Canine Insights, LLC

10/22/2026

Emotional goals are related to how both we and the dog feel about our training and field trials. We always want the dog to think that training with us is as good as it gets, the best thing ever. Emotional goals thus always take priority over task specific and performance goals.

Retrieving for All Occasions
E. Blomster and L. Gunnarsson

10/20/2026

It's vet tech appreciation week!

The theme this year is- "Credentialed Veterinary Technicians: Endless Compassion, Expert Care, Celebrating the Soul of Veterinary Medicine."

I like that.

Do you send a gift to your favorite vet tech?
Consider this- leave a positive review online for the clinic and mention the tech by name or send a letter to the clinic appreciating the tech by name.

Techs are often the ones we talk with the most, they relay messages and facilitate between vet and clients.
While they take care of our pets they are often missing their own pets.
I think every tech I know has brought at least one injured homeless animal home with them. Oftentimes covering medical expenses out of their own pocket.
And honestly, they don't make enough to keep doing that but they spend their money on animals because it's just in their nature.

Share a story of a vet tech helping you and your pet.

And don't just do it this week! Appreciate the good work year-round.

10/20/2026

We often talk about the dogs that have behavior troubles like reactivity possibly having an underlying medical issue but there's another side to this.

We need to also connect the dots for the dogs that we know have medical issues. Skin issues, allergies, stomach and GI issues, aches and pains.
We know these dogs are not feeling great.

Could they develop behavior issues? Yes! Absolutely they can especially if going out makes them hurt more or going to the vet always means being poked and prodded.

We know that a behaviorally complex dogs may have hidden medical complexities.

If a dog is medically complex, they may also become behaviorally complex.

Let's keep a close eye on these dogs and care for them as if medical and behavioral care should be intertwined.
(It should).

Extra care should be taken to keep dogs, especially like this out of situations that could become painful or stressful.

A focus is low stress and fear in vet work, training and interacting in the household as well as outside the home should be the goal.

Pic of Looney in the woods. Luckily no medical or behavioral challenges for her.

10/19/2026

Absolutely heartbreaking.

Babies and toddlers can be huge stressors for dogs and dogs can be a huge danger to babies and kids.

We do not know the details so we cannot speculate on what happened in this heartbreaking situation. No matter what happened it's just awful.

Please keep babies, kids and dogs safe.
If you're unsure how or feel uncomfortable in any way, don't wait to seek help from a professional.

I want to never see a headline like this ever again!

A 7-week-old baby is dead after an incident involving a dog in Livermore Falls, Maine State Police say. Story link in the comments.

10/16/2026

Appreciation post for a good dog.

I love that I can play in a field, recently covered in manure and my dogs want to play with me.
I think that's pretty good. That's a pretty special skill to have.

I encourage you to write your own appreciation post for your very good dog.
Ribbons or accolades by some formal institution not required.

If you can, please share and let me know what you are appreciating this week about your dog.

No appreciation is too big or small.

Enjoy them why they are with us. It's always too little time so love 'em and keep them close.

What's your current appreciation for your dog?

10/15/2026

The other night it was dark out. Robin was outside for quite a while.
I called him.
He didn't come back.
So I called him again.
This time he came but p**ped on the deck right by the door.
Apparently I interrupted him mid poo.

Great recall but I probably should have checked in and trusted why he didn't show up the first time.

Lesson learned.

Be careful what you ask for. You might be cleaning p**p off the deck.
💩

10/14/2026

Once again remember not to expect your puppy to make a choice in a situation where he does not yet have the skills to do so correctly. In these situations it is important for his owner to decide and manage his choice for him. For example, if moving objects arouse him, don't take him near a busy road and expect him to choose to pay attention to you rather than try to chase the cars. If you should need to walk him near such a road, keep him on a lead and actively engage his attention, either with highly desirable treats or even by walking with him tugging on a toy to keep him engaged with you rather than lunging at the end of the lead after the cars. Later, when he has learnt self-control and loose lead walking, you can expect him to choose to attend to you rather than the traffic.

Life Skills for Puppies
Helen Zulch & Daniel Mills
2012