The Connected Dog

Meet Bill!

I've been doing private lessons with Bill, and now he's here for a few days hanging out, playing, and training.

My priorities with Bill are relationship building, play, and environmental confidence.

His owner is doing a great job of raising him. He has an exciting journey ahead!

I got to work with Maisel and her owners last week!

She's a spicy mini aussie who is precious to her core, but who is overly responsive to everything she sees and hears out on walks around her neighborhood. This stems from some insecurity/lack of confidence, some innate sensitivity to environment, and a reinforcement history where her blow ups at everything are reinforcing for her.

Maisel's plan for addressing this behavior started with leash handling skills. She lacked clarity about how to respond to the leash or how to respond to her handler's movement. We lengthened the leash a bit for Maisel, so we could use some of her natural inclination to move to help her work down her arousal and reduce the frustration that accompanied being at the end of a short, tense leash. We also added directional cues to help Maisel navigate where we want her to be.

The second thing we did was add play. Maisel is wild for the ball already, so we taught her how to play a game that kept her engaged with us and less concerned about everything around her. She did fantastic! As she builds her play skills, we can start asking for more on walks.

These are the foundations that will help Maisel with better responses to her world overall. Now her owners are getting to work on the secret sauce - lots of repetition and generalizing her skills.

I work in a profession where blanket or generalized advice and tips are a marketing strategy that produces lots of interest but the actual problems are addressed through time, labor, and understanding of what will work best for individual dog/owner teams addressing a variety of problems and goals.

It's understandable; we have a tendency toward wanting to see immediate results with the least amount of time or effort necessary, as we live busy lives and have lots of commitments.

I sometimes even feel the urgency of needing to find a faster way to an end. Do this, and you'll sacrifice something in the process that you'll have to go back and address eventually.

Don't rush.

There aren't shortcuts to where you want to be with your dog.

P.E.N.N.Y!

I just finished up private lessons with this girl. She had issues with leash pulling, motivated by a bit of reactivity to other dogs (a combination of being eager to meet and nerves/uncertainty), and tons of excitement when greeting new people. She would get frustrated at not being able to greet everyone, especially kids, and this made leash handling difficult and walks not as enjoyable for her and the owner. When people came into the house, she struggled to settle. She also displayed some resource guarding behavior with food.

Her owner worked hard and consistently at implementing the training plan and Penny has made huge strides in all areas! Loose leash walking is perfect, no more resource guarding. Penny and her owner now have the skills to manage arousal more effectively.

We ended our lessons at a crowded patio with tons of people and dogs. Penny was exceptional. She greeted people appropriately and her owner did a great job allowing structured interaction with other dogs, being attentive to Penny's body language, and advocating for space when needed.

Teams like Penny and her owner make my job not even feel like a job! I genuinely had the best time with them.

Meet AUGUSTUS!

In an interesting twist of fate, I met Augustus in a park while in the middle of a lesson with clients and their dog.

I watched him running around the park, then meeting up with a couple bigger stray dogs; the greeting was pretty typical and polite at first, but turned a bit too intense, which resulted in a minor bite to Augustus's face.

I called him to me, on the off chance he wanted to approach a stranger, and he did!

He is a really chill dog, friendly with people, friendly with cats and friendly with a wide variety of dog personalities. He was never claimed and not chipped, so he'll go up for adoption. In the meantime he's hanging out with me and we're having the best time with him!

BLUE.

I worked with this handsome boy and his awesome owner yesterday. He has some mild dog reactivity and lives in an area where he encounters dogs frequently.

We worked on interpreting body language, leash handling skills, body movement strategies, and introducing and building value in cues to food. He's well on his way to more functional outings with his dedicated owner!

It depends, sometimes, maybe, possibly...words I use often when discussing behavior with clients.

The more and longer I train, the more I see the many possible explanations for behavior and how behavior is situated in context, with moving, changing variables that influence a variety of outcomes.

