Cats and Dogs

We want harmony for all of you (Photo: cat rubbing its head affectionately on a dog)

I love cats. 

Roughly 80% of my clients own dogs and cats. Helping them live in harmony is one of the things I love most about my job. 

Right now, I’m helping an owner introduce her new rescue dog to her cats (technically one cat is hers and the other is her roommate’s.) Both cats are absolutely adorable! One of them even wears a bowtie. 

If you’re bringing home a new rescue dog, here are some tips to help get you started before introducing him to your cat. 

Breathe and believe. Bring your calmest and most confident self to this activity. (Photo: person standing in a field smiling)

1. Calm you —> calm pets. If you are feeling anxious about walking in the front door with your new rescue dog, he’ll sense it. Breathe and believe. You’re going to be okay!

2. Leash on in the house. Do not let your new rescue dog chase your cat. You’ve placed your kitty in your bedroom until it’s time to do a safe introduction, but someone accidentally lets your kitty out. If your dog is on a leash, you will be able to stop him from chasing your kitty. Leave the leash on when he’s supervised. If you can’t watch him (because you need to shower etc,) place him in his crate. Personally, I would take the leash off while he’s in his crate to keep him safe (so that he doesn’t get snagged, injured, or worse.) This means that when you collect him from the crate, you’ll need to place his collar and leash (or slip lead) back on before letting him calmly exit the crate.

Relationships take time to build. You can do it, but it will take time. (Photo: dog on leash looking up at owner)

3. Relationships take time. It takes a little bit of time for a rescue dog to know you, trust you, and listen to your direction around distractions (squirrels, other dogs, cats, bikes, etc.) It’s okay to have your cat living in your bedroom for a little while, as you build a rock-solid foundation with the dog. At night, you can cuddle with your cat and your dog can sleep in a crate. You’ll all get through this adjustment period, but it will take time, so don’t stress :)

4. Scent transfer can be a helpful tool. Let your kitty sleep on a towel for a week or so before bringing your dog home. Let your dog sniff the towel. Don’t talk during this process, just let him use his nose. Encourage a calm vibe. We want the cat’s scent to represent calmness from the very beginning. We brought our kitty towel with us many times when we visited Magic before adoption day. This allowed her to know us and know our cat before ever meeting face to face. You can also bring home a towel that smells like your dog every time you hang out with him prior to adoption day, so your cat has a chance to smell him too. And yes, you can gently rub the towel onto your pet as well. So kitty towel gets rubbed gently onto doggy; doggy towel gets gently rubbed on the kitty. They get to know each other’s smell before living together under the same roof. YAY!

Place and crate are spaces to practice calmness. They take time to teach, and they are worth it. (Photo: tan pitbull puppy on a white and tan pillow

5. Crate and placework. These two tools will help you create a calm dog who is respectful of your space. When you ask your dog to be calm in the house, they will be that much more prepared when you ask them to be calm around your cat (a distraction.) If you allow your dog to sprint all over the couches, bark out the window, and jump all over you and your guests, it will be very difficult for him to listen to you when you ask him to be calm around your cat.

When you bring home a new rescue dog, there’s so much work to be done. It’s a lot of work, regardless if you have a cat or children (or both.) It can feel very overwhelming, especially if your new rescue dog isn’t quite what the write up online made her out to be. 

When the write up said “low energy” and he’s secretly high energy (or very high) (Photo: dog leaping through the air)

Don’t rush the introduction to your cat. Work on your relationship first. 

If your dog can’t listen to you inside your house without any distractions you should begin there. Especially if you have never owned a dog before, your dog will need to learn how to listen to you without distractions before adding distractions into the mix. 

For example, your new rescue dog knows one basic command. Sit. He’ll sit when you ask him to on the very first day you bring him home. Especially in the living room when no one else is around. As soon as your roommate comes out of her room, suddenly your rescue dog pops right out of the sit and pulls toward her. Your roommate is a distraction (just like your cat will be eventually.) Practice having your dog listen to you with small distractions (like your roommate simply walking by and ignoring you) before adding in more complicated distractions (like your roommate dancing and singing because she aced her exams.) 

Your dog needs to hold that sit until he’s released by you to do something else (“let’s go” to tell him it’s now time to walk and follow you; “place” to let him know it’s time to practice calmness on the cot; etc.) 

It takes time to build a relationship with a dog. Take you time. (Photo: on-leash Dachshund looking up at his owner)

This topic is enormous.

Perhaps the biggest take-home is take your time. Don’t risk your cat’s life if you’re uncertain. Get professional help if you’re not confident of how to introduce your new pets properly. 

Picture purrfect! The dog is engaged with the handler, not harassing the cat. (Photo: cat sitting beside a dog looking up at the dog - dog is looking to camera)

Check out our Instagram Story Highlights called Dogs and Cats for more tips at Go Beyond Dog Training.

Check out our TikTok videos of dogs and cats living together in harmony for tips. 

Have a wonderful weekend, Dog Leaders! Say hello to all of your cats and dogs for me! 

