Harmony Animal Training & Behaviour

Welcome to the HAT family, Nova! This beautiful adolescent Golden Retriever will be learning some basic manners, as well as how to more closely focus on her owner, with Trainer Brigette over the next few weeks. Nova's proving to be super smart already and we've only just had one session! Here she is performing a "down" in a busy park (you can't see them, but there were a bunch of kids playing right behind us!)

This team has come SO FAR in their behaviour modification and training journey! Such a great job! Here is Spot performing a beautiful "mat" behaviour! Spot's handler is currently cueing a "down" on the mat, but with repetition it will soon be automatic for Spot as part of the "mat" cue. Going into a down can be a really vulnerable position for some dogs, and down is definitely not Spot's preferred stance (which is absolutely fine!) Some things to note:... We chose a mat that is thin and portable. That way, Spot can generalize this mat behaviour in many different settings. We chose a mat that has a rubberized, non-slip backing. That way, it won’t move around on slippery flooring. Once the handler has completed their mat training session, the mat comes up and is stored away from Spot’s usual living areas. That way, the mat acts like a context cue for Spot - whenever he sees his mat, he’ll know to go and lie down on it, regardless of what’s happening in the environment. See more

My friend and colleague, Vanessa Charbonneau of Sit Pretty Pet Services, says it all in her latest Facebook post. Being a solopreneur or a micro business owner is HARD. It's not for the faint of heart. We wear fourteen different hats on any given day. And we do it because we LOVE it - we love our clients, your dogs, and our businesses. But make no mistake...a lot more goes into your one hour coaching session or group class that you never see. Sadly, most days aren't about "playing with dogs". And we're all just trying to do our very best.

Trainer Brigette had her second session with Marty and his family today. Here's Marty's dad demonstrating an emergency U-turn that can be used if they encounter a triggering stimulus that might result in reactive behaviour (barking, pulling/lunging on leash) from Marty while out on a walk. Marty's triggers include strangers and other dogs. A couple of key points for the emergency U-turn behaviour: Carry a treat pouch of super yummy, high value treats with you on every walk.... Be scanning the environment for potential triggering stimuli as you're walking (this takes lots of practice!) The most ideal scenario is to complete the emergency U-turn *before* your dog reacts to the triggering stimulus. Place a high value treat right at your dog's nose as you pivot 180 degrees and allow him to eat it as you're moving. Book it in the opposite direction of the triggering stimulus! Don't wait for it to catch up to you. The emergency U-turn can be challenging for owners, as there's a lot going on at once. It's a great idea to practice the physical mechanics on your own without the dog first - pretend you have a leash in hand, reach down with your opposite hand to the level of your dog's nose, pivot 180 degrees, and walk away quickly in the opposite direction). The more times your dog practices their reactive behaviour on-leash, the more ingrained it will become in their behaviour repertoire and the harder it will be to teach them an alternate behaviour or to escape the situation.

Trainer Tip: If you absolutely need to greet another dog while on leash, keep it short and sweet - no more than 3 to 4 seconds and both leashes should be completely loose so there's no tension on the leashes.

Welcome to the HAT family, Marty! Although Marty is so little, he sure has some BIG feelings about the world. His awesome family is working with Trainer Brigette to help him feel safer with new people and new experiences, as well as less stressed when his human mom leaves the house.

Desi and her owner worked some real life challenges today! Loose leash walking and recall in a high distraction environment - and they both knocked it out of the park! Look at that beautiful loose leash and that automatic check-in! Recalls were super zoomy due to extra yummy reinforcers - all-beef hot dogs, in this case. Great work, you two!

There's a common misconception that in order to properly socialize your puppy, they need to go up and say hello to every single person and dog they see. However..., socialization is so much more than just playing with other dogs and saying hello to lots of people! In fact, the literal definition of socialization is, "the process of learning to behave in a way that is acceptable to society." For dogs, acceptable behavior in society usually involves NOT interacting with other dogs and/or people! In fact, 99% of the time, it's actually preferable for our dogs to be able to ignore all those distractions while they're out and about. That part of socialization- learning how to stay engaged with YOU around distractions- is so much more important than getting to play with lots of dogs or greeting a certain number of people every week!