Behavior is so nuanced. Consider how many constantly changing variables shape your day to day behavior - what you do depends on the setting, who is around, the nature of your relationships with people, what you have been taught about how you should or shouldn't behave, your wants and needs, your genes, your habits, how you feel at the moment, physical health, the practice or skill you have in a certain behavior, the history of associations you have with places, or things.

As we practice in any profession, we gather answers for questions and explanations for phenomena over time. These form a framework for us to go back to when approaching problems. However, sometimes we can get comfortable with the explanations available and limit our ability to think critically, creatively, and in a way that encourages learning and integrating of new ideas.

Consider all of the potential influences on the dog in any situation. Be open to alternative answers to the same questions and the possibilities of things you don't yet know. And remember that you can have expertise, skill, and knowledge while simultaneously not having all the answers.

Meet C.E.D.A.R!

He's been hanging out with us and he is soooooo fun. The ideal dog, great environmental neutrality, dog tolerant, lots of drive, and the typical lab silliness. Gorgeous, fit dog also!

My friend, Lucky, a recent client who needs a little work on jumping on his owner and barking at delivery drivers, the mailman, visitors and passersby.

Lucky for us (no pun I swear), he's quite obsessed with tugging on his stuffed things, so we used the value in his toy to create an alternative activity.

Lucky and his owners have some work to do, strengthening the cue for play, getting in those repetitions, and generalizing, but he's well on his way!

It's nice to capture moments that were once not possible, especially when Spanky is so genuinely happy doing them.

Training and all that is encompassed in the term - lifestyle, behavior modification, obedience, play, building resilience, teaching coping strategies, learning new skills - should provide dogs the support, safety, ability, and opportunity to do those things that fulfill them, improving quality of life for both dog and owner.

Gone are the days where we have to be cautious bringing Spanky to parks filled with stray dogs and other anxiety-inducing stimuli.

And my life as his owner is improved as a result of all the work we did. It's quite easy and not incredibly time-consuming to meet Spanky's needs every day. I'm not at all worried or nervous encountering situations that are now easier to navigate, I enjoy seeing him experience the joy of the activities we can do now!

Well. I never intended on making him a permanent presence buuuuut he's magical so he gets to stay!

Moose was with me temporarily, but unfortunately his owner is unable to care for him. He's a really nice fit into our house, and I've had a hand in raising him.

Moose is not fully a mature adult, but his disposition is perfect. He is very dog social or neutral, he is very motivated by social contact, friendly with familiar and unfamiliar people, and environmentally sound.

I'm excited to see what the future has in store for us!

💙 BRUCE 💙
This guy. Is. So. Precious.
Brucey is hanging out at the shelter. He came in around Thanksgiving, hoping it was a solid alternative to spending the holidays alone, but it turns out the shelter is quite lonely for Bruce.

He loooooves his walks and his treats! I admire his optimism, even in difficult circumstances. The shelter wears on Bruce but he is always up for an adventure.

Bruce is handsome and would appreciate an opportunity to show his colors and trial life with you.

Visit Bruce at
The shelter is quite full.

If you live in a multi-dog home, it's easy becoming accustomed to everyone functioning as a group all the time. Group exercise, group training, group living. Group time is awesome, especially if you've had to put in the work to achieve peaceful coexistence amongst all your dogs.

Don't forget about or miss out on the value of individual, one-on-one activities with each of your dogs!

*The relationship you have with each dog is foundational in supporting a positive group dynamic

*As context changes, so does understanding. One-on-one training is essential in ensuring your communication with your dog is clear across a variety of potential circumstances, including those involving the whole group

*Dogs have varying needs - some might enjoy group walks or couch lounging together, while the others might be itching for alternative activities

*Teaching new behavior might be best done when there are fewer competing motivators. Individual time is great for individual training goals

*Your dogs likely have varying levels of dog sociability or tolerance. Very dog-social dogs may not need a lot of time outside of group, while the less social dogs may be refreshed by away time or prefer their social contact from you

*One-on-one time is an excellent opportunity to revisit training basics like recall!

