Long Lines

This is a leash. Long lines are usually 15 feet long (or longer) Who could resist this adorable photo?!

(Photo: terrier chases a ball while wearing a blue harness and a long line)

A long line is a lightweight, long leash which is often used in off-leash training. They range from 15 feet to roughly 30 feet and usually have no handle (which prevents them from getting caught on shrubs and tree roots.) 

I’ve been researching long lines this month and thought it would be valuable to share what I’ve learned with you. 

First of all, I’ve never owned a long line. To teach recall, I’ve always used a combination of indoor practice (on and off leash), outdoor practice on leash, play (fetch), and because I like to save money, tying two leashes together to make a makeshift long line. 

I absolutely love research, so I’ve been reading about long lines all month. 

Here’s what I’ve learned from Canadian dog lovers and trainers around the globe. 

To DIY or not DIY? That is the question. (Photo: a dirty, braided rope snagged on a log)

Long lines range in price, quality, and fabric. We’re going to dive into the pros and cons of the different fabrics, so that you can choose the option that works best for you and your dog. 

NYLON: 

You can get nylon long lines at Dollarama. While they are obviously not going to last as long or be as well-made as some options, they have great reviews from people with dogs weighing under twenty pounds. 

Drawbacks: The clips are not as strong. The lines are not easy to clean when they get wet/muddy etc. The nylon tends to attract burrs and other debris. 

You can buy nylon long lines with better clips from most pet stores for around $30 CAD + HST. 

Nylon gets wet, dirty, and can attract burrs and debris (Photo: poodle wearing a red nylon leash)

BIOTHANE: 

BioThane® is the brand name of all coated webbing products made by BioThane Coated Webbing Corp. It’s basically a polyester webbing with a TPU or PVC coating that makes it more durable, waterproof, easy to clean and even weldable. BioThane® has suddenly become the go-to choice for dog collars, leashes, and even long lines. It comes in lots of bright, fun colours making it very popular with dog owners. 

On the high end, you can purchase a 20 foot BioThane® long line for $60 CAD + HST.

There are more cost effective BioThane® long line options. Hunting stores sell BioThane® long lines which are interestingly cylindrical rather than flat. Made for dogs who run through the brush during long hunting trials, you know they’ll work for you and your dog on any trail. They also roll up small enough to fit in a coat pocket. A 20 foot long line from Canadian Gun Dog Supply costs $30 CAD + HST. 

Biothane is easier to clean and comes in a wide selection of colours (Photo: Dachshund wearing a turquoise collar and leash)

DIY (MAINLY MADE OF ROPE): I love a good DIY and thought that this would definitely be the option for me, until I read all of the reviews online. Many people head to the local hardware store to make their own long lines. While this will certainly save you money, many of the ropes will easily snag on brush and trees. Long lines made from rope also attract burrs and tend to get tangled, causing dog owners to get very frustrated.

Rope tends to attract burrs as well as getting tangled and dirty (Photo: dirty, fraying rope)

HORSE LUNGE LINES: 

Horse lunge lines are also very popular with dog owners. They are often cheaper than nylon long lines sold in pet stores and have high quality clips. 

They fall short in the easy-to-clean category and also tend to get tangled. 

If you don’t mind untangling things, you can get a horse lunge line for approximately $10-20 CAD + HST. 

Horse lunge lines are an outside-the-box affordable option (Photo: two women stand with a horse and dog (both on lead)

After reading about all of the tangled lines, burrs, and wet/muddy lines, I opted for BioThane® for my long line. Hunters spend long hours in the bush in all sorts of weather. If it’s strong enough to stand up to a gun dog racing through the brush, it’ll be strong enough for dog training.

PARACHUTE CORD: Parachute cord is wonderful for the final stages of transitioning your dog to off-leash life. It is so lightweight that your dog will feel as though he’s truly off-leash, but you have the ability to control him (he just doesn’t know it.) 

Parachute cord needs to be stepped on, rather than grabbed with your hand. If you tie knots in the cord every few feet, it will be easier for your shoe to actually catch the cord as it moves along the ground. 

You can purchase 50 feet of parachute cord for $7 + HST at Home Depot. You’ll want to buy bolt snaps so that you can easily attach it to your dog’s collar. At Home Depot they are sold in two packs and cost $3.95 + HST. 

Canadian Tire and Home Depot have both stopped selling rope on spools. That’s why my price is for 50 feet of parachute cord — it’s prepackaged (at Home Depot) and only comes in one length.  

Canadian Tire doesn’t sell parachute cord in their stores at this time. 

I had to include this because I love slack-lining :) This is not parachute cord. (Photo: a person slack-lining over a canyon)

A quick note on safety: 

I would not recommend leaving a long line on your dog while on an off-leash hike where they may get snagged or tangled with other dogs who you don’t know. Instead, use a long line to train reliable off-leash recall in your home, backyard, or empty field. 

The take home message is that long lines are for TRAINING not for passively allowing your dog to race through the bush tangling up every dog they meet along the way. Tangled dogs and leash tension start fights. Be safe out there.  

Have a safe and happy weekend, Dog Leaders. Remember to keep enjoying the things you CAN do (walking your dog, training your dog, reading, exercising etc,) rather than focusing on the next lockdown. 

For those of you who don’t know, Ontario is heading into another lockdown, beginning on Saturday, April 3, 2021.

