Creative Solutions Training

Ridiculously useful.💡
Simple and effective.
Uses galore.
Who doesn't want that up their sleeve?

Once a dog understands hand targeting, it can come in handy in all sorts of situations.

Moving into position.
A moment of focus before asking for something else.
Getting onto those scary scales at the vet.
Redirecting from something they're a little bit too "stuck" on.
Moving through a doorway.
Even just giving a dog a very familiar, easy thing to do somewhere new.

The simplest skills end up being the ones we use the most.
And people who use it will tell you just how "handy" it is!

Sarah Rucker and I had the pleasure of taking these two goofballs for a playdate on Saturday. This is Max and Peanut and they currently reside at Claws & Paws Animal Adoption Center. Now there is an application pending for the adoption of both boys together.
We recommended Jeremy Ozark Bottoms K9 Academy, LLC / Kennel for board and train care while the potential doggy daddy finishes school. If the stars align these boys will leave to start their new adventure later this week and we're so excited for them!

Why did you pay for one?
You can probably "reinvent" one at home.

We spend an extraordinary amount of money on items specifically designed for dogs. Sometimes all because they have "dog" written on the package.

But what happens when we look at those things and think about how we could "reinvent" them at home?
Because dogs?
They don't know whether something came fresh from a box at a pet store.
They don't care whether it was marketed as a dog enrichment toy, arrived in beautiful packaging or happens to be the latest "trend".

Sometimes the most ordinary, everyday household items can give them something fulfilling and interesting to do.
And we forget that.

We can become so focused on finding "dog things" that we stop looking at what we already have.
It doesn't have to be clever or perfect.
It doesn't have to take half an hour to prepare.
And it definitely doesn't have to cost a cent.

Sometimes it's just looking at something destined for the washing machine, recycling or the "spares" at the back of the cupboard and thinking,
Hmmm.
Hang on a minute.
Could my dog use this?
And HOW could they use it?

Putting my Safety Sam hat on for a minute, obviously not everything is suitable for every dog, particularly those who swallow, shred or guard things. Always supervise and pick things suitable for your dog.
But there's considerably more potential sitting around the house than we realise.

Ok, your turn - what's the most random "not a dog toy" thing YOUR dog has decided absolutely is one.

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.

Seriously, you won't believe how sweet she is!

📣 Come see Hannah at PetSense this afternoon! 🐾💗

You wanna meet a home run dog? Because Hannah checks ALL the boxes. ✅

🐶 Good with dogs
🐱 Good with cats
👧 Good with kids
👋 Doesn’t know a stranger
💕 Sweet, social, adjusted, and ready to be somebody’s best friend

Seriously… we have NO idea how this girl has been waiting SIX MONTHS for a family.

Hannah is the kind of dog so many people say they’re looking for—a happy, friendly, go-anywhere family companion who just wants people to love.

She’s waited far too long. 💔

Come meet Hannah at PetSense this afternoon, and please SHARE her with someone who might be looking for their missing piece. 🏡🐾

Let’s get this girl HOME. ❤️

More information about Hannah: https://new.shelterluv.com/embed/animal/CPAC-A-86

See the rest of our dogs available for adoption: https://www.clawsandpawsaac.com/available-dogs

Interested in adoption? Consider filling out an application: https://new.shelterluv.com/matchme/adopt/CPAC/Dog

Questions? Don’t hesitate to ask!

Claws & Paws Animal Adoption Center
Lebanon, Mo
417-532-9671

We need to have a talk about "Pass The Puppy."

You know the one.
You're at your puppy school and then the trainer says "Ok everyone, pass your puppy over to the next person”.
All done to let them get used to being handled by strangers.

Everyone has a few laughs.
The puppies start to squirm and wriggle.
Some just freeze.
Some pups may even growl and nip.
Many desperately try to climb and clamber back to their person.

It’s often touted as being "good for them". But for so many puppies, it's nothing more than flooding and at a particularly vulnerable and impressionable time.

Here's why I don't do it, and why I think we need to be much more careful about which puppy schools we choose.

1. It takes away their choice. Everything we do at puppy school should be about helping a puppy feel safe around all the new things around them, not forcing them to tolerate being touched and restrained by a circle of strangers. If a puppy can't say "no thanks" or move away, we are NOT building confidence.
We're teaching them that their communication really doesn't matter.
That’s not a lesson we want them to learn.

2. We want puppies to learn that people are safe and predictable. Pass the puppy teaches that strangers and people will grab you, hold you when you're uncomfortable, and your person won't help.

3. You just can't read 6 puppies at once that are wriggling, squirming and scrambling over a person. In a circle of 6-8 people (or more if families are present) all passing those puppies around, who is watching the body language? That lip lick, whale eye, tucked tail, or freeze . By the time someone notices, the puppy has already been overwhelmed and then they’re just passed on again.

4. It really doesn’t create calm handling skills.
A room full of over-excited, slightly stressed puppies being handed around like a pass the parcel game, doesn't create calm, confident dogs. It creates a bit of a circus. Puppies learn best when they are kept under threshold, not when theyre in the middle of a “hot potato” game.

5. It's outdated. We used to think socialisation simply meant exposure to as much as possible, as fast as possible (after all that window is closing, quick, quick quick!). We now know socialisation is about the quality of experiences, not quantity. One positive, choice filled interaction where a puppy chooses to approach is worth far more than ten forced cuddles.

So what does a good puppy school do instead?

Keeps classes small, so someone is actually watching your puppy.

Responding when they see an issue (and actually responding at the start of that issue, not waiting for escalation), even better doing everything they can to reduce the possibility of an issue.

Teaches YOU to read your puppy and advocate for them

Lets puppies observe first, and engage by choice.

Never makes you feel guilty for saying "my puppy isn't comfortable with that".
That should be praised! That’s so good you recognised that in your puppy!

A great puppy school may also ask you to leave for the sake of your pups emotional wellbeing. Some puppies can become completely overwhelmed, esp if they have very limited exposure before coming to class.

We have a loose floor circle in some classes, but we discuss body language communication skills and all of our puppies choose what they would like to do, and we respect that.
Some may investigate a person.
Some may just observe while being beside their human.

All of this builds confidence.

Passing your puppy around the room isn't a harmless tradition.
Its certainly not a rite of passage either.

It's a bit of a red flag for how socialisation as a whole is being understood.

If your puppy school still does pass the puppy, it's okay to ask why.

And it's absolutely okay to find one that does better.