Patio Dogs

Practice these tips at home to prepare your dog for the patio (Photo: dog laying on a balcony with table and chairs in the background)

A new law in 2020 now allows bars and restaurants the option of allowing puppies on their patios in Ontario. Imagine your dog stretched out beneath your table while you enjoy the summer breeze, good food, and great conversation. 

Are you worried that your dog will tangle up the server, lunge at the dog under the next table, or stare at the other diners and drool the entire time? 

Are you afraid of what your dog might do to embarrass you at a patio? (Photo: two Pekinese dogs with tangled leashes)

We understand how stressful it can be to try to train your dog to relax for five minutes, let alone while you eat an entire meal. By breaking down the training process into manageable bite-sized bits, you can be the envy of all the other diners. You can be the one leaning back in her chair, casually sipping wine, and laughing at her friend’s story about her insane boss. Here are three tips to get you started.  

1. EXERCISE — Be sure to exercise your dog before heading out to the patio. If you have a breed that requires loads of exercise, like a Husky or a Rhodesian Ridgeback, this may mean a long bike ride, hike, or fetch session. When you have fulfilled your dog’s needs, they will be far more willing to go into rest-mode while you sip your cider. 

Be sure to exercise your dog before bringing them to a patio (Photo: two dogs wrestle on a lawn)

2. ACTIVITIES — You wouldn’t expect your kids to survive a long meal at a restaurant without toys or activity books. Restaurant owners often provide colouring mats and crayons to children, but they won’t have anything available for your dog. Bring a bone, bully stick, or a rubber toy stuffed with frozen treats along to entertain your dog. Do not bring these items if your dog is a resource guarder (has issues with food aggression/toy aggression,) as there is no guarantee that there won’t be other dogs around. Also, be aware that other dogs may have these issues, even if your dog is lovely and shares everything with everyone. Be aware of your surroundings and adjust accordingly. 

Bring your dog something to do/chew (Photo: beagle chewing a bone)

3. PRACTICE LIKE YOU PLAY — I’ve been an athlete all my life. I’ve had many amazing coaches and the best ones made sure that we practiced like we played. What does that mean? It means you give 100% at practice or you ride the pine (sit on the bench) on game day. You can’t give a 50% effort into training your dog and then expect a perfect performance on game day (or patio day, as the case may be.) If your goal is to have a dog who can lie under your table at a restaurant for hours on end, not growl and lunge at other dogs, not beg for food, and not jump on passersby, then you need to teach your dog all of those little pieces. Think of each one as a puzzle piece. Write them down. Commit. Check them off one by one, before expecting your dog to magically do all of them on her own. Could you have excelled in every game or activity you enjoyed without coaching? Without practice?

Practice in many locations: in your home, in your yard, at your friend’s cottage (Photo: (three dogs lounge on a deck while attentively watching their human)

Here’s a list of a few simple commands to work on to prepare for patio day: 

-sit

-stay

-down

-off (so they don’t jump on strangers or put their paws on the table)

-leave it (so if food falls on the floor, they don’t snatch it up)

-drop it/aus — the backup plan if they DO snatch up food that falls from the table

All of these commands come in very handy at home, on hikes, and at backyard BBQs as well. 

Here is a picture of Magic at Three Dog Winery in Prince Edward County. While we were lounging, an off-leash dog came over (his owner had no idea we were there.) Luckily both of our dogs were friendly and up for a wee visit, and happily — no wagging tails spilled our wine.

(Magic the Rottweiler poses at Three Dog Winery in Prince Edward County)

It takes time to build a strong relationship with any dog. Take your time, enjoy the process, and be patient with yourself and your dog. You’ll get there.

Happy training, Dog Leaders!! 

Alyssa

Photos by: Lia Tzanidaki (dog laying on a balcony with table and chairs in the background,) David Taffet (two dogs wrestle on a lawn,) Aditya Joshi (beagle chewing a bone,) Jason Dean Chamberlain (three dogs lounge on a deck while attentively watching their human,) Collins Lesulie (two Pekinese dogs with tangled leashes,) Alyssa Foulkes (Magic the Rottweiler poses at Three Dog Winery in Prince Edward County.)

