Dog Training Tips: Cottage Edition Part 2

Sweet silence (Photo: person sitting on a dock looking at the mountains)

You want peace, quiet, and relaxation at the cottage. 

You don’t want to worry about your dog lunging at every person and dog who walks by your property (so embarrassing!)

You don’t want a dog who growls at every person who pops by to visit you. 

You don’t want your dog mouthing and nipping the neighbours or your own guests. 

So, how do we get a peaceful cottage dog? A dog who lounges on the dock beside you, rather than barking at every passing boat? 

Last week, we covered five tips to help you, your family, your dog, and your guests to calmly coexist in harmony at the cottage. This week, we have five more tips to help you enjoy your time away with your dog. 

Check out last week’s blog post for five more tips to help you get a calm cottage dog (Photo: orange lifeguard tower with the number five on it)

Number six: 

Structured downtime. Your dog needs downtime. Dogs often make their worst mistakes (snapping at children, jumping up on strangers) when they are overtired. Use crate and place to give your dog the opportunity to rest. Advocate for their space, especially if there are lots of young children around. 

Provide a safe space for your dog or puppy to rest away from the hustle and bustle to keep her safe (Photo: Bulldog puppy napping in a crate,)

Number seven: 

Use place and crate when you’re cooking and eating meals to prevent your dog from learning how to be a counter surfer or beggar. Dogs are smart, opportunistic, and learn through repetition. What you practice and allow out here at the cottage, will follow you home (and vice versa.) 

Number eight: 

Ditch that tie out. You know, that leash that screws into the ground. That’s the one. It’s outta here. 

When your dog is tied out without supervision, he learns things, bad things. Things that work against your goals. 

He learns: 

When I bark and lunge at people, dogs, etc, they move away from me. 

This behaviour is referred to as “mailperson syndrome” because when delivery people come to your home and your dog barks, your dog is rewarded by the person going away. The person was going to leave anyway, but your dog doesn’t know that. Your dog thinks that he successfully guarded your home and you. If he practices this every day, there is often a ripple effect, where he tries the same behaviour with your visitors (only it doesn’t work because you’ve invited them into your house.) This can cause a lot of stress for your dog, especially if the person reaches toward the dog before the dog is ready to be touched. Sometimes, the dog even escalates their lunging and growling behaviour to a bite because their usual game plan (bark and the person goes away) isn’t working. 

At the cottage, when your dog is tied up outside, he’s learning that when he barks and lunges, people keep right on trucking past the property. He has no idea that they were only out for a stroll and had no intention of coming onto your property. He gains this fake confidence that he’s in charge of the property. 

What to do instead: 

Supervise your dog. If you can’t (because you’re in the shower or out waterskiing,) use the crate so your dog will just chill while you’re out without him. Be sure to fulfill his needs before crate time. 

Your dog is always learning. What is he learning in this moment? (Photo: brindle dog behind a chain link fence)

Number nine: 

Teach. Your dog is always learning. If your dog has never been to your cottage before, he needs to learn the rules, boundaries, and limits. He may need to learn how to ride in a boat, how to walk on your new wobbly dock, or how to wear a life jacket (not chew it off.) 

It is our job as humans to teach our dogs right from wrong in the human world. They won’t just “figure it out.” If I put you on a rocket ship right now would you just figure out how to be an astronaut? Nope. You would need an astronaut to hold your hand and teach you how to survive in outer space. Your dog needs you to teach him right from wrong. This will protect him and keep him safe while at the cottage. 

When you take the time to teach your dog what behaviours you like and want to see more of, you’ll find your relationship will be immediately improved. 

Number ten: 

Consistency. All family members who will be living with your dog at the cottage need to be consistent with the rules and boundaries. Mouthing, biting, jumping up, begging, counter surfing, leash pulling, door dashing, biting/scratching/mouthing swimmers, etc are all nos. Have those tough conversations — your dog’s life depends on you. 

Wishing you a safe and fun trip to Cottage Country! 

Alyssa 

Photos: Kalen Emsley @kalenemsley (person sitting on a dock looking at the mountains,) Isai Ramos

@isai21 (orange lifeguard tower with the number five on it,) Alyssa Foulkes (Bulldog puppy napping in a crate,) Upsplash Images (brindle dog behind a chain link fence,)

Dog Training Tips: Cottage Edition Part 1

(Photo: person laying on a dock sunbathing with her dog)

You want peace, quiet, and relaxation at the cottage. 