*Existing dogs in the home should have solid behavior foundations and strong relationships with you prior to adding new dogs

*If a dog in your group consumes more time or attention (due to age, behavior challenges, capacities, etc.), don't neglect the more independent or self-sufficient dogs

As with all things, needs may vary based on your household!

Dustin is a really lovely German Shepherd available at Lubbock Animal Services.

I'm a bit surprised he's there. He was found as a stray back in November and never claimed.

When I took him out, it's very clear he has some foundational training. He knows to sit and down. He falls naturally into a heel position and checks in with handler frequently. He's obsessed with the ball! Getting him to relax and play is super fun.

He's a big guy, a really cool dog!

Go check him out at Lubbock Animal Shelter Adoption Center. As with all dogs I post from LAS, I'll do free initial training. He has a great foundation and probably knows a lot more that I didn't see!

Oh yeah, also there's a cat around now.

A long-time stray that we cared for named Snow Panda got sick and abandoned some 2 week old kits back in the fall. We tried, one didn't survive, but one did. Somehow she ended up staying here and that became a permanent thing recently.

Cosmo is now about 5 months old, busy filing complaints about everything, supervising the front yard through the window, keeping the dogs in check, sass-mouthing the adults, chasing q-tips, pretending she wants food then swiftly rejecting it, and all around princessing her way through life.

So. I guess welcome Cosmo?

Happy Saturday Connected Dog fam!

It's been a while...last fall I decided to take a short social media break and it turned into a several months break!

I'm a huge fan of social media downtime and balance, even for my business.

Behind the scenes, you all kept me super busy last year! I'm incredibly grateful for the continued support of all my clients and the community.

My availability to kick off the new year 👇

- I'm booked out for private lessons until mid-March. I'm taking appointments and can get new clients on the calendar ahead.

- New board and train openings will be available end of May. I'll take bookings for board and trains ahead starting in March.

- If you are an existing client or previous board and train client, I always have room to get you in for refreshers!

To kick off the new year, let's play a game. Did King eat dirt or did he eat 💩? Tell me below.

Hope everyone is off to a good start this year, staying well, and living in happiness with your dogs!

F.R.A.N.K. 🖤

This guy is hanging out at the shelter waiting for someone to change his circumstances. He was brought in in June as a stray and never claimed. He was quite cautious and nervous, but has actually become more outgoing in his time in the shelter.

Frank is super breezy. He has a variety of skills (obviously not treat catching) and puts his full enthusiasm and best efforts behind any and every thing he does!

Frank is seeking a foster or adopter who can spring him from the shelter and provide new digs where Frank can live his best life.

Reach out to Lubbock Animal Shelter Adoption Center for information or go visit

Neosho is winning this !

This dude may look a touch serious, but is far from. He's an absolute clown, king of the doofs, with a super infectious happiness about him!

Neosho is about 2 years old, young in body and spirit. He was found as a stray back in June.

Neosho loves grass rolling, treat-bag thieving, sun soaking, and personal play.

Check him out through - they're open today and again Monday!
Call (806) 775-2057 for more information on him.

Lil Nas (Brown) and Nala (Blonde) are kennelmates and bffs who requested to be featured together for !!

Both of these pups came into the shelter as strays, just out living life on the lam, beating the heat.

These dogs have larger than life personalities, they're upbeat, carefree and looooove getting out to explore. Lil Nas and Nala not only share a kennel with each other, but go out in playgroups with other dogs!

Give Nala and Nas a visit! Both are looking for a foster or forever home. Dogs living in an environment of deprivation and stress like a shelter also need consistent outings, exercise, walks, and social interactions. Go get them out for a bit!

Contact
for information or to foster/adopt!

Annnnnnd for we have Grampy. In his golden years, he no longer has endless energy, but trucks at a brisk pace, with determination, to his destination, wherever that might be (in this case, the play yard).