Preventing Heat Exhaustion in Dogs

How to beat the summer heat (Photo: Dog jumping into a swimming pool)

We’re in the middle of a heat wave. Today, we are expecting a high of 43°C with the humidex. These temperatures come with heat warnings. We are reminded to never leave people or pets unattended in parked vehicles, warned of deteriorating air quality, and alerted to which groups are most at risk to heat-related illness. This leaves many people asking how do I exercise my very active dog while keeping her safe from heat exhaustion? 

Here are a few tips to drain your dog’s physical and mental energy when the temperatures soar: 

1. Walk your dog early in the morning and later in the evening, to avoid hot pavement and exercising during the day. Keep exercise sessions short and always provide water. I like to head out just before sunrise to walk and play a short game of fetch. 

2. Play games indoors where it’s cool. If you have air conditioning, try playing short games of fetch or tug o’ war inside. If you don’t have AC, be sure to use a fan to get the best air circulation you can. Be creative and have fun!

Think outside the box (Photo: Dachshund inside a cardboard box.)

3. Leash skills — Does your dog pull on the leash when you’re walking? Now is a great time to go back to basics and practice teaching them to heel indoors where there are less distractions. You don’t need a lot of space to teach your dog to walk beside you, just positivity and a willingness to learn something new. 

4. Swim with your dog. Take your dog on an early morning hike to the nearest river or lake, or enjoy a swimming pool.

Take your dog swimming to beat the heat (Photo: two black dogs swim in a lake)

5. Nosework — Dogs love to use their noses. Hide their breakfast or dinner in small piles inside your home and watch them search for food. I like to hide the kibble inside treat dispensing toys, inside Kongs, under towels, inside bones, under my dog’s bed, and behind or under her stuffed toys. Be sure to hide food inside your dog’s crate as well, especially if you are working with a new puppy and want to encourage them to love their crate.

Searching for kibble or treats provides your dog with mental exercise (Photo: Spaniel sniffing near colourful boxes)

Always watch your dog closely for signs of heat stress and remember if you are hot, they are hot. Take lots of breaks in the shade, provide yourself and your dog with water during walks, and be creative with indoor activities. 

Stay cool and safe, Dog Leaders! 

Alyssa

Photos by: Murilo Viviani (dog jumping into a swimming pool,) Erda Estremera (Dachshund inside a cardboard box,) Jeremy Perkins (two black dogs swim in a lake,) James Lacy (Spaniel sniffing near colourful boxes.)

Dog Breed Information at Your Fingertips

Show your dog you love them, by learning what they love to do (Photo: Golden Retriever laying on his back.)

Have you ever heard of a Basenji? How about a Catahoula Leopard Hound? How much exercise does a Whippet need? Which breed would enjoy doing agility with you and your kids? 

Whether you’re interested in learning about dogs, researching to figure out what breed of dog might suit your lifestyle, or discovering more about the dog you already have this blog post is for you! 

Which breed of dog would LOVE to do agility with you? Photo: dog running through weave poles.

Many of my clients adopt rescue dogs and then use DNA tests to find out what breeds make up their beautiful dog. If you find out that your new best friend is a Rhodesian Ridgeback mixed with German Shepherd, Akita, and Boerboel and you’d like to learn more about what activities those breeds enjoy the most, head over to www.akc.org/dog-breeds. You will find information about a wide variety of breeds, including their history, training requirements, exercise needs, health, and temperament.

Happy reading, Dog Leaders! 

Alyssa

Fulfilling your dog’s breed need is the best gift you can give them. (Photo: a large, black and tan dog stands in a field.)

Photos by: Stephen Andrews (Golden Retriever laying on his back,) Murilo Viviani (dog running through weave poles,) Lucie Hošová (a large, black and tan dog stands in a field.)

The Little Things

One of our jobs as dog owners is to teach our dogs how to be polite in a human world (Photo: Dog nose-to-nose with a tiny puppy.)

The little things often get overlooked when it comes to training your family dog. Life is made up of little moments: cooking dinner, relaxing in the backyard by the pool, working in your home office, playing with your children, having friends and family over to visit, and snuggling with your cat. 

When you bring a new dog (or puppy) home, your job is to teach them how to behave during every one of life’s moments. It’s a big job. Let’s get started!