Keep shining your lights and spreading kindness, friends. We’ll get through this. 

Alyssa 

Photos by: Aaron Clinard @aaronclinard (terrier chases a ball while wearing a blue harness and a long line,) vijay s @thevijayragav (a dirty, braided rope snagged on a log,) Bianca Ackermann

@biancablah (poodle wearing a red nylon leash,) William Fonteneau

@williamfntn (Photo: Dachshund wearing a turquoise collar and leash,) Nick Wood

@thewhitewood (dirty, fraying rope,) courtney coles

@kernieflakes (two women stand with a horse and dog (both on lead,) Loic Leray

@loicleray (a person slack lining over a canyon.)

Mud!

Dog owners know that March means mud! Every household has their own mud protocol. Some of us put towels down on top of our runner mats, to collect the muddy rivers that flow off our dogs. Others head to the pet store to try out a new mud mat or gadget. No matter what you do, there’s extra laundry and mopping in the spring…right?!

After your puppy sprints through your house leaving muddy footprints everywhere…

There’s not much we can do about the amount of muddy dog towels heading to the laundry, but what if I told you a secret to help you keep that mop in the closet?

Let’s get started! 

There are four basic commands you can teach your dog right now to get them to stand still while they get their feet wiped. There’s also an ADORABLE trick that you can teach them, so that they can wipe their feet themselves!

1. Sit

2. Stay

3. Paw ( I could make this really cute, and use “Shake” instead of “Paw,” but I have a command for outside that I call “Shake” for getting Magic to shake off all the excess water, as she would getting out of a lake or after having a bath.) 

4. Stand

I know, you may be overwhelmed and reaching for that mop bucket right about now. You’re thinking: “Four commands?? Plus teach my dog to shake the excess water from her fur AND wipe HER OWN feet?!” Thud.  

Don’t worry! Focus on a rock-solid sit (where you ask your dog to sit and she stays sitting until released.) Add in the other commands at your own pace. Dog training is a marathon - not a sprint.

Young or old, any dog can learn to sit.

How to Teach Your Dog to Sit: 

      Most dogs and new puppies will naturally lift their chin and sit down when you stand in front of them and raise your hand up above their head. 

      Step 1: Stand in front of your dog, so you are facing them.

      Step 2: Say their name or make a kissy noise, so that their attention is on you. 

Make sure you have your dog’s attention, like this.

Not this…

      Step 3: If you like, hold a treat in your hand for this step. When your dog is sniffing your hand, lift your hand up and toward them. This encourages their chin to tip up and their bum to lower into a sitting position. As soon as their bum hits the floor, feed them the treat and say “Good sit.”

You need to reward dogs within a SECOND, so timing is EVERYTHING. 

Client Question: “How many sits should I ask my new puppy to do?”

Beyond Dog Training’s Reply: “The first day you teach sit, try it about five to seven times. After that, move on to something else. You could play, go for a walk, or work through the other commands that your dog already knows. ALWAYS end on a HIGH note.”

Keep training sessions short and positive. After all that mental stimulation, your puppy or dog may need a nice long nap.

PRO TIP: ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS say “Good sit,” when your dog gives you a good sit. Your words, positivity, smile, and even petting your dog for a great sit become your dog’s reward once you phase out the food.

Phasing out the food rewards will help keep your dog at a healthy weight, minimize the risk for painful knee surgeries down the road, and ensure that your best friend will still listen to you on the days you forget to bring your treat pouch. 

Once your dog knows how to sit on command, you can ask them to sit while you wipe off some of that mud!

For a VERY special tip on When to Teach Your New Rescue Dog to Sit, please scroll down and SUBSCRIBE. I will be sending a special tip for special rescue cases to the subscriber list this week! 

Thanks for reading! Happy Spring, Dog Leaders!

Alyssa

Photos by: Janet Smith-Roberts (muddy legs,) Adli Wahid (six-moppers-mopping,) Sandra Tilkeridisová (dog sitting down,) Victor Grabarczyk (Jack Russel mix,) Ash Goldsbrough (husky with eyes closed,) NeONBRAND (white dog being petted,) Ayla Verschueren (dog with computer.)

Muzzle Up

There’s a lot of different reasons why dogs wear muzzles (Photo: black dog wearing a bright orange basket muzzle)

There are so many reasons to use muzzles.

First, the obvious one: keeping veterinarians and veterinary technicians safe.  One of my very dear friends (a veterinarian) was bitten this week. Three out of four canines sunk into her forearm, which required a trip to the ER and IV antibiotics. There’s swelling, redness, bruising, and pain. 

Muzzle training isn’t your vet’s job. In fact, it’s far more stressful on your dog if she needs to be muzzled at the vet’s office. Typically, the vets don’t have time to slowly introduce the muzzle in a positive way. They have a staff to protect and a waiting room packed with other clients. 

You can make the time to slowly train your dog to love wearing a muzzle. It’s a great proactive step to preventing future stress in your beloved dog. You never know when they may need to wear a muzzle at the vet — even the sweetest dog may bite if they are badly injured. 

Even the sweetest dog may bite if they are injured (Photo: Golden Retriever holding a pink flower in its mouth)

Before we get to the “how to,” let’s talk about some other great reasons for muzzles. 

