:: saw this post in my feed and my heart swelled ten sizes. This is really what it all boils down to. Thanks, @dogminded, for the reminder!
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Posted @withrepost • @dogminded If you asked me to name the single most important thing you can do for your dog, it would be this.
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Keep your dog feeling safe.
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This is not to be confused with your dog being safe, or whether or not you think your dog is safe. This is about keeping your dog *feeling* safe. Which means identifying what your dog finds stressful or scary by learning how to observe and read their body language to recognize when, where, and under what circumstances they feel uncomfortable, and doing whatever you can to avoid those situations.
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This can mean that your dog never visits another dog park.
This can mean that even though it’s a beautiful Sunday and you’d love to have brunch on a patio of your favorite restaurant with your dog, your dog stays home.
This can mean that you politely (or not) decline requests to pet your dog.
This can mean that when children come over your house, your dog is in another room with a yummy Kong.
This can mean that you walk your dog during quiet times of the day.
This can mean that you drive your dog to walk them in a different area.
Whatever it means for you and your dog, keep your dog feeling safe.
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You are your dog’s best and only advocate. You are what stands between them and the rest of the world, a world where dogs are set up to fail every day with often heartbreaking consequences. This doesn’t mean that we don’t also actively and *humanely* work to help our dogs feel more comfortable and confident in this world, but it does mean that until they do, WE HAVE TO KEEP THEM FEELING SAFE.
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Our dogs are relying on us, it’s our job to have their backs.
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#keepyourdogfeelingsafe #fearfuldog #reactivedog #advocateforyourdog #dogtraining #positivedogtraining #positivereinforcement #forcefreetraining #forcefreedogtraining #forcefree #fearfree #sciencebasedtraining #moderndogtraining
Posted @withrepost •
@gildathegoldenretriever :: @canidapt doesn’t know what happened, but she was out for the afternoon and I was safely in my kennel, then we went outside on leash and I started screaming and holding my foot in the air. It was the size of a baseball and it hurt! Mum rushed me to @legacyveterinaryclinic where they examined me and Alyssa held me like a baby for x-rays. #notbroken! But I have a big ol’ #pawlaceration and it’s #infected, so I’m on #antibiotics and in this #coneofshame. I do not know how to pee in the cone so I just set up camp in the yard, looking sad. What a day. Dr Maryam and her team were so nice to me and fed me #livertreats, and #ronnietheberner was there for moral support. 💜
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#coneofshameproblems #sadpuppy #injuredfoot #payingmyvetsmortgage #lovemyvet #legacyveterinaryclinic #kayennagoldens #canidapt #yycdogs #yyc #yycdogtrainer #gildathegoldenretriever #goldenretriever #goldenretrieverpuppy #puppiesofinstagram #dogmodel #showdog
:: last night, #apprenticetrainer Anna worked with @gildathegoldenretriever while I taught my #puppyclass. It was so wonderful! They worked on relaxing on mat a lot, as Gilda is eager to work and it can be hard for her to cool her jets while I’m teaching. Anna paid for quiet, relaxed body language, and mixed it up with other skills. After, Gilda helped a wonderful young German Shepherd puppy navigate play in a very controlled environment so this little pup can grow confidence with other dogs. Socialization isn’t just about meeting new people and dogs and having a free for all; socialization is working to manage experiences and keep them positive as much as possible. This wonderful client is dedicated to having a happy, well adjusted GSD who is not fearful or reactive, and by taking extra steps to promote positive, controlled, experiences, she is well on her way! .
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#yycdogtraining #forcefreetraining #puppysocialization #adolescentdogs #settle #play #continuingeducation #affa #kayennakennels #canidapt #yyc #yycdogs #goldenretriever #goldenretrieverpuppy #goldensofinstagram
