Absolutely Pawsitive Canine

09/05/2026

An excellent piece - too often we expect our dogs to be more "social" than they want or need./

They look. Then they pull.
They really, really want to get over there.
So we shorten the lead, walk them over and say hello.

Except not one of those things tells us that a meeting is going to be welcomed.
In fact, sometimes the frantic "I must get over there right now!" is the very reason I wouldn't let it happen.

We really like dogs meeting dogs.
We want the sniff.
The play.
The little greeting.
The excitement we see when they spot each other.
The possibility that they'll like each other.

It makes us feel good.

Sometimes we're so focused on getting there, we don't stop to ask whether they actually need to.

Two dogs can notice each other.
Look.
Sniff from a distance.
And keep walking.
Absolutely nothing has been missed.

In fact, for some dogs, that, exactly that, was a great interaction.

They saw another dog.
They gathered some information.
And they carried on with their day.
No greeting needed.
No play required.
No “Go on, say hi!”

And that's the bit we humans struggle with.
Sometimes we want the meeting more than they need it.

So should we insist that our dogs “just be dogs” and say hi?
Or could giving them the freedom not to meet be just as much a part of letting dogs be dogs?

08/23/2026

Yes! Laying groundwork is vital!
/

The first time shouldn’t be when you HAVE to do it.

There’s something stuck in between their toes.
An ear that suddenly droops and they’re shaking their head.
There’s a sore patch buried under all that fur that you need to get a proper look at.
Maybe that eye needs a bit of an inspection.

But right now?
The vet needs you to keep their head still for just a moment.

That’s a pretty difficult time to discover your dog really doesn’t like having their head kept still.
Or their ears lifted.
Or somebody looking closely at their eyes.

Maybe they’ve never really had any handling?

Because now it matters.
And perhaps it hurts too.

We practice so many things with our dogs that they'll use throughout their lives.

Sit.
Wait.
Come.

But there are other crucial skills that might sit in our minds that we don’t act on, but know we should.

Handling is one of those “I really should start” skills to have.

It can literally be seconds.
Lift an ear. Reward. Finished.
Hold a paw. Reward. Finished.
Part the fur and have a quick look at the skin. Reward. Finished.
Briefly hold the muzzle. Reward. Finished.

Then, once those things are easy, we can gradually make them a little more realistic.

Hold for slightly longer.
Look between the toes.
Bring a warm damp cloth near an ear maybe even make contact.
Reward.
Finished again.

All these wee rehearsals for things that may one day matter.

And there's another important bit.

Your dog doesn't need to prove they can tolerate it.
If they're becoming uncomfortable, stop.

Go back.
Make the next attempt much easier.

Because the goal here isn't to see how much handling they'll put up with all at once.
It's to make the handling itself increasingly familiar, predictable and normal.

Because if the day comes when you really do need to help them?
Or they need to see the vet?

It won't be the first time.
It’s just “another” time.

Every dog seems to have their own “absolutely not” bit, sometimes for reasons we’d never have guessed.

08/21/2026

Our student demonstrates his skills...

08/17/2026

Yes, THIS!!
/

08/13/2026

Yep!
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08/01/2026

Learned this one years ago from Dr Dunbar and have used it many times to help demonstrate the truth of what is happening with a client's dog. M/

07/16/2026

A certificate, a vest, or a doctor's orders does not allow your dog public access privileges.

Not Every Dog Belongs in Non-Pet-Friendly Public Places

There seems to be a lot of confusion about the different roles dogs can have, so let's clear it up.

Pet Dogs
A pet's job is to be a companion. They may be incredibly well-trained, but being well-behaved does not make a dog a service dog or give it public access rights.

Emotional Support Animals (ESAs)
Emotional Support Animals provide comfort simply through their presence. They are important to many people, but they are not trained to perform disability-related tasks and are not considered service animals under the ADA. ESAs do not have the right to accompany their owner into stores, restaurants, grocery stores, or other businesses that do not allow pets.