The people in our local dog forum have been struggling with life-threatening issues, costly vet bills, and in one case, loss of their beloved dog. Two of the most-talked about topics are: 

1. Tainted meat left on local trails (one sample contained antifreeze)

2. THC toxicity in dogs

Some of the affected dogs have been on-leash and some have been off-leash.

If your dog is the type to gobble up everything in her path while on (or off) leash, you could consider muzzle training to literally save her life. Some muzzles are not designed to prevent this type of nibbling, quite the opposite, actually, so do your homework when you’re shopping around and get the right kind. Read the reviews. 

It’s also worth noting that not all muzzles are built to last. It’s worth the extra money to invest in a good one. 

Muzzles are also beneficial for dogs who are terrified of the vet. If your dog bites first and asks questions later, slowly training her to enjoy wearing a muzzle can help her get a full veterinary exam. A “full” exam, you ask? If the vet can’t get a close look at your dog, she may not be able to get a blood sample, or take a close look at the bottoms of her itchy paws. Help your vet out (and your dog) and muzzle train your pup. 

Other benefits? You betcha! 

If your dog is fearful of strangers who constantly invade her space and try to pet her (without asking), wearing a muzzle will certainly keep people (and their flexi-leashed dogs) away from you. If you struggle to advocate for your dog’s space (because you’re like the rest of us: raised to be sooo darn polite that you’d never want to put someone else out) muzzle training can do the talking for you :) 

Muzzles help buy your shy, fearful rescue dog space (Photo: a grey dog being petted on top of his head)

A lot of owners say that their worst fear is that their dog bites someone and has to be put down. They feel a LOT better walking muzzled dog because it takes that fear away. Guess what! It also makes the owner feel more confident, so they can develop their dog leadership skills. Win-Win! 

Let’s show compassion to the next person we see who is walking a dog with a muzzle. They are likely protecting their dog’s life. Be kind. 

Sometimes we have to unlearn the things we learned to create space for new information. 

Tips on muzzle training: 

DO list: 

-measure your dog according the the guidelines for the type of muzzle you are buying

-take your time

-introduce the muzzle calmly and allow your dog to smell it before even beginning to try it on

-reward them calmly (“Good girl,”) simply for investigating it (sniffing it)

-use tiny treats to encourage your dog to move forward into the muzzle

-keep sessions very short and super positive

DO NOT list: 

-do not quickly try it out in the middle of a busy pet store

-do not rush

-do not use baby talk

-do not move the muzzle toward the dog, the dog should come forward into the muzzle

-do not do it up on the first session, just get them used to putting their cute snoot in and out for treats

Always take your time when working with your dog. 

If you’re nervous, anxious, or scared about doing it wrong, bring in a professional to help you out. You’ll learn a lot and have fun doing it. 

Have a wonderful weekend, Dog Leaders! 

Alyssa 

Photos by: Annie Spratt @anniespratt (black dog wearing a bright orange basket muzzle,) Celine Sayuri Tagami @celine_sayuri (Golden Retriever holding a pink flower in its mouth,) Simone Dalmeri @simone_dalmeri (a grey dog being petted on top of his head,)

HOW TO INTRODUCE YOUR DOG TO YOUR NEW HOME: PART 2

Is your dog ready for moving day? (Photo: small dog stands on grass in front of a house)

Are you moving soon? If so, you’re most likely stressed out. If you want to know how to keep yourself and your dog stress-free leading up to moving day, check out last week’s blog: https://beyonddogtraining.ca/news/how-to-introduce-your-dog-to-your-new-home-part-1

If you’re worried about how your dog will react to your new home, you’re in the right place. 

Will your dog be stressed out on moving day? Do they hate car rides? Is the only place they’ve ever been their own backyard (and the veterinarian?) What about the new home? Do you feel badly because you’ve downsized and are afraid they might miss their yard? Are you super excited to introduce your dog to the new swimming pool, but kind of scared because they don’t really know how to swim? 

You want your dog to feel happy and relaxed on moving day. A lot of people think that talking in a high-pitched voice and tossing treats into the backseat like strange confetti, will make their dog feel at ease. This actually has the opposite effect, by making an excited dog more excited and a fearful dog more confused and afraid. 

Talking in a high-pitched voice may make you feel better, but it doesn’t help your dog feel calm (Photo: Pomeranian with whale eye)

Here are a few steps to make moving day easier on everyone: 

1. EXERCISE - Your dog needs daily exercise and so do you. Take a structured walk first thing in the morning on moving day. What’s a structured walk?  In a nutshell, a structured walk looks like this: You lead the way, your dog follows beside/slightly behind you, and you allow them to take sniff breaks, bathroom breaks, and bounce-around-chasing-butterfly breaks. Read more here: https://beyonddogtraining.ca/news/give-your-dog-a-break

2. BREATHE - Your dog picks up your vibe. If you’re sitting in the front seat worrying about traffic, unpacking, and whether or not your dog will eat dinner in the new house or not, your dog will sense your nervousness and happily take over the leadership role in your relationship. This could look like: herding the children when you reach your destination, barking at strangers and dogs who come over to the house to meet you, or chasing the cat all over the new apartment. Not cool. Try to enjoy the car ride — unroll the windows and breathe the fresh air, listen to music, or play a fun game with your kids. 