You don’t want to worry about your dog charging every person and dog who walks by your property (so embarrassing!) 

You don’t want a dog who races to the end of the dock to bark at every single boat. 

You don’t want a dog who runs away for hours at a time and comes back with porcupine quills stick in her tongue and throat. 

You don’t want a dog who “rescues” the neighbour’s children out of the lake either. 

So, how do we get a peaceful cottage dog? 

Your relationship begins at home, not at the cottage. 

Does your dog listen to your commands inside your home? If not, that is a great place to start. It’s never too late to hold your dog accountable for commands that she knows. It’s also never too late to teach your dog new commands that can help you live in harmony together (think crate, place, heel.) 

A calm cottage vacation begins with a calm dog in the family home (Photo: a brown and white pitbull mix laying on a carpet underneath a table)

The next step is packing up to leave for the cottage. Is this chaos? Is there lots of rushing and yelling? Sprinting kids? An anxious dog who is pacing everywhere, trying to herd the children, jumping up on people? This has to stop. Pack up calmly and you’ll see a much calmer dog. You’ll feel amazing too, by the way. It’s a ripple effect and it is glorious. If you need to use the crate, placework, or have a leash on your dog as you load the car, there’s nothing wrong with that (as long as you’ve worked to create calm associations to crate, place, and by your side.) Think of these three zones as “zen zones.” 

Another option, if you haven’t done this work yet: a sit stay or a down stay. Be sure to work on those ahead of time. Practice makes progress. 

The car ride matters. How you load your dog into your car matters. The vibe while you’re driving matters. How you exit the car matters. Check out my Instagram Story Highlights to learn more at Go Beyond Dog Training. 

How you load into the car matters. The dog’s state of mind during the drive matters. How you exit the car matters. (Photo: a calm Labrador Retriever riding in a car with his head out the window)

At the cottage, there’s lots of little things you can do to help your dog understand the rules, boundaries, and limits. 

This week, we’re going to cover five tips to help improve life at the cottage for yourself, your family, and your dog. There’s so many things to help, that there will be five more tips next week. 

Number one: Engage with your dog. A lot of people arrive to the cottage, let the dog run wild, and then deal with the damage later on (at the cost of the dog’s health and welfare — think sprayed by a skunk, hit by a car/boat, in a dog fight, face full of porcupine quills, etc.) 

Engage with your dog by: 

-playing fetch on land

-playing fetch in the water

-practicing recall using a longline 

-using their mealtimes as obedience training and trick time

-teaching them something new (maybe this is your first time doing placework at the cottage. That’s adding something new. Have fun with it.) 

-play hide and seek (dogs are amazing at this game) 

-set up agility equipment and teach your dog how to use it (or just do “forest agility” using logs and tree stumps to play around on.) 

By providing direction for your dog, she will be guided into activities that are safe, fun, and approved by you. 

Engage with your dog and have fun doing it! (Photo: Golden Retriever jumps off a dock into a lake)

Number two: 

Placework. Teach your pup to love place. Place is a zen zone for your dog. A place to switch off and relax. A place to nap. When taught correctly, your dog should know to rest, not guard the property, while on his cot. Cots can be used inside and outside to create a calm environment for all. 

Placework gives your dog the job of calm (Photo: German Shepherd mix napping)

Number three: 

Thresholds. If your dog currently goes crashing through doors ahead of the humans (cottage door, gate, car door, etc,) he is in charge. Slow down and pay attention to thresholds. Your dog should wait for permission before going in and out of doors.

Number four: 

If your dog is barking at passersby and visitors because he’s fearful, advocate for his space. Do not let people rush into his intimate space if it makes him uncomfortable. Use crate and place to keep your pup safe around all of these new (and often drunk and excitable) people. 

Advocate for your dog’s needs (Photo: pair of feet standing beneath the word NO painted in yellow on a street,)

Number five: 

Walk your dog. You’re working so hard at home to have a dog who doesn’t pull on leash, don’t undo it all while at the cottage. Dogs need consistent leadership, rules, and boundaries. Walking your dog on leash at the cottage ensures one-on-one bonding time, as well as makes sure that your dog can’t tune you out. 

