Some Dog Games are Better Than Others

Allowing your dog to perform natural behaviors will give your dog a chance to be a dog!

Chasing is fun for your dog as long as they are safe to do.

Using laser pointers in engaging your dog is an unhealthy and unsafe way to play with your dog.

When laser pointers are used, the dog can become frustrated with the experience of chasing, but never catching the laser.

This can lead to changes to a dog’s brain chemistry and contribute to a dog developing obsessive compulsive related disorders.

A dog can then become overly aroused by seeing flickers of light from headlights on the wall of a passing car and seeing shadows out on a walk and then begin chasing these too.

This is a severe behavioral pattern that is very difficult to change.

Instead of using a laser pointer, try out some of these ways you can do with your dog.

Use a lure toy. This is a squeaky toy at the end of a lanyard or rope that is tied to a thing pole. You can wave this around so your dog can chase and eventually catch the toy. You can also bond with your dog by practicing some life skills like drop and wait.

Attach a toy to a remote control car and drive the car around. This can give your dog an opportunity to chase the car which can be quite fun and natural for your dog to do, plus your dog will be able to catch what he’s chasing!

You can also play fetch with your dog. This will give your dog a chance to run after the ball is thrown as well as give your dog a chance to catch it too.

Keep in mind, make sure to give your dog breaks during play sessions. This can help your dog learn to take breaks, but it also helps your dog not experience repetitive motion on the same joints which can lead to injuries.

Jack loves ripping open boxes and paper while that isn’t Bernie’s preferred play style. Rather, Bernie’s eyes light up when he sees a ball. He goes a couple of rounds of chasing it, but he much prefers chomping on it and running around with it.

If you’re looking for ways of engaging your dog in your dog’s play preference, but you’re not sure, schedule your Discovery Call with me:

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Guiding Others to Taking the Leap of Faith into Entrepreneurship

When I started out in the dog training field, I was focused on how to help Jack learn life skills which can improve his social and emotional response to the things around him.

My vision for how my next steps were going to look after a I completed my certification program was narrow.

I didn’t know what was possible outside of how I can better serve Jack and his needs.

I connected with 2 invaluable mentors who I still consider good friends. They both showed me the ropes in how to approach dog training and behavior modification in a humane way.

We worked closely with one another.

I was comfortable being contracted out by them. I didn’t have to think up how to create my own business someone already did this!

Being a military spouse it was inevitable, we were going to move and my time came for my mentors and I to part ways.

My inherent desire in taking action was still burning and I took initiative in forming Four Paws & You Dog Training.

I researched how to set up a small business, I created social media platforms while I continued blogging about dog training and behavior.

My dog training business was still a side gig.

I was afraid to set out on my own as a full time job.

Fear got in the way and I took dead end jobs just to contribute to my household income.

Fear prevented me from diving in and taking a leap of faith on myself in becoming a business owner for years!

In preparation for our move back to the states in 2020, I made the decision to go all in on myself.

I hired a business coach who guided me in conceptualizing my business from a scheduling and program development side.

This set the stage for my flagship, Growl to Grow Dog Training and Support Program.

Owning and operating a business didn’t end there nor is that the complete picture in building the business structure.

I discovered for myself how one of my core values of autonomy helped me to understand how I can motivate myself and show up for my clients in a real and authentic way.

Owning a business is a part of who you are and it is what you are actively expanding upon when you take action in creating new opportunities for clients.

This can and is very scary!

I knew I needed support through this new phase of my professional development.

I entered into a new realm of self discovery with the assistance of another business coach.

Fear for sure showed up here too.

Fear of the unknown.

Fear of the what if’s.

What I recognized is how fear is in one way trying to keep me from taking risks.

Risks of starting something new and moving away from my comfort zone stirred up my own self doubt.

What I quickly learned that these fears are not reality and rather with cultivating a mindset change and recognizing what fear really represents helped me to embark on a new path.

Integrating all of what I learned through expanding my own self awareness, led me into creating a Confidence Boost Program for pet professionals.

The Confidence Boost Program is designed to help you, other pet professionals in navigating client relationships, understanding your core values and how your core values underpin your business, how you understand and address the inner critic that try and derail you and the action in moving your business needed forward.

This program is specific to other force free pet professionals who have started their own business, but are struggling with taking the next step.

If this sounds like you, schedule a Uniting Call with me:

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Snowy Reflections for 2021

This time of year is for reflection.

Reflecting on not only how this current year is wrapping up, but also to take a moment and reflect on how far we’ve come.

I, like you, believed at one point, Jack was always going to be out of control and living life cranked up to a 10.

Or, in the case of Bernie, always being scared and barking at my husband at the slightest movement or gesture.

I felt trapped by Jack and Bernie very early in our relationship.

My feelings of worry and frustration kept me thinking in these absolutes and wondering “what did Jack do now” when I was away to get groceries when Eddie was deployed.

I could have made some different choices early on which could have saved all of us a little heartache and headache.

We were a mess.

I didn’t know what I do now and hindsight is 20/20.

But what never waned was my commitment and dedication in doing things better for them.

I dedicated myself in learning not just better and modern ways of training.

I also learned about what supports their social and emotional wellbeing and how to satisfy these real needs everyday.

These needs look different now because they are older, but we are intentional everyday in connecting and bonding with them, so they can continue living their best lives and I’m happy I’m now able to know how to make this possible.

This moment was perfect as it helped me to reconnect with my own heart of what is truly possible.

The struggle can feel real because it is. You can learn new ways of doing things too which can unlock your and your dog’s hearts.

Schedule a Discovery Call with me to find out more:

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