Relax and enjoy the ride. Your calm energy will be passed along to your dog. (Photo: woman in the passenger seat with her head and arm stretching out of the window)

3. WALK - When you arrive to your new home, walk your dog around the property and the neighbourhood. This allows them to burn off energy from the car ride and to be introduced to their new environment calmly. 

Walk your dog BEFORE introducing them to your new house (Photo: person walking a white French Bulldog in front of a bright yellow house)

4. FIRST - It’s not a race, but you need to enter the house first. Dogs view the world differently than we do. 

5. CALM and CONFIDENT - The easiest way for your dog to feel calm and secure about moving day is for everyone in his human family to be calm and confident. The quote from the Navy Seals: “Calm breeds calm, panic breeds panic,” may help you to visualize the situation. If I walk into an elevator and begin pacing, acting nervous, and wringing my hands together, how will you feel? Panicked. If instead, I walk into the elevator and give you a confident smile, nod my head, and mind my own business, you will feel calm. Your dog is a master of reading your moods and feelings. Work hard to find happiness and balance in your life, and then watch your dog’s behaviour adjust like magic in front of your eyes.  

Calm breeds calm (Photo: Yellow Lab relaxes on his owner’s legs.)

If you’re stressed out because your dog barks at everyone who walks by your current house, guards the fence in the backyard like a police dog, and won’t get off the couch when you ask them to, there’s still hope. Leadership doesn’t happen overnight. If you’re moving and want to prepare yourself, your family, and your dog for this big change, call a dog behaviourist and begin working on any issues you and your dog are currently facing at least two months in advance of the move.

Any behaviourist or trainer worth their salt will help you gain the leadership role in your household before you move, and equip you with a game-day strategy for moving day that works best for your unique lifestyle. 

We hope that you enjoy moving day and that you have fun exploring your new neighbourhood with your dog. 

Alyssa

Photos by: Natalia Shiel (small dog stands on grass in front of a house,) Michelle Tresemer (Pomeranian with whale eye,) averie woodard (woman in the passenger seat with her head and arm stretching out of the window,) Harry Cunningham (person walking a white French Bulldog in front of a bright yellow house,) and Taylor Kopel (yellow lab relaxes on his owner’s legs.)

Last updated: March 12, 2021

HOW TO INTRODUCE YOUR DOG TO YOUR NEW HOME: PART 1

Moving is stressful. Let’s make it better for you and your dog. (Photo: person wearing a hoodie, covering their eyes and sitting on a couch surrounded by boxes)

Are you moving soon? If so, you’re most likely stressed out. You’re up to your eyeballs in packing peanuts and if you stub your toe on that box in the kitchen one more time…!!! 

Your dog is a barometer for your stress level. They feel every ounce of your tension, frustration, and packing-deadline panic. If you’re exhausted from folding (okay, shoving) clothes into garbage bags until three in the morning, your dog will slide into the leadership role in your household in the blink of an eye. 

You may not notice it at first, because you’re so tired, but here are some examples of things that happen when your dog takes over your (current) house before you even move: 

-excessive barking in the home

-charging the fence in your yard

-nipping and/or herding you 

-pulling on the lead especially when other dogs walk by

-chasing your other pets

What is your dog trying to tell you about your own stress level? (Photo: a red dog with pointy ears howling)

You may see these changes as well: 

-following you from room to room 

-getting into the garbage (even if they never did that before) 

-attempts to escape your home (breaking out of crates, eating drywall, scratching underneath doors, and jumping through windows)

These are signs of separation anxiety. Often times this is not only a reflection of an unhappy, lonely dog, but a sign that they do not view you as a leader (so when you leave home without them, they try to follow you to protect you.)

The good news is, you can take back the leadership role anytime you like. The tricky part is, dogs will not follow tense, frustrated, tired, or fearful humans — and mastering your emotions is easier said than done. 

What can you do? 

1. RUSH LESS - If you’re moving into a house and have time to pack slowly, do so. Take your time, listen to music, and of course, take walks with your dog to break up your day. 

Take breaks from packing and walk with your dog. (Photo: Golden Retriever walking on leash with a person)

2. DOGGY DAYCARE - If your deadline is impossible and you really need to pack quickly, consider taking your dog to doggy daycare*.

*If they are not accustomed to doggy daycare already, this is likely not your answer, as it may stress them (and you) out even more. If they already LOVE going to doggy daycare, then this solution might help you.

Other options:

-if your dogs love hanging out at your mom’s house, or with your sister, see if they are available to take your dogs for part of the day

-Have their favourite dog walker take them out for a walk or play session

NOTE: Simply sending them out of the home for a break will not magically fix the behaviours listed above. You must provide calm and confident energy when your dog is around you. 

3. TREAT YOURSELF - Allow yourself one hour first thing in the morning to walk your dog before the packing begins. Take another break halfway through the day for yourself. If we never practice being calm, then how are we supposed to remain calm on our dog walks/during day-to-day activities?! Do some yoga, practice meditation, play an instrument, pet the cat, or do a crossword puzzle.  

Make time for calm activities (Photo: a hand petting a cat under her chin)

4. EXERCISE - Your dog needs daily exercise and so do you. Take a break from packing and go for a run (bonus points if you run with your dog.) Make time to play fetch with them, even if some of it is in the house while you’re packing. Take time out of your day to go to the gym, go swimming, or play your favourite sport. 