Stay tuned for next week’s blog post for five more tips to help you and your family enjoy cottage time with your dog. 

Wishing you a safe and fun long weekend in Cottage Country (and anywhere else you may be.)

Alyssa 

Photos by: Riley Crawford @ricrawfo ( person laying on a dock sunbathing with her dog), Mike Burke

@themikeburke (a brown and white pitbull mix laying on a carpet underneath a table,) Emerson Peters

@spemble (a calm Labrador Retriever riding in a car with his head out the window,) Nima Sarram

@nima_sarram (Golden Retriever jumps off a dock into a lake,) engin akyurt

@enginakyurt (German Shepherd mix napping), Jon Tyson

@jontyson (pair of feet standing beneath the word NO painted in yellow on a street,)

Walking Your Dog Should be Fun

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)

How are your walks going? Is there a lot of pulling? 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 is your dog’s thought bubble: 

“That smells great, let me just pull over here. Now, over on this side of the sidewalk. Awesome! Mom’s pulling on the leash, guess I’ll dig in my nails, so she knows I want to keep smelling this. And GULP! Wow! That tasted as awesome as it smelled. Growl at that guy. Lunge at that senior citizen. I’ll nip that guy’s ankles, but I’ll wait until he’s passed by me. Barking seems to work to get other dogs to move away from me, so I’ll keep doing that move. Yep. Worked again. Those kids are screaming, let’s calm them down by jumping on them. Whoa! Garbage truck! Back away from that friggin’ thing! Squirrel!!” 

And on and on it goes. 

The only communication that is happening is: 

1. The dog is the leader and you are the follower. This is how pack animals think. If you are in the back, you’re a follower. If you’re in the front, you’re the leader.

2. There’s tension on your leash. Tension creates opposition reflex. In a nutshell, it communicates to your dog that it’s go time. Fight club time. Read more about that here: https://beyonddogtraining.ca/news/who-is-protecting-whom

Are you practicing a bite sport, or are you on a calm and enjoyable walk? (Photo: a woman holding her Dogue de Bordeaux back while a man picks up a bite sleeve from the ground)

If you want a better relationship with your dog, but don’t know where to start, start with the walk. Teach your dog how to heel with a nice loose leash. Her head should be behind your knee to communicate to her that you are her leader. 

By walking your dog in this way, you earn leadership points. You get to choose which direction you walk which keeps you and your dog safe — you won’t be pulled toward aggressive dogs, forced to walk on the slipperiest part of the sidewalk, or pulled into traffic anymore!

Your dog will understand that it’s now your job to keep her safe, not the other way around. If she’s in front of you, it’s her job (that’s why she’s barking, lunging, and growling at every person and dog who comes toward you.) 

When your dog realizes you’ve got her back: 

-she can learn to trust you

-she can finally relax and just enjoy her walk (and not have to feel “on” all the time — she doesn’t like that, by the way.) 

-you will feel more relaxed and enjoy your walks more too

Walking your dog should be enjoyable. It shouldn’t feel like a chore. It shouldn’t be something you want to avoid. 

It shouldn’t be something that only the strongest family member can do.

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)

Ready to stop the leash pulling? Click the TAKE ACTION button and schedule your free call today.

While you’re waiting for your free call, check out our IGTV video 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 you’re looking for is called: Are you Fulfilling Your Dog? It’s in the IGTV Series: Structured Walks 

If you’re not on Instagram, we have the same handle on Facebook. You can also find us on TikTok at Beyond Dog Training.

See you there! 

Happy training, Dog Leaders! 

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 (a woman holding her Dogue de Bordeaux back while a man picks up a bite sleeve from the ground,) Parry Bast (Author, Alyssa Foulkes and her Rottweiler who is in an off-leash heel position in the forest)

PREPARE YOUR DOG FOR FIREWORKS BEFORE MAY LONG WEEKEND

Let’s make this May long weekend enjoyable for you and your dog! (Photo: fireworks in the sky about a city skyline)

Are you dreading May 24? Do fireworks go off in your neighbourhood before the long weekend even begins?It’s becoming really common to hear fireworks all weekend long. Here are some tips to get you and your dog prepared for the upcoming celebration.

Remember: if your dog is afraid of fireworks, the time to begin counter conditioning them to get over their fear is right now, not on the day the fireworks are going to happen. Schedule your free call today and begin the process to help your dog through her fear.

