SJ Dog Training LLC

I love my job because I get to know cuties like this! Josie is settling in for a post training session nap. ❤️

Hoping she is returned safely soon!

Wishing you and your pups a safe and Happy 4th!

In many areas and neighborhoods, fireworks can be heard for several days before and after the actual holiday. Make your preparations early. Many pets are injured or lost around the 4th of July after being spooked by fireworks. Even if your dog isn't sensitive to loud noises, it is still a good idea to take precautions. Fear of loud noises can develop quickly and/or unexpectedly. These are some helpful reminders to keep your pups safe during the holiday!
Don't forget to update your dog's collar tags and microchip information too!

Happy Father's Day to all the great dads out there! A special shout out to the dad behind the scenes at SJ Dog Training, who does things like hold an umbrella for a dog that doesn't want to get wet in the rain but still wants to go outside. ❤️

Today, we honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice. We are grateful and we will not forget.

Don't forget that playing with your dog is just as important as training with your dog! Trainer Stephanie and her dog Trooper hope you have a wonderful weekend! Make time to play with your pup!

Wishing dog and human moms a fantastic Mother's Day filled with warm hugs and slobbery kisses!

An excuse to post photos of puppies? Say no more!
HAPPY NATIONAL PUPPY DAY!

Shake it…shake it off…

A recent study by two researchers in France looked at sniffing, pulse rate, and leash length on walks. Sixty-one dogs were taken on three separate walks, five minutes each walk, once with a 1.5m leash, once with a 5m leash, and once without a leash at all (walk order was randomized for each dog). Off-leash dogs sniffed the most, more than 3x as long as the dogs on short leashes. Dogs on long leashes spent nearly as much time as unleashed dogs sniffing, almost 3x as long as dogs on short leashes.

This study also found that sniffing resulted in lowered pulse rates, and the more intensely they sniffed, the more their pulse rates lowered. Pulse rate was also lowered when dogs “shook off” during walks on all leash lengths. The “shake off” behavior was often seen when the dog’s pulse rate was particularly high.

Read more about it below!

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1HX77kp2HBDiTxmq/?mibextid=Le6z7H

https://www.tuftsyourdog.com/everydaydogcare/giving-your-dog-time-to-sniff-on-walks-will-literally-soothe-his-heart/

What else can we learn about dogs from their walking behavior? Take your best friend on a Sniffari and see what you observe!

Happy Valentine's Day from SJ Dog Training! I hope you get lots of love from your furry valentines!

I hope you have been able to spend time with those who mean the most to you this holiday season!
Share your favorite holiday photo by tagging on Instagram or posting one in the comments on Facebook!

SJ Dog Training hopes you and your family have very merry Christmas!

A good read if you want an update on the Canine Infectious Respiratory Disease.

What should the average dog owner do?

-Breathe. This is not a doggie plague sweeping across the nation.
-Consider your dog’s risk of exposure and whether you can do things to reduce it, while not being unnecessarily disruptive to life in general (e.g. if your dog needs to go to day care for you to work, send your dog to day care).
-Consider your dog’s risk of severe disease when deciding whether to change your behaviours and how much to change.
-Talk to your veterinarian about respiratory disease vaccines.

Update: Canine Infectious Respiratory Disease (December 8) Spoiler alert: there’s not a lot new to say about the ongoing situation with canine infectious respiratory disease in North America. Most of this I've

Want reliable information about the canine respiratory illness that is currently spreading?
This website will give you access to a free webinar with veterinary professionals. There are also recommendations and additional resources listed about the illness also from experts and veterinary professionals.
https://k9illness.trupanion.com/

I've been loving working with Team Blue and I'm so happy for them!

Are you ready for a great success story? Listen up: Blue here, my Foster Family sprang me from a shelter where I was miserable and scared. Foster Mom says they could tell my spirit and hope were so broken. Now every day, I get to light up their faces when they see me zooming through the back yard with a toy in my mouth and tail wagging. They love me and I love them!!!