One of life’s moments: mealtimes at the table (Photo: a small dog sits beside a kitchen table looking up,)

Let’s face it — it’s hard to enjoy cooking (or eating dinner) when your dog steals your steak. Being in the kitchen should be fun, but a lot of clients call me because their dog keeps putting his feet up on the table and the counter. Most people admit that they push their dog off the counter while yelling “Down!”

My most recent phone call regarding this behaviour was about a week ago. As we spoke on the phone, the owner explained that her dog growls at her when she pushes his feet off of the kitchen counter. “It’s scary,” she said. “But what’s more scary is that now he’s not only growling, but snapping at me. He also snaps at my husband when he pushes him off the sofa.”

Pushing is never the solution when it comes to living successfully with dogs (Photo: Rottweiler resting her head on a coffee table beside a cup and saucer,)

This is a blog, so of course I can’t give you a step-by-step of how to “fix” this behaviour, mainly because there’s always more going on inside the home than simply one issue. Instead, let’s talk about how to prevent this from developing in the first place. 

Never reward your puppy for putting his two front feet on you, your friends, your kitchen cupboards, the dining room table, or your coffee table. Be consistent from DAY ONE. 

I’m not saying that you shouldn’t teach your dog to put two paws on a Rubbermaid, place board, log, or boulder. Tricks are awesome! You can absolutely teach that as a separate trick, but when you teach it, build in the word “OFF,” so that your puppy learns what that means too — and gets rewarded for it. 

Teach your dog what “off” means, so that you never have to push them. (Photo: Labradoodle sits on park bench.)

Never push your puppy or dog. Pushing a dog results in them pushing back. It doesn’t solve anything. Think of a playground. When one child shoves another, what happens? The other child retaliates. It’s similar with dogs. Pushing your dog can lead to them growling and snapping at you — you definitely don’t want that. Seek help from a dog behaviour expert in your area or online and find out how to communicate with your dog without pushing. 

Always be consistent with your dog and keep your words clear. They don’t understand sentences, so less words is always better. 

What can you teach your dog so that you can enjoy life’s moments more? (Photo: grey tabby cat looking concerned with a fluffy husky behind him.)

Think about all the little moments in your day. Maybe your dog barks nonstop making relaxing by the pool too loud to enjoy. Maybe you can’t have visitors over to your home because your dog frightens them away. Maybe your dog doesn’t “let you” snuggle with your cats. 

Let’s get you back to enjoying ALL of life’s moments. A FREE fifteen minute call could change your life. Visit the TAKE ACTION page and let’s chat about your unique needs and get you back on track. 

Have a wonderful weekend, Dog Leaders! 

Alyssa  

Photos by: Jametlene Reskp (Dog nose-to-nose with a tiny puppy,) Sonder Quest (a small dog sits beside a kitchen table looking up,) Allie (Rottweiler resting her head on a coffee table beside a cup and saucer,) Overture Creations (Labradoodle sits on park bench,) Tran Mau Tri Tam (grey tabby cat looking concerned with a fluffy husky behind him.)

Quiet Car Rides With Dogs

Today, we’re looking at how you can go from this…

This situation could easily result in a traffic accident (Photo: two cars drive alongside each other with the windows rolled down. The dogs in either car are looking at each other. One of the dogs is on the driver’s lap and his front legs are braced against the outside of the car.)

to this!

Calm Cruising (Photo of a man driving a convertible with two calm dogs)

You pull up to the traffic light holding your breath. There’s two German Shepherds hanging their heads out the window right beside you — and your dog, who is a perfect sweetheart at home, is lunging toward them with her hackles up. She’s not barking, so much as yelping. It’s a sound that could curdle milk. Her claws are scratching everything they come into contact with, including your bare arms as you attempt to remove her from your lap. 

What adds to your upsetting moment is that the German Shepherds don’t even respond. How are they so well trained? you wonder.

What is their secret? (Photo: Man in truck pets a calm German Shepherd)

The light is green and you’re distracted. The person behind you honks. How are you going to survive this all the way up to the cottage? 

Some families opt to leave their dog at home and never drive them anywhere. They head off to the cottage and kennel their dog. 

Some families give the dog back to the shelter, claiming that the dog barks all the time and “isn’t smart.”

Some families head to their veterinarian and purchase sedatives for their dog.  

