Melissa's Muttz 'n' Mongrels, LLC

05/24/2026

04/26/2026

It’s uncomfortable.
But we’ve taught them to NOT come to us.

The word is the same, you have a high value reward all ready to go and all they do is freeze when they hear “Come” or they start to inch closer, hesitate and run away again.
That’s the uncomfortable part.

Sometimes, we’re just saying a word that has no power in that moment and we don’t know we’ve caused it.
Your dog does though.
It's because of how we use it.
“Come” starts to mean
The fun stops
Something gets taken away
Or something I don’t like is next

So, that hesitation creeps in. They’re smart, they know it!
They learn patterns fast.

You’re using a word which is now tainted, it has a meaning attached that we didn’t want, but it’s there.

This is when recall starts to erode.

Not because you didn’t teach it.
But because of when it gets used .

A recall word is a sacred word.

Because once it starts losing it's joy and value, it’s a slippery slope.

It must be protected for the moment you really do need it.

04/26/2026

It’s never “just a sniff”.
It looks quick and meaningless to us. Not to them.

That moment gives them information you can’t see.
Who this dog is.
If they’ve met before.
How old they are.
What state they’re in right now.
Whether something feels a little bit “off”

Even health and hormones come into it.

Now the bit that’s missed, not every dog allows that information to be shared.

Tail position, posture, movement.
That can decide whether access is given or “denied” and only some will do this or allow it to be done.
I’m not a fan of turning a dog around to “present the rear” either. If they do it naturally, great, if they don’t, no biggie.
Some dogs just do not get their noses in that position at all.

For the ones that do?
It’s not about letting every dog sniff every dog.
But it is about understanding what’s actually happening in that moment.

And that’s a lot!

03/27/2026

Five. It does kinda work.

100%

03/27/2026

03/27/2026

📢 Dog Owners: What to Know About “Avery’s Law”

A new Ohio law, known as Avery’s Law, took effect on March 20, 2026. This legislation updates Ohio’s dangerous dog laws and places stronger responsibility on owners to safely manage their dogs. The goal of the law is to improve public safety while encouraging responsible dog ownership.

Key Things Dog Owners Should Know…

🐾 Owners are responsible for preventing attacks
If a dog attacks without provocation and injures or kills a person, the owner may face criminal charges for failing to control the dog.

🐾 Dog wardens have more authority after attacks
Dog wardens may seize and impound a dog involved in a serious attack while the incident is scheduled for a court hearing.

🐾 Dogs designated as nuisance, dangerous or vicious have stricter penalties for subsequent dog registration or confinement violations
Owners of dogs designated nuisance, dangerous or vicious face civil and/or criminal penalties for failing to register or properly confine and control their dog.

🐾 Dogs designated as dangerous or vicious have stricter requirements
Owners of dogs designated as dangerous or vicious must follow additional requirements, including special registration and strict confinement rules. Owners must also carry liability insurance.

🐾 Serious attacks can result in euthanasia
If a dog kills or seriously injures a person, and the court determines the attack was unprovoked, the law requires the dog must be euthanized.

🐾 Dogs defending themselves, their owners or their property are protected
The law does protect dogs that act in legitimate defense.

The best way to stay within the law and keep your pet and community safe is to be a responsible owner. That means…

✔ Keep your dog properly confined and on a leash when out in public
✔ Properly socialize and train your dog
✔ Address behavior concerns early, before they become a major issue
✔ Supervise interactions with children and other pets
✔ Maintain proper dog licensing and identification

Responsible ownership helps prevent incidents that put people and other pets at risk. 🐶

To view our Avery’s Law FAQ, visit https://bit.ly/AverysLawFAQ.

02/03/2026

To the lady in the park whose dog was running wildly out of control, chasing squirrels and running up to every dog…

I saw you. I saw you struggling to recall your dog. I saw you calling his name, varying your tone from encouraging and squeaky to furious and frustrated. I saw you go to your car to find a crinkly packet that might sound like treats. I heard you try and recall him for 15 minutes while he ran around the carpark and onto the road. I saw your struggle. I do not judge your struggle.

I did judge you however for wandering around for 40 minutes prior to this game, on your phone, ignoring your dog totally. I saw your dog get rewarded for the behaviour he did with the freedoms he had. I saw the pattern developing as he roamed further and further causing more havoc while you ignored him, focussing on your phone.

The only time you engaged with your dog, was when you wanted to leave. Understandably after having 40 minutes of fun that had nothing to do with you, your dog didn’t want to leave.

I do however have a suggestion for you…

Put the phone down. Put your dog on a lead. Train him. He had a beautiful nature and was friendly and full of beans. He just wanted to have fun and be engaged with, but 40 minutes of seeking it elsewhere lead to your end of walk problems (and countless other problems for other dog owners while you ignored him)

A lead is a simple solution. Try that first. Be responsible. Your dog needs it, he needs you.

Edit: for those of you commenting, emailing and whatsapping me (yes really!) about how maybe the lady in question was dealing with terrible things. She was discussing, at length, the colour to paint her living room.

Why was I watching her for 40 minutes? Because I was working with a client whose dog is reactive and we were actively avoiding her and her dog.

Let’s pretend this was a life and death chat though… the invention of the lead still exists 😉

11/27/2025

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Briarwood Lane Arts