Therapy Dogs
Therapy dogs are trained to provide comfort to other people in places like hospitals, nursing homes, schools, and disaster relief settings. They work by invitation through therapy programs and do not have general public access rights.

Service Dogs
A service dog is individually trained to perform specific tasks that directly mitigate their handler's disability. Because they are working medical aids—not pets—they are protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and are generally allowed in public places where pets are not.

Working Dogs
Working dogs include Police K9s, military working dogs, detection dogs, search and rescue dogs, livestock guardian dogs, herding dogs, hunting dogs, and many others. Their training and legal authority depend on the job they perform.

You may see law enforcement K9s, military working dogs, and detection dogs in public while they are actively working. These dogs are operating under the direction of their handler and within the scope of their agency or organization. Do not approach, pet, distract, or interact with them unless the handler clearly invites you to do so.

Many patrol and military K9s are trained in controlled apprehension (bite work) as part of their duties. While these dogs are highly trained and under their handler's control, they are capable of causing serious injury when deployed. Giving them space isn't just respectful—it's the safest choice for everyone.

Here's the important part:

Loving your dog, buying a vest online, or having a doctor's note for emotional support does not grant public access.

If your dog is not a service dog protected under the ADA, please respect businesses, employees, and the people who rely on legitimate service dogs by leaving your dog at home or taking them only to pet-friendly locations.

This isn't about excluding dogs—it's about safety, respecting the law, and protecting access for handlers who depend on their service dogs every single day.

Sources:
• Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA): https://www.ada.gov/resources/service-animals-2010-requirements/
• ADA Service Animal FAQ: https://www.ada.gov/resources/service-animals-faqs/
• AKC Therapy Dog Program: https://www.akc.org/sports/title-recognition-program/therapy-dog-program/

04/05/2026

Too often when I ask a client how they socialized their dog I hear one, if not both, of these 2 main themes 1- they have had people come over and hold and touch their pup, 2 - they have friends who have dogs and they let them play together. Both answers are NOT socialization. This author has written a good piece about that misunderstanding /

It doesn’t mean playing.
It never did.
“Socialisation” has a lot to answer for.

It has a far more important meaning, and it’s often missed because of that one word.

It’s not all about interactions with other puppies or dogs. That’s a very small part of it.
Yet we get stuck thinking socialisation = play.

That’s the issue.

Socialisation is the whole world around them.
The one we’re used to. They’re not.

And if we reduce it to just play with other dogs?
Problems are on the way.

Socialisation is about teaching safety.
Creating safety.
Letting your puppy feel safe.

Even if they’ve never seen a plane or heard a crowd, the goal is the same.
Slow, careful exposure so they can take it in without overwhelming them.

We forget, or maybe don’t fully appreciate, how much they need to get used to in our world.

Socialisation is careful, positive exposure.
Acclimation.
And yes, a level of "neutrality".

Wet grass.
Stairs.
Rain on their head.
A cat passing by.
A scooter moving past.

The goal was never just play.

04/01/2026

If you have a therapy, service, or working dog this offers a wonderful opportunity have their eyes checked for free./

ACVO-SAVES 2026: The Service Animal Volunteer Eye Screening event is back for our 16th year! This philanthropic program exists because of our kind volunteer veterinary specialists, their teams and our generous sponsor, Epicur Pharma, providing free eye screenings for Service Animals across the US and limited locations in Canada, Hong Kong and Australia.

If you have a Working or Service Animal, this program helps ensure their eyes stay healthy so they can continue doing the incredible work they do every day.

Registration opens: April 1
Registration closes: April 30
Screenings take place throughout May

Learn more, check eligibility and cities with participating members here: https://ACVO-SAVES.org/

(Image credit, Elite Veterinary Specialists and Dr. Robert Sw***er)

03/21/2026

Does your Obedience class not.have life challenges as you learn? If not....call or text