Before You Choose Your New Dog

Same litter, different coat colour. If you choose based on colour, you’re making a mistake. (Photo: two different coloured dogs from the same litter lie beside each other)

You’re smitten with a certain look of dog. Whether it’s the dog you grew up with that got you hooked on black and tan (those little eyebrows!!), or there’s just something about a grey dog that warms your heart, here’s how to find the right dog for you. 

You’ve narrowed it down to three different breeds that all look the same to you. Should you pick the Rottweiler puppy from the breeder, the black and tan Frenchie you saw on Kijiji, or the chihuahua from the rescue? 

I wish the answer were short enough for a blog post, but it’s kinda book-length. 

Here’s why. 

This obviously isn’t an apples to apples decision. Before examining the differences between the dogs, let’s start with the most important part of this process: YOU. 

You’re unique. Your dog should compliment your life, not take over (and decide who can come near you and who can’t. (Photo: woman jumping for joy on a hiking trail)

Are you single? Do you have roommates? Life partner? Children? Other pets? 

Are you active? Is your significant other? Do you like outside? Have you ever owned a dog? Have you ever owned a puppy? Have you ever worked with rescue dogs (helped one rehabilitate through separation anxiety, or aggression, or a fear of people?) 

After the pandemic, will you still be working from home, or going back to work at the office? Are you a student? Are you a party animal who always goes out to the pub after work and the bars on weekends? 

There’s more to consider. Way more. Like what activities would you like to do WITH your dog? If you like to hunt, look at hunting breeds. If you like to swim, look for a breed who loves water. If you think agility looks like fun, go watch a class and interview the trainer who teaches it, along with the participants. Find out if you’d REALLY like it, or it looks good on paper. Find out which breeds have fun doing this sport and which breeds shy away from it. Pick the right one. 

Meet lots of dogs and decide which breeds would best suit YOUR lifestyle (Photo: dog running out of an agility tunnel)

Puppies aren’t easier, but people often start there. Crate training is a skill. Patience when you’re being used as a pin-cushion by a 9-week-old puppy with milk teeth is a super power. House training a puppy takes loads of time. 

If you’ve never owned a dog, worked with dogs, or rehabilitated a rescue dog with complicated behavioural issues: read. If you go on Youtube you will be overwhelmed with videos and many of them contradict each other. 

If you’re more of a hands-on learner, hire a professional dog behaviourist who can show you the ropes BEFORE you even choose which puppy or dog you are looking for. 

One of my FAVOURITE inquiries I get from new clients is when they ask for help BEFORE THEY CHOOSE THEIR DOG. 

Let us help you choose which type of dog, and guide you through how to pick the best puppy for you and your family out of a litter of lookalikes (Photo: five puppies in a basket)

WHY is this SO IMPORTANT? Because the majority of my clients are struggling because they adopted a dog who has WAY MORE energy than they do. Another top reason: because their new puppy or rescue dog has WAY MORE ENERGY than their current dog. It leads to all sorts of problems: barking, fighting, jumping up, biting the owners and their guests, pulling on the leash, fence-fighting, and much, much more. 

Why that matters? Let’s say you adopt a rescue dog who is black and tan to suit your desire for that look. Let’s also say that you like watching movies all weekend and also after work to unwind. You THINK that the rescue dog you’re adopting is calm (because it said she was on the rescue’s website.) You also think she’s seven years old and not very active. 
And then you bring her home. 

For the first week, she seems pretty calm. The second week she’s a bit more zany. By week three she’s eaten three couch cushions, two shoes, and a partridge in a pear tree (okay, it was a robin, whatever.) 

Ask yourself: How can I fulfill the dog I bring home? (Photo: a whippet leaping over a log)

Your dog knowledgeable friend comes over (the one you trust.) She takes one look at your dog and says, “Wow! A whippet mix.” 

The website said she was a Rottweiler mix (because of her eyebrows.) There’s nothing Rottweiler about her, because she’s a whippet mix. 

You thought she just had a perpetual case of the zoomies.

“No,” says your friend. “Whippets are fast! They’re the Welsh version of the greyhound.” 

You: “$h*t! I wanted a couch potato. The rescue SAID she was a couch potato!” 

Your friend: “Let’s take her rollerblading!” 

You: “I hate rollerblading.” 

Your friend: “Then why did you pick a whippet mix?” 

When you choose a dog without asking a LOT more questions than what’s on the rescue website, you can end up with a dog who has way more energy than you bargained for. 

Say it with me: Just because you see eyebrows does NOT mean you have a Rottweiler mix (Photo: cattle dog mix)

Now that you know you have a whippet mix, read everything you can about them. Learn about lure courses, learn how to teach her to run beside your bicycle, teach her to jog beside you. Dig in. The more you know about her breed mix, the more you can fulfill her needs. 

The more you fulfill HER needs, the less things she will destroy in your house, the more tired she will be (when you teach her about crate training,) and the less she will bark at the window. 

It’s not just about having a tired dog, it’s about having a fulfilled dog. 

Schedule private in-home sessions with us to learn which breeds and breed mixes would be the right fit for your lifestyle. 

You do not have to have your dog yet to work with us. We would be DELIGHTED to help you choose the right dog in the first place. 