He was found as a stray, and while his body doesn't take him on the adventures it used to, his spirit is still on fire!

Grampy is friendly and kind. He gets out comfortably to the play yard with other dogs.

He would love a place where he can still go on (toned down) adventures and enjoy the peace and belonging of a good home as he continues to age.

Available for adoption through
Contact them (806) 775-2057 or visit today!

🤍 THELMA 🤍

This precious face is Thelma. She's fairly new to the shelter - she was picked up as a stray with her friend Louise!

Thelma has probably endured some hardships in her tiny life, as she's not in tip top shape. She's estimated by the shelter at about a year old.

Thelma is a gem. She is obsessed with affection, gentle, and kind. She loves rolling in the grass and exploring outdoors. Thelma wants her next chapters to be with a family!

Thelma is at
Call (806) 775-2057 or go visit today!

Manuel for !

He was picked up as a stray in May and estimated at about 2 years old.

He is a quiet, pensive, patient dog who enjoys a nice afternoon stroll.

We don't know his story before he landed at the shelter, but he is now looking for a new beginning.

Go check this guy out!!

Available for fostering or adoption through
Open today. Contact at (806) 775-2057

Say hi to Lucy!

Annnnnd send me some good vibes because puppy + German Shorthaired Pointer is going to keep me on my toes!

I'm pretty pumped to train with this little firecracker.

Lola freaks out at and chases bikes, squirrels, and other fast-moving things in her life.

She started private lessons with me this past weekend and I had so much fun with her!!

Step one for helping Lola and her owner? Viewing our world as Lola perceives it. We sometimes easily forget dogs experience the world in a very different way, as a different species, with different innate qualities and drives!

Then we'll work on and put cues to:

*Play - specifically chase! Lola also enjoys tug, but her owner was told in previous training that tug creates problematic behavior. We are going to reintroduce tug with some appropriate rules and let Lola enjoy this activity again!

*Food games - scatter feeding, chasing food

*Recall - building consistency and using in increasingly more challenging circumstances

*Leash work - Lola is actually already pretty great on leash without triggers around, so we have a nice foundation to build onto

We're going to add mental stimulation to Lola's day to day living. Her owner, as many do, assumed Lola required more physical exercise to curb her behaviors. While physical exercise is essential, for Lola, it has created endurance. She is physically fit and doesn't quit! Her brain on the other hand, is underworked and understimulated, a bit scrambled and chaotic.

I'm loving this dog/owner team already!

Hellooooooo TANK!

For we have Tank. He was surrendered to the shelter back in MARCH. When he first arrived, Tank was very overwhelmed, stressed, and pretty terrified of the environment. He would slink back in his kennel, shake and growl people away. Some dogs become less approachable as they endure the difficulty of shelter life, but surprisingly, Tank has become more approachable. He shows curiosity about people passing by, he is interested in treats, and he gets out comfortably to the play yard with volunteers.

Tank is still a bit shy, but it's so wonderful to see him overcome small things toward improved confidence.

Tank's previous owners describe him as house and crate trained, outgoing, that he loves other dogs and he is very smart. It's sad to see that who we see in the shelter isn't the real Tank. He needs the comfort of a home where he can be himself and shine again.

Tank is available for fostering or adoption through
Call (806-775-2057) or visit him today!

Meet DUTCH!

This handsome guy came all the way from New Mexico to work on some house manners, better outdoor responsiveness and engagement, and to build a solid recall.

His owners found him in the shelter - he had been left there by his previous owner who said he couldn't keep up with Dutch anymore. His current owners have been doing great with him! They are providing appropriate outlets and consistently meeting his needs as a high drive dog.

He is very friendly and really loves other dogs, so I'm working to create more value in and motivation for his handler. Dutch plays well inside, but has no interest in play outside with so many other interesting things, so I'm going to work on developing play in harder environments.

