Keystone Dog Training

I've learned so much from every animal I've been lucky enough to meet, I appreciate all of it!

. . #trainyourdog #dogs #dogeducation #positivedogtraining #educate

A thought for today during National Dog Bite Prevention Week, but relevant year round: Sometimes it's not helpful or kind to your dog to view him/her as a dog... who likes to be petted. This doesn't refer just to being touched by strangers; it can also be a problem to assume your dog wants to be touched by family members -- even your toddler, even under close supervision. This is one of the most common misunderstandings between dogs and humans. Many dogs, like many people, would not choose to be touched, stroked, hugged or patted. Such interactions can lead to biting, through no fault of the dog's. #vetbehavior #vetbehaviordogs #dogbitesafety

Please Double Leash your new rescue or skittish dog. Far too many newly rescue dogs go missing. Please make sure they are properly leashed and secure inside yo...ur car. Never open your car door without having your dog on a leash before the door is opened. Use a properly fitted Martingale Collar & a properly fitted Harness. You should only be able to put one finger between the collar/harness and the dogs skin. It should not be any looser than that. Please make sure you adjust the collar and harness to fit properly in an enclosed location. Safely inside a car with all the doors closed or inside your house. Never try to do this out in a parking lot or outside where the dog can escape. Use two leashes, one can be clipped to your belt using a carabiner clip in the other one safely wrapped around your hand and wrist. This way heaven for bid if you fall one of the leashes is attached to you. Please keep your dog safe. They are depending on you. See more

‘But I Can Just Google It’ I hear this a lot. People asking why they should pay for a professional dog trainer rather than just googling it. After all there’s ...thousands of free videos and articles online. So I thought I would share with you one of my sessions from today that perfectly encapsulates why hiring a trainer is different. Meet Freya. She is a 7 year old Staffordshire Bull Terrier who LOVES to bark. All day. She barks to demand things. She barks when she is bored. She barks when she is confused. She barks when she is excited. Her owner could have googled ‘how to stop my dog barking’ and had a whole mix of advice from treats when she is quiet to spraying her with water or bark collars etc. So far we have had two lessons and identified a few key things. Namely; - an old cruciate repair has turned arthritic and the repair is failing, causing pain. - She also struggles with OCD and chases her tail a lot. - She sleeps less than 10 hours a day. - She has had some previous training with treats for calmness that have made the issue worse. - A new dog added to the home increased her vocal behaviour. So Freya has been back to the vets and has some pain management on board. We have identified the cause of her barking to mostly be stress and lack of good rest. We are crate training the other dog so that Freya can rest properly. We are introducing play that reduces frustration and gives her an outlet for her energy that’s productive. We have also stopped using treats for calmness as for Freya this wasn’t helping. Eventually we can train the calmness protocol and use treats but right now we need to address the root causes to get her in a mindset that can learn. We have introduced T Touch which she responded to amazingly well and a therapeutic body wrap for certain times of day. We used a scarf today to test the theory and her owner was shocked when she just lay down and went to sleep. Something she never does. So why do you hire a trainer? Well the question shouldn’t be ‘how do I stop my dog barking’ but ‘why is my dog barking’. A trainer can identify the why and address the root problem meaning the results are often quicker and more long lasting. Address the underlying issue overall and the ‘how do I stop my dog doing X’ is no longer relevant. All dogs are sentient beings with needs and emotions and that’s what we as trainers focus on, and what Google can’t fix for you.

This guy turned a syringe into a food slicer.

REWARD STATIONS These are a must for puppies, adolescent dogs and when working through behavior concerns - but I still recommend them for all ages because it ...helps us get into a pattern of finding positive things our dogs are doing throughout the day. Remember: what you reinforce, your dog becomes. Do you use reward stations in your home? If so, what do you keep in them?

"Let me make my opinion perfectly clear Shock is not training - in a vast majority of the cases it meets the criteria of abuse" Dr Karen Overall

WestPaw toys are AMAZING! Mutts N Scruffs has them in stock in Lloydminster. Symka loves the Toppl. I fill them with frozen fruit and yogurt.

A lower-calorie sugar substitute with a low glycemic index, xylitol’s been on veterinarians’ radar for years because of its toxicity to dogs. But lately, it’s getting trickier to spot. We’re seeing it show up in all sorts of products, Brutlag told NEWStat. Products that aren’t even edible. Products like deodorant, face gels, hair care products, and baby wipes. Baby wipes? Yes, baby wipes.

Level Up Pup! is now available as a self-study program. Study and train on your own schedule. A new class will also be starting again in January. Details to come.... https://www.keystonetraining.ca/pro/level-up-pup-self-study

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Hilarious doggo thoughts that are so true and funny Credits : the amazing >> twitter/dog_feelings

New Blog. Choosing a reputable dog rescue. https://www.keystonetraining.ca//choose-a-reputable-dog-re