Dog Rescue

New Year = New Plans

Dog Blog, Dog Rescue, FSJ Dog Training, Pack in the Park, update

We’re one week into the new year and this is the point where I start to gear down and focus on my goals. My first daughters birthday is on the 6th, so it always takes me until after the 6th to be able to focus on myself and get away from the December/January celebrations that are compounded for our family (2 birthdays plus Christmas and New Years). Now that’s all done, I’m ready to focus on the year ahead and the goals I have for it.

Consultation and Better Structured Sessions

At the end of last year I changed my fees and how I offer my dog training. I change the name of “Consultation” session to “Problem Behaviors”. The session is still the same as what I originally offered, just a name change. It was brought to my attention that the title “consultation” may be confusing since a consultation is usually that happens first before the training/contracting etc. I wanted that session to focus on a lot of one-on-one back and forth problem solving for behaviors beyond the 5 basic commands. At the same time, I was struggling with not feeling like I was getting my worth when I spent hours putting together a session for someone to have them no-show or cancel. I decided I needed a regular consultation first, I needed a way to get to know my clients better and get paid before putting in all the work that comes with a personalized training session. This is how I came up with the phone consultation. I made up a sheet of questions (that has since turned into 3 sheets). This worked to get to know my clients ahead of time and honor my value, but I was struggling with scheduling conflicts and gaining trust with my clients. Not all, or even most, but I had some people struggle with trusting to pay for the consultation first. They didn’t know whether they could trust me or not, which, fair enough; I’m a stranger and this is a sketchy world we live in. But it’s frustrating because as much as you don’t trust me to send me money, I don’t trust you to pay for it afterwards.

Over the holidays I got thinking… people rarely think twice about paying for something online. For some reason, this feels more secure than just sending someone an e-transfer and trusting they’re going to phone you (I did try to put that power in their hands, but it didn’t seem to make a difference). Likewise, offering an online version of the consultation would also make it more convenient and avoid scheduling conflicts. You can fill it out whenever you’ve got 5 minutes. This is how I came up with the Online Consultation. Since you’re not getting the back-and-forth with me the way you would on the phone, you don’t get to know me personally and you’re doing the work of filling out the form yourself, it is a cheaper rate than the Phone Consultation.

Of course, making the rate for the Online Consultation lower than the Phone Consultation means I’m no longer honoring my value because I also adjusted my session prices to accommodate the consultation fee. Which brings me to… I’m going to need to raise my session fees a bit. I really appreciate the patience of my clients as I make these adjustments and grow into this new role as a professional dog trainer.

One of my goals this year is to register Fort St. James Dog Training as a business. I’d like to sort out all these kinks before that happens. I don’t want to need to adjust my prices again once that happens.

I appreciate your patience! I hope that offering an Online Consultation will feel worthwhile for this adjustment as it streamlines the process to get you a training session quicker.

Now Paperless Training Articles!

Another new feature that I’m offering is paperless training articles. I have a whole bunch of articles I have written (and continue to write) about subjects in Safety & Regulations, Training Theories, Training Tools, Puppy Training, Dog Training, Problem Behaviors and Trick Training. I’m in the process of editing and adding to them all of the time, so these articles tend to change over time. Part of personalizing your session is printing off these articles based on what you’ve told me. This is costing me a lot in printing and I’ve gone over my allotted print per month through my HP Insta Ink program a few times now. I am also aware that today’s average person is eco-concious and prefer digital copies over hard copies. I am a sucker for paper in my hand and this is how I learn best, but it recently occurred to me other people are different and learn differently and that offering paperless may be a good option. I asked a few people in my life and had a really positive response to it so I am now offering a paperless option for these articles! You can choose this option during the consultation.

CAAT CAMP

At the end of last year I scrounged together an application for the Canadian Animal Assistance Team Community Animal Management Plans. We have a group of people working towards animal management goals and this is one of the things we discussed in meetings and put together. Unfortunately, our application wasn’t accepted. I’ve discussed it with Chris, a CAAT representative, and she explained reasons why our application was denied and what we could work on to submit a better application for next year.

I’ll admit, when I read that our application wasn’t accepted I was pretty disheartened. But after discussing it with Chris, I felt a bit more hopeful. We’re still a very valid candidate for CAMP, but there are a LOT of communities out there in need. I know how to make our application better now; to reflect the true needs our community has. Part of the problem was that we don’t fully understand what those needs are yet. Chris recommend that we survey the community and the surrounding communities in order to get a better idea of the number of dogs and cats as well as to understand the priorities of the community members.

