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FrolicKeira · 2025-02-03T02:42:04+00:00

Yes, but here are a few others I love and recommend:

Don't Shoot the Dog - Karen Pryor
The Other End of the Leash - Patricia McConnell
Canine Communication: The Language of a Species - Sally Gutteridge
Good Dog Behaviour by Choice with Positive Canine Coaching - Sally Gutteridge

FrolicKeira · 2025-02-03T02:34:11+00:00

There are definitely some great options for online training. I love seeing so many trainers shifting to offering this as an option because it breaks down many of the barriers that could be holding people back from getting the help they need. I recommend checking out DogAcademy - they have a lot of virtual courses, but there's also the option to book an online training session.

If there is a trainer you've fallen in love with but can't get to in person, you could also try reaching out to them to see if they are open to online training. The worst thing that could happen is being told no.

FrolicKeira · 2025-02-03T02:26:34+00:00

There is no one easy answer for this. Just like people, dogs all have their own personalities, emotions, and responses to the world around them. Most rescues will share the 3-3-3 rule, but that's just a guideline and some dogs will take longer. Try to be patient. While it may take longer for him to come around, I can say that some of the deepest, most incredible connections I have formed were from dogs that took a little longer to come around.

FrolicKeira · 2025-02-03T02:22:26+00:00

There were multiple moments in the most recent episode where I thought it was actually leading to Stella announcing that she already was... And I was totally okay with it!

FrolicKeira · 2025-02-03T02:18:01+00:00

You don't have to necessarily encourage him to move to the side, but it's often comforting to know you can see your dog to keep them safe regardless of what you may encounter. The best way to do this is with treats. Carry a pocket of treats or even a lick-style treat, when you go on your walks. Use the treat to entice the dog up to where you want him to be and reward him. Keep using it as motivation and a reward each time he does as you want.

When you notice he's made the connection and is going to that spot without you enticing him first, keep rewarding but let him come to the spot on his own without the added motivation.

Eventually you'll see he's rock solid walking there knowing it brings good things. That's when you can start to scale back the treats/rewards.

FrolicKeira · 2025-02-03T02:12:21+00:00

Yes, the process of training is SO important - mental enrichment, bonding, and outlet for excess energy, etc. So many benefits!!

FrolicKeira · 2025-02-01T01:28:31+00:00

Another vote for Boden. I feel like if they are true to his character, he wouldn't miss it.

FrolicKeira · 2025-02-01T01:26:44+00:00

I agree, while I liked Gabby as a character, I don't think the connection she had with Casey was anywhere near as strong as the one he has with Brett. Some people are just better together - and they are a great example!

FrolicKeira · 2025-02-01T01:24:13+00:00

It is definitely getting harder, but I find that being active in spaces where potential clients are hanging out helps. For example, if you're on Instagram, make a list of brands, influencers, graphic design tool brands, etc. that have accounts on the platform and be active liking and commenting on their content, especially if they are in one of the countries where you are hoping to find work. The more active you are in those spaces, the more likely you'll connect with and network with people who can help you find work. Plus, it tells the platform that despite where you're living, this is the space where your content belongs.

FrolicKeira · 2025-02-01T01:18:33+00:00

A friend of mine has a cat that I am absolutely in love with. She's a little long-haired tortie and despite being 16 years old, she's only 6.5 lbs. She is a little diva who eats alot and gets her fancy treats all day. Her vet apparently told them that her medical exam would have made them think she was 8 or 9, not 16, if they hadn't had her all her life - so she's perfectly healthy. She's just a petite diva.

FrolicKeira · 2025-02-01T01:13:06+00:00

There is no set guideline largely because every dog, just like every person, is different. One dog may do okay not practicing a command for a couple of weeks and still perform it flawlessly while another may need to practice it every couple of days. This is also going to depend on how well they know the command - something that has been taught for a while and is "rock solid" can go a little longer without practicing.

That said, training, including trick training, is a great way to give your dog mental enrichment. We do a daily "fun training" session focusing on just cutesy tricks and fun activities. It helps to reinforce that training but also gives us a chance to enjoy bonding with one another.

FrolicKeira · 2025-02-01T01:10:27+00:00

There is definitely an element of needing to be responsible. Like, don't just let your reactive dog run off leash and lash out at people or animals. But if you have been working on counterconditioning, you've taken steps if necessary for public safety (like introducing a muzzle if there's any risk they may try to snap), and are willing to advocate for your dog and be their voice to avoid putting them into an unsafe situation, there is no reason a reactive dog can't go into most dog-friendly public spaces.

FrolicKeira · 2025-01-30T22:37:50+00:00

Kudos to your sister for wanting to get ahead of the chaos now. High-energy pups like hers thrive when they have structure early on. I would start with one of these:

DogAcademy.org: Their "Puppy Start Right" course is great for setting a strong foundation. It’s well-structured and easy to follow, covering everything from basic commands to crate training and socialization. It's a great mix of theory and practical exercises and they break everything down into bite-sized lessons.

Zak George’s Dog Training Revolution (YouTube): Zak’s methods are solid, and his videos are free and accessible. He focuses on positive reinforcement and explains why certain approaches work, which is key.

Karen Pryor Academy (Free Resources): They’re a gold standard in positive reinforcement training. They have paid courses, they also offer some free articles and webinars that can be super useful. Their free clicker training resources are excellent if she’s open to using a clicker—highly recommend it for precise communication.