Physical Exercise: 

Tired dogs go into a resting and relaxed state far more easily than dogs who are not exercised. 

All dogs require daily exercise. Some require low-key walks, while others require hours of running, agility, and fetch to properly tire them out. In the days leading up to the long weekend, exercise your dog for an extra thirty minutes each day. Structured exercise is best because it drains physical and mental energy.

On the day of the big fireworks show, begin with a long walk before breakfast. After lunch, go for a nice long hike and explore nature with your pup. Make time for fetch, swimming, or a bike ride. When we fulfill our dog’s needs, they have less pent-up energy available to spend on barking at fireworks (or running from window to window barking at the fireworks.)

Fulfilling your dog’s exercise needs is a great way to prepare for fireworks (Photo: person biking with an off-leash dog)

Mental Exercise: 

Dogs are intelligent animals who need mental stimulation. Searching for food, doing obedience, and having fun with new tricks are all ways of draining your dog’s mental energy. 

Why not teach your dog a few life-saving skills, like “come,” “leave it,” and “drop it?” Not only will these activities tire your pup out, they could save your pup’s life. 

Structured walks are wonderful because they provide your dog with a job (follow you, their leader.) This “work” is mentally tiring for dogs.

Nosework is a great way to drain your dog’s mental energy (Photo: dachshund sniffing the sand at a beach)

Calmness: 

I quote former Navy SEAL, Dan Crenshaw, all the time for a reason: because this quotation sums up how to live with dogs — “Calm breeds calm. Panic breeds panic.” 

If you overreact to fireworks, your dog will overreact to fireworks. 

Your dog is looking to you for your reaction. If she looks at you and sees a worried pack leader, she will become worried too. 

Communicate calmness to your dog by acting calm and confident while the fireworks are going off. 

Exposure: 

If you have a new puppy, now is your chance to let them learn that fireworks are no big deal. If you’re out and about in the evening, keep moving and keep your own energy calm and confident. Your puppy is a master of reading your energy and your body language. Show your pup there’s nothing to fear. 

Do not stop and comfort your puppy as you would a young child. They are not human. If you join them in a soft state of mind and pet them while they’re acting fearful you will reward a fearful state of mind and teach them fireworks are to be feared. No baby talk. Just walk. 

If you’re outside, you’ll be allowing your puppy to learn in a way that is natural to her: nose, eyes, ears. She will be able to get used to the way the fireworks smell, how they look, and what they sound like. 

Teach your puppy to be calm around the things you wish them to be calm around as an adult (Photo: person walking a dog at sunset)

Prevention: 

Be sure to have your dog’s tags on, in case she runs away. Call your microchip company and ensure that they have your address up to date in their system. 

If you are reading this article several weeks prior to fireworks, you can begin to desensitize your dog to the sound by playing it at a low level prior to and during enjoyable activities, like playing fetch indoors or eating a meal. Gradually increase the volume and remember to simply act calm and confident when you do this activity. If you’re unsure of how to do this, schedule a free call and set up in-person sessions. We are happy to help you through this process to alleviate your dog’s stress.

How to keep yourself calm? 

Tell yourself that this year’s fireworks are going to be the best ones ever for you and your dog. Mindset is so important. If you spend all day baby-talking to your dog and acting strangely, she will be on edge. If you cringe the moment you hear the first firework of the evening, you’re setting your dog up to be stressed and/or afraid. 

Exercise, breathe, and remind yourself that you can do this. 

Happy training, Dog Leaders! 

Alyssa 

Photos by: maggie hung @maggie__1105 (fireworks in the sky about a city skyline,) Patrick Hendry

@worldsbetweenlines (person biking with an off-leash dog,) Emma Charles

@emmacharles (dachshund sniffing the sand at a beach,) Helen Cramer

@helencramer (person walking a dog at sunset) Cora Leach

5 Ways to Improve Your Relationship With Your Dog

Teach it

Live it

〰️

Dream it

Teach it Live it 〰️ Dream it

Imagine your perfect life with your dog and then work to teach them each puzzle piece (Photo: a puzzle that is missing one piece sits on a table)

What happens if you put together a puzzle, but you’re missing several pieces? 

You won’t enjoy looking at the puzzle very much. 

You may even feel frustrated when you realize the pieces are missing. 