I think it’s going to be a big undertaking to survey the community, to get it organized. It will be worth it though, I see now how important that information will be to have.

Pack in the Park… or… the Woods?

Pack in the Park is going to really get rolling this year. I have a volunteer in Vanderhoof hosting Pack in the (Vanderhoof) Park. Kai was a client when I was training in Vanderhoof and I instantly loved her connection with her dogs and her understanding of dog training. I sort of heavily pressured her into hosting Pack in the Park. “Voluntold”, if you will. No, but she loves doing it because it benefits her dogs too and that is really what it all comes down to. A bunch of dog owners training towards a common goal; to have dogs who don’t lose their shit every time they see another dog (or person) in public. To have dogs that can focus on their humans and follow commands no matter what distractions are around them. It takes a community to make this happen. Everyone following some simple rules to keep dogs safe, calm and having fun with their humans.

I’ve also talked to Corey about doing a pack walk or hike. I think this would be so cool to be able to really take advantage of our local trails. I see complaints now and then about dogs on trails (or what they leave behind on the trails) and I think this would be a great opportunity to start teaching people how to safely and respectfully hike with their dogs. All the same rules would still apply with the pack walk/hike as they do for Pack in the Park, except instead of training walking circles around each other you’re all walking in one direction (spaced apart and on leash). Corey is down for this and thinks it’s a great idea, and I’m thrilled he’s into it because I still can’t physically host it myself.

I still have a swollen, painful foot that I can’t fit into proper footwear. I’m hoping this year will bring changes in that, too. I have an appointment with a local massage therapist and have finally been referred for an MRI in Prince George, I just need to phone them tomorrow and book the appointment (which, I’m sure will be another long wait). It’s frustrating, and I’m not going to get into it all here, but hopefully one day I’ll be able to join you all on the trails with my dog. The happiest I’ve ever seen my dog was in the woods. I miss it.

Happy Howlidays!

Dog Blog, Dog Rescue, FSJ Dog Training, Pack in the Park, update

As the days tick down to Christmas and the New Year I feel like I’m always scurrying around doing 50 things at once. More-so than usual. I get this urge to finish (or start) all the little things I thought I’d do throughout the year but never seemed to make time for until the last minute.

I haven’t had very many dog training clients in the last month and I’ve been okay with it. I’ve had a lot to focus on at home and with my family. My foot has been a constant struggle. I injured it hiking in June and I still can’t wear my shoes because my foot is too fat and I can’t bend it properly to slip a shoe on. My husband and I went to Prince George on the weekend and tried to find me some sort of boots. We thought it was as simple as buying a size up and I quickly learned it’s more complicated than that. It’s the fact I can’t bend my foot coupled with a low height in the toe box of the shoe not accommodating my fat foot. The first 3 or 4 that I tried on I couldn’t even get my heel close to slipping in. I felt pretty disheartened right away. I am currently wearing my husbands sandals and thick socks to walk my kid to school (in snow). When I saw my doctor on Friday he automatically told me I need to wear boots or my toes will freeze. So I had to find something. I eventually found slippers at Walmart for like $20 that my foot would fit in. It has a bit of a sole with “some” grip and are a boot-like. I don’t have high hopes my feet will stay warm and dry though. “It’s got to be better than what you’re wearing now,” my husband told me, but I felt doubtful. They do keep my feet warm for a quick trip outside, but if they get wet they will be no good, and it has been a very wet winter, so far. I’m going on about this to give you an idea of what my struggles are and why I don’t really care that I’m not training a lot of dogs at this moment. I need to look after myself and get this taken care of so I can get back to it. It’s been a long journey just to get as far as I am with what I can do and how I can function with my foot. It’s not ready for anything more intense than putting around my house and walking one block.

2023 brought me more clarity in my life than I ever expected. I got depressed after becoming pregnant with my second child, and it took a long time to shake that. My experience walking Winston was the catalyst to bring me back into dog training and I’m so utterly thankful for that. Those walks in the woods with my big wolf-like pal changed my life for the better. It slowly snowballed into Pack in The Park and Fort St. James Dog Training. Right now I’m operating under that name but have not set up an official business of it yet. That is one of my goals for 2024.