Daily exercise reduces stress (Photo: person running with a dog on leash)

5. GET HELP - If your deadline seems unreachable and you can’t figure out how you’re going to pack and still work your 9-5 job, hire professional movers. The price is worth your sanity. Another option: friends and family will often work for pizza. 

Don’t be afraid to ask for help (Photo: people carrying boxes and petting two dogs)

You may be thinking, why not slap a bark collar on the dog since they’re the problem. If that’s the case, reread this post. 

The problem is NOT the dog. Read that twice. 

Labelling the dog is easy. “What a bad dog! You got into the garbage!” OR “I don’t know what’s wrong with her. She’s acting nuts! Ever since we started packing up the house, she’s been so snippy.” 

Mmmm. Hmmmm. 

Self-reflection is one of the hardest things any of us will ever learn to do. The sooner you try this, the sooner you will develop an amazing relationship with your dog. Instead of asking “Why is my dog so stressed?” ask “Why am I so stressed?” and “What changes can I make to lower my stress level?”

Every day is a chance for you to start again. A chance for you to lead a balanced life, free from fear and anger. Let’s leave these emotions behind and embrace joy. Embrace peace. Embrace love. Quiet your mind from negative thoughts. 

The ripple effect of a calmer you is so much larger than you can imagine. It begins at home with your human loved ones and your furry family. It extends out to strangers as you travel to work and school. To your coworkers, your friends, your extended family. To grocery clerks, gas station attendants, baristas, and bartenders. 

It begins with YOU. 

We hope this post helps to reduce your stress (Photo: a man stands with his dog beside a SOLD sign)

We hope you have a safe and joyful move. Stay tuned for next week’s post about introducing your dog to your new home so they don’t take over. 

Alyssa

Photos by: Christian Erfurt (person wearing a hoodie, covering their eyes and sitting on a couch surrounded by boxes,) Andriyko Podilnyk (Golden Retriever walking on leash with a person.) Robert Gramner (a red dog with pointy ears howling,) Yerlin Matu (a hand petting a cat under her chin,) Sergio Rodriguez - Portugues del Olmo (person running with a dog on leash.) Isaac Benhesed (people carrying boxes and petting two dogs.) Alyssa Foulkes (a man stands with his dog beside a SOLD sign - yes, that’s my man and our first dog, Brooklyn.)

Updated March 4, 2021

INSIDE VS. OUTSIDE

Is your dog a sweetheart inside and scary outside your home? (Photo: red dog napping in a chair with his owner.)

Is your dog amazing inside your home? Loving? Sweet? Wouldn’t harm a fly? 

Does she surprise you when outside she’s lunging on the end of the leash, snapping at other dogs, and killing rabbits in your yard?

Let’s talk about inside vs. outside. 

“He’s a completely different dog outside than he is inside.” (Photo: a wolf making direct eye contact)

First, I want you to write down all of the things your dog does really well inside your home. Yes, right now. What’s stopping you? 

Now, make a new list of anything she does in the home that you don’t like. That could be stealing your children’s socks; counter surfing (stealing food off of counters and tables;) jumping up on you (and/or your guests;) mouthing you (and/or your guests;) guarding food, bones, toys; not listening when you say a command; etc. 

Put the lists side by side. Which one is longer?
For most people, it is the second list that is longer. Although your dog is a total sweetheart inside your home and a great cuddle-buddy, she doesn’t have the structure that she needs from you. This is the root of the issue of why she doesn’t listen to you when you are on walks with her. She doesn’t yet know she is supposed to. 

Take the time to notice which behaviours you like and which ones you do not (Photo: a hand holding a pen writing a list on graph paper.)

Before worrying about what your leash walk looks like, there is work to be done on your relationship with your dog inside your home. 

A dog who doesn’t listen inside the home, will not listen outside of the home. 

You need to teach them to trust and respect you as a leader. 

Think of yourself as a teacher. Right now, your dog is like a kindergarten student with no teacher in the room. That little kindie, if she were human, might paint on your walls with markers, cut up your most expensive purse strap and use the pieces to make hair for her alien stuffy, and possibly eat a crayon or two. The point is, kindergarten kids and dogs both require rules, structure, and supervision in order to learn right from wrong. 

Dogs need a leader, just like kids need a teacher. (Photo: a red and blue finger painting with lots of handprints.)

So, how do you teach your dog new behaviours that are positive and awesome? 

You start at the beginning. Don’t worry, it’s not difficult and it’s a lot of fun. 

If you have severe behavioural issues, consult with a dog behaviourist who understands both dog training and dog psychology before beginning these tips. 

STEP ONE: Provide enough exercise. It is very difficult to work with a dog who has pent up energy. By fulfilling their primal need for exercise every day, a lot (not all) of nuisance behaviours (barking at the window all day, stealing socks, constantly nudging you with a toy) begin to improve. 

STEP TWO: Eye contact. You need more of it from your dog. A dog who looks at you for direction, is a dog who understands that you hold the key to all things he wants (food, water, access to outside, toys, etc.) This is a dog who listens to you and is fun to live with. Wait patiently for eye contact before: feeding, giving a treat, allowing your dog into your car, allowing your dog to follow you up the stairs in your home, and before you go through any doorway in your home. 