I often use the analogy of a mosaic or a puzzle to explain what is happening between people and their dogs. 

Your relationship with your dog is made up of lots of pieces. If you don’t have every single piece, then the relationship isn’t as great as it should be. 

If you haven’t taught your dog what “drop it” means, for example, then you will struggle to get them to drop toys or household items that they have decided should be toys. 

Puppies are not born knowing what to chew in our homes and what not to chew. We must teach them and be consistent. (Photo: black and white dog chewing a shoe)

If you never taught your dog what “leave it” means, they won’t know that they shouldn’t pick up your kid’s sock, the remote control, or your shoe. 

Every puzzle piece is a lesson that must be taught. It must also be practiced over, and over and over in many different situations in order for your dog to truly understand what it means. In dog training, we call this proofing a command. 

For example, you may teach your dog how to sit and stay in your kitchen. They get very good at this, so you begin to make it more challenging by adding more duration, distance, and distraction (still in the kitchen.) 

Set your dog up for success by teaching new commands inside your home with minimal distractions (Photo: black Labrador Retriever sitting on a hardwood floor)

What many people do next is to expect the dog to know how to sit and stay in a dog park or at their campsite. This distraction is way too high if your dog is only beginning to learn to listen to your commands inside your home. 

Instead, you want to set your dog up for success, by training the sit stay in many rooms of your home. Then, you’re going to try it on your balcony or back deck with as few distractions as possible. The wonderful outdoor smells are distracting enough to your dog without attempting your first outdoor sit stay while the neighbour dogs are barking and the little girl next door is hollering greetings at you over the fence. 

Remember to keep a leash on your dog at first, so that you can easily return them to their spot (if they break the stay.) 

When you take the time to teach your dog what you would like them to do, it avoids the frustration that happens when dogs choose their own jobs. It’s hard to stop them from digging in your garden, running the fence with the neighbour dog, or barking at people who walk by your property. If you teach them what you want them to do from day one, they will be a joy to live with. They’ll be happier and so will you. 

This isn’t how dogs learn :) We must teach them. (photo: Pomeranian wearing reading glasses and “reading” an iPad)

What are five puzzle pieces you should work on right now to improve your relationship with your dog or teach your puppy so they start off on the right track? 

1. DROP IT (AKA AUS): When you teach your puppy this command early (8 weeks old,) you will enjoy playing with toys so much. Not only that, but if she grabs garbage off the ground on your walk, you can ask her to drop it and she will know what you are talking about.

2. LEAVE IT: Teaching your puppy to “leave it” allows her to understand not to pick up garbage on the walk, toys that are not hers (kid’s toys, cat toys, your hamster ball, etc,) and your shoes.

3. COME: Recall should be taught immediately. Like “drop it” and “leave it,” “come” is a life-saving command. If your dog currently ignores you when she’s in your backyard and you say “come,” you must take this seriously. If she won’t come when she’s in your yard, she will not come off the road when there’s a car heading for her.

One of our clients recalling her puppy, Harper, the Cattle Dog Mix (Photo: Cattle Dog Mix, Harper, recalling to her owner)

4. HEEL: Dogs require leadership and consistent communication that is clear. Learning to follow her humans instead of lead them (walk in front, zigzagging, pulling) prevents leash reactivity from ever happening.

5. PLACE: If you don’t provide a job for your dog, she will choose her own and you won’t like what she chooses. No one likes living with a dog who steals food off of the counter, herds the children (and nips them,) barks out the window all day, or chases the cats. You must teach her what to do instead. Teaching her placework will build her confidence, help her know what to do when houseguests arrive, and teach her how to be calm. She will love feeling calm. You’ll love it too.

If your dog isn’t crate trained, that is another great place to begin. That puzzle piece should also represent a calm and safe space that your dog loves. 

Not sure how to teach your dog to love her crate, how to do placework, or teach her rock-solid recall? That’s what we're here for. 

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

With in-home sessions, you can relax. You don’t need to drive anywhere, we come to you. By working with your dog in her own environment, she’ll feel more comfortable and so will you. 

Happy training, Dog Leaders! 