There’s a better, more humane answer — car training. It’s a thing. It’s my thing. Car training is totally unique. It helps your unique dog and your unique family to LOVE going road tripping together. 

It’s never too late to help your dog become the dog you always wanted. (Photo: brown and white terrier sits in a yellow convertible.)

Here are a couple of tips to get you started on the path to quiet car rides: 

1. Exercise, exercise, exercise — Always begin with exercise. Dogs who are not exercised will expend their energy in ways you don’t like — that’s barking in the car, racing back and forth overtop of the kids in the back seat, and whining nonstop. Take a long walk with your dog before you get in the car. If your dog likes fetch, play fetch beforehand too. If they drink a lot of water, be sure to wait awhile to allow them a chance to pee — especially if you’re about to head out on the highway where there aren’t a lot of pitstops. 

Make time to exercise your dog before you go on a long car ride (Photo of a Bull Terrier running through a field.)

2. Practice — Just like an athlete practices all week before the big game, you need to teach your dog to love the car. Think of these sessions as practices. Start with short car rides, before expecting your dog to be able to handle four hours on the 401. 

3. Calmness — I say this all the time because it’s so important. If you are not calm, your dog won’t be calm. Everyone in the car needs to be calm. If you’re yelling at traffic the whole way to your destination, why shouldn’t your dog be able to yell at people (and dogs) in other cars too?   

Recently, I had the opportunity to work with a beautiful rescue dog named Cooper. I worked with him and his owners on polite door greetings and leash manners and later on, one-on-one with Cooper. His neighbourhood walks soon included a lot more heeling and a lot less cat and squirrel chasing. 

Although his behaviour was greatly improved in his own neighbourhood, his owners were struggling to get Cooper to pay attention to them in new places.  It seemed that his listening ears simply fell off every time they were in a new park or on a new trail. I was so happy to begin working with him in new environments. 

I picked up Cooper and went through all of our usual steps. I made sure we were both calm while putting on the leash, before leaving the apartment building, and while walking to my car. 

We drove to a new park and enjoyed a lovely walk. 

Cooper being calm in the car. (Photo: Alyssa Foulkes of Beyond Dog Training with Cooper in the backseat of her car.)

When I showed the clients the pictures I took, they were amazed. “He was sitting down in your car?” they asked. “Sitting? While you were driving?” 

That’s when I learned that Cooper is usually anxious in the car on the way to new parks and trails. He would usually whine and stand during car rides.

I shared all of my car tips with them and the very next day, received this excited text: 

“Sitting!! The whole drive!!” 

It came with the picture below:

Success!!! (Photo: My client in her car with Cooper sitting calmly on the backseat.)

Nothing makes my day brighter than client updates like this one! 

I hope these tips help you on your path to quiet car rides. It’s never too late for your dog to become the dog of your dreams! 

Have a peaceful week, Dog Leaders! 

Alyssa

Photos by: Jane Grafton (two cars passing each other with the windows rolled down and the dogs looking at each other,)Jim Merithew (man with two dogs in convertible,) adrian (man in a truck petting his German Shepherd,) NICHOLAS BYRNE (brown and white terrier sits in a yellow convertible,) William Nettmann (Bull Terrier running in a field,) Alyssa Foulkes (selfie with Cooper in the car,) and Cori Sears (selfie with Cooper in the car.)

Drain Before You Train

Playing fetch with Brooklyn could go on for hours. We both LOVED it! (Photo of Brooklyn the German Shepherd-X leaping into a lake.)

This tip is so easy, that it often gets overlooked. I figured this out completely by accident, with my first dog, Brooklyn. It’s an absolute game-changer that I now pass on to all of my clients. 

Brooklyn was one of those “who on Earth would have EVER given you up?” pups. At seven months old, he was housebroken, knew how to sit and shake a paw, and was amazing with my cat, Jonas, from day one. 

Brooklyn was a very high energy German Shepherd X. I think the best gift I ever gave him was teaching him how to play fetch. We alternated between kick-fetch, Kong-on-a-rope (the one that was supposed to float but never, ever did,) and Chuck-it. He didn’t care if it was on land or in the water, it was what he lived for.

Brooklyn splashes into the water chasing his ball.