By selecting the right dog, you’ll save money in the long run. You won’t have to buy three couches, two new remote controls, or pay for daily doggy daycare to drain the energy out of your hyperactive dog. 

Get the right dog. 

Get your dream dog. 

We’re excited to help you on this journey! 

Alyssa 

Photos by: @alvannee (Corgi running with a Yorkshire terrier,) @erikhathaway (two different coloured dogs from the same litter lie beside each other,) @mertguller (woman jumping for joy on a hiking trail,) @roaming_angel (dog running out of an agility tunnel,) @jneumeyer (puppies in a basket,) @mitchorr (a whippet leaping over a log,) @fabiotovarval (cattle dog mix)

Posted December, 2020. Edited March, 2022.

My Puppy Makes me Cry (a lot!)

This week, we welcome my client and shadow student as a guest blogger. Julia and her dog, Maisy, have overcome many obstacles in their training journey. Read on if you’re feeling like the only person on the planet who is struggling with puppy biting, jumping up, humping, house breaking, pulling on the leash, reactivity, and crate training.

Maisy as a puppy (Photo: Golden Retriever puppy napping on a deck with her face pressed against a wall)

Hello, my name’s Julia. This is Maisy, my 19-month-old Golden Retriever. I’m here to talk about the joys and struggles of raising a puppy!

We often think puppies are little angles and the cutest things on the planet. And although we know there will be some puppy biting, accidents in the house, misbehaviour, and pulling on the leash, most people do not know how long, persistent, and mentally exhausting these behaviours can be on owners! Do you know how many tears I’ve cried because of these behaviours?

Puppy ownership is not all rainbows and butterflies (Photo: a rainbow in a bright blue sky)

Everyone talks about how wonderful puppyhood is and how cute they are, but people rarely talk about the difficulties and struggles of having a puppy. I would never have imagined when I first got Maisy how many tears would be shed, and feelings of failure would be felt because of behaviour and training setbacks.

Many trainers and YouTube videos talk about creating a routine and all the things to do with your puppy to tire them out and train them, but putting these into practice is much harder than it sounds, and getting success is often even more challenging! At this point in their puppy raising journey many owners, including myself, feel like

- Failures

- Feel alone and isolated with their struggles

- Put pressure and unattainable expectations on ourselves and our dogs

- Wonder why everyone else seems to have more success than we do (even though this is not the case and every dog owner struggles)

- Give up on certain routines or training goals because they were too challenging (we actually gave up on crate training for a year!)

Many puppy parents will feel as though they are failing their puppy (Photo: Maisy the Golden Retriever sits in front of a bright coloured wall)

The question is, why is the dog community so secretive about the struggles of dog training and raising a puppy?! Because up until this point that is how it’s always been — but the old way isn’t always the best way. Meaning we need to start speaking up more about the struggles of being a dog parent.

Some ways to help improve this aspect of the dog community and seek advice and acceptance are:

- Talk to your dog trainer on a personal level. If they are not empathetic to your struggles and emotions, it might be time to find a new dog trainer,

- Ask your dog trainer if any of their other clients would like to connect with you, so that both of you have someone to talk about dog struggles with,

- Look at more vlogs and dog owner YouTube videos and channels because they are more likely to show the struggles of dog training, versus dog trainers who generally only show the positives and successes of dog training but don’t always show the process or the steps how,

- Join dog groups on Facebook to connect with other owners in your area,

- Join Instagram (you don’t have to make a dog account) to follow and connect with other dog owners. Many owners, specifically on the Instagram platform, are starting to share more about the struggles of dog training, puppy raising, dog reactivity, and many more issues. It can be a great space to connect and learn.

Soaking up the sun on a snowy day (Photo: Maisy lying down on a boulder in the snow)

Raising a puppy is hard but please understand you are not alone, even if in the moment it might seem like it. Don’t hesitate to reach out and connect with new people. The number of people I have met on Instagram is mind blowing and it has been the best and most eye-opening experience.

If you would like to follow Maisy and I on our dog training journey you can follow us at adventures_with_maisy !!

Hopefully I’ll talk to you guys again and good luck!

Julia

Photos: Julia Pridmore (Golden Retriever puppy napping on a deck with her face pressed against a wall,) Harald Arlander @arlandscape (a rainbow in a bright blue sky,) Julia Pridmore (Maisy the Golden Retriever sits in front of a bright coloured wall,) Julia Pridmore ( Maisy lying down on a boulder in the snow.)

Crate is Great

I help a lot of clients learn how to properly introduce crate training to their puppies and rescue dogs. 

When properly introduced, crates represent a safe place to relax for your dog. Crates help with house breaking (AKA potty training,) protect your dog from eating things that are unsafe, and can prevent your dog from learning bad habits (like chewing your kid’s socks, counter surfing, and barking out the window all day.)  

Here are some tips to help you understand why crates are great: 

DEN ANIMALS: Dogs are den animals. They like to rest in small spaces. This is why your dog may like lying underneath your couch and your dining room table. It may also be the reason why he dug a hole in your yard to lay underneath your chicken coop or your deck. When introduced correctly, dogs love their crates, oftentimes going and taking naps there with the door open years down the road. 