STEP THREE: Reward calmness. When we reward our dogs for undesirable behaviours (begging at the table, jumping up on us, sprinting across the couch, and even when they are barking out the window) these behaviours continue. Sometimes, we reach down and pet our dogs without realizing they’re actually fixated on our cat (predatory behaviour toward a family member,) whining and looking out the window (anxiety), or laying on top of our feet (claiming us.) 

We sometimes forget to reward the things we actually DO like.

When your dog is laying calmly on his bed, nodding off to sleep, reward that. You don’t have to walk over and pet him, just say: “Good boy.” 

When you call your dog over into your personal space and he comes in with his head low and is calm, pet him. 

If you call him over and he licks your face obsessively, bonks into your nose, jumps on you, and accidentally scratches your face — don’t pet him. Unless, you like all of those things and think that everyone else he meets in the future (your grandmother, elderly neighbour, your three-year-old niece, and your own future children) will like that too. 

You get what you pet. Reward calmness more often and your dog will give you calmness more often.

Happy training, Dog Leaders! You can do this! 

Alyssa 

Photos by: serjan midili @s_midili (red dog napping in a chair with his owner,) Upsplash (a wolf making direct eye contact,) Glenn Carstens-Peters @glenncarstenspeters (a hand holding a pen writing a list on graph paper,) Bernard Hermant @bernardhermant (a red and blue finger painting with lots of handprints,)

YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR DOG

What’s your relationship with your dog like? (Photo: Corgi covered in foam hearts and lipstick stains)

Valentine’s Day may have come and gone, but your relationship with your dog still matters. 

Here’s a tough question for you. Have you ever been in a one-sided relationship with a person? How did that make you feel? 

Have you ever been the giver in the relationship, only to be unappreciated? You were the kind person, the one who was always calling, always making dinner, always being flexible, always checking in with that person to make sure they were feeling okay. How did you feel when they responded to your attention by  ghosting you, breaking plans with you to go out with their friends, and forgetting your birthday? 

How did that relationship end? 

And what on Earth does this have to do with your relationship with your dog? 

Dogs can’t walk away. Fulfill THEIR needs before your own. (Photo: man carrying backpack walking off into the sunset)

Hopefully your relationship with the inconsiderate person is over. Since both of you are human, you both had a choice whether or not to stay in that one-sided relationship. 

Your dog has NO CHOICE. 

Are you fulfilling his needs? Or is he stuck in a one-sided relationship being the giver and NEVER having his needs met? 

What are his needs? 

Dogs are pack animals. They need leadership. They crave direction (having someone to tell them what to do and when to do it.) They work in a cooperative group to get the pack’s needs met each day. That’s food, water, shelter, and staying alive. 

Dogs are pack animals. To understand your dog, you must understand how they think and what they need. (Photo: wolves out for a walk)

The leader tells the pack when to hunt, when to rest, when to play, when to STOP playing. (Photo: wolves resting on the snow)

Dogs NEED to WORK for food, water, shelter, and their place in the pack. By giving them food, water, unlimited access to toys, your bed, your couch, the great outdoors, and yourself and NEVER HAVING THEM WORK FOR THOSE THINGS, you are setting yourself up for disaster. We’re talking a dog who jumps on you, mouths/bites you (and your children and your guests,) humps your leg, barks at you nonstop, doesn’t listen, and pulls you off your feet when you try to walk him. He also growls at you over his food, every time you walk by him when he has a bone or a toy, and sometimes when you want to sit on what you thought was your couch. It’s his now. 

Let’s talk about what needs HE is currently fulfilling for you: 

-emotional support

-cuddle buddy

-instagram followers (basically he’s finding you internet friends, fame, or both.)

-soulmate 

-grief counsellor 

If your dog is trained as a therapy dog, that’s great. If he’s a pet dog, especially if he’s anxious, you’re accidentally making it worse for him by making HIM LEAD YOU when he is NOT a born leader. It’s unfair. It’s unbalanced. And it’s likely the reason for all of “his” bad behaviours. 

Tips on how to fulfill your dog’s basic needs and improve your relationship: 

1. Master the walk. Teach your dog to follow you, not pull you down the street. Anxious whining is often resolved by simply fixing the way you walk your dog.

2. Walk him every day, multiple times per day.

3. Make this your mantra: YOU GET WHAT YOU PET. If you pet an anxious dog, you are encouraging that behaviour to continue. Pet your dog when you call him over and he comes respectfully without jumping or mouthing you.

4. Put away all of your dog’s toys. Take them out when YOU want to play with him. You start the game. You end the game. You’re in charge now.

5. Work on yourself. It takes work to be in any relationship, but the most important thing is your relationship with YOURSELF. If you can’t love and respect YOURSELF, no one else can either. Tell yourself YOU CAN, even when you don’t quite believe it yet. Stand up straight, shoulders back, and walk like you own the world. That’s the energy dogs like to follow. Be the change.

YOU’VE GOT THIS! 

Turn up the volume on your dog knowledge. Make learning about dogs your top priority. You HAVE the time. Turn off your phone and your television and start watching all the dogs and people around you. Watch how they walk. Watch the leash biters, the reactive dogs, the dogs out for a drag (dragging their owners down the street.) Watch without judgement. Then go home and try steps 1-5 and let me know how it goes. 

You CAN!