After fetch, his leash manners were amazing. He heeled all the way home, his tongue, which was Guinness-Book-of-World-Records long, drawing attention and smiles from passersby. He walked pretty nicely on the way TO the park, but the way home was far better. It was a lightbulb moment: All I had to do was drain out some of that fetch energy and then teach him the word heel when he did it naturally on the way home. This lead to my “drain before you train” philosophy. 

A dog who has their exercise needs met is so much easier to train (and live with.) Read that twice. 

One of my new clients this week sent me an email letting me know she’d taken her dog on an extra walk at lunchtime to get him ready to train with me that evening. She ended the sentence with a lighthearted LOL, and that’s what reminded me to share this with all of you — it’s such an easy tip and so many of you would benefit from doing it! My client’s gut instinct told her that this was probably something that would help the training session go more smoothly, and she was absolutely right. 

No matter what you’d like to teach your dog, drain some of their excess energy before you begin the session. How much exercise will they need before the session will depend on breed, age, motivation level, and temperament. 

A black and white Setter carries a ball in her mouth while running,)

Do you need to drain before you train with EVERY dog? 

No. 

If you have a young puppy or a high drive working breed who is keen to work, you may not need this tip at all. I do hope that it helps one or two of you out there, who are struggling with a new rescue dog and hoping to teach her some leash manners. 

Have a fetch-filled Friday, Dog Leaders! 

Alyssa

Photos by: Alyssa Foulkes (Brooklyn the GSD-X leaping into a lake,) Alyssa Foulkes (Brooklyn splashes into the water chasing his ball,) Stainless Images (black and white Setter carries a ball in her mouth while running.)

Running With Dogs

Let’s make jogging with your dog joyful (Photo of a person jogging with their chihuahua.)

If you follow @GoBeyondDogTraining on Instagram, you know that this past Wednesday was Global Running Day and that I shared a tip about how to begin training your dog to become your running partner. I mentioned that many people call me AFTER they’ve been seriously injured while running (and walking) with their dog on a leash. These injuries are no joke: a broken hip, a broken collarbone, and a dislocated shoulder, to name a few. 

Never wrap the leash around your wrist. If you fall, you will be dragged instead of simply letting go. (Photo of

two young boys being pulled down the road by their large dogs. The leashes are criss-crossing each other.)

Since I am the Queen of Prevention, the tip I shared on Instagram was about structured walks. If your dog knows how to heel, they are far less likely to run in front of you and become a sudden hurdle (a hurdle rarely cleared by their human running companion.) You can read more about how to teach a structured walk here:

https://beyonddogtraining.ca/news/give-your-dog-a-break

Today, I’m going to share 3 more tips on how to enjoy running with your dog so that you can prevent these types of injuries. 

1. Say NO to leash biting — Whether you’re adopting a new puppy or an older rescue dog, leash biting is off limits. There are millions of other fun things for your new puppy or dog to chew. If you want to have fun on your run, don’t get into a tug of war situation with your dog. Teach them to respect you and the leash from day one. 

If you never allow leash-biting, you will train your new running partner more quickly. (Photo of a black dog biting the leash.)

2. Build up to long-distance running gradually — No one buys a new pair of running shoes and then heads straight out the door and runs a marathon if they’re brand new to the sport. Talk to your veterinarian about joint health and discuss what age is appropriate for your puppy to begin attempting longer runs. 

Work up to long-distance running gradually. (Photo of two people running in a race with their husky.)

3. Avoid getting your dog amped up before you leave home — Invite a calm dog out of the house with you. A hyper dog jumps up on you, other dogs, and strangers. A calm dog jogs beside you in a follower position. Try a calm approach when putting on your dog’s leash. Practice being calm yourself. Take the time to do this training throughout the week, so you’re not checking your watch and thinking “That’s five more minutes off my run because HE isn’t calm yet.” Train when you HAVE the time and remember that your dog mirrors your own energy. 

Don’t be afraid to put the leash away if your dog is jumping all over you. Try again in a few minutes. (Photo: Corgi sitting politely while his owner puts on his leash.)

Set your puppy up for success. Teach your puppy from Day One that their collar and leash are not tug toys. (Photo of a puppy playing tug of war with his collar.)

Bonus Tip: Watch out for overheating — Protect your dog (and yourself) from overheating. On hot days, run in the early morning, or later in the evening. Carry water and avoid running on sizzling sidewalks. Plan a route where your dog can go swimming partway through your run, so they can cool off. 

