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We all love to take our dogs with us! It is great exposure training for them. Here are some lovely dog friendly places you can explore. Check the list for some indoor dog friendly places and patio spots around the Mississippi Mills and Ottawa West Area.

TIPS:

• Have a training plan! Come prepared with training tools. Food reward training, sit, down, heel, place etc. Teach focus, engagement, confidence building, manners etc.
• Teach leash manners before going on a field trip so you have those foundations in place.
• Start on less busy days/times/places, and then work your way to peak times i.e. Tuesday midday vs Sunday lunch rush.
• We typically say no to on-leash greetings by people or dogs to teach neutrality (some exceptions apply).
• We offer a Patio Pup Group Class and Private Training Lessons

Please do not be that person that pretends to have a fake service or therapy dog though! This is very disrespectful to those that need a service or therapy dog and have a real one. There have been cases when a fake service dog has interfered with a real service dog doing their job and caused delay in a medical emergency. I even heard a case where a service dog was attacked at the airport. And it is disrespectful to the establishment you are bringing them to who have health/safety polices prohibiting animals. Follow the rules and find the places that all dogs are allowed and have fun there! You can always crate in the car (weather permitted) if you need to quickly grab something from a store etc.

Other Great Spots! Indoor Options Too!

• Winners
• Indigo (Chapters)
• Home Sense
• (Most) Home Depots, Home Hardware, Canadian Tire
• Pet Stores – Pet Valu, Rens, March Road Pet Store, Simply4Paws
• Tanger Outlet Mall Kanata
• Honey Cafe, Stitsville (dog friendly indoors & patio)
• Cold Bear, Arnprior (dog friendly indoors & patio)
• Braumeister Carleton Place (dog friendly indoors & patio)

Write in the comments your go-to-spots!

Believe it or not, I did not vibe with Violet when I first got her. She was so different than my first dog that I couldn’t help but compare her. Gordie was so go go go and would do back flips for me no questions asked. Violet was so no no no and what’s in it for me type of dog. My husband wanted a less intense dog and we got that.

Gordie was clingy – Violet was overly independent. Baby Gordie wouldn’t leave my side. Baby Violet would wonder away from me and didn’t look back. I was worried when I saw her behaviours as a puppy. She never laid in my lap for a cuddle. Not until about 5 months old.

I had to adapt for her. I had to change for her. I had to figure her out. Meanwhile Gordie adapted for me, he figured me out, he changed for me. Obviously you can’t compare. An English Setter to an English Springer Spaniel. An independent woman to a clingy boy.

But once I figured her out, she became so perfect for me. I just think she is so perfect. She is the best dog. She is very sweet and sensitive. Very goofy, and play is certainly her way (Jay Jack pun intended). I can’t believe I use to be disappointed in her for being her. Honestly dog owners, reread that line.

**I can’t believe I use to be disappointed in my dog for being themselves.**

I couldn’t change her, and I wouldn’t. I know how to get her to “go go go” now. We built an amazing bond. But relationship isn’t everything as much as people think. It is but it isn’t. For an independent dog like Violet, relationship wouldn’t solve everything. I don’t care what they say. That dog needed more. So I gave her more.

I feel like so many of us struggle to match with the dog that we got. But it’s not about matching. It’s about blending together. Knowing your dog, truly knowing them. Then working WITH them with what you know about their personality, their likes and dislikes, their temperament. What drives them. What THEY need or want (not you!). Not changing them, but accepting them. Once you crack that code you have the most amazing friend.

The more time I spend with dogs

The more I think 

This is all they really need

If every dog spent time running free in the woods

How much healthier would their state of mind be

How much better would they feel around other dogs and humans

How much more they would tolerate their dwelling constructed and restricted world

How much less stress they would have

their energy being released 

How content they would be

At the end of each day

And then I think

Wouldn’t it be the same for us humans as well?

The woods is a magical place to be for dogs and humans alike! If you are looking for your own private quiet oasis to enjoy a stroll in nature with yours dog(s), check out LFT’s new 58 acre Private Dog Park 

More info www.laurinfulton.com

So no one told you, your dog will shake you to the core

Your dog will make you doubt yourself

Your dog will make you feel emotions you never thought were possible

Your hands will shake and sweat

Your breath will turn quick and short, rapidly

You will panic and freeze, not knowing what to do

As your dog barks and lunges at the end of the leash

At a kid

At a dog

At a person

At a garbage can

This is reactivity

With dogs that struggle with reactivity, I always tell clients you cannot avoid their triggers

You instead need to do the opposite – seek out those triggers

Find those fears, and take control as you purposely expose your dog

But at a safe distance, on-leash, with the correct tools and methods,

And of course with one of our most powerful tools – the clicker

Do not underestimate that clicker.

