a… Continued
Shared Blog Post – The Proper Use of Food in Dog Training
The following article was originally written by Niki Tudge, Leah Roberts and Carole Byrnes in 2013 for the Pet Professional Guild and updated by Niki Tudge in January 2022 for The DogSmith. An excerpt: You choose if you want to motivate your dog with something he likes and will work to attain, or something he dislikes and will work to avoid. NOTE. WE ALWAYS USE FOOD because we want our dogs to feel safe and happy and not afraid of a consequence! Wait! What? “Always use food”??? We are sharing this post because… Continued
Determining If Your Dog Understands SIT
Students often ask, “How can I tell if my dog understands what I’m teaching him or her?” How we assess a dog’s training can vary with what we’re teaching, the environment where we are testing them, and the dog and their physical and emotional status at that particular point in time. Below you will find one method you can use to assess how well your dog understands a simple behavior like sit. You will give your dog a single visual or verbal cue and look for them to respond in… Continued
Shared Blog Post – Secret Reasons for Behavior Changes in Your Dog
The following article was written by C.C. Bourgeois and originally appeared on the Wonder Dog University Blog. Particularly, if you notice a sudden, dramatic behavior change in an adult dog, teamwork will be essential in discovering the underlying cause and addressing it to bring your pet relief. The post describes how pet guardians, animal behavior professionals and veterinarians can all work together to help our pets. An excerpt: Of course, there could be a hundred reasons under the sun why a dog has begun displaying a particular behavior. One of… Continued
Book Review: “Dog Training and Behaviour Solutions”
Reviewed by Lottie Bennett, Lottie’s School for Dogs “Dog Training and Behaviour Solutions” is not your average dog training book. Indeed, it is a collaboration piece between multiple force-free and fear-free professionals and if two heads are better than one, then twelve must be even better than that! The book is a compilation of articles written by these professionals on various aspects of puppy and dog ownership, care, training, and managing and treating behavior problems. As such, you do not need to read the book cover to cover, but the… Continued
How To Select a Service Dog or Assistance Dog Prospect
It can be a daunting prospect to begin to research and search for a service dog or assistance dog in the best of cases. When you are going to be training the dog yourself, due to barriers accessing charitable services, it can be even harder. A Force-Free Professional Can Make a World of Difference Seeking help from a qualified Pet Professional Guild trainer can be extremely helpful. You are guaranteed to be working with a vetted and approved trainer. You can ask for their experience and knowledge with service/… Continued
Getting Your Puppy or New Dog Used to Being Alone: Where’s Your Dinner Game
Where’s Your Dinner Game This game is an easy and simple way to build a bit of independence and confidence in a puppy or a new dog. It is based on free choice on the dog’s part and can be adapted in any number of ways as their confidence builds. It requires two people and a bowl of food! One person holds the puppy at one end of the room while the other places their bowl of food down at the far end of the room, and then quickly… Continued
Jumpy Dogs – Key Strategies That Might Surprise You
Traditionally you may have been told to ignore dogs or puppies when they jump up. However, this is unfair to your dog or puppy, as usually when they jump up they are nervous and are asking for reassurance, or you have been away and they are pleased to see you. Dogs are social animals and crave social and emotional contact from their guardians. Therefore, when your dog jumps, they have a social or emotional need, and as dog guardians we should fulfill that need. Provide Reassurance When your dog… Continued
Teach Your Cat to Like the Carrier – You Got This!
Does your cat run and hide as soon as she sees the carrier? Even worse, does your cat scratch and bite if you try to force her into the carrier? Take a deep breath! There is a way to teach your cat to like the carrier. Make the Carrier a Happy Place First, put the carrier in a part of the house frequented by your cat, so your cat gets used to seeing it. If the only time your cat ever goes into the carrier is for a vet… Continued
You Can Still Help the Animals of Ukraine Survive the War
Quick Link: Help Animals Survive the War in Ukraine (Click on link to donate.) Latest updates on the Help Animals Survive the War in Ukraine fundraiser Highlights for the month of July include: – local and international adoptions picking up despite the challenges – shelters preparing for the winter and taking on long overdue repairs – delivering pet food all over Ukraine and fostering new partnerships … and so much more! A Letter from Dr. Marina Bayeva: On August 24th, it will be six months (!) since Russia invaded Ukraine. Six… Continued
Pets – Who Cares for Them When You Cannot? (Part Two)
Before you entrust the care of your pet to anyone, you should ask them the following: Have you had formal training in pet first aid, and can you apply first aid if necessary? What experience do you have with pet health issues such as diabetes, seizures, and bloat? Do you have experience giving pets medications such as pills, ointments, drops, or injections? Have you had training and experience supervising interactions between pets that do not regularly interact with other pets? Are you familiar with canine and feline body language? Do… Continued
Getting to Know Pets and Their People Magazine
Here at Pets and Their People, we want to make it as easy as possible for busy pet parents like you to find the pet care information you’re seeking. So here’s a quick summary of some of our most useful features: For training tips, enrichment ideas and product reviews, be sure to visit the Current Issue. You can find current Lifestyle, Pet Safety and Educational posts on our blog. Have a training question? Submit it here. Have a story to share about the pet(s) in your life? Submit it here. We’d… Continued
Looking at Dog Training with Fresh Eyes
You have your treats ready. Maybe you have a clicker and a treat pouch too and you’re ready to train your dog. Yippee! Setting up structured training sessions where you do your homework from puppy or dog training classes is common, isn’t it? But what happens outside of these sessions? Do you ever think to yourself, “I’m not training now.”? Well, we have news for you! While we might not think we’re actively training, our dogs are always learning. They’re either learning that things they do get them rewards from… Continued
Six Ways to Keep Your Dog Cool During the Summer Months
1. Baby pool Some dogs might not enjoy swimming in their big backyard pool, but enjoying laying in a baby pool. Some even like to roll around in it. 2. Sprinkler Some pups might not enjoy submerging themselves in a pool, but love to run free through a sprinkler. 3. Slip and Slide We’ve had many dogs grace our homes who enjoyed the slip and slide. They can run down it, lay in the water, dash through the water feature. 4. Splash Pad This combines the fun… Continued
Pets – Who Cares for Them When You Cannot? (Part One)
As much as we would like to have our pets with us at all times, that may not always be possible. Sometimes life throws us a curve ball that will require you to leave your pets in the care of someone else. For example, you may need to travel for work, a family healthcare crisis, or a funeral. In addition, you may need to evacuate your home due to a natural disaster where you will not be able to take your pets with you. Planning Ahead Perhaps you’re staying home… Continued
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