This big, beautiful boy, Cooper, successfully completed our Mutt Mindfulness coaching package today! His family have put in so much hard work throughout his puppyhood and adolescence and it’s really paying off. They’ve seen excellent results - Cooper’s got one of the best touch cues I’ve seen! Our final session today was all about recall and they nailed it! They’ve now got all the tools they need - the key after a coaching package is complete is just continued practice and consistency.

I hear a lot from frustrated dog owners that their dog won't "obey their commands." And if you have followed me for awhile, you probably know that I like to cha...llenge people's mindset. In this case, I'd like people to reflect on the use of the word "command." That's a pretty militant concept, don't you think? Instead, let's think of it another way. We are ASKING our dog to do something. We can't MAKE them do it. We can request in such a way, though, that makes it a good choice for the dog to make. Maybe we incentivise them with wonderful treats, affection, or a toy - so that it's in the dog's best interest to comply with our request. But if your dog says no, it's not because they are defiant or "bad." It's possible they don't understand what we want them to do - OR maybe we aren't motivating them enough to do what we are suggesting. What motivates YOUR dog?

I definitely need another dog... ok maybe a drink as well

This sweet and beautiful girl turns 14 years old today. She’s the reason I became a dog trainer. Thank you, Lulu, for (literally) always being by my side. I love you so much, baby girl. #heartdog

Here at Harmony, we're ALL about collaboration! Collaboration with our clients, collaboration with experts in our field, and collaboration with our peers in the animal training industry, both near and far. We enjoy making and fostering connections to ensure that we're offering the best possible service in our community. If an up-and-coming trainer has questions about how we do things or what it's like being a trainer, we're here for those conversations. We welcome them eage...rly and with excitement. We believe in the power of mentorship. As animal training is based on science, not many of us have truly proprietary information that can't be found in multiple ways. There's nothing I do within my business that someone hasn't already thought of first. I don't believe that information needs to be hoarded like some sort of destructive monopoly. If, ultimately, what I want is the betterment of the animal training industry as a whole, why wouldn't I want my peers/competitors to be as effective and productive within their businesses as I am?

September is Pet Pain Awareness Month. Unfortunately pets are very good at disguising their pain, so as pet parents we have to pay close attention to changes in their behaviour / movement that might indicate that there is a problem.

A head's up to BC Lower Mainland dog owners! There's been a confirmed case of a rabies-positive bat in the Tsawwassen area. Please ensure that your pups are vaccinated or titre tested for rabies, as it's a fatal disease.

Puppy classes: Is puppy playtime really the best option for effective socialization? Heres an excellent article by my fellow IAABC member, Shelley Doan of 20/20 Canine Consultants, that outlines why we may want to re-think puppy playtime in puppy classes. IAABC 2020 Canine Consultants

This is a great infographic by The Family Dog that teaches kids how to safely interact with dogs. Remember to ask permission first...then PAT, PET, PAUSE.

Can anyone else relate? No? Just me. Okay then.

One of the topics that I speak with all my clients about is mental enrichment, both for dogs and cats. Scent work is an excellent way to engage your pets brain by using one of their primary senses. Scent work can help calm an anxious/fearful pet or work out some excess energy for an adolescent pet. Give it a try and let me know what you think!

Puppy classes: Is puppy playtime really the best option for effective socialization? Here's an excellent article by my fellow IAABC member, Shelley Doan of 20/20 Canine Consultants, that outlines why we may want to re-think puppy playtime in puppy classes. IAABC 2020 Canine Consultants

Due to the increased numbers of confirmed Covid-19 cases in BC this past week (https://experience.arcgis.com//a6f23959a8b14bfa989e3cda292) and the likelihood that the numbers will continue to rise come September, some difficult decisions have had to be made this week. Effective immediately, I have decided to transition all current clients to Zoom video coaching sessions, and all new clients will automatically be booked for Zoom video coaching sessions. We will temporarily... be suspending any in-person outdoor coaching sessions. There are some amazing benefits of virtual training: Experience You still receive the same expertise and coaching as you would in person. Convenient No travel involved, you can learn at home in your pajamas (no judgment from me!) The video coaching sessions are recorded so you can watch them again for additional learning. Easy I use a video platform called Zoom to conduct the training sessions its literally only one-click to access the meeting! Using your computer, tablet, or smartphone the only other things you need are an Internet connection and a webcam/microphone. Increased learning For some of our more easily distracted or fearful dogs, being in a low distraction, safe environment (like your living room) can actually increase learning over the long term. I look forward to continuing to work with you and your dogs using this creative coaching format! Both my colleagues and I have been seeing record results using Zoom video coaching since the start of the pandemic and I know that youll also be witness to those amazing results with your dogs!