We've started establishing a marker system so he is clear on which behaviors produce specific rewards in various contexts.

I've moved him to a longer line outside so he has a bit more freedom to move naturally with less frustration, but we're also working loose leash walking on a shorter line and some obedience!

We're off to a great start already!

🖤 USHER 🖤

He's our spotlight!

There's really no way to convey all that he is with a description - he just absolutely has to be experienced!

Usher is an eternal optimist; a dog that seems to be incessantly upbeat and constantly up for adventure.

Usher was found as a stray back at the beginning of April, so, unfortunately, has been in the shelter for a while. He's estimated at around a year old.

This guy is a free spirit and a maverick with a contagious brightness and zest for life.

Go experience him.

He's waiting for a foster or adopter at
Give them a call - (806) 775-2057 - or go visit today!

I've been doing lessons with Mikey for a little bit. He was extremely and intensely reactive to everything around him, especially people and other dogs. Mikey was also terrified of life in general.

He has really blossomed and I'm so impressed with him and his owner. His owner has put in significant time, effort, and further developed skills to help Mikey live a better life.

Today Mikey sat in the middle of a track, while people walked around, busy tennis courts in the background, and coexisted alongside my dog Bundt.

Not long ago, this would have been too hard for Mikey - he would've exploded, unable to recover and would have had to be removed from the environment.

We have implemented gradual environmental exposure and confidence building, biologically appropriate exercise and stimulation, counterconditioning to triggers (people and dogs), incorporated more intentional movement and implemented some arousal management strategies. The tactic that has really produced wonderful results is play - we made a few adjustments to the games Mikey's owner was playing with the ball. We started initiating those games out and about in different environments and around people. Making me a part of the game is how Mikey learned to relax and have fun with and around me the first couple of times we met.

Big win today for this big guy and his owner!

*The tools that are a good fit for Mikey and his owner specifically are harness, long line, clicker, food, verbal markers, balls!

I had the pleasure of evaluating this guy yesterday! His name is Chance and he's got quite the story...
(Some graphic descriptions of injury ahead)

Some previous clients of mine found Chance by sheer luck out in the country, inside a crate, a bloody mess - he had been shot in the face and dumped.

The bullet was lodged in his throat and had caused some damage to his tongue and roof of his mouth, but fortunately missed his esophagus!
The vet was able to repair the damage and aside from having a few stitches still in his mouth and nose, eating and drinking are back to normal!
He's a touch anemic from blood loss but almost fully recovered.
He has an older wound on his body from a bebe or pellet gun.

To top off it all off, Chance is deaf.

His finders/owners want to start training to help him reach his full potential with the goal of transitioning him into a permanent home.

Though he's still not 100% recovered (and behaviors can change as health changes), he was incredibly social, friendly with new people, very driven for various types of play(yay!!), settled well in the house. He's doing excellent with crate training and is house trained. He's young, under 2 years old, and active.

His training will focus on establishing an appropriate communication system, leash walking, developing his play even more and working on general life skills. He's met and coexisted with a small dog, but here in the near future, he'll spend some time with my crew so we can better understand how he feels around different dogs.

He was so fun! I'm so excited to work with him moving forward.

Chance is in the market for new digs! His current owners are in absolutely no hurry and want to ensure his future home is a great fit. Training will be continued in his new home! If interested, feel free to message me!

R.A.I.D.E.R.

This precious animal is our feature!
He was picked up as a stray at the beginning of April and is estimated at around 2 years of age.

In spite of the length of time he's been living in a shelter, Raider is perpetually upbeat, always cheerful, ready for any adventure!

His hobbies include prairie dog patrol, freestyle dance, sun-soaking, and stealing all the hearts.

Raider genuinely adores closeness and affection. He will climb into any available lap and stay forever.

Raider is beyond special and looking for a person willing to share with him life, home, and adventure!

Available for adoption through
Contact (806-775-2057) or visit the shelter today for more information!