Wishing you and your family a safe and happy Thanksgiving day!

I am honored to announce that I have been accepted into the Humane Alliance of Rescue Trainers. I am excited for this opportunity to help more dogs and their guardians!

Now is the time to think about how you will set you and your dogs up for success when kids are coming to trick or treat on Halloween!
If having people repeatedly come to the door is too much for your dogs, sitting in your driveway to hand out candy may be a good option!

I always want to set the dogs I work with up for success. If I know something unusual might happen in a future session, I do my best to prepare them for it. I have an upcoming surgery and will have to wear a bulky boot and will be walking differently than normal. I am taking a few minutes in each session to desensitize the dogs to the boot. First, I start with it off, and I let them smell and explore it. Then, I put it on and let them see me walk around in it so they can build confidence around the boot now instead of feeling unsure or scared later when it is introduced and it's too late to do the desensitization work. A little thoughtfulness with our dogs now can make a big difference later!

If you want to be able to enjoy a fun meal in a (pet friendly) restaurant with your dog, start teaching your dog to lay down and relax at home and slowly build from there. Public access training is one of my favorite kinds of training! If you are interested in learning more, I would love to chat!

Set you and your dog up for success by starting your desensitization and training early! 🎃

I had a great weekend learning from some of the best. Thank you Michael Shikashio and Dr. Chris Pachel for your fabulous presentations! It always inspiring to gather with so many passionate animal professionals. I'm very grateful for workshops like this that allow me to continue to grow my skills and knowledge. Also, thank you to Science Museum of Minnesota for being a great host venue!

As you prepare your family for Tropical Storm/Hurricane Idalia, don't forget to make emergency preparations for your dogs (and other pets)! If you have any emergency preparation questions, please comment below or message me. Stay safe!

Happy National Dog Day from me and my pups to you and yours! Thank you for being here. I hope I have taught you at least one thing that has improved your life with your furry friend.

Today is a very special training throwback Thursday for me. As part of my time as a sea lion trainer, I got to watch the birth of and help raise and train the first marine mammal to ever be born in Arizona! It was such a valuable learning experience that helped shape the trainer I am now. Today, that sea lion (Sunny) turns 6! I hope you'll join me in sending Sunny lots of love on his birthday!

Splash pad desensitization round 2! I took it outside and hooked the hose up to it. We also had a dog friend over for a playgroup. To make it easier to explore, I turned the water down so the jets sprayed only a few inches high instead of several feet.
2 of the 3 dogs can be quite nervous around water, so I used high value treats (shredded chicken) to encourage and reward exploration and help build confidence in trying something new! Fun and successful for all!

I got my dogs a splash pad (product pictured top left). I was unsure how they would react to it because they have never seen anything like it. Because I want to set them up for success to enjoy it, I'm choosing to do some easy desensitization training with it before I set it up with water.

I rolled it out on the living room floor so they could investigate. Both dogs explored, sniffed, and walked across it without hesitation. Then, I did a treat scatter on it and asked for a high probability behavior (sit pictured top right) to add more reinforcement on the pad. I think it's safe to call it a success so far because after training was over they both chose to take a nap on it!

Stay tuned to see what happens when I set it up outside!

Let's talk about the "magical hand" 🤝

Sometimes well meaning people reach out with their hand to "make friends" with a dog. The idea is that if the dog can sniff their hand, the dog will eventually like that person.

This is actually a great way to get bitten by some dogs. A reaching hand can be perceived as a threat and some dogs have learned that biting makes that hand go away very quickly!

A better option is to allow the dog to *come to you* if they are interested in sniffing, and simply ignore them until they give you indications that they are seeking an affiliative interaction.

Of course, it is always best to walk away, if...
🚫 You're unsure about the dog's body language
😡 There is a history of biting
🩺 OR if it isn't necessary to handle the dog at all