Dogs often seek out den-like spaces (Photo: French Bulldog underneath a small table)

PREVENTING SEPARATION ANXIETY: Dogs are a different species. It is not natural for them to separate from pack members. When they come to live with humans, we must teach them our ways. Humans separate from each other to go to work or school, shop for groceries, exercise, etc. Set your pup up for success by teaching her that she can feel safe and confident when not touching you (a human.) If she lays on your feet or lap all day, she will likely have trouble coping when you go out to get groceries, on a date, or to work and leave her behind. By teaching your puppy to love being in her crate you are helping her to feel safe and secure when you’re not at home. 

This little guy used to scream in his crate. Medication didn’t help. In-home sessions with Beyond Dog Training helped. This was his very first crate nap. (Photo: French Bulldog X English Bulldog puppy, Braxton, napping in his crate.)

PREVENTING UNDESIRABLE BEHAVIOURS: Your new puppy doesn’t know that she shouldn’t pee indoors, bite your couch, or jump on your toddler until you teach her how to behave in the human world. Your puppy is always learning. If you are distracted by a Zoom meeting or a work call and your puppy is roaming around unsupervised she will learn things like: 

-chewing the underside of your couch is fun

-chasing the cats is awesome

-peeing just out of sight is a great idea to prevent getting scolded

-kid’s toys are just as fun as her own toys 

-barking out the window is fantastic 

-and much, much more

It is far easier to prevent your puppy from learning these activities than to train her how to stop doing these activities. Make life easy on both of you by teaching her that crates are great.

Your puppy can’t chew your couch while she’s napping in her crate, just sayin’ (Photo: Weimaraner puppy gnawing on the furniture)

By teaching your puppy to love her crate, she will happily take naps while you do a Zoom call, teach your toddler how to sleep in a big boy bed, or wash your dishes. 

Remember that you must fulfill your puppy or new rescue dog before expecting them to go into a calm resting state in their crate. 

How do I fulfill my puppy or new rescue dog? 

-short, fun, positive training sessions

-teaching your puppy something new (how to heel on the leash, how to stay, how to come when called, how to “drop it,” etc) 

-a structured walk 

-an activity that fulfills your dog’s breed need

Don’t forget to do a potty break before your crate training session too. 

Happy training, Dog Leaders! 

Alyssa

Photos by: Upsplash Images (Border Collie resting in a crate with the door open,) Raj Rana

@theranaman (French Bulldog underneath a small table,) Alyssa Foulkes (French Bulldog X English Bulldog puppy, Braxton napping in his crate,) Upsplash Images (Weimaraner puppy gnawing on the furniture,)

WINTER TRAINING TIPS

Tired of freezing to death on your winter dog walks? Read on for tips! (Photo: person and dog hiking in the snow)

It’s “Ottawa cold” here in Guelph, Ontario. It’s the kind of cold that freezes your eyelashes and makes snow look like glitter. 

The price you pay for blue skies in January and February is minus 25 degrees Celsius with the windchill (and below.) You need to walk your dog, but you don’t want to freeze to death. I’ve got you! 

Here are my top five tips to stay warm on your winter dog walks. 

There is no cold weather — only poor clothing choices. (Photo: snowboarder shredding down a mountain wearing a helmet, goggles, and warm snowboarding gear)

Tuck in your shirt. Like Urkel. Do it! You can thank me later when you’re nice and warm on your walk.

Tuck in your base layer. You won’t regret it. (Photo: orange shirt tucked into blue pants)

2. Long johns, two pairs of pants, fleece-lined pants, or snow pants for anything below a windchill of -11 degrees Celsius.

3. Snowboarding mittens with a thin pair of fleece mittens inside. Snowboarding mittens can be pulled up overtop of your sleeves and tightened.

If I can see your ears, face, neck, and wrists, you need to try again :) Or be cold :) (Photo: person in green mittens — you can see their wrists)

Mittens should cinch overtop of your sleeves. You can thank me later :) (Photo: snowboarder with a snowboard and mittens that are cinched overtop of his jacket)

4.    Warm winter boots with good tread. 

5.    Make sure you have a hood. When the wind hits your neck you are a goner. Pull up your hood, cinch it, and tie a scarf over your face to keep the wind out. 

I run private loose leash walking sessions outside and all five of those keep me warm as I coach clients in frigid winds. 

Ready to master the loose leash walk? 

Schedule your free call or in-person session here: https://beyonddogtraining.ca/take-action

 If you’re tired of leash pulling, reactivity, barking, and lunging on your walks, click the take action button and schedule your free call today. 

Hope these tips help keep you warm this weekend, Dog Leaders! 

Alyssa 

Photos by: Upsplash Images (person and dog hiking in the snow,) Joshua Reddekopp

@joshuaryanphoto (snowboarder shredding down a mountain wearing a helmet, goggles, and warm snowboarding gear,) Frank Flores

@frankflores (orange shirt tucked into blue pants,) Maxim Hopman @nampoh (person in green mittens — you can see their wrists

Karsten Winegeart @karsten116 (snowboarder with a snowboard and mittens that are cinched overtop of his jacket,)

Don't Make This Mistake

Saying “down” over and over again doesn’t work. Here’s why. (Photo: a Frenchie/Boston Terrier mix stands with his front paws touching a person’s leg)

Are you making this mistake with your new puppy? 