Alyssa 

Photos by: Ivana La @ivanana (Corgi covered in foam hearts and lipstick stains,) Egor Vikhrev

@egor_vikhrev (man carrying backpack walking off into the sunset,) Eva Blue

@evablue (wolves out for a walk,) Eva Blue @evablue (wolves resting on the snow.)

HOW TO GIVE YOUR DOG A TOY (AND KEEP YOUR FINGERS!)

Does your dog chomp your hand off when you offer him a toy? (Photo: Pitbull puppy playing tug of war with a rope toy)

Happy Valentine’s Day! 

I’m a little early — and that’s a good thing, because these tips will help prepare you for the 14th (and beyond.) 

While it’s certainly not mandatory to give your dog a new toy on every holiday, the pet stores make it difficult not to. This time of year, there’s heart-shaped rope toys, rubber toys, and plush toys. It’s hard not to buy way more than you need. 

Overstimulation can become an issue for some dogs (Border Collie laying down with six toys and a bone)

Without straying too far off topic, I should mention that there is such a thing as too many toys, especially if your dog has access to all of them 24-7. 

Is your dog unable to settle? Amped up and playing with toys all the time? Anxiously whining in your home? Guarding toys? Growling when you walk by? Try putting all of the toys away and only giving them to your dog when he settles down. 

This can take a LOT of time the first time you do it, so be patient and hang in there. 

The way you allow your dog to take toys from your hands speaks volumes about your relationship. If your dog rips toys out of your hands (taking your fingers along for the ride,) he’s getting paid for being a jerk. 

You wouldn’t pay your employee for taking envelopes out of your hand and ALWAYS giving you a massive paper cut. OUCH! You would very quickly teach your employee how to take the envelope from you more gently, so what’s stopping you from teaching your dog to do this?

It’s time to stop paying your dog for disrespectful behaviour toward your fingers. 

If you reward your dog when he is biting you (i.e. petting him,) he will continue to bite you (Photo: puppy biting man’s hand)

How to teach this: 

Practice waiting for your dog to be calm before giving him the toy. By the way, YOU also need to be calm in order to achieve this.

Practice this activity with one of his older toys first. The scent of a new toy is enough to make most dogs SUPER amped. This is not the best time to practice asking for calmness if you have never asked for that before. 

Encourage calmness at other times of day, like before your walks, and before feeding time. Reward calmness more often and your dog will begin to understand that this is the behaviour that gets him what he wants. 

Pro Tip: Practice not being giddy yourself before handing the toy over. This is a hard one! If the toy makes you super excited, make all the cute noises you want WITHOUT your dog present at that time. After purchasing a new Cookie Monster toy for Magic, I sang “C is for cookie” the whole way home in the car — she wasn’t with me when I bought it. I got all of the “this is the cutest toy EVER” vibes out of my system before giving it to her. WHY? Because if I am super excited, Magic will also become super excited. I don’t need an excited Rottie. I need a calm Rottie. Calm Rotties listen to direction. Excited ones make mistakes (that are OUR fault, not theirs.) Same goes for all dogs, not just Rotties. 

In the dog world, excitement is corrected. This is often why you see the really hyper dog at the dog park get chased away and pinned to the ground. It’s not because the other dogs in the park are aggressive or mean, it’s because excitement (hyperactivity) isn’t tolerated among dogs. When we nurture and reward excitement at home (by giving toys to hyper, bitey dogs) we are setting them up for failure with their own species. 

Calm breeds calm. Panic breeds panic. Excitement breeds excitement. You get the idea. (Photo: woman calmly holding a red, glitter heart toy.)

Extra Pro Tip: Try doing this whole activity without using any talking at all, until your dog is calm and you say “Okay,” and hand them the toy. 

I would love to hear how it goes. 

Happy Valentine’s Day, Dog Leaders! 

Alyssa 

Photos by: Hean Prinsloo @prins_thefilmer (Pitbull puppy playing tug of war with a rope toy,) Mathew Coulton

@mattycoulton (Border Collie laying down with six toys and a bone,) Daniel Lincoln @danny_lincoln (puppy biting man’s hand,) Sharon McCutcheon @sharonmccutcheon (woman holding a red, glitter heart toy,)

How Structured Walks Help Your Anxious Dog Feel Better

Anxious dogs don’t want to lead (Photo: Setter mix looking unsure)

Your dog walks look like: 

-your dog walking in front of you, pulling on the leash

-your dog zigzagging in front of you (and sometimes behind you) 

-your dog wrapping you up in the leash

-your dog licking her lips and constantly looking around 

-your dog stopping suddenly to smell something, yanking your arm out of its socket

-your dog refusing to stop smelling, eating, gulping down garbage, mulch, and dead things 

-your dog refusing to walk anymore, leaving you feeling badly because you don’t want to drag her on the sidewalk

-your dog pulling toward other dogs, houses where other dogs live, houses where their dog friends live

This dog is leading and feeling unsure (lip licking.) (Photo: Dog walking on leash in front of the owner. Dog is licking his lips. There is tension on the leash.)

Your dog walks sound like: 

-constant whining… for hours! 

-whining only when your dog sees another dog

-whining when your dog sees people she wants to say hello to

-whining when she sees a squirrel, seagull, or bunny that she can’t get to

Your dog walk feels like: 

-failure

-anxiety (yours as well as you dog’s)

-like something you’d rather avoid doing

-feeling terrible because you don’t know how to help her overcome her reactivity and anxiety

You want to enjoy your walks again? You want to stop being pulled down in the street? You want your dog to feel GOOD on her walks, not anxious?

