Stress!

https://positively.com/contributors/can-my-dog-be-stressed-part-1/

No classes tonight!

I think we're cancelling tonight's classes at Clippard Park. Looks like we're gonna get hit with storms again from here. See you next week!

And this little piggy went to.......training!

It's a thing now-pet pigs. Maybe it's been a thing and I never noticed. Mini pigs. But actually I've found there isn't such a thing. Pigs grow till they are 3 or 4 years old. They can start out cute and little. And wind up HUGE. We're talking 150 to 200 pounds huge! And as I'm finding out folks have little to no experience with them. They are not like dogs in that they are prey animals, not predators like our dogs. They are herbivores not carnivores like our dogs. They can live for 20 years or longer. And most who do train them use aversive methods. Force. Something called Move The Pig. 

So I'm setting out on a path to learn more about them and from what I'm learning they can be taught using positive reward based training. And if folks are going to keep them as house pets, they surely need manners. And surely not aversively taught. Who wants to be adversaries with a 200 pound pig?

My new goal is to help pig owners train their house pet pigs to have manners in a positive force free method to promote better relationships and keep pigs in their homes. So you may see pigs in training in my classes. You may see therapy pigs in training. Stay tuned.......🐷

Couple pics from our Park walk

Our Park Walk today!

Hey! Don't forget our Park walk today at 6pm Miami Whitewater at the Harbor. Should be great weather. Bring a donation of dog food, treats, toys, blankets, beds. Gently used or new for Sheltered Paws. Their fosters can really use them. They take dogs from the SPCA and foster them in their homes. Awesome! See you there!

Is it hot enough for ya?

Classes at Otto Armleder Park tonight cancelled due to excessive heat. Join us Wednesday at the cool, comfortable Family Pet Center. And maybe a special guest.....

Your point is.....

I'm sure there's a few of you who wonder why I post things here and on my Facebook page and other social media sights that have nothing to do with dogs. You might see giraffes, pigs, horses, Turkey vultures, crocodiles and more. And here's why-positive force free training works on all animals. I am so passionate about this.

I just saw a former client of mine go to the dark side. A negative trainer that uses force. Breaks my ❤. It will come to no good end. It never does. I remember she wanted to put a prong collar on her young puppy. She was upset I wouldn't allow that in class. Guess she wanted him to rush past kindergarten right into high school.

Training takes time. Relationships take time. But pain training does not. One good jerk can scare a dog in a heartbeat. Then they do things out of fear.

Not my dogs, not in my classes, not on my watch. That's why I share and talk so much about other species. If you can positively train a 450 lb gorilla, shouldn't it be just as easy to train your dog without pain. It is. It really is.