Walks with CCS
Dog walks are important on a daily basis, and sometimes it can be hard to fit them into your schedule. Let us take care of it for you while you are at work! Even a small walk around the block can get your dog out of the house and let them experience new sights and sounds and release some pent up energy. Longer walks and even jogs may be more appropriate for other dogs and that can be accommodated as well. We will make sure to match you up with the right person for the job.
I believe that walks are about the dogs, not that a dog should be dragging you down the street of course, but I am not one who believes the dog must always be right by my side, or behind me, unless for safety reasons. I believe in loose leash walking and a dog that has learned to walk politely and pay attention to their handler. Walks should be fun, for you and for the dog! Sometimes I let them stop and sniff whatever they want, sometimes we make impromptu agility courses out of objects in our path, like trees and playgrounds. Sometimes I may even hide goodies along the way before I grab the dog, so that there will be treasures to find. There are many possibilities!
I believe that walks are about the dogs, not that a dog should be dragging you down the street of course, but I am not one who believes the dog must always be right by my side, or behind me, unless for safety reasons. I believe in loose leash walking and a dog that has learned to walk politely and pay attention to their handler. Walks should be fun, for you and for the dog! Sometimes I let them stop and sniff whatever they want, sometimes we make impromptu agility courses out of objects in our path, like trees and playgrounds. Sometimes I may even hide goodies along the way before I grab the dog, so that there will be treasures to find. There are many possibilities!
Reactive Dogs
I lived with a reactive dog for years. Yes, he was still reactive sometimes, even after years. When I first got him, he would sometimes see a squirrel right when we left the house. We had to turn around and come back because he got so excited it took him all day to calm down. We often took frequent short walks in hopes that we would not get too over threshold. He use to lunge at people from a couple blocks away, even if they weren't moving. We worked so hard on his reactivity and got to the point that neighbors were constantly complimenting me on what a beautiful and well-behaved dog he was. I used a lot of kibble to build positive associations, and taught him some tools to better help him deal with stimuli in the environment and rewarded him for being such a good boy. I can't always control what happens in the environment, but I have a lot of experience and tools to help dogs through it. I love the progress I see working with reactive dogs and am happy to work with them. A lot of the foster I have had were reactive as well..
Beyond Walks - Real Exercise
Walking isn't often enough actual exercise for some dogs. We can also play games to get dogs running and play out in the yard or at a park. If your dog gets along with other dogs in the neighborhood, or other client dogs, we can also arrange supervised playdates, as dog play is one of the best types of exercise and daycare may not always be appropriate for all dogs.
