Here’s How I React When Dogs Bark at the Door (Watch on YouTube) Let's get a few things out of the way (and trust me when I say that remembering them really helps!) 1. Dogs were originally bred to accomplish different types of amazing tasks and purposes. One of which was to alert us, should there be an immediate threat or danger nearby. This is where a dog's highly developed senses came in handy. This was also at a much different period in time than now. Remembering this will help you feel less annoyed or frustrated that your dog is barking, when it's definitely not something they're doing to make you feel bad, but rather because they deem it to be a productive behaviour. This can be in part due to genetics, but also in part due to that dog's own experiences (with you, their environment, even themselves, and more). 2. Leaning on the idea of dogs being bred for specific activities, you want to ensure that your dogs get proper physical, mental and social outlets. Having these in place will minimize the likelihood that your dog isn't doing more than alerting you. Boredom, pent-up energy and overall frustration from a lack of proper outlets can increase the likelihood that your dog will bark and at which intensity. With that out of the way, take a close look at the video and follow along with the steps I take to help guide Lilo (the toy Poodle mix) and Mocha (the Cocker Spaniel mix). 1. My first reaction is to listen and not react. I do this because my dogs are the ones talking right now. I want them to feel heard (with practice and time, doing this will make it easier for them to hear you more quickly) but also I know that while they're feeling in alert, overly excited and barking, they're likely not going to have an easy time hearing me anyway. So I prefer to.. 2. Get up, walk and wait for eye contact/acknowledgement. You can see here that Mocha's brain wheels started to go off early on (he's a younger pup I've been working with for most of his life, whereas I didn't meet Lilo until her later adult years.) and thus started checking in with me which is when I recognized that by saying thank you. "Be the person your dog thinks you are." – C.J. Frick 3. I used the leash to guide Mocha to a specific spot where him and I both feel comfortable with having him be there, like the couch. I keep the leash on Mocha at times, to make it easier on me to guide him, especially if he's feeling a bit unsure about a situation like there potentially being someone at the door. I praised further with my tone, my voice and some affection. 4. Repeated 1 & 2 with Lilo but instead of asking her to go to a specific location, I instead engaged her further with play. I did this because she has a tougher time than Mocha when it comes to making choices around the door/barking scenario, so going into a game helps redirect that excitement in a positive way. A dog feeling overly energetic, even if only momentarily, may have a tough time staying in one spot anyway. In that case, a game is a far better choice. With time, whether it's a location or a game, your dog can learn that these are better ways of reacting to the door. 5. Invite them to do something they felt they need to, once their mind begins to naturally settle. Once Lilo was more focused on the toy and Mocha was settled and waiting on the couch, it was then time for me to show them in what way I would like them to go to the door. Meaning I wan't to show them that they can go to the door but in a calm way, and achieve the same goal of making sure everyone is feeling good, safe and guided.

