I want to thank everyone for the success of our team for this year’s Walk MS event. It’s been a few yrs but we still made an impact. Thank you to team members and their dogs, thank you to the amazing woman that donated our t-shirts, thank you to all those that donated to help find an end to MS. We had a beautiful day and a wonderful walk. If you missed out and want to still donate to the team, you can do so here: https://mssociety.donordrive.com/team/FMDT
Follow Me Dog Blog
Leading you to success in Richmond, VA and surrounding areas.
2022 Walk MS Event with Follow Me Dog Training
Enjoy a beer and get your dog a pup cup!
Did you know Intermission Beer Company has Treats available for your pup? They have Nana Oat Happy Pops (Dog Popsicles) and Pup Cups (A Cup of Whipped Cream!) available for purchase! ($3 for one frozen dog popsicle made of Banana chips, whole grain oats and natural vanilla and $1 for a pup cup).Remember, no dogs allowed inside since because they serve human food. Leashed, well-behaved dogs are welcome on the patio!!
We have learned as much as our dog, Rosie!
We were referred to Renée / Follow Me Dog Training LLC by our trusted friends, and upon our first meeting with Renée it was clear why they were so eager to share her information with us. There are just some people who have a special gift with dogs, and Renée has a remarkable ability to connect and communicate with dogs and their humans. Renée’s process of first assessing our dog and family and doing a thorough interview helped us to get clear as a family what our goals were for training, the kind of relationship we were looking to build with our dog, and the kind of life that we wanted to build a family with a new member. This was our first puppy, and we needed some firm and direct advice about all things dog. Renée provided us with invaluable guidance and wisdom, and provided this in a way that met us where we were at in the process. Renée kept us laughing, but also kept us on point and held us responsible to our own goals. We have learned just as much from this as our dog Rosie, and we give Renée our high recommendation without any reservations!”
-The Ward Family
Dogs and Acupuncture
Last week, Frappy had her first experience with acupuncture with Four Paws Veterinary Holistic Service. Frappy has been receiving chiropractic adjustments from the time she came to live with me. But she is a senior dog now and needs just a little more help to maintain fitness and the ability to move (chasing squirrels and stealing socks is still an everyday routine for her). She also had some x rays taken so we can have a baseline of treatment as we move forward and she has, as suspected intervertebral disc disease at L2-3 and L3-4. Nothing to worry about but an area Dr. Lord can treat and keep an eye on as she ages. Taking care of a senior dog is never fun because they should live forever. Unfortunately the best we can do is keep them moving, eating and as healthy as we can as they age. I want all my senior dogs to live as long as they want to and can. So holistic veterinary care in conjunction with good food, exercise and regular veterinary check ups (shout out to Mechanicsville Animal Hospital ) is super important.
Frappy sharing a laugh….
If Frappy could talk she would probably tell me to delete this picture, but she also believes in making people smile and I can’t stop laughing at this! Ever take an awkward selfie with your dog? Share it in the comments at Facebook.
Know your dog’s stress signs…
There is nothing in this video that is cute…. some of the kids in these clips are REALLY close to getting bit. These dogs are all expressing extreme stress because of those kids. I actually had a conversation last week with my dental hygienist about this, she showed me a quick video of her 8-month-old child and their lab. Without thinking I pointed out all the stressors the dog was showing and advised her to stop allowing those interactions to happen. I may have put a little fear in her but it’s worth it. Dogs and kids can be great friends, but your dog needs to be able to trust you and your kid that they are going to be safe. Now watch that video again and take some mental notes. And PS….dogs give these same signals to adults as well… Don’t go hugging or getting in the face of dogs you don’t know, and if you do know them, pay attention to what the dog is telling you about their comfort levels.
Dog Sensitivity in Hearing
Ears!!!! Gunnar and Loki have different earsets. “Dogs have far more sensitive hearing than humans and can detect much quieter sounds. Their sense of hearing is about four times as sensitive as ours, so what we hear at 20 feet, a dog can hear at about 80 feet. … This means there are some sounds that are inaudible to us but quite available to our dogs.” Marc Bekoff Ph. D
Follow Me Dog Puppy Training
Our schedule is pretty crazy right now and I may not get a chance to meet your pup before they are 16 weeks old. Robin MacFarlane has an incredible virtual Puppy Preschool that I suggest to anyone that I won’t get to meet during that prime puppy time (7-16 weeks)