If you are using “down” for two different things, you’re confusing your puppy. 

Confused puppies seem like they aren’t listening to you, when in reality they are confused by your directions because the directions are unclear. 

I hear clients, friends, and people on the street saying “down” to their puppies and dogs when the puppy’s two front paws are on someone’s leg. 

Often the owner is repeating herself over and over as her puppy plays patty-cake (or Wolverine, if the puppy is older and in need of a nail trim) on a stranger’s legs. “Down. Mushroom, down. Get down. Down! I’m so sorry, I don’t know why she’s not listening. Down! DOWN!” This is paired with pulling the dog’s harness many, many times. One of the worst parts of this scenario is that the stranger is petting the puppy, rewarding this undesirable behaviour. 

This is what your dog thinks “down” means…if you have taught him “down” (Photo: German Shepherd mix lying down on a balcony)

Here’s why “down” isn’t working: 

If you are also teaching your puppy to lay down on command, you are confusing your puppy when they are jumping on people because you’re not actually asking for a “down” in that moment. What you mean, is “off.” 

Reserve “down” for “lie down” and use “off” for “I want four paws on the floor right now.” 

Use “off” when your puppy puts her front paws on:

-your furniture

-a stranger’s legs

-your countertop

-your legs

-your children’s legs

-anything else you don’t want her front paws on

Do your very best to never allow your puppy’s paws to do any of those things. You can prevent unwanted behaviours by:

-teaching the place command [this provides your puppy with a job (the job of calm) rather than allowing her free roam of your home where she chooses jobs you don’t like - counter surfing, snatchlng food out of your toddler’s hand, chasing your cats, barking out the window, etc)]

-leaving a lightweight leash on your puppy when she is inside the home (supervise her to keep her safe)

-crate training (when you teach crate training properly, your dog learns to love her comfy den)

This is how to teach your dog to pull on the leash and that other people are more relevant than you are. (Photo: chihuahua on a harness pulling toward a hand that is holding a cookie.)

Do your very best not to repeat yourself as well. Changing “down, down, down. Down! DOWN!” to “off, off, off OFF! OFFFFFFF!” is not the answer. 

Say it once. Follow through if your puppy doesn’t listen. Reward her with getting it correct. For example: Your puppy puts her paws on your father’s legs. You say, “off.” Your puppy returns her front paws to the ground. “Good off,” delivered with a nice smile. 

Check out our Reels on Instagram for more tips on “off” and “down.” There is a brand new Reel that was made by my amazing shadow student, Julia and her dog, Maisy. Remember on Instagram and Facebook, you’ll find us at Go Beyond Dog Training. On TikTok @ Beyond Dog Training.

Lead on, Dog Leaders! 

Alyssa 

Photos by: Upsplash Images (a Frenchie/Boston Terrier mix stands with his front paws touching a person’s leg,) Upsplash Images (German Shepherd mix lying down on a balcony,) Tamara Bellis @tamarabellis (chihuahua on a harness pulling toward a hand that is holding a cookie.)

Be My Valentine!

Happy Early Valentine’s Day! Since this is a day that’s all about love and showing affection, it’s a great time to learn the top 5 ways you can show affection to your dog.

We humans often forget that dogs are a different species. Hugs, for example, mean something entirely different to your dog than they mean to you. Unfortunately, one of the most common ways children get bitten in the face is because they hug a dog.

Dogs don’t hug each other to show each other they love each other. Please read that sentence twice. The sooner humans acknowledge this, the more bites we will prevent and the more dog lives we will save.

If I had a nickel for every picture I’ve seen of a grinning person hugging their dog and the dog looking miserable I’d still be writing this blog for free (because I love it), but I would be writing it from a castle in Ireland on Wednesdays, and a hammock in Fiji on Saturdays. Say it with me: Hugs, mean something entirely different to your dog than they mean to you. Just because your family dog tolerated hugs and you never got bit in the face, doesn’t mean they liked it.

Bites do not happen out of nowhere. (Photo: a little girl hugging a Husky)

In the dog world, a dog that stands overtop of the other dog’s shoulders is the dominant one. In some cases, after the head is placed on the shoulders, the next step is mounting behaviour. When a human hugs a dog, although they are intending to send a message of love, they are in fact sending a message of dominance. Dogs have four options when facing a threat: fight, flight, avoidance, surrender/acceptance. If you remove flight as an option by restraining a dog in a hug, some will choose fight - a bite.

(Photo: a dog standing with his head on the shoulder of another dog who is sitting and raising his front paw )

This is NOT a hug. (Wolf mounting another wolf)

(Photo: two people bending over a dog and hugging it)

The energy of the human giving the hug and their relationship with the dog matters. You’ve probably witnessed this firsthand: The adult in the home who the dog views as his leader comes in and hugs the dog. The dog tolerates this, because this leader is trusted to come into the dog’s personal space. This doesn’t mean that the dog liked that hug, but it tolerated it because the person giving the hug has earned his trust and is allowed in his space bubble. 