In hot weather, plan your runs around rivers and lakes to let your dog cool off partway through. (Photo:

senior dog plays with a stick in a lake.)

Patience is the key to all of this. If you want a wonderful canine running partner, take your time to leash train them properly first. When you can effectively communicate with each other, running becomes a breeze. 

There are a lot of distractions out on your runs. There are other dogs, strollers, garbage trucks, squirrels and much, much more. Be sure that your dog knows how to WALK past these types of distractions and pay attention to you before you expect her to be able to run past them and remain focused. 

I hope you enjoy many safe walks and runs with your dog this weekend, Dog Leaders! 

Alyssa

Photos by: Sergio Rodriguez - Portugues del Olmo (person running with a dog on leash,) Sheri Hooley (two young boys being pulled down the road by their large dogs. The leashes are crossing each other.,) Pauline Loroy (black dog chewing brown leash,) Sherise . (husky running in a race with his owners,) Audrey Fretz (Corgi sitting politely while his owner puts on his leash,) Chen pin ju (a puppy plays tug of war with his collar,) and Jeremy Perkins (senior dog plays with a stick in a lake.)

Time

How to free up more time for your puppy (Photo: woman wearing a watch and holding a puppy.)

Time. None of us have enough of it. Medical experts tell us we need to free up more time for self care. We scrounge around each day searching for enough time to fit in work, kids, groceries, weeding the garden, and chasing dust bunnies with the vacuum. We’re exhausted. 

And then we add a puppy. 

Phew! We’re up at 2 AM for a pee break. We have trouble falling back to sleep. When we finally nod off, it’s 5 AM and the puppy needs to poop. And she’s hungry. And wants to play. And refuses to settle back down in her crate so that we can go back to bed. 

It’s exhausting. 

This exhausting. (Photo: an exhausted woman lies in bed.)

There is no coffee mug large enough to escape the amount of tired that having a puppy brings. 

That’s a step in the right direction. (Photo of a very large coffee mug that reads: It’s coffee o’clock.)

This week, I’m going to give you an insanely valuable gift: the gift of time. I learned this tip from the Godfather of Time himself, Craig Ballantyne. If you want to survive puppyhood, follow this ONE tip and you’ll get more sleep, feel better, and have more time to enjoy the little things (which of course, translates to more time with your puppy!) 

This tip is so EASY, that anyone can do it.

I’m going to gift you some time. (Photo: hands holding up a large alarm clock.)

This week, I'm giving you permission to go to bed ten minutes early. Set an alarm clock for this if you need to (no, I’m not joking.) When that alarm clock goes off, your phone gets turned off and your puppy goes outside for a potty break. 

Tomorrow, you’re going to wake up ten minutes earlier than you normally would. If you like hitting snooze, put your phone far enough away that you can’t turn it off in your sleep.

When you wake up, you’re going to throw on a baseball cap and walk your puppy before you eat your breakfast. You’re going to see a sunrise. You’re going to listen to the birds. Maybe, just maybe — you’ll even leave your phone at home. This time is for you and your puppy. This morning walk is going to set you up for an incredible relationship with your new best friend. 

Begin each day with a walk in nature with your dog. (Photo: person walking a dog on the beach at sunrise.)

You may be thinking — ten minutes isn’t enough time. 

But it’s a start. All you need to begin making changes is a nudge. A single step. So, start with ten minutes and then slowly increase it to twenty. And then thirty. Most people go to bed far too late anyway. Humans require eight hours of sleep, but everyone loves to argue about needing less. It’s science. Stop arguing with science. 

Before you know it, you’ll enjoy better moods, get more done in a day than ever before, and have way more patience for your new puppy (trust me: you’re gonna need it.) 

Enjoy this newfound time. Post in the comments about your progress. 

Have an incredible weekend, Dog Leaders! 

Alyssa

Photos by: Anthony Tran (woman wearing a watch and holding a puppy,) Katherine Fleitas (coffee mug that reads: It’s coffee o’clock,) Yuris Alhumaydy (an exhausted woman lies in bed,) Malvestida Magazine (hands holding up an alarm clock,) and Rufus O’Dea (person walking a dog on the beach at sunrise.)