Expectations Lead to Disappointment (Original Post from Trizane Dog Services , by Reanna Ali) A story of true acceptance. It’s taken me a while to get to this place with Amelia. It’s taken me over 3 years to get here, almost 4 years to realize this, and nearly a year later to post this. Before we get into it, you can also head over to my podcast to hear it, if you choose. It’s challenging to live with a dog who struggles on a daily basis… pair that with your own expectations. I’m sad to admit that it’s taken me this long to learn. I train with kindness, love and compassion, but sometimes it’s hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel. I’ve unexpectedly learned as time passed, that if you let go of your expectations you can no longer be disappointed. Amelia is not a disappointment to me in the least. She’s a brilliant dog. She’s good company, a wonderful companion, we trained together, we work together, she even graduated alongside me at Karen Pryor Academy (KPA), service dog coaching, and The Fearful Dog Project. She’s helped me to realize a lot of my dog training life lessons. She’s helped me to help other families and dogs, but it comes at a cost to her. Circling back to being a professional dog trainer, it doesn’t mean we don’t have goals for ourselves or for our dogs and what we think we should be able to achieve in our partnership. Taking a step back now, I can see how far we’ve come as a team. Albeit not what I expected and a long journey to get here. I too, suffer from “my old dog”, “my other dog”, “my first dog syndrome.” I had these expectations and goals of what I thought Amelia should be and be able to do. I think my turning point at true acceptance and realizing our path was in 2020. That year was not kind to Amelia. We’ve made significant strides and overall her quality of life living with anxiety (keeping her safe, below threshold, happy and calm), but that year was a doozy. After spending majority of the year trying to “fix” her I realized that she needed time. She needed time to rebound from sensory overload. 2020 was our first year with COVID-19. We went from daily walks where we saw no one, I mean not a soul to be seen. You can imagine people were also going stir crazy at this time being couped up in their homes, they soon took to the parks, nature trails and parkettes in their area for daily strolls and exercise. As this happened more and more people began appearing on our usual route. After not seeing people for weeks, we started to encounter them. As the world re-opened, Amelia got sensory overload at this sudden influx of people. I tried everything. I tried training, not training, medicating, desensitizing, counter conditioning, a vet behaviourist even! – I exhausted all of my options. The last straw was medicating. Her personality changed. She no longer found joy in the small things she used to. This was not how I imagined her life to be. After weaning her off, I gave her time. That time grew into weeks, which grew into months, that grew into a year. Reflecting back I realized we were still out, we still did things! We still encountered people. That downtime allowed her to recover and unbeknownst to me, we were still doing everything we normally did, but on a much smaller scale. During that time I tried to bring back that joy, to make her happy, to see that sparkle in her eyes -the enthusiasm. I just wanted to make her happy, because ultimately when she was happy, I was happy. Fast forward to January 2022 (I know, I know, it’s taken me this long to post a whole year has passed) – we are going for walks, we enjoy hiking, we go to the drive-thru, we visit neighbours. Who would’ve thought?! I certainly didn’t. Her behaviour and nuances elevated me as a trainer and person. I have a lot to be thankful for. Sometimes if you let life flow it will take you where you need to be. Trust the process even if you don’t know exactly what it means. Amelia is a magnificent animal and has shown incredible resilience. Will she ever be able to do things we all hope and dream and think every dog should be and do… no, but that’s ok. True acceptance comes from observing the animal in front of you and changing your expectations to meet theirs. To meet them at their darkest and support them. It’s not about us and our silly notions of what should be, abandon your beliefs and enjoy what you have. Even the smallest sparkle still shines. True acceptance.

Exploring the Hype Around Amazon's Bestselling Dog Toy The following is currently Amazon's #1 best-selling dog toy: the Chuckit! ball (pack of 2). I'm quite happy about that! This lets me know that fun and physical exercises are a priority for a lot of pet parents and people in the industry. The best part about this I'm a big fan of the Chuckit! brand as a whole. There's really nothing better than going out to an open field, whipping out their launcher, loading it with a ball and throwing it for your eager pooch to run and fetch. If your dog isn't the best or most interested in fetching like a pro or consistent with bringing the ball each time, you can load up and launch a second ball for them to run after. The fun doesn't end there, however. Especially if the weather is limiting you and your dog a bit, you can have a lot of fun indoors with the Chuckit! ball by playing fetch inside, but even better, by combining it with puzzle-like games. For example, an easy game you can use this ball for is by bringing out a muffin baking pan and putting different treats in some of the cups but covering all of it with balls, for your dog to have to use their nose. How to not use this toy As I would advise with most balls, it's best to keep them stored away, for best use. Keeping your dog's balls away and not constantly available will help prevent any destructive chewing, which could be dangerous for your dog if they eat it, and of course not ideal if you'd like to avoid having to purchase another. But also, by storing the ball away and bringing it out when it's time to play, you have a better chance at ensuring that your dog will feel as interested and engaged in the game as possible, with you.

Does your dog have a tough time remaining calm and relaxed when it’s human dinner time? Try this: 1️⃣ Make sure that your dog has had plenty of proper physical, mental and social enrichment exercises prior to dinner time. This will help them feel more mellow and thus be able to remain at ease more easily. 2️⃣ If needed, use a leash to make it so your dog can’t get too close to you (especially if they tend to jump) and your food. Though tethering can help, depending on how difficult this is for your dog, one family member may need to walk with your dog inside your home to help redirect them away from the others while they eat. 3️⃣ The moment your dog starts showing you signs of relaxation on their own (which is far more fruitful if done without verbal cues from you), be sure to repeatedly reinforce these choices with their food, treats or even toys. It’s also important to note that if you don’t provide your dog with human food near the table, they’re far more likely to give you space and time when you’re eating.