What happens next? The adult says, “Sure, anyone can hug him. Go ahead.” So the neighbour’s rambunctious son goes over to hug the dog for a photo and WHAM - a bite in the face for Timmy that “came out of nowhere.” That phrase! Again, with the nickels! If I had a nickel for every time I heard that, I would OWN Ireland and Fiji by now.  

You’ve likely seen a few trainers of internet fame post pictures of their dogs hugging their shoulders from behind. They call this trick: selfie. This is a different trick altogether, and one that I do not recommend for any of my clients who are struggling with leadership. It puts the dog in a dominant (yep, HUMPING) position behind your back. 

Sure, it’s a cute trick when you’re watching a dog show, but not when you inadvertently teach your PET dog that it’s okay not to have four on the floor. It won’t be a cute trick when they are covered in mud and walk up behind people in their Sunday best having a picnic in the park. Think about that before you teach that trick. 

5 WAYS TO SHOW YOUR DOG YOU LOVE THEM: 

1. Walk them every day. Dogs need walks. By fulfilling these needs, you are showing LOVE. 

2. Give your dog nutritious dog food, clean water, and appreciation every day. All of these things show affection to your dog. 

3. Remember to tell them when they are doing something right. So often we yell at our dogs to stop barking or stop chewing that sock. Let them know with a calm tone when they get it right and you will reap the reward of them repeating that good behaviour. A simple “Good,” speaks volumes to your dog. 

4. Pet them the way THEY like to be petted. Some dogs are nervous. If you are patient, they may come to you wanting to be petted. Petting these dogs under their chin is a great way to gain their trust. Happy-go-lucky dogs may come over to you right away and love to be petted all over. Other dogs love “bum rubs” - that spot near the base of their tail that they can’t reach themselves is a wonderful spot to pet them. By treating every dog as an individual, you are showing true love and respect for their needs. 

5. Treat them like a dog instead of a human baby. Respect is part of love. We often forget that dogs are a different species. They are not humans, even if they are dressed in bowties and sweaters. By becoming your dog’s leader you are fulfilling their need for leadership. You’re not becoming a tyrant boss, you’re becoming a leader - the one your dog will look to before they make a mistake. Lead on! Leadership is love.

Happy Valentine’s Day everyone! 

Alyssa

(Photo: Golden Retriever puppy wearing a red collar)

This week’s photos by: Nicola Dreyer (lab on pink couch), __ drz __(husky being hugged), Carrie Yang (husky with it’s head on the shoulder of the other husky) , Yannick Menard (wolves), Constantinos Panagopoulos (humans leaning over dog’s shoulders), Berkay Gumustekin (puppy with red collar.)

Will a Second Dog Help?

Thinking about getting a second dog? Read on. (Photo: a Corgi and a Terrier running toward camera)

A lot of people think that getting a second dog will help: 

-tire out their current dog

-“fix” their current dog’s separation anxiety 

-their current dog over their leash reactivity 

Getting a second dog will not help with these things. Training will help these things. One-on-one training, not a basic obedience class with other dogs. 

Adopt a second dog when your current dog is balanced (that means they have no behavioural issues.) If your current dog barks out the window all day and you add a second dog to tire him out, you will likely end up with two dogs who bark out the window all day. It happens all the time. 

Adopt a second dog when your current dog has no behavioural issues (Photo: Boxer with his head and arms hanging out an apartment window beside a “Beware of Dog” sign)

Get a second dog when you have the time and money to exercise and train two dogs. You should be walking and training your dogs separately so that you develop and nurture a bond with each dog as an individual.

Remember that dogs are expensive. There’s veterinary bills, training, boarding fees if you go out of town, food costs, grooming costs, toys, crates, leashes, beds, bones, and much more. 

If you are getting a second dog to tire out your first dog, you now have two dogs who need to be exercised and trained every day. Owning two dogs is more work — not less. Do you have time to commit to both of these dog’s welfare? 

Before you get a second dog, do you have double the time and enough money to provide to all of your dogs/pets? (Photo: an hourglass sitting beside a bunch of coins)

Let me let you in on another little secret: many people adopt their dogs using their emotions. They pick the dog based on coat colour, oftentimes signing adoption papers for a dog they have never met in person. A word of caution: the energy level and temperament of that second dog matters immensely in whether or not they will be a good fit for you, your family members, your current dog, and your other pets (cats, bunnies, etc.) 

Bring in a higher energy dog, and you may end up with constant fighting, crate rotations, and stress.
Bring in a fearful dog to help your other fearful dog, and you’ll end up with two fearful dogs who feed off each other and stay stuck in fear. This isn’t fair to the dogs. 

Coat colour doesn’t matter. Health, temperament, and energy matter. (Photo: seven Australian Shepherd puppies with different coat colours)

Think a puppy will be easier? The puppy’s energy and temperament matter. Puppies are a lot of work and need one-on-one attention from you. Your other dog also needs you to set boundaries so she isn’t harassed by the puppy’s relentless energy all day long. Don’t expect your current dog to train your puppy. It’s not her job — it’s yours. Owning a puppy is a full time job. 

