Paws In The Dirt Dog Training and Behaviour

Who has a goofy tongue, a silly personality and a NEW home! This guy!

Congratulations Bear on finding your home! I look forward to working with you and your new Dad to help set you up for the smoothest transition into your new home! 🏡
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Can you spare a minute to help Megan Thornton? 361 signatures are still needed! Stop The Dog Daddy's Inhumane Dog Training Methods in Toronto!

** Very Important** to remember as we approach Canada Day, July 4th and have been in the midst of some pretty hectic weather!

You Can't Reinforce Fear; Dogs and Thunderstorms - The Other End of the Leash It thundered last week during a rain storm, and it reminded me how much trouble a storm can be in the life of a dog (and for those of us who love them.) Since thunder season is approaching, this seems like a good time to talk about one of the oft-repeated, and ever-so-inaccurate pieces of […]

Beat the heat!

🐾 Chill out on warm days with KONG’s Sweet Summer Smoothie! This epic stuffing recipe will make your pup's taste buds do a happy dance with the tantalizing combination of strawberries, blueberries, and creamy peanut butter. 🍓🥜 It's like a summer celebration in every lick! Fill multiple KONGs and let the neighborhood pooches dive into a flavor explosion at your next backyard BBQ.🍹🐾

Check out this recipe and others here: https://bit.ly/46kKyFc

Unfortunately we can add - keep walks and excursions outside short while air quality warnings from wildfire smoke is in the air.

Your dog's lungs can be affected the same as yours and some dogs may find the smell worrying or confusing so if their behaviour on your walks is "off" or extra worried, feel free to skip the walk and do some happy, safe indoor enrichment instead!

The weather is heating up! Here are some reminders on how to keep your dog cool this summer!

"It’s crucial to recognize that we must learn and unlearn some ideas about nature to understand the world better. We should question commonly accepted beliefs and seek out current and accurate information."

The sad thing in my industry is when this myth pervades into the home and is applied to our domestic dogs.

Debunking the Alpha Wolf: Why We Need to Rethink Our Understanding of Wolf Packs Researchers have found that most wolf packs are simply families led by a breeding pair. So, what is the truth behind the wolf hierarchy?

✨🐾 NEW DATES ✨🐾

With great weather comes.... Busier dog walks!

🐾 If you're struggling with a dog that barks and lunges at dogs on the street...
🐾If you're finding yourself frustrated and dreading those dog walks...
🐾 If you're interested in learning the reasons WHY your dog behaves the way he does around dogs and want to help him with compassionate force free training...
🐾 If you want to practice your skills in a safe environment..

We'd love to meet you! Our 7 week 13 session course covers theory and practical skills to help you and your dog overcome those challenges for stress free walks!

Get in touch for more info!

Haaaaave you met Stella? She's brand new to this odd little world of our and we're helping her learn the ropes!

Post hike naps, this is how we know that our "decompression hike" was truly decompressing, we get fireside naps with truly contented expressions

It's here! Our new Reactivity R&R Program is up and ready for registrations!

This is a specialised 7 week class designed to provide you with a safe environment in which to understand your dogs reactivity; how to read and respond to their body language and learn valuable skills to improve your daily walks.

This is a collaborative program designed by CPDT-KA certified dog trainers: Ali Medina, Megan Thornton and Sarah Hosick and each class will be under their guidance.

To register and find out more head to https://pawsinthedirt.com/reactivity-classes or get in touch with any questions!

Some people like their ducks in a row... I like dogs in a row ....

We LOVE pattern games. Providing a predictable pattern for your dog can really give them something to rely on, to hang their hat on, so to speak in times of stress.

Interested in learning more, get in touch!

Most animals thrive when their lives are predictable. When they know what to expect and how to achieve their goals, and when their expectations match their reality, there’s no need for them to worry. Their anxiety diminishes. That’s why predictability is one of the seven domains of the Behavior Vets’ Resilience Rainbow. 🌈

Since our pets thrive on predictability, we like to use Pattern Games when helping dogs acclimate to environments and situations.

Pattern Games are designed to do two things:

👉 They create a strong reinforcement history for a particular behavior or series of behaviors.

👉 Patterns create predictability in environments that can be unpredictable, thereby helping to reduce anxiety.

Trainer Leslie McDevitt 🦄, has gifted the world with many Pattern Games, including the "1-2-3 Game." It can look like a ‘walking game.’

What you'll need:

✅️ Treats
✅️ Calm low-distraction space
✅️ A leash for going outside

Step One:
✅️ Say "three", and then immediately deliver a treat.
✅️ Repeat several times.

Step Two:
✅️ Next, build a chain by saying, ''two, three,” then immediately deliver a treat.
✅️Repeat several times.

Step Three:
✅️ Say, "one, two, three", then immediately deliver a treat.

Step Four:
✅️ Try practicing in a slightly more distracting environment. We recommend starting in the backyard.

There are many applications to this game. This is just an introduction as to how to teach the game. The 1-2-3 Game can be played with a variety of animal species, including cats and horses!