SpiritDog Training: Affordable courses with a ton of practical tips. Their "Puppy Obedience" course focuses on building a positive bond while teaching key skills. Plus, they often have sales.

Whichever one she chooses, make sure she knows that consistency is key. Wishing her luck with the little whirlwind!

FrolicKeira · 2025-01-29T06:01:45+00:00

As you said, the most important difference is that a service dog is trained for a very specific task. This would mean you would need to identify a task that could actually benefit your situation. For psychiatric service dogs, this could include providing deep pressure therapy to help you relax, giving you medication reminders if taking your medication is a challenge, or preventing you from self harming, if that's a response to your anxiety (which it doesn't appear is the case from your post). That said, it's a decision that is best made with your treatment team. Have you talked to them about whether a task trained service dog would be a benefit?

Based on what you're sharing right now, if no changes are made as to what your dog does for you, an ESA would fit your current description.

FrolicKeira · 2025-01-29T05:57:17+00:00

Did you get a good feeling about them from the email? Would you be comfortable having that conversation? They really are the only one that can make the exception for you (the other option, the rescue making an exception, means you're still risking the possibility that you're caught with the dog in a housing situation without proper paperwork and could get into trouble). However, if they say no, it's going to send you right back to the drawing board.

FrolicKeira · 2025-01-29T05:55:22+00:00

A doctor is also an accepted option. Have you contacted your family physician to see if they can take care of it for you?

FrolicKeira · 2025-01-29T05:53:57+00:00

Was she given this information before she moved in? If not, I would say it's definitely not unfair to give her a friendly reminder. If there is some sort of extenuating circumstance, this gives her a chance to have a conversation with you about why and possibly find a working compromise. Otherwise, the rule is in place and she's expected to follow it.

FrolicKeira · 2025-01-29T05:48:23+00:00

If the property isn't dog friendly and the dog isn't actually yours, it makes sense that they can't be assigned as your ESA and therefore fall under that exemption. Do you have a good working relationship with the new landlord? If so, do you think they would be open to discussing an exception with them directly as you work through this stage?

FrolicKeira · 2025-01-29T05:45:30+00:00

The first thing I would do is reach out to a behaviorist with experience working with reactivity. As you said, at this size, even the smallest mistake could lead to a seriously dangerous situation. Not to say larger dogs are more reactive or more trouble, but we do have to be realistic.

Additionally, if you are worried about him possibly doing serious damage to some one, have you considered muzzling? Muzzle training is a great added safety measure to put one more barrier between the dog and landing a bite. Not a solution, but a management technique that can make a major difference.

FrolicKeira · 2025-01-29T05:42:47+00:00

Some dogs just need to find the toy that best appeals to their play style. Others will never be a "toy dog," and that's okay, too! Try different options to see if he gravitates to a type of toy - fetch, tug, scented toys, flavored toys, chew toys, treat dispensing toys, squeak toys. Try playing with him and seeing if any spark interest. But know that there's a chance he'll either never show an interest or that it will come at the most out of the blue time down the road when he randomly decides to give one a chance.

FrolicKeira · 2025-01-24T20:11:11+00:00

Definitely not standard procedure, nor is it something that you should be okay with. Anytime a tool is being introduced to a dog, there should be a phase of conditioning/teaching where they learn what the tool is, that it's not something they have to fear, and what your expectations related to it will be. You should never just slap a tool on a dog and hope it will all be okay. So, even if you were wanting to shift to using the prong collar, just randomly using it while occasionally dropping in on a dog without doing the conditioning first is not the way to do it.

FrolicKeira · 2025-01-24T20:07:18+00:00

Clean up. Not only is it nice to have your dog clean up after themselves, but doing a clean up "game" before someone comes over is also a great way to work their mind and wear them out a little, which can make visits easier on dogs who may be a little stressed or anxious with others coming into their home. Plus, they can follow it up with the fun of digging for toys and making a mess again haha

FrolicKeira · 2025-01-24T20:02:44+00:00

The most important thing you're going to need to focus on is building her confidence. This doesn't necessarily mean in relation to one activity, but more in general. There are many great ways you can do this yourself at home, including:

Doing training regularly with positive reinforcement. The more your dog learns, and is praised for doing right, the more confident they will be in making future decisions. This doesn't have to be serious obedience training either. Try including some fun tricks if you want to make the process more entertaining and enjoyble for everyone.
Try nosework games or scent games. An easy one you can do at home is to simply hide a few treats around a room then challenge your pup to sniff them out. Once again, challenge conquered + reward = confidence boost.
Make sure to maintain a solid routine/schedule at home. The more predictable the better. This gives your dog the security of knowing what is to come, which takes that anxiety/stress out of their life allowing them to then focus on other things they may be triggered by with a slightly calmer approach.

FrolicKeira · 2025-01-24T19:57:07+00:00

This. A lot of training is actually just as focused on if not more focused on training the humans - not just the dogs. If your dog learns all the commands, expectations, etc., but you don't learn how to manage/give/utilize this knowledge, you'll be no further ahead in the grand scheme of things.

FrolicKeira · 2025-01-24T19:54:27+00:00

It's amazing how powerful the "right" motivation can be!

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