Raising a puppy is a big job…and it’s YOUR job, not your other dog’s job (Photo: a dog walking with a puppy on the beach)

When you add another dog into the mix who is the wrong fit for you and your other dog it can quickly become a nightmare. I have helped families with dogs who are literally trying to kill each other. Please take your time to prevent this from happening to you, your family, your dog, and the dog who you hope is a good fit because it looks cute in the photo. 

We help people navigate the process of how to choose a dog that suits their lifestyle.

When you schedule this session, you will learn: 

-which breeds will best suit YOUR lifestyle 

-how to select a puppy with the right temperament for you and your family

-how to narrow down which rescue dog is right for you 

-what energy level and temperament would make a good match for your current dog 

Schedule your free call and get help making this decision. Whether you’re looking for your first dog, or want to do right by the dog you currently have and find him a compatible friend, we’re here for you. 

Have a wonderful weekend, Dog Leaders! 

Alyssa 

Photo: Alvan Nee @alvannee (a Corgi and a Terrier running toward camera,) Don Agnello

@donangel (Boxer with his head and arms hanging out an apartment window beside a “Beware of Dog” sign.)Ricardo Díaz @rdiazcaris (an hourglass sitting beside a bunch of coins,) Jametlene Reskp

@reskp (seven Australian Shepherd puppies with different coat colours,) Divya Agrawal

@divya_agrawal (a dog walking with a puppy on the beach,)

ICE CLEATS

Get a better grip this winter (Photo: ice cleats with small spikes/teeth attached to a pair of winter boots)

One of my clients fell and broke her hip last year. Needless to say, it was a traumatic and painful experience for her and her dog (she dropped the leash, he ran away, and people chased him - he’s a very nervous dog, so this was very scary for him.) 

This year, she wanted help teaching her dog how to walk nicely on the leash. 

Last week’s blog post was loaded with tips to help your dog walk better on the leash. 

This week, we’re talking about ice cleats to prevent you from falling on the ice whether you’re walking your dog or shovelling your driveway. 

Ice cleats fit overtop of your boots (or shoes) to provide traction as you walk on ice and packed snow. 

I purchased my first pair roughly fifteen years ago. They were made by Yaktrax and were the coil design. 

Time to research and replace this pair of Yaktrax (Photo: my rusty, ancient pair of Yaktrax coils with the rubber snapped attached to my winter boots)

They functioned really well, except for on snow-covered sports fields, where they would constantly fall off. Yaktrax recently added a strap across the top of the foot, so they reportedly no longer fall off in deeper snow. 

Coils provide a good grip on ice and packed snow, but they are insanely slippy on asphalt (and heaven help you if they uncoil a little bit and you have a runner mat inside your home.) 

I continued to use this pair of coils even once the rubber on the bottoms had snapped. Despite no longer covering the entire bottom of my boots, they still functioned fairly well, until I tried them after an ice storm. After sailing along on my back alongside Magic for a good ten feet, I decided to (finally) research and replace this pair. 

You can go down a real rabbit hole while reading reviews online, so allow me to save you some time. 

After many hours reading reviews and asking friends and random strangers about their experiences and preferences, I realized that what I really needed was to talk to an expert. I spent an afternoon chatting with a very knowledgeable staff member at Atmosphere in Guelph, ON. He owns three different pairs of ice cleats for three different sets of conditions (including a pair for ice fishing.) Here’s his advice based on all of the clients he’s served over the years and his own personal use (and yes, he has a dog.) 

Which cleats will suit your lifestyle the best? (Photo: person hiking beside a frozen waterfall with an off-leash dog)

We discussed coils first. I told him I had read a lot of reviews that said that the rubber on the bottom of the Yaktrax is still breaking really quickly. There’s also a lot of reports online that the coils are getting rusty almost immediately. 

Atmosphere’s resident guru said that perhaps the people who wrote these reviews purchased the wrong size and didn’t follow the care instructions. You’re not supposed to put ice cleats away wet. 

I was super interested to learn about cleats (the kind with tiny spikes,) because they are very popular with all of the dog walkers who I’ve met while walking in the forest. Yes, I stop people all the time to ask about their ice cleats. 

The gentleman I spoke with said that Korkers Ultra Ice Cleats are a great solution for dog walking in the city because they aren’t as slippery on asphalt compared to coils and cleats with large spikes. 

Here is a view of the top and the bottom of Korkers Ultra Ice Cleats (Photo: a pair of Korkers ice cleats sitting on a festive Christmas tree skirt)

The drawback to cleats is that sometimes a spike falls off while you’re walking and you don’t feel it let go. He suggests buying a backup set of spikes, so if one falls off, you have a spare ready to go. 

Cleats wear down, so they don’t usually last more than one season if you wear them as we city dwellers do, on terrain that is part ice, part packed snow, and part asphalt.  

What I personally love about Korkers is the design. They have a strap on the back that’s very similar to what you find on snowshoes. It tightens to your boot, so you can wear it on your snow boots or toss them on your Blundstones in milder weather. 

When I’m researching a product, I want to learn it all, so naturally we talked about spikes next. 