My Top 3 Dog Food Puzzles From Amazon Food puzzles are probably one of the best toys available for dogs. Especially when it comes to feeding time! So let's throw out the food bowl and take a look at this quick list of my top 3 favourite food puzzles that you can find today on Amazon. The Dog Twister Puzzle This is by far my all-time favourite puzzle! It's also one of the most difficult ones. But I have a secret tip to share with you when it comes to puzzles.. the harder they are the better! Not only because they can be super engaging for your dog, but mainly because if a puzzle is difficult, you can get creative in how you choose to make it easier. As opposed to a puzzle that is already too easy, forcing you to get even more creative to make it more difficult. The Dog Casino Puzzle This one can sometimes feel (to your dog) even more difficult than the Dog Twister because it requires that your dog figures out exactly how to pull out the drawers AFTER having unlocked the corresponding bone. You may need to start off slowly, to help your dog with this one as you go along in order to ensure that they don't feel discouraged and frustrated. The Dog Brick Puzzle Probably the easiest one on this list, but the most diverse! What I enjoy the most about this particular food puzzle is its versatility and how your dog can enjoy it in different ways. It's one you can fit inside the freezer with its pieces containing frozen treats inside of them. Your dog will then need to move its different pieces around to find where you hid each treat, and spend some extra time licking the frozen ones!

Here are 14 quotes I love sharing when working with pet parents, or that I simply like reminding myself of, when working with any dog! - Disobedience is a demand for change. - Seek to understand before being understood. - A plan is only as good as those who see it through. - The best confidence builder is experience. - You hold onto friends by keeping your heart a little softer than your head. - Compromise is a virtue to be cultivated, not a weakness to be despised. - A lesson learned is a lesson earned. - The first step to correcting a mistake is patience. - Sometimes, accepting help is harder than offering it. - Where there’s a will, there’s a way. - Love comes in all shapes and sizes. - When we rescue others, we rescue ourselves. - Never give up hope, no matter how dark things seem. - Embrace others for their differences, for that makes you whole.

There's no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to making sure that two dogs get along with one another. You have to consider who they are individually, together their environments, past experiences and how they feel towards one another as a whole. But there are a few things you can do to help encourage a positive and safe introduction. 1. Safety first. Make sure that you use space, as well as a leash on both dogs to be able to maintain a safe distance for both dogs. This isn't only to prevent any potential physical altercation, but also to help both dogs feel like they have space and time to think their thoughts and decisions through and above all walk away if they feel unsure about the overall interaction. 2. Ensure both dog's minds and bodies are as relaxed as possible before meeting. Though you don't want to have either dog feeling overly tired, you should still provide both with fun games and activities prior to the meeting. This will help both dogs feel good about themselves while also encouraging a calmer and more mellow demeanour during the introduction. 3. Avoid meeting face to face and pick a neutral environment. You're more likely to be successful if you have both dogs know of each other in an open, neutral space, especially somewhere where they can do activity at a safe distance from each other. For example, an open park where one dog is playing ball with their handler, while the other dog is snuffling for treats with their handler. From there, you can slowly get closer to one another and see how each dog feels. No matter what, do make sure that you keep the interactions short and sweet! This will leave both dogs feeling like nothing bad happened, and like they could do this again.

Despite how it may sometimes seem, your dog is truly always doing the best he or she can to make things easier for you and make you happy. Whether it’s during class, while you’re at work or in a social setting, if it’s feeling like it’s difficult to get your dog to behave in a particular manner, chances are the scenario itself is indeed just that.. difficult. It’s not in your dog’s interest to want to make things challenging for you both. But it is in our very own ability (more than anyone) and responsibility to try to manage the types of environments you both find yourselves in, in order to maximize your chances of success. What this means is that you want to do your best to align the expectations of yourself and your dog’s behaviour, with the type of setting and scenarios you’re working through. Ask yourself these questions: Is it something you’ve successfully done before and rehearsed it often enough? If not, is there an easier version of that setup that you can practice with first? But if so, has something in particular changed recently that is making things challenging for your dog? Adjusting the environments you work on together, as well as your expectations is really an important part of reaching your goals with your dog. Ultimately you want to prevent the feeling of frustration and disappointment on you both, by doing the best that you can to understand why your dog might find a particular environment difficult to navigate.