Congrats to Bailey and her owners who graduated from our Mutt Manners program! Baileys owners worked so hard with her and their dedication is paying off with a well-behaved and super fun adolescent dog!

Happy training makes happy dogs! Heres a great article and infographic from the BC SPCA (BCSPCA) to learn how to recognize the 5 elements of humane dog training. https://spca.bc.ca/news/5-elements-of-humane-training/

Weve had to modify our Puppy Start Right Preschool class due to the pandemic. Were holding private in-person classes outdoors in safe locations with minimal distractions. Trainer Brigette is adapting - heres a video showing our set up for tonights class, where we worked on body handling and grooming.

Congrats to Bailey and her owners who graduated from our Mutt Manners program! Bailey’s owners worked so hard with her and their dedication is paying off with a well-behaved and super fun adolescent dog!

This cutie patootie started Puppy Start Right Preschool class tonight! Welcome to the Harmony family, Aspen!

Happy training makes happy dogs! Here's a great article and infographic from the BC SPCA (BCSPCA) to learn how to recognize the 5 elements of humane dog training. https://spca.bc.ca/news/5-elements-of-humane-training/

One of the foundation behaviours Trainer Brigette works on with our clients is the cue for touch. This cue basically asks our dog to touch their nose to the flat palm of our hand (or some other object were presenting to them). Its a super useful cue that can be further developed for lots of different applications: loose-leash walking and recall, for example, as well as behaviour modification with fearful or reactive dogs. Heres a great photo of Peach rocking her touch cue with her owner in a high-distraction environment. #nailedit

We've had to modify our Puppy Start Right Preschool class due to the pandemic. We're holding private in-person classes outdoors in safe locations with minimal distractions. Trainer Brigette is adapting - here's a video showing our set up for tonight's class, where we worked on body handling and grooming.

Do you play tug with your dog? Why or why not?

Another great training session with Bailey and her owners today! Baileys been learning some key foundation behaviours that will help her owners with her excitement, over-arousal, and less-desired adolescent behaviours like jumping up and mouthing. Today, we worked on three new cues: touch (doggy nose to human palm), leave it/take it, and drop it. Bailey is loving learning by positive reinforcement and is happily working for her super yummy treats!

One thing that I work with all my clients on is mental enrichment. In our busy lives, we tend to overlook this critical piece of the training and behaviour puzzle. Its *at least* as important as physical exercise for dogs, and even more important for some dogs (and all cats!) A client sent me this photo of their dog, Rose, which illustrates this concept perfectly. Rose had just finished foraging for her dinner using an intermediate puzzle toy (as seen in the photo). After a few minutes, her brain had been worked using this enrichment tool and she was relaxed, happy, and content. This is our goal! https://nina-ottosson.outwardhound.com/leve/treat-maze.html

Mine is Loodleloodle! Whats your dogs oodle name?

It should be illegal to be this cute! Rose is a lovely dog who sometimes exhibits signs of fear and anxiety by growling, barking, and lunging on leash. At only 8.5 pounds, sometimes the world can be a big scary place for one so tiny. Trainer Brigette is working with Roses dedicated owners to change those reactions. Rose learned a lot of things during todays session - Rose thinks the most important thing she learned today was all about how yummy hot dogs are!

KPA CTP, CPDT, CBCC, CDBC, CAAB...what on Earth do all those letters behind a trainer or behaviour consultants name mean anyway?! Do they even matter? My colleague, Sara Ondrako, wrote an excellent primer on what these designations mean and why theyre important. The dog training industry is highly unregulated, which means that it really is up to the client to ensure theyre hiring the right professional for the job (or a professional at all!) Check out her article below. HA...Ts Head Trainer, Brigette, is a behaviour consultant as well as an animal trainer, so she can definitely assist with minor to moderate behaviour issues with your pet. For more serious behaviour challenges (e.g.: severe bites to either humans or dogs or severe separation anxiety), shell ethically refer you to someone with additional levels of behaviour and/or veterinary behaviour education. See more

Trainer Brigette had her first in-person private coaching session today with our new Covid-19 safety protocols. It went really well! Peach is a super sweet 8 month old Jindo cross puppy. She did a great job focusing and learning through all the distractions that come with being in an outdoor environment! Her owners are motivated and excited to learn more about positive reinforcement training to help build a strong bond with Peach. A fantastic first session!