Three Things to Stop Your Puppy From Chewing Your Shoes

There is a strange misconception that all puppies cause damage to shoes, purses, and remote controls. The truth is that a lot of puppies do. 

But not all puppies. 

Why do I hesitate to tell you that Magic NEVER chewed on ANYTHING she wasn’t supposed to? Because it feels like bragging. It feels like you’ll never believe me. Or that you’ll say I got lucky, or “Of course HER puppy is perfect. She’s a dog behaviourist!” Sure, I have a lot of experience working with puppies at the University of Guelph, but Magic was the FIRST puppy I ever raised at home. And I wasn’t even doing in-home training yet. I started in-home training because she showed me that I was special and could HELP people. I thank her for that every day. 

Magic the Rottweiler puppy playing with a toy skunk at in a friend’s backyard

Listen. The club of “Woe is me (giggle, giggle, - cue the slow song) —what did my puppy destroy today?” is the biggest club on planet Earth. I spent four years not writing this article. I’ll admit, I was tired of never fitting in. 

But here’s the thing: I don’t EVER want to be a part of a club that promotes harming puppies. Think about that the next time you click LIKE on a video where a puppy is surrounded by feathers because it ate a duvet, or is sitting on a kitchen floor with garbage strewn about. Or forced to sit in a corner because they got into the garbage can. What? 

I don’t think that’s cute. I think it’s scary. That puppy could ingest duvet feathers or chicken bones or plastic wrap and actually DIE. And NO ONE IS TALKING ABOUT THAT!!!!!! 

And don’t get me started on all the videos where the human is punishing the puppy hours later for the mess.

Sharpei puppy chewing on a cat’s scratching post.

Let’s start a new club. A club of responsible puppy owners whose puppies won’t EVER be at risk of eating something that kills them. 

Deal? 

Let’s go. Let’s get pumped! And let’s spread the word!

Here’s how to raise a beauty instead of a beast. 

1. PICTURES AND VIDEOS — You can check out Google, Insta, or TikTok and find pictures and videos of puppies doing all kinds of naughty things. They’re running away from their humans carrying sandals in their mouths, munching food from kitchen tables, and gnawing on table legs. Every time you take a video or picture of your new puppy being naughty, you are missing an opportunity to teach them not to be naughty. When you giggle or chase them around making shoe-stealing a game, you are accidentally teaching them that the behaviour is acceptable. The very first time your puppy puts a shoe in their mouth, calmly communicate that this isn’t allowed. Be consistent with your wording. If you’re going to say “No,” then make sure everyone your live with says “No.” If everyone says something different (or if one family member allows shoe chewing,) it’s time for a family meeting to get everyone on the same page. 

Be consistent and fair to your puppy at all times, or you will raise a dog who is confused. (Adult Golden Retriever holding a shoe in her mouth.)

2. REDIRECT — When your puppy picks up a shoe, your child’s toy, or the remote control, you have several options of how to react. Many people yell the puppy’s name and then the word ‘no.’ After that, the puppy usually enjoys a great game of chase. Sometimes, the human secretly enjoys this game as well. Your puppy has now learned that when they pick up certain items, they can get you to play chase with them. How fun! Try a calm approach instead. If your puppy has a favourite toy, now is a great time to squeak it. As soon as they drop your shoe, say “Good drop,” or “Good aus,” or whatever you would like to call it. 

If your puppy has a shoe in his mouth, offer one of his toys as a trade. (Photo: black and white terrier chewing a yellow toy pig.)

3. PREVENTION — Teach your puppy the “drop it” command when they are VERY young. We taught Magic “aus” (the German word for “out” or “drop it”,) before we taught her to sit. It’s THAT important. When you teach this command using their toys, they learn very quickly. You can also use treats, just make sure that you also use verbal praise, so that you don’t raise a dog who only works for food. Magic understood “aus,” at 8 weeks of age. The first, and ONLY time she picked up my sandal to investigate it, I said “Magic, aus,” and she dropped it. I said, “Good aus.” Then, I picked up one of her toys and we played with that instead. It really can be that easy.  

If you want to raise a puppy who NEVER destroys anything in your home, book a session with us BEFORE you get your puppy. We will help you begin teaching your puppy BEFORE you even bring them home from the breeder. It’s NEVER too early to begin training your puppy. 

