A few weeks ago, I was at the vet when a couple walked in with a small dog who was clearly terrified. I think they were embarrassed by her efforts to drag them back out of the door, as they kept intermittently apologizing to the vet tech while shouting at their dog to “sit” and “stop it.” As you can imagine, this was ineffective. And broke my heart for this little dog. 🐾 We must never forget that our dogs are sentient beings. They are able to feel, and feel deeply. And because they are a different species, they experience this world differently than we humans do. 🐾 That little dog was saying with every ounce of communication she could muster, “I’m afraid. Help me.” Imagine how she felt when her humans - the ones she counted on to advocate and care for her - responded to her fear with more fear-inducing behavior. 🐾 We can do better. We must do better. And it starts with recognizing this essential truth about dogs. 🐾 The good news is that one of the vet techs intervened and immediately began comforting both the dog and her humans. She deflated the situation by simply being kind. I waited for her to get the dog into a room and then profusely thanked her, marveling yet again at the incredible people who work in the veterinary field. 🐾 While the whole situation was sad, it stemmed from the humans’ failure to recognize what their dog needed. Clearly, they were bringing her to the vet, and it was obvious that they were worried about her. I like to think that if they understood how emotionally damaging their treatment of her was, they would change. When we know better, we do better. 🤍 🐾 #puppybrain #dogtraining #newpuppy #puppies #bekind

Dont overcomplicate it! #dogtraining #puppybrain #puppies #puppylove

Here in the US, we are rounding the corner to fireworks season, which is such a tough time for so many dogs. 🐾 Because the puppy brain learns in such a unique way, puppyhood is a wonderful time to begin fireworks desensitization. 🐾 However, while the brain is different in adolescent and adult dogs, it is still capable of learning and reformatting those neural highways. You just need to go more slowly and recognize that every dog has their own capacity for learning. 🐾 YouTube has tons of fireworks shows for free, and you can find fireworks on any streaming platform. Start with really low volume, as dogs have keen hearing, and we need to be respectful of that. 🐾 My favorite food puzzle to pair with fireworks desensitization is the chilly penguin. But use whatever is most rewarding to your dog! 🐾 And if playing fireworks at an extremely low level is still terrifying to your dog, it would be wise to consult a certified dog trainer and come up with a different game plan. We have to adjust to the particular needs of each dog! Virtual consults are an excellent option (@jwdogtraining and @peachonaleash are both fantastic). 🐾 May this fireworks season be less traumatizing to all of our dogs! 🤍 🐾 #fireworks #dogtrainer #dogtrainingtips #puppytraining #newpuppy #puppybrain

BIG NEWS: Join W. Bruce Cameron and me as we discuss Puppy Brain! 🐾 Bruce is the New York Times bestselling author of A Dog’s Purpose, and an incredibly kind and funny human, so our conversation is sure to be one filled with a lot of laughter and dog anecdotes. Followed by book signings! I simply cannot wait. (Is this really happening?!) 🐾 The details: May 2nd, 6:00pm at Zibby’s Bookshop in Santa Monica. Tickets are free but space is seriously limited, so RSVP at the link in my bio or zibbymedia.com 🐾 #puppybrain #santamonica #bookevent #authorevent

Another installment in our breeder red flag series. I firmly believe in adopting or shopping responsibly, as we can actively be a part of reducing the shelter population AND reducing the unhealthy purebreds (or intentionally crossed mixes) that are produced en masse by unethical & irresponsible breeding. 🐾 It is essential to understand the way in which mills and BYB are part of the shelter problem, and why it makes more sense to rescue a dog than buy a puppy that comes through such channels. We need to make decisions that undermine the profitability for those breeders. It starts with education - equipping people to identify them and shop responsibly. I hope these posts are helping. 🐾 And, because this can be such a great space for learning, I’d love to hear your stories of “I wish I’d known…” (regardless of where you got your pup). A rising tide raises all ships, including in the world of dog ownership! 🐾 #adoptorshopresponsibly #ethical #goldenretriever #redflag #redflags #nowyouknow #puppies #goldenpuppy