Think a dog wearing a muzzle = mean dog?Think again! There are lots of reasons why a dog might be wearing a muzzle. Feel free to share with us why your dog wears a muzzle in the comments!

Are you interested in making veterinary and grooming visits less stressful and easier on your pets? Cooperative care is the way to do that! By training some simple body positioning behaviours, you can teach your pet to cooperatively participate in their own care. Behavior Vets is graciously offering a free webinar to introduce this concept - register at the links provided!

Behaviours are never 100% understood or predictable. Animal training alters the probability of behaviours occurring on cue.

Effective June 1, 2020, we will be resuming in-person private training sessions! Please see our new Covid-19 guidelines document for additional information.

We can listen to our learners using our eyes, ears, nose and touch. When we stop and notice their behaviours and the environment around those behaviours we can hear so much of what they maybe be saying. #listen #conversation #horsesofinstagram #positivereinforcement

Why? Why not! (click to play GIF)

Does a knock at your door cause chaos with your dog, including barking and jumping up on visitors? Would you prefer your dog to settle calmly on his bed instead? Follow along with these helpful infographics to find out how!

Something to think about when we all return to work...how will your pets deal with not having you around 24/7? If theres a risk of separation anxiety, I recommend doing a little research now to find a professional pet sitter or dog walker AND a qualified trainer to help you deal with it. Also, start some of this behaviour modification work now! Leave your dog at home while you take a (safe and physically-distanced) walk around the neighbourhood or a drive to admire the beautiful spring blossoms.

Puppy Start Right Preschool has moved online! All the same fun and all the same learning as our in-person class for puppies aged 7 to 12 weeks at the start of Preschool: * Safe & effective positive exposure (aka "socialization") * Puppy handling exercises to ready them for vet and/or groomer visits... * Potty training * Crate training * Problem-solving for common puppy behaviours (biting, chewing, barking, etc.) * And SO MUCH MORE! Our virtual class is supported by: * Videos * Helpful training exercises * Your very own copy of the Puppy Start Right book that includes a wealth of information and resources * A private Facebook group where you can share videos for feedback, ask questions, and look for advice from your instructor and other students. Lets get you and your new family member off to a great start! Ongoing enrollment means that you can join our Zoom virtual class at any time (Mondays at 7pm for 4 weeks). Register NOW! https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php

Today we suffered the unexpected and devastating loss of our perpetual puppy, Jax. He was the youngest member of our family at only 8 years old. We ask for your kindness and understanding if it takes us a little longer to respond to emails and voicemail messages. Please know that we are doing our very best and dearly want to serve you and your beloved pets. Please love on them a little more this weekend in Jaxs honour. April 28th Update: At the moment, were not taking on any new clients so that we have time and space to work through our grief. If you need a referral for training, please email us and well do our best to get back to you quickly.

I agree with this message. And I know that its important to my clients as well. I find that a lot of times, because were so busy in our daily lives (pre-Covid, of course), we dont just let our dogs be dogs. Sniffing, chewing, and barking are all perfectly normal dog behaviours (unless theyre tied to anxiety - thats a discussion to have with your veterinarian). Let me know in the comments how you make your dog happy. For my dogs, Lulu and Jax, some of their favourite happy things are sniffing while on a walk, K9 Nose Work, and playing tug.

Does your dog have the bored-at-home Covid-19 blues? Check out this great article by Modern Dog magazine all about fun scent games you can play inside!

WHOA! New and exciting things have been happening around these parts! Can you notice whats different about our FB page? Stay tuned for all the details coming soon! #changeisgood

Heres a fun little quiz - how many did you get right?

For all our moggy lovers...a little bit of levity on this sunny afternoon.

We have some exciting news! mutt & moggy is now a proud member of the BC SPCA (BCSPCA) AnimalKind accreditation program! We follow science-based, humane training standards and have earned the AnimalKind stamp of approval from the BC SPCA. Get in touch with us today! #AnimalKind #BCSPCA #positivereinforcmenttraining

Valentines Day tips to keep you and your dog safe and happy. #APDT