Here’s something that has helped so many people and so many dogs enjoy their walks again. It’s called a structured walk. 

This is what a structured walk looks like (Photo: A great example of a pack walk. Two couples are walking with their dogs. One couple has a stroller. Both dogs are relaxed and walking beside their owners.)

During every walk, there is one leader and one follower. If you are behind your dog, they are leading and you are following. They have the leadership role in that moment. 

Your anxious dog really, really, really doesn’t want that role. 

A structured walk encourages you, the human, to be the leader, and your dog to relax and be a follower. This helps set your dog at ease. She doesn’t WANT to walk in front of you, be your leader, or make tough decisions about oncoming dogs, cars, or children whipping by on scooters. It stresses her out. 

By walking beside you (her head should not be in front of your knee,) you are sending a clear message about her role (it’s to follow.) Anxious dogs feel WAY more relaxed when they are in this position. 

Your dog should be checking in with YOU, not scouting ahead for danger (Photo: a poodle mix looks up at his owner while heeling with a loose leash.)

Here’s the more challenging part: YOU have to FEEL confident. Teaching your dog to walk in a heel is only part of the solution. You HAVE to provide leadership, calmness, and confidence for her. If you’re nervous every time you see a dog, she’ll still be nervous, even if she’s beside you. You have to do both parts of this for it to work. Can you do that for your dog? 

Sometimes we can’t do it for ourselves (feel calm, tell our nasty inner voice to SHUT UP, feel confident) but we CAN do it for our dogs. That’s a powerful, wonderful, beautiful thing. Dogs are a gift. Dogs can help US on the path to wellness. 

Cesar Millan says it best: “You don’t get the dog you want, you get the dog you need.”

I’ve seen this beautiful shift happen for people many times. People whose pets were fighting in their home, whose dogs were all over the place on walks (lunging, whining, nipping people who walked by,) whose dogs wouldn’t let strangers get near their owners. When the humans addressed their OWN anxiety first and then added in the structured walk, their dog was able to relax and be calm. 

The ripple effect is real. Your behaviour does affect your dog’s behaviour. 

Now that you KNOW that, you can do something about it.

Happy healing and heeling, Dog Leaders!
Alyssa 

Photos by: Gary Sandoz @gala_san (Setter mix looking unsure,) Upsplash (dog walking on leash in front of the owner. Dog is licking his lips. There is tension on the leash,) Upsplash ((Photo: A great example of a pack walk. Two couples are walking with their dogs. One couple has a stroller. Both dogs are relaxed and walking beside their owners,) Upsplash (a poodle mix looks up at his owner while heeling with a loose leash.)

THREE TIPS TO HELP YOUR DOG LISTEN TO YOU

Ever feel like your dog doesn’t listen to you? (Photo: Dachshund with one ear up and one ear down)

Does your dog race to your back door only if you have a treat? 

Do they ignore your commands when they’re outside? Especially if they’ve found some yummy bunny poop? 

Ever feel like your dog has no idea that you’re actually at the other end of the leash? 

Here are three tips to help: 

1. EYE CONTACT: You need to become relevant to your dog. You know the way you feel when your friend is on her cellphone and completely ignoring what you have to say even though you’re sitting right beside her? You’re not relevant to your friend in that moment. You don’t have her eye contact. It’s the same with dogs. Before you leave the house for your next walk, wait for your dog to look up at you. You are the gatekeeper to the outside world. Calmness and eye contact are the price of admission to a fun walk outdoors with you.

Be patient and wait for eye contact from your dog (Photo: Beagle giving perfect eye contact)

2. CONFIDENCE: Dogs require leadership. A coach. Someone they can trust to help them safely navigate the human world. Someone who pays attention during walks, is aware of traffic and other hazards, and will advocate for their safety. Put your phone down, tell yourself that you are awesome (because you are), pick up the leash and call your dog over. If they are jumping all over you, (that is disrespectful in the dog world) put the leash away and try again in a few minutes. It doesn’t take long to teach a dog that jumping on you is no longer tolerated.

3. CONSISTENCY: If you allow your dog to jump all over you on the couch, she will be confused when you don’t want her to jump on you while you put her leash on. The key is consistency. Be the leader at all times. You’re not her littermate, you’re her boss.

If you reward this behaviour, you will see more of this behaviour. (Photo: Shiba Inu being rewarded with a treat for putting her front paws up on a person’s legs)

Nothing worth doing is easy. It’s not easy to go to med school, but thank goodness people do it. It’s not easy running a marathon, but you could run one if you learned how, trained hard, and showed up. Helping your dog overcome her challenging behavioural issues isn’t easy, but showing up for her every day and trying your best is. Reading this blog post to learn more wasn’t that hard. You can do this. 

And if you need a little help, find a behaviourist who understands how to coach dogs AND people across the finish line.

I am one of those people and I would love to help you and your dog find balance. 

Alyssa 

Photos by: Erda Estremera @erdaest (Dachshund with one ear up and one ear down,) Marliese Streefland

@marliesebrandsma (Beagle giving perfect eye contact,) billow926

@billow926 (Shiba Inu being rewarded with a treat for putting her paws on a person’s legs,)