Why did it get hard? When we bring a puppy home, we become our puppy’s world. We are the one who keeps them safe, feeds them, plays with them. We show them what’s expected, we help them grow confidence. It’s a magical time and as they grow, we usually find that they are VERY willingContinue reading “Recall Reconnection: How it fell apart and how to fix it”
Author Archives: Stoked Dogs
Recall Reconnection: The beginning
We all dream of the perfect recall. Watching our dog playing with another dog and being able to call them back to us the moment we’re ready to go. Seeing that look in your dog’s eyes when they spot a squirrel and calling them back to you before they take off in a chase. We’veContinue reading “Recall Reconnection: The beginning”
It’s not about the training, it’s about the relationship
Every now and then I get a request for a board and train. Board and train is a common practice in the dog training industry where people send their dogs to a dog trainer for generally several weeks, and the trainer trains their dog while it is with them. This practice is not very commonContinue reading “It’s not about the training, it’s about the relationship”
The truth about recall training
Everyone wants a dog with a perfect recall. The dog who listens the moment you call them and comes running towards you, leaving behind any number of distractions. Everyone wants that dog. However the truth is that most people don’t put in the work required to get that kind of recall, yet expect their dogContinue reading “The truth about recall training”
What you can learn from my loss
In the early morning of January 20th 2022, I said goodbye to my sweet angel Buffy. I held her tightly, kissed her and told her I loved her over and over again as she was put down to end her suffering. Only 5 days before I had been playing in the snow with her, snugglingContinue reading “What you can learn from my loss”
Why saying “no” is a bad idea
One thing I try to teach all of my clients is that saying “no” is a bad idea. As people, most of whom understand what “no” means, using that word comes naturally. We utilize it beyond a simple rejection or refusal to consult, we also use “no” to mean “stop” or “don’t do that”. “No”,Continue reading “Why saying “no” is a bad idea”
Have you tried doing …nothing?
There is an immense pressure in society to have a perfect dog. It seems that, for at least a part of society, if your dog doesn’t listen to your every instruction, you’re not a good dog guardian. It’s pretty wild that complete obedience is the goal when co-habitating and sharing a relationship with another species.Continue reading “Have you tried doing …nothing?”
No, your dog is not just being dramatic
There has been a disappointing, even quite disturbing trend, on social media lately. Accounts have been posting videos of dogs in distress, as “funny” videos of dogs just “being dramatic”. The dogs in all cases are not in life threatening situations. In fact they are often in very normal situations such as having their nailsContinue reading “No, your dog is not just being dramatic”
Be a leader, not the alpha
The alpha myth still runs rampant in the k9 world. So if it comes to you as a surprise that “alpha” is a myth, you’re far from alone! The alpha myth, which says that dogs have similar social structure to wolves and that wolf packs operate with one alpha which must remain dominant over theContinue reading “Be a leader, not the alpha”
Emergency kits for backcountry k9’s
I have been adventuring in the backcountry with my dogs for many years. From the moment I had Cody we were hitting the trails in the parks near Ottawa. Although we spent a lot of time on those trails, it was never a remote enough for me to bring around emergency supplies and I justContinue reading “Emergency kits for backcountry k9’s”
Stoked Dogs 