Product Review: Brick Food Puzzle This food puzzle is one of my favourite ones currently out there. It's moderately easy, making it perfect for puppies and beginners. Supervised play is definitely recommended, like with any other interactive toy, and if your dog resorts to chewing and biting it, switch to a more physical game or activity, before trying again. Why I recommend it You will find this to be a really great starter food puzzle compared to others available in the market, mainly because your dog or puppy should be able to rather easily find snacks when trying it out the first time. Dogs will need to try to push, carry lift, move, or nudge the pieces around. Making it so your dog will have many ways to get rewarded for their efforts sooner than later, and not likely feel like they're getting frustrated working through it, with little to no luck. Another ideal attribute is that before you hand it to your dog, you can easily remove and detach different pieces of this food puzzle toy (great for cleaning purposes), to adjust its difficulty as a whole, and make it even easier for your dog. Thanks to this, you could even just have it be more like a tray or a slow feeder. Perfect for a really young pup that's just dipping his paws and nose into the wonderful world of enrichment. The rectangular shape of this puzzle also makes it fairly easy to freeze (that's right!) in your freezer for a few hours, for some extra licking fun for your dog. Doing this then turns the puzzle into more of a licky mat, which is perfect for when your dog is feeling like he could use a break from a long day, and mellow out If your dog already has other, more challenging puzzles at home, this is still a great addition to their collection and allows you to keep them guessing as you alternate between puzzles. When you should use it Just like most food puzzles and enrichment/problem-solving toys, this one is perfect to use either to provide your dog with their breakfast, lunch, dinner, or just a snack. Pet parents of young dogs, especially high-energy and working breeds should be taking advantage of as many little opportunities to burn mental energy (in fun, healthy ways of course), on a daily basis! As a result, your dog gets yummy food, feels great solving their puzzle, and is much more likely to settle and relax while you go about your day. A tired dog is a happy dog! Also, speaking of a tired dog, if you're providing this puzzle when your dog is feeling hungry but also very energetic, it might be wise to switch to a more physical game like tug and pull or even a walk/jog first, to burn some physical energy, should your dog start biting, tossing and throwing the puzzle around. Sometimes our dogs need a bit of help loosening up their body and burning some extra physical energy, in order for their brain to more easily go into problem-solving mode, and get the most out of this type of activity. "Puzzle games are fun and creative, easy to play with indoors or outdoors, and are developed with the dog’s natural movements and instincts in mind." – Nina Ottosson How this food puzzle works This toy has a few mechanics to it, that your dog will need to go through, to get every piece. The first (and probably the one that takes some dogs the longest to figure out) will be to lift. The white, bone-shaped pieces will need to be lifted so that the other pieces can move. If this is something your dog is having a tough time with, what you can do to help them is tie a small cord to tie a knot inside the bone and another knot at the end of the rope, for your dog to tug on to lift the bone. Once the bones are lifted or pushed out of the way, your dog can eat any treats there, before nudging or pushing around the corresponding red pieces to uncover the food you've placed underneath, and lift the lid to get to the pieces hidden inside! Where you should use it and where you can get this puzzle You can use this puzzle anywhere you'd like in your home. Though preferably, especially with young dogs, it's always best and safest to supervise their use of food puzzles and most toys. You can also consider placing this puzzle inside your dog's crate, to help further create a positive association with your dog's crate . And when it comes to where you can get it, most pet stores have started carrying puzzles and other types of interactive toys, but you can also find it on Amazon, among other food puzzles you can add to your collection. Who should use the Brick Food Puzzle This particular puzzle is great for any pup, no matter their age, so long as you're able to supervise and guide them as needed. The more drive and interest in snuffling, searching, and finding food/smells your puppy has, the sooner you should probably consider grabbing this puzzle. You could have it ready to be used before even getting your puppy or dog , and earn some brownie points with them, from day one! This is also a great opportunity for young children to use this puzzle as an engaging and positive way to interact with their dog, providing them with a snack or their meal inside it. As opposed to other ways that might make it a bit tough for a young or energetic dog to focus their attention without this much of a clear visual and indicator of what's going to be happening next, and how. Which type of food should I use? This puzzle is quite versatile when it comes to which foods you can use, without hindering its composition or its usability. The way it's built and put together, with each of its moving and detachable parts makes it very easy to wash and clean by hand. (I wouldn't try throwing it in the dishwasher, as I haven't given that a try myself!) With dogs and any type of food, you decide to use, whether they enjoy the taste a lot or very little, it's truly about how and when you use what you have available. Let's start with what will likely be the most used food: your dog's daily kibble. Unless you're working with a really young puppy that is just starting to learn what kibble and solid food are all about, your dog probably already knows that there are other items on the menu, such as treats or even human food, that might be worth holding out for. And so, to ensure that isn't likely to happen, you will want to strategically use your puppy or dog's kibble with this puzzle, by placing only a couple of kibble pieces inside of it, in a way that is not too difficult for them to be easily found and eaten. Simply put, lower-value items like kibble, don't do well as a driving motivator for many dogs, in situations that they find too challenging. So, although you don't want to make it too easy either, be sure to introduce or use kibble first and foremost in easily accomplishable ways, so that your dog is looking forward to the next round of kibble pieces. When it comes to treats, however, it's almost the complete opposite idea as with kibble, for most dogs. I like to get as much as possible, out of my dog's treats, especially with naturally highly motivated dogs that care more about how many times they do something great which earns them the treat, regardless of the size or taste. Bot an even more important reason is that I want to have low-calorie intakes, to make sure the dogs I work with stay as healthy and fit as possible! The next most common option will be raw food, and luckily I think that this puzzle, in particular, makes it quite user-friendly for you to hide some of your dog's raw food inside the multiple compartments. You can then freeze it, ensuring that your dog will need to spend a good amount of time not only uncovering all of his food but also licking his way to a full stomach. After which you'll be able to give the puzzle a good wash and leave it out to dry, which is perfect, as I generally recommend not leaving out any food puzzles at the risk of having them become a chew toy by accident. And so you could choose to use your dog's kibble, treats, or raw food (or even a fun combination!). You can also give wet food a try, especially if you place it inside the puzzle and plop it in the freezer for a few hours. Additional information Keep it short. Restate your main point and tell your readers what you want them to do next. Don’t be shy. Just tell them: Buy Now, Click Here, Read This , and link to it. You can also invite them to leave a comment below your post. Has your dog already mastered the Brick Food Puzzle? If so, that's okay! Don't stop using it, throw it out, or give it away just yet (unless you have many others). There's so much more you can get out of it, in ways that your dog will love. You can also apply the following ideas before your dog has come anywhere close to mastering it but why rush? Nevertheless, if you feel like your has gotten to the point where they could solve this puzzle with their eyes closed, consider trying the following: - Use a doggy calming mask. Properly socialized, this item is not only great to help dogs navigate the fears that may come along with a scary storm, but it can also be used to make it so your dog has to 100% use his or her nose and body to troubleshoot their puzzle. - Throw it inside an empty cardboard box, cover it with their toys, old towels, and clothes, and watch your dog dig his way to the puzzle. - Hide it somewhere in your home, and hide the pieces underneath the actual puzzle (that's right), so that your dog will have to perform a search and rescue operation, be stumble that the pieces aren't normally where they would be inside the puzzle itself, and then have to figure out how to flip it to get to the pieces underneath. There are a ton more DIY/creative ways you can use this puzzle and others, available here . Recap This puzzle: ✔️ Helps prevent boredom ✔️ Slows down eating ✔️ Burns brain energy ✔️ Encourages mental breaks ✔️ Nurtures problem-solving skills And that’s it. This puzzle is truly one I believe all households should own. Even if you live with a heavy chewer, there's a time and a way to use this puzzle, and with your guidance, your dog will only feel successful and fulfilled, having to problem-solve his or her way to every little nook and cranny, locating every yummy piece of their food. And they'll have no one else to thank but you! In the name of cutting a long story short, here are the key takeaways. Why get it: Burn mental energy, and helps your dog feel mellow and fulfilled. When to use it: Anytime you'd like to feed your dog their meal or snack. How it's used: Your dog needs to lift, push and open its different pieces around. Where to use it: Anywhere in your home. Your supervision is recommended. Who should use it: Dogs of any age. Have you gotten the Brick Food Puzzle already? Click on the image above to find it on Amazon. Got any feedback, questions, or concerns about this blog post, or interested to learn more? Send me an email at info@dignofurther.com!