My floors are covered in cat toys. Magic has never picked one up. 

I’d never HEARD of a chew-proof puppy bed until I read about them in an online forum in 2020 (never needed one - never will.) 

When you get tired of replacing expensive shoes, purses, dog beds, couches, and drywall — call me. I would be so happy to help you protect your puppy and keep her safe. 

You can enjoy EVERY moment of your puppy’s life. You just need to communicate with them in a way they understand. (Photo:Puppy lying on her back on a lap with rose petals scattered around.)

Puppies make mistakes and so do people. Don’t beat yourself up if your puppy has eaten one of your shoes, just know that you can still teach them not to. There’s still hope. 

Stay safe, dog leaders! Have a wonderful weekend!

Alyssa 

Photos by: Claudia Udrea (Boxer puppy with pink sneakers,) Alyssa Foulkes (Rottweiler puppy chewing on a toy skunk in a friend’s backyard,) Sophie Elvis (Sharpei gnawing on a cat’s scratching post,) Lespinas Xavier (Golden Retriever holding a shoe in her mouth,) Justin Veenema (black and white terrier chewing a yellow toy pig,) Sophia Kunkel (Puppy lying on her back on a lap with rose petals scattered around.)

Prevent Post-Pandemic Separation Anxiety

Separation Anxiety is preventable. (Photo of a black and tan dog lying on a sofa.)

Your dog is used to you being home every day. She follows you to the washroom. She cries when you leave your apartment (even if you’re only going to the mailbox and back.) She paces and whines when you pick up your house keys or put on your jacket. She doesn’t CARE that someone else is still home — she wants you. Sound familiar? 

Here are are three tips to help you be able to leave home knowing that your dog is safe. 

1. EXERCISE - A tired dog will nap while you are out having lunch with your friends. The TYPE of exercise matters. Dogs need STRUCTURED exercise and they also need time to PLAY and EXPLORE. If you’re only taking them to the dog park and the rest of the time they are alone in your backyard, they are not receiving the type of exercise they need to be properly tired. To learn more about structured exercise, read this post:  https://beyonddogtraining.ca/news/give-your-dog-a-break. 

Play is only PART of what your dog needs on a daily basis (Photo of two dogs running on a beach.)

2. PRACTICE LIKE YOU PLAY - Forgive the sport reference, but I’ve been an athlete all my life. You need to practice leaving your dog alone multiple times before leaving them for a full 8 hour day. Your favourite soccer team doesn’t just show up and win the World Cup. There are STEPS to get to game-day. LOTS of steps. Be patient with yourself and your dog. Start small. Pick up your house keys and put them back down. Ignore your dog and go back to reading your book or watching a movie. Do this multiple times per day. Anything worth learning takes time. It’s worth it to have a dog who doesn’t jump through a window or injure himself trying to escape his crate. 

A dog can get seriously injured when they attempt to escape from a dog crate. (Photo of a dog in a dog crate.)

3. BE CALM - This is the most overlooked way of being on planet Earth. If humans were calm when they left their dogs (and when they returned home) there wouldn’t BE any separation anxiety in dogs. Dogs are not BORN with separation anxiety. 

Whether you’re preventing separation anxiety from ever occurring in your new puppy or rescue dog, or you need help overcoming this condition with your current dog — don’t be afraid to reach out for help. 

I recently helped a young couple fix this issue over the phone. They had had a trainer come to their home and unfortunately made the problem worse. This trainer had one of them sit on the couch and the other one practice leaving the house. They were told to give their dog cookies while the other person left the house. The problem was that they weren’t coached on how to read their dog’s body language. They were feeding and rewarding an anxious, nervous, tense dog. Rewarding him for whining and carrying on. 

I followed up with them two days later and the separation anxiety was fixed. They had struggled with separation anxiety long before the pandemic began and were super smart to want to prepare their dog for when they both went back to work after the pandemic ends. 

Dogs can learn to be calm when left alone. All you need is the right teacher. 

Have a wonderful weekend, Dog Leaders! 

Alyssa 

Photos by: Lydia Torrey (black and tan dog lying on sofa,) Mark Galer (two dogs running on a beach,) Hermes Rivera (dog in crate.)