Alyssa 

Photos by: Upsplash Images (cover image: woman high-fiving her dog as they both sit on a set of train tracks), Sigmund @sigmund (a puzzle that is missing one piece sits on a table,) klara welz

@huebscherei (black and white dog chewing a shoe,) Sharon McCutcheon

@sharonmccutcheon (black Labrador Retriever sitting on a hardwood floor,) Cookie the Pom

@cookiethepom (Pomeranian wearing reading glasses and “reading” an iPad,) Claire Atkinson (Cattle Dog Mix, Harper, recalling to Claire,)

Before You Go Away

There are some places we can’t bring our dogs, so we need to teach them how to feel relaxed on their own (Photo: rollercoaster nearing the top)

The last time you went away for a few days, your dog refused to eat. Other family members were home, but your dog didn’t care. 

This is not a signal of love and devotion. 

This is a sign of separation anxiety. 

You need to help your dog overcome this stressful condition. 

Unfortunately, many owners feel quite flattered when they hear that their dog would not eat whilst they were away. Upon their return, they shower the dog with baby talk and affection while the dog is anxiously whining, jumping up, behaving excitedly, etc. 

We need to stop this cycle because it isn’t fair to the dog. 

It is time to set our own ego aside and rehabilitate our dog. It is time to help them through separation anxiety. 

The goal for your next vacation shouldn’t be to boast about how much your dog missed you (Photo: terrier resting on a bed)

We need to want more for our dogs.

I want to know that my dog is having a great time if I’m on vacation without her. (Photo: Rottweiler puppy looking positively adorable beside a swimming pool)

Separation anxiety happens when we allow our dog to be in a follower state of mind before we leave home. 

This looks like: 

-following us from room to room as we get ready to leave

And is sometimes accompanied by: 

-panting

-whining

-blocking the doorway

-and more

Owners often: 

-talk to the dog as she follows from room to room “It’s okay, baby, Mommy will be back soon,” etc) 

-pet the dog as she follows us around 

-sometimes there’s even a struggle to move the dog away from the front door so we can leave

Hands up if your dog blocks your doorway making leaving impossible. (Photo: black and white Newfoundlander laying down)

When the door shuts in the dog’s face, she is physically blocked, but her mind is in the follower state, so she becomes frustrated. 

This looks/sounds like: 

-scratching at the door

-whining

-pacing

-panting

And can also look like: 

-gnawing the baseboards and doorway to go after the human

-jumping through windows

-breaking through screen doors

-injuring herself trying to escape a crate (if you crated her) 

-refusal to eat her breakfast until the owner returns from work

It’s time to help our dogs through separation anxiety (Photo: dog resting his head on the window frame looking out the window)

If this is what your dog’s daily life looks like, hire a professional to help repair your relationship. The dog is not broken and doesn’t need fixing. The relationship needs to be repaired. 

If you’ll be going away on vacation in a few months time, you have time to help your dog through the separation anxiety. 

How to get started? 

Have a family meeting. It’s time to make changes on how you live with your dog. It’s time to help her feel well. 

A few house rules to get started: 

-Don’t make a big fuss before leaving for work/school/errands.  

-Don’t make a big fuss when you return from work/school/errands. 

-Reward calmness on a daily basis. 

Calm dogs are happy, well-adjusted dogs (Photo: Bulldog resting on a dog bed)

When you are choosing a coach who will help you through separation anxiety, you want someone who: 

-understands dog psychology (you don’t need a trainer for obedience and tricks, you need someone who can help your dog learn calmness) 

-can help you reintroduce the crate so that it represents calmness

-teach you the place command without using food or excitement as rewards (your dog needs to be taught what to do instead of follow you while you’re getting ready to leave home.) 

-is great with people and a great teacher (you are the one getting coached and learning leadership skills) 

-knows how to help your whole relationship (recall out of the backyard matters; your leash walks matter; your dog’s manners while greeting your houseguests matter) 

Every moment matters. How we live with dogs matters. 

Let’s get yours well! 

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

Have a wonderful weekend, Dog Leaders! 

Alyssa 

Photos by: Meg Boulden

@mboulden (rollercoaster nearing the top,) Brooke Cagle

@brookecagle (terrier resting on a bed) Stephanie Cook

@stephtcook (Rottweiler puppy looking positively adorable beside a swimming pool,) Angel Luciano

@roaming_angel (black and white Newfoundlander laying down,) Mark Zamora

@mmm_mark (dog resting his head on the window frame looking out the window,) Brina Blum

@brina_blum (French Bulldog resting on a dog bed,)

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,)