Wee Paws Small Breed Behaviour

SAFE. in small dog behaviour modification, does your dog feel safe in the moment?

UPDATE: Boo has found his family! I’m so happy for you Boo. ❤️🐾❤️

Meet Boo!
Are you or someone you know looking to adopt the sweetest cuddly playful small dog?

Boo is 8 years old and lost his original human when they passed away. After being bounced between family, he was adopted to a lovely lady in Ladner. Unfortunately aging came sooner than expected they can no longer care for Boo.

Boo is now being fostered by Barney and Annabelle and is doing so well! He is fully potty trained, loves to play, and is the best at snuggles!

He gets along well with dogs, cats may take some time to adjust, kids are unknown, but if they’re calm and well trained, he won’t have a problem.

He is fully vaccinated, has had dental work and no other health issues. He does need to lose a few pounds to be at his best self.

Please let me know if you can give Boo a kind and compassionate home. I don’t want to see him get bounced around anymore. He needs a stable place to lay his head.

This. Everything this.

Dogs are not aliens. We all crawled out of the same swamp. The biggest difference between us is that dogs take the time to learn our ways and language and most humans, for thousands of years, have never bothered to learn theirs.

Dogs don’t speak in a verbal language. They communicate through body language.

It would go a long way for their well being if we started to pay attention.

😂 Dogs arent stupid, or stubborn. They are sentient, intelligent, and feel empathy. When we assume they’re stupid or stubborn, its because they speak a different language, and still experience emotions just like us.

If someone started repeating STRAWBERRY to us in ever increasing anger and loudness, we too would remain motionless whilst our brains raced to find an answer through all the brain fog of confusion, it’s nothing to do with stubbornness… or stupidity.

WE are simply too stubborn to learn their language. We’ve had them since puppies and insist we know them well, having spent no time trying to find out if it’s actually the case.

Putting human labels on what we see isnt understanding whats going on inside them or of what canines (a different species!) are trying to communicate. Its like referring to a nature program where the cheetah is chasing down an antelope and because we didnt see the end, we insist they were playing or having fun with each other, theres nothing like a game of chase! 🙈

Our dogs do their best to learn our language, we can at least meet them in the middle. All successful relationships are based on communication. Its just that simple.

Just don’t do it.

Recently, at Tsawwassen Mills, security reported a dog left inside a parked vehicle during hot weather. Delta Police attended and located it leashed inside a fully enclosed vehicle showing signs of distress.

DPD members were unable to make contact with the owner and had to break the window to gain access. The Delta Firefighters IAFF Local 1763 attended and recorded an interior temperature of approximately 50°C.

The dog was dehydrated and required veterinary care before making a recovery. The BC SPCA was contacted to file an animal cruelty report.

With the hot weather, we are strongly cautioning pet owners not to leave animals unattended in vehicles. Temperatures inside a parked vehicle can quickly reach dangerous levels, even during a short stop.

If you see an animal in distress inside a vehicle, call police immediately.

Today I did something completely out of character. I was seemly rude to someone. If you know me, I’m the friendliest person you will meet. I smile at everyone I walk past. I usually say hello to strangers. I’m very pleasant to everyone unless I’m matching someone’s energy.

Tonight, on my dog walk, I did none of those things. A gentleman past me on the street and smiled. I didn’t return it. He commented on the evening and I stared him in the eye and didn’t say a word. When he passed by me when he thought I couldn’t hear him he said sarcastically under his breath “friendly”.

This interaction is so against every fibre of my being, but what this gentleman was unaware of is I was watching his behaviour with his wee little poodle mix dog. As he walked towards me I saw him continuously leash pop this dog, say his name aggressively and scowl anytime his dog went to sniff or explore something.

I am always heartbroken when I see anyone popping the leash on a dog. Dogs are so curious about the world. They use their nose to learn. They want to know who has been there previously. They want to leave their scent. So when a dog goes to explore a scent and they get a violent leash pop it enrages me and then makes me very sad.