These are what spikes look like. (Photo: ice cleats with spikes/teeth attached to a pair of winter boots)

Spikes are the ice cleats that look like huge metal shark teeth. His advice about spikes was that they are amazing on ice. He wears them exclusively for ice fishing because they are quite heavy and would be dangerous on asphalt. He also said most people don’t find the heavy duty spikes super comfortable over long distances, so they may not be the best choice for long walks in the forest with your pups. 

Personally, I don’t love the idea of giant spikes being anywhere near my dog’s paws as I trudge up icy hills in the forest. 

I also thought it would be very impractical for most hikes, because you usually have to cross a street to get to the trailhead. One of my favourite trails is off of a busy road (it’s an 80 Km speed limit where people drive at least 100 Km/hr) and there’s a bend in the road, so you often have to hustle across at light speed.

The hike begins with a steep icy hill. 

I imagined taking off my gloves to yank the spikes onto my wet boots in minus thirty Celsius while standing on the edge of this busy road and thought: spikes are not for me. I definitely wanted to be able to put my cleats on while sitting in the car and safely cross the road to get to my favourite trail. 

What did I purchase? 

Ultimately, the Yaktrax lacked the ability to adjust the size, so this writer went with Korkers cleats. 

Magic is ready to walk and I am ready to test these out (Photo: Magic the Rottweiler posing with the author’s boots and Korker’s Ultra Ice Cleats)

Leave it to Guelph that I purchased them in December and have only needed wear them once so far, so I can’t say for sure how they perform over the longterm. 

I can say that I tested them on icy sidewalks and a ramp and I didn’t slip at all. And yes, I went up and down that ramp several times just for fun. 

Remember that how you FEEL matters very much to your dog. If you’re walking along trying not to fall and worrying about breaking bones, your dog will take the lead. 

If your dog is a back-of-the-pack (sensitive to noises, on the nervous side) they will be super stressed out taking this job from you. 

If your dog is reactive on leash, it will not improve until you take the lead on the walk. If you’re walking worried, I recommend some ice cleats to help you walk with confidence. It will make a huge difference to how your dog perceives your energy. 

Calm and confident leadership all the way! 

Have a wonderful (and grippy) weekend, Dog Leaders! 

Alyssa 

PS Do you use ice cleats? Which ones do you like the best?

PPS Yaktrax now makes ice cleats that are half coil and half cleat. The gentleman working at Atmosphere and I are both curious about how they will perform. Let us know in the comments if you’ve tried this combo cleat.

Photos by: Patrick Schneider @patrick_schneider (ice cleats with small spikes/teeth attached to a pair of winter boots,) Alyssa Foulkes (my rusty, ancient pair of Yaktrax coils with the rubber snapped attached to my winter boots,) Will Swann @wlll (person hiking beside a frozen waterfall with an off-leash dog,) Alyssa Foulkes (a pair of Korkers ice cleats sitting on a festive Christmas tree skirt,) Patrick Schneider @patrick_schneider (ice cleats with small spikes/teeth attached to a pair of winter boots, Alyssa Foulkes (Magic the Rottweiler posing with the author’s boots and Korker’s Ultra Ice Cleats,)

TIPS FOR BETTER WALKS

Are you relevant to your dog? (Photo: a person holding a retractable leash with the dog wayyyyyy out in front of them in a forest)

Does your dog pull on the leash? 

It isn’t very much fun to have your arm pulled out of its socket on a daily basis, or to break a hip on the ice (just ask my client who broke her hip last winter!) 

Does your dog spend most of her time on the walk: 

-zigzagging

-peeing on things

-hunting for squirrels/bunnies/birds/other dogs/people 

-lunging at people and other dogs

-chasing cars/cats/wildlife

-looking at everything but you

-pulling your arm out of its socket

-barking at…everything?

One of the reasons your dog is doing this is because you are not relevant. Sure, you’re attached to the other end of the leash, but you’re following behind her. She’s in control of where she’s going. 

Is your dog calling the shots and reacting to everything? (Photo: brown dog wearing a flat collar lunging at the end of his leash)

Because she’s in the front, she’s also in control of making all the decisions and dogs make pretty terrible decisions (and then yank us along with them, hurting our backs, shoulders, wrists, etc.) 

Here are some tips to get your walks back on track: 

1. The walk begins inside your home. If your dog doesn’t listen to you inside your home when you ask him to do things (sit, go to his bed, drop it, etc,) then he will not listen to you on the leash outside your home.

How to improve your relationship inside your home: 

-follow through  - don’t let your dog blow off commands

-placework - teach your dog to go to his cot and relax until you release him (this prevents counter surfing, stealing the kid’s socks, and barking out the window) 

-wait until your dog is calm and gives you natural eye contact before leaving home

Wait for calmness and natural eye contact before rewarding your dog with a walk (Photo: a Dachshund looking up at his owner while on leash)

2.    Build trust first. Most people adopt a rescue dog or young puppy and immediately want to go on long walks with their new companion at a perfect heel. If you’ve adopted a dog or puppy who has never worn a collar or leash before, it’s way more important to teach them to trust you and to follow you first, before forcing them on a 5 Km walk and experiencing what many of my clients have experienced (before working with me): 

-the dog stops halfway through the walk and won’t move

-the puppy won’t leave the property at all, so the humans force them or pick them up

-their dog spends the whole walk lunging at dogs, people, and squirrels

-their dog pulls toward every single smell, making the walk no fun for the humans

How to build trust: 

-slow down

-teach your dog to be part of the process (encourage them to move into their gear, don’t just lasso them into collars and shove them into jackets) 

-check out my videos on TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook for help with this

Walking your dog should feel like joy, peace, and calmness (Photo: Author, Alyssa Foulkes and her Rottweiler who is in an off-leash heel position in the forest)

3. Quality over Quantity. It doesn’t matter how far you walk. Leashing up properly, going through thresholds properly, and even walking down your steps properly matters more than how many kilometres you go. You may need to go back and forth on your street while you get the hang of heeling with your dog, and that’s still going to burn physical and mental energy.