Alyssa 

Photos by: Upsplash Image (cat rubbing its head affectionately on a dog,) Brooke Cagle

@brookecagle (person standing in a field smiling,) Rhiannon Elliott

@rhiannonelliott (dog on leash looking up at owner,)

Ron Fung

@oriz (dog leaping through the air,) Upsplash Image (on-leash Dachshund looking up at his owner,)

Anusha Barwa

@anushabarwa (cat sitting beside a dog looking up at the dog - dog is looking to camera,)

Grant Durr @grant_durr (kitten about to smack a dog’s face with her paw,) Upsplash image (tan pitbull puppy on a white and tan pillow)

MOVING DAY TIPS: 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/moving-day-tips-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 tasty 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. Do your best 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, take your dog for a structured walk 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. THRESHOLDS MATTER - 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, 2022

MOVING DAY TIPS: 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

-growling at your house guests

-charging the fence in your yard

-nipping and/or herding you or other family members

-stealing socks, shoes, and other inappropriate items

-counter surfing

-chasing your other pets

-claiming thresholds

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, 2022

Greeting Your Guests

This is not how you greet guests at your front door (unless you want them to get bitten.) (Photo: Person wearing army fatigues holds/pulls back on a German Shepherd’s collar)

If you’re already worried about how your dog greets your houseguests and you’re freaking out about hosting Easter dinner, it’s time to start preparing your pup now. 

It’s not just pandemic puppies (who are now reaching adulthood) who don’t know how to politely greet guests at our front doors: it’s pretty much all dogs. Why? Because we humans often feel: 

1. excited to greet our guests

2. badly about taking our time to calm our dog down BEFORE opening our front door to our guests

We also think that six weeks of puppy classes should somehow prepare our dog for real life. It doesn’t. 

Puppy class doesn’t prepare you for this (Photo: little boy entering a home through a front door)

Or this! (Photo: two boys having a pillow fight on a bed - feathers everywhere!)

We must practice polite door greetings many times in order for our dog to become good at them. Think about it: you didn’t just attend soccer GAMES, you had practices all week in order to prepare for game day. We must begin to take this mentality when training our dogs. We are putting in the necessary repetitions to prepare our dogs (and ourselves) for game day. 

If you don’t like that analogy because you’re not an athlete, compare it to dance, piano, or becoming a dentist. 

A lot of work goes in before game day. Practice, practice, practice. (Photo: stadium full of people watching a soccer game)

One of the biggest mistakes dog owners make is to hold their dog back. Please read this blog post to understand that holding your dog back makes other people a target. Just like police dogs. https://beyonddogtraining.ca/news/who-is-protecting-whom

The other missing piece of the puzzle is direction. What do you want your dog to do when you open the door? 

Most people say: I want him not to jump up. I want him to stop barking and trying to nip people. I want him to be calm. 

If you want your dog to be calm, you have to be calm. Raising your voice and pulling his collar aren’t helping. 

You have to decide what you want your dog to do. Here is a list for you, so that you can choose something that will work: 

-I want my dog to go to her place (elevated dog bed) and practice calmness

-I want my dog to be on leash beside/slightly behind me and calm

You must provide clear direction (a job) for your dog so they know what TO do (Photo: brown and white puppy sitting on a dog bed)

Where to begin? 

Practice door greetings often. Practice with family members and friends who are capable of being calm around your dog. 

As you practice, remind yourself: 

-I can do this

-My dog may need a few repetitions even with a family member, but that’s part of the process. 

-I have to be calm to teach calm

Question: I have a huge family event coming up and I won’t have time to teach my dog placework with large distractions (because this event is only one week away.) What do I do? 

Answer: You can teach your dog to love his crate in a week. Practice at every mealtime. Start with very short sessions and build up the time gradually. If your dog is really stressed greeting guests in your home, the kindest thing you can do for him is to teach him to love his crate. He can relax in his crate during your event if you fulfill his mental and physical needs before the event begins. 

When taught correctly, crates represent a wonderful, safe space that dogs enjoy resting in. They are den animals. (Photo: Border Collie lies calmly in a dog crate)

If you’re worried about hosting holiday parties, dinners, and game nights, schedule your free call today. You still have plenty of time to teach your dog how to politely greet visitors at your front door. 

If you’re feeling worried about hosting events because of your dog’s behaviour, I’m only a free phone call away (Photo: a young woman sitting on the floor, shoulders hunched, leaning against her couch - worrying)

If you are struggling with crate training, how to teach your dog to be calm, or how to be calm yourself, I’m only a free phone call away. Find out if we’re the right fit for each other. 

Are you thinking about placework training but don’t know where to begin? Call me. Place is amazingly easy for dog owners to teach when they have a great coach. 

Looking forward to helping you and your pup succeed with guest greetings, Dog Leaders! 

Alyssa

Photos by: Upsplash (Person wearing army fatigues holds/pulls back on a German Shepherd’s collar,) Peter Idowu @peteridowu (little boy entering a home through a front door,) Allen Taylor

@allentaylorjr (two boys having a pillow fight on a bed - feathers everywhere!) Mitch Rosen

@focusmitch (stadium full of people watching a soccer game,) Upsplash Image (brown and white puppy sitting on a dog bed,) Ayla Verschueren

@moob (Border Collie lies calmly in a dog crate,)

Joice Kelly@joicekelly (a young woman sitting on the floor, shoulders hunched, leaning against her couch - worrying,)

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.)