So as I was watching this gentleman continue to leash pop his dog, I thought to myself… ‘is he going to be a hypocrite and try and engage with his environment by saying hello to me all the while stripping his dog of that very thing?’ And sure enough he did. It took every ounce of my people pleasing nature to ignore him.

My response to his “friendly” comment was “I’m as friendly as you are to your dog”

So my question is… should people be offended when they are treated the same way as they treat their dog?

(Image is AI because I wouldn’t want to support leash popping in real life)

Anyone around to help look for this sweet muffin?

If you’re in Point Roberts… please keep an eye out for this terrified pup!

This is why I do what I do and so desperately want to keep doing it.

This is Ace. He was born into a rescue and removed from his mother and siblings at 3 weeks. The only reason I can come up with why they would do that is that he was rejected by his mother and at risk.

3-12 weeks is the most critical time of behaviour development in a dogs life. Without any teachers during this time, the brain will develop with stress and anxiety at the forefront.

Ace is what I call an anxiety bucket. The world is a scary place for him but he is still filled with love and joy. He’s the classic people pleaser. Or fawn response.

When we’re out with the pact, he gets to let loose. He runs like crazy, deeks around all the other dogs. Runs through ditches and puddles like a happy kid on a rainy day.

When else would Ace be able to feel such freedom and joy? When else would he be able to run out his anxious mind? When an anxious human exerts themselves with exercise they feel calmer, better. Same goes for dogs.

I know very well the feeling of being in constant fight or flight mode. It’s not fun. And it has serious consequences to your health.

I would love for this town to get a decent small dog park so dogs like Ace (and many others) can have somewhere to go and be free.

Until then, I’ll have to manage the environment as best I can for them. They deserve to have a little fun with friends.

*update. I removed the photo of the guy because he’s local and I don’t need anymore confrontations.

Well, after nearly 9 years it has happened. I’m surprised it took this long. Yours truly is going to go internet viral for being a “Karen”.

I’m a huge fan of transparency and owning your own “stuff” so let me be perfectly clear what you’re getting with me.

If a rogue dog comes careening out of nowhere and starts chasing one of my fearful dogs like it’s prey, I will yell for you to call your dog back. If you do nothing, I will scream at you to call your dog back. If you STILL do nothing, it’s on. I don’t give a rats ass about your feelings. I will get your attention by any means necessary. And that usually means I’ll address you with a steady rhythm of insults, where profanity is basically the punctuation.

This as**at had absolutely no control of his dog and he didn’t care either. It’s people like him why I avoid other people at all costs. If you’ve ever seen me at the dog park, I usually about-face anytime I see anyone. I don’t care if you’re offended. Friend or foe, I prefer to keep my pack away from other dogs.

My purpose for what I do is so the small dogs that are fearful or reactive or just a bit anxious and need a boost have a place to grow their confidence and be free to be a dog. The park has become a place where as****es have no regard for others and don’t take any responsibility for their dogs.

Even after the heated exchange this guy kept following me unable to get his dog under control. All while puffing his chest life he’s some kind of big tough guy. I honestly thought he was going to hit me. But as I thought, he was all chest puffing and no follow through. Luckily I remembered the wise words of my boxing coach and I counter punch only. 😎

I finally got his dog on a leash for him and he was OFFENDED. I honestly can’t with humans these days.

Luckily Max was found after bolting from this dog. Thanks his swift acting parents. Max and I were working on trust exercises at the time hadn’t established enough of a bond for him to come out of the bushes for me.

The photos of max were just before this incident where he was having the time of his life and integrating so well with the pack. Now I’m not sure if he will be able to trust me.

Moral of the story is, mess with my dogs and you will meet momma bear. It won’t be pleasant for you.

Looking forward to my viral infamy.

Oh ya! When I told him the dog his dog chased away was now missing, he laughed and said good he’s glad. Super awesome fella.