How to improve the quality without worrying about the quantity: 

-your neighbours aren’t watching you - you can walk back and forth a few times in front of your house practicing your heel (P.S. If they ARE watching you, they are probably hoping to get some tips that will help them with their own dog.) 

-focus on calmness before the walk and how you move through thresholds just as much as you focus on the heeling when you’re outside

Keep doing your best and you’ll see results. 

Keep showing up every day and you’ll see improvements (Photo: a woman walking beside an Australian Shepherd at sunset)

Check out our IGTV videos to learn more about: 

-fulfilling your dog’s physical and mental needs on walks

-heeling/loose leash walking

-one of the best places to practice loose leash walking 

Our Instagram handle is: @GoBeyondDogTraining

The video series is called: Structured Walks 

Check out our videos for more tips (Photo: woman on her laptop sitting beside a napping Golden Retriever)

We all need to learn, practice, master, and then repeat when it comes to working with dogs. Hands up if you know whose mantra that is: learn, practice, master, repeat. It resonates with me so much. We humans need to remember that last word. We are never finished learning. It is a continuous loop. You know this if you’ve owned dogs your whole life, but have recently adopted a dog who is totally unlike any dog you’ve ever trained and lived with. There’s new skills to be learned, practiced, mastered, and then repeated. 

Happy learning, Dog Leaders! 

Thanks for reading!

Alyssa 

Photos by: Marek Szturc @marxgall (a person holding a retractable leash with the dog wayyyyyy out in front of them in a forest,) Upsplash image (brown dog wearing a flat collar lunging at the end of his leash,) Upsplash Image (a Dachshund looking up at his owner while on leash,) Parry Bast (Author, Alyssa Foulkes and her Rottweiler who is in an off-leash heel position in the forest) Patrick Schätz

@wndrlst_pctrs (a woman walking beside an Australian Shepherd at sunset,) BRUNO EMMANUELLE

@brunocervera (woman on her laptop sitting beside a napping Golden Retriever)

3 GOOD HABITS TO ADD RIGHT NOW

These new habits will help improve your relationship with your dog (Photo: Habits to be Made written in green neon lights)

Last week, we kicked 3 bad habits to the curb. Bye! 

This week, we’re focusing on three habits that we should add right away. 

1. Reward calmness - you get what you pet. Reward calmness and you’ll get a calmer dog. Calm dogs are easier to live with than excited dogs. Excitement leads to many of the behaviours you don’t like (barking, humping, mouthing, nipping, biting, jumping up, dog fights, chasing the cat, stealing and chewing inappropriate items, and more.) Calm dogs are also easier to walk. Can you say: goodbye, leash reactivity?

Most people forget to reward this state of mind, and only reward pushy, mouthy, jumpy, hyper behaviour. You get what you pet. (Photo: person petting a napping Mastiff.)

2. Clear Communication - Write down a list of commands that your dog knows. Work on expanding the list. The more things she knows how to do, the better your relationship will be. The list will also help anyone who lives with you and your dog to use the same commands. This avoids confusing your dog. She may not be a selective listener after all.

      Pro Tip: Be sure that “leave it,” “drop it,” and “come” are on your list. These three commands are a must for dog owners.  

Bonus points for writing down your goals as well (Photo: a hand writing a checklist on a piece of paper)

Recall - Recall saves lives. Practice recall at every mealtime. You can practice with your dog’s leash on at first. Then use a longline. Then practice in your yard or on your deck (with a leash or longline.) If you never practice recall, how will you call your dog off that skunk, away from that bunny poo, or away from that busy street?

Practice how you play. On game day (the day a car is about to run your dog over) you will be thankful for having practiced recall every day (Photo: Golden Retriever mix running toward camera through a field of grass and orange flowers)

These new habits will make your relationship so much better. 

A calm dog is easier to walk, so now you can enjoy your walks with your dog again. No more pulling, lunging, and barking on walks. 

A dog who understands what is being asked of her, has a job to do, and is being taught new things (engaged) is a joy to live with. 

Recall saves lives. Practice it daily because one day you’ll need it. 

Have a wonderful weekend, Dog Leaders! 

Alyssa

Photos by: Drew Beamer @drew_beamer (Habits to be Made written in green neon lights,) Upsplash Images (person petting a napping Mastiff,) Glenn Carstens-Peters @glenncarstenspeters (a hand writing a checklist on a piece of paper,) Peter Schulz @visionaryconcepts (Golden Retriever mix running toward camera through a field of grass and orange flowers,)