The amount of courage it can train a dog

The amount of clarity and pleasure it can create

Use it wisely

Time it wisely

Mean it when you use it

It can turn an insecure fearful dog into a brave curiosity seeker

It can train a dog to do almost anything

It can teach a dog how to problem solve

How to conquer their fears

How to make better choices

How to overcome reactivity

…..

Anyone struggling with reactivity, or fear-based behaviours, I am here for ya, I get it

I want my students to remember what I tell you during our lessons

Face those fears

It will get better

Trust me

…..

Love,

Laurin

A nervous owner, with an insecure dog is an awful combination. You feed off each other in the worst way. When I first got Gordie, I was that owner. I was new to the dog training world. I studied dogs. I took training programs. I was a dog walker. I did boarding. I practiced training on any dog I could find (for free of course). All without having my own dog.

Then I got Gordie. I was eager to practice all these skills and knowledge on my very own dog. Excited. Ambitious. I started to realize my puppy was different than the other confident puppies. My puppy barked a lot. Cowered a lot. Was not welcoming of new people. Was very reactive. I started noticing I felt extremely nervous whenever I was in public with him. Nervous of what he would bark at next, a person, a dog, a garbage can, the wind blowing. I constantly felt embarrassed when seen in public with him. I felt ashamed. And then being an aspiring dog trainer, I felt hopeless. My ambitions turned into tears.

People would actually yell at my dog. A lady in a store scolded him and told him to stop barking at her, only making it worse. I scurred out of the store and drove home crying.

He taught me the most valuable lesson a dog can teach their owner. To be calm. To be in control. To be a leader. I fought both our demons. I practiced calm breathing techniques as one short stressful breath could trigger him. I worked on my confidence, as I did his. How can I expect my dog to be confident when I am not. He taught me to stand taller. He taught me to fake it until you make it – which for this case actually did work.

And now, one of my favorite things is to be given a dog with it’s tail tucked between it’s leg, and show that dog to trust me. Take my hand. Show that dog that the world is a happy place. Teach them how to open up their shell. And most importantly, I repeat, most importantly, show their humans that as well.

I now have no emotions when it comes to being around dogs. And I mean that in the best way. A dog could be barking or snapping at me. A dog could be losing it at the end of the leash. A dog could be scared. And I remain the same. Zen. Calm energy. Gordie taught me this lesson. My dog trained me.

Be the person that listens to other dogs & people…

If your dog has a history of snapping, charging, biting, pinning, and/or attacking dogs, don’t be the person that says “they are friendly”

Be the person that recalls their dog before a fight starts

Be the person that listens to other owners, and respects their space and needs

Be the person that notices when a dog or human is stressed and help them out, whether that means recalling your dog and walking away, or having a friendly chat with the owner to see how you can help

If you don’t fully trust your dog or their recall, don’t set your dog up for failure, especially at other people’s or dog’s expense

…

Today I had someone say “they are friendly” and then their dog immediately tried to attack one of mine. I stopped it immediately and there were no injuries. I spoke with the owner (no drama, just the truth), and we hiked our separate ways. I just wished they said “sometimes my dog isn’t friendly” and recalled their dog instead. It would have solved everything. I just want better communication in the dog community, that’s all ✌️🐕

Why I LOVE crating in the car? It starts with safety, like most things in dog training.

1) I like knowing the dogs are all safe in their own spots. I can have up to 4 dogs crated in my Honda CRV (2 large rufflands, 1 intermediate, 1 medium). I don’t want dogs snapping at each other or bullying each other while I drive etc. But most importantly, if there was a car accident situation, I have extra peace of mind knowing the dogs are crated. It can be dangerous to have dogs loose in the car, especially the front seat in a car accident. There are times when you need to think fast (as someone who was hit by a driver who sped through a red light while I had the green to go). In those moments, the last thing I want is a dog licking my face or trying to sit in my lap.

2) The cleanliness – oh my, how I love cleaning the crates and not my entire car after a soggy spring romp. The dogs shake the water off and I no longer have a reflex response to cringe up as I pray for my poor ceiling.

3) If a dog was to throw up, or have an accident etc. It is easier to clean up too.

4) It helps with calm behaviours in the car. Dogs with car issues (motion sickness, car anxieties etc.) often do better in a crate in the car, with training of course. This does not apply to all dogs, it depends. But I have had dogs who car sickness went away with crating and lots of exposure drills.

5) I can open all my doors and windows, without worrying about dogs running out. This is super helpful at my agility events. Or anytime I need to take one dog out to train but leave the rest.

If you are looking for a nice sturdy car crate, we always recommend @ruff_land_kennels sold @cabelascanada in Kanata or order online

This is not an ad lol Just a PSA on safe travels for da pups!✌️🐕

…..

Also – Wire crates are the least safe for the car – they could literally fold and squish the dog in a car accident. A soft travel crate would be better than a wire crate. But the safest of the 3 would be a super durable rufflands crate. I think there are some other super sturdy car crate materials that I just haven’t used myself. Do your research!