✔️ Know when your puppy is waking up ✔️ Prevent potty training accidents ✔️ Safer for small dogs to be noticed indoors The dog and cat world unites! Cat bells are no longer only great for cats to wear, in order to give birds a heads up when they get too close. They're also great for dogs and puppies to wear on their collar, to give us a heads-up, in many different ways. Useful for households with young puppies or small dogs! 10/10 Let's take a look at just how cat bells can improve you and your dog's relationship (that's right!), and what more they can do for you. There's nothing better for a pup than feeling like his/her needs are met before they even ask for it! A cat bell is a great tool that you can use that lets you know when your puppy is waking up or getting up from their bed, which can then help you prevent unknown potty training accidents or a pup that's getting bored. Why and when cat bells are helpful for dogs to wear: Puppies and new pet parents will benefit from cat bells the most! Think of them as acting just like a baby monitor, with a newborn. Except that you don't have to wait for your puppy to cry to take action, rather, thanks to the sound of the bells, you will know just what to do. They'll let you know if your puppy is potentially waking up, and or stepping out of his or her sleeping area. In this case, it's probably a good idea to head over and take them out for a bathroom break or guide them onto their pee pads. The amazing thing with this is that your puppy will from very early on realize that he didn't need to lift a paw, to make his needs known and met! For dogs in general How cat bells can enhance your relationship with your dog: Where cat bells should be worn