I’m really excited to see where this takes me. I have endless ideas for community programs to help our fellow canine (and feline) friends out. In the fall I attended a District meeting and spoke up about the need for programs such as what is offered with the Canadian Animal Assistance Team (CAAT) Community Animal Management Plan (CAMP). This amazing non-profit helps communities who are struggling with animal management, welfare and care. From there is turned into a group of people from all over the community and adjoining First Nations community who want to see positive change with animal management. We met at the Nak’azdli Kennel and discussed any improvements needed to get the kennel operational. We met via ZOOM with Chris from CAAT and discussed our goals and how CAAT would fit into them. We submitted an application for CAMP and now we wait to see if they pick us. Whether they do or not, we’ll still be working with CAAT on things like mass spay/neuter and vaccine clinics. With or without their help, we will still be implementing community programs and hopefully creating new job opportunities, as well. I am here to help in any way I can, and what exactly that will look like, I’m not quite sure yet.

Since one of the reasons I gave up dog training a decade ago was because I was emotionally and physically burnt out from the animal welfare work I was doing, I’m heading into this with full awareness of my own needs. I know when to say no and I know where my value lies. I will be offering my volunteer time only as I feel comfortable to. If I am feeling burnt out I will delegate, I will make sure I am not running myself thin. I see job opportunities with dog training. I’d like to offer group classes for things like leash manners and I’m hoping I can find a way to have it subsidized or sponsored to retain my value while also offering low or no-cost lessons to the public. Animal management and humane education are community issues that need to be handled at a community level. This is also why I am trying to stay as transparent as possible on what we’re doing; the more people are informed the more they’re going to want to back us, get involved and be a part of it.

Corey and I will continue to offer Pack in the Park in the New Year, and we’re working on a Pack Hike which I think will be a huge hit and a great way to find a new hobby with your furry pal. Hiking with my dog really strengthened our bond and made me appreciate her in so many new ways. If you’d like to get involved or be aware of when Pack in the Park or Pack Hikes happen make sure to join the Fort St. James Dog Owners Group.

I’ve also expanded Pack in the Park to Vanderhoof. a huge THANK YOU to Kai Geernaert-Armstrong for volunteering her time to host it. I think once the ball gets rolling on it in the new year it will be a huge success. I hosted one Pack in the (Vanderhoof) Park last month and it was great! A great turn-out; lots of question asking people who really wanted to learn more about how to have nicely behaved dogs in public and how Pack in the Park is a stepping stone to achieve that. If you’re interested in this or would like to be involved check out the Vanderhoof Dog Owners Group.

If you’re feeling generous and are looking to donate items like food, blankets, toys, collars etc. to help with animal welfare in our town please contact the Fort St. James Humane Support Group or the Nak’azdli Kennel (nakazdlikennel@nakazdliwhuten.ca). We also welcome donations of training treats and poop bags for Pack in the Park, as it is a volunteer-run and community-based program. You can contact me about donating to Pack in the Park.

I’m excited for what 2024 will bring. I think we’ll see a huge change in how FSJ and Nak’azdli communities handle animal welfare. I think 2024 will be the year we start to make traction on things like spay and neuter, humane education and dog training.

If you’re looking for something special for your furry friend for Christmas make sure you check out Ouellette Bros. Building Supplies; they have a great selection of holiday themed animal toys and accessories. I’m not sponsored in anyway, I just like to encourage to support local.

I hope everyone has a good holiday break!

The Dog Who Was Lost 925km Away

Dog Blog, Dog Rescue

Today’s topic is a bit of a deep dive into responsible ownership and the SPCA. As always, names are changed to protect people’s identity. The fact we live in a small town, people can easily figure out who I’m talking about. So my disclaimer is this: I’m not here to place blame or point fingers. I’m here to discuss WHY this happened and how to avoid it from happening again. We are only humans doing our human thing. We learn a lot of lessons the hard way, unfortunately, and I think this is one of those cases.

Here’s the story: a woman (let’s call her Cheryl) posted on a local group that her dog Fred was missing. Fred wanders frequently and covers a large distance but he’s friendly, he always comes back home, and as far as the owner understand he’s never been a problem to anyone so therefore the wandering habit isn’t something she feels needs to be fixed. But when Fred didn’t come home from his usual adventures, Cheryl became worried and started to look for him. She shared on local groups that he was missing, with his photo in case anyone has seen him, and she talked to people who said they spotted him. She was able to track him down to an SPCA 925km away from home. WHAT. THE. HECK? This was the question on everyone’s minds when hearing the news that Fred had made it so far from home. How did he get there in just a few weeks? Clearly, he didn’t walk himself there, he must have found a ride (meaning somebody knows something).

We don’t have proper animal control in our community (something myself and others are working on), so Fred wasn’t picked up by AC here. What they think happened, based on talking to people who’d seen him, is that Fred was sold to someone in town and then somehow made his way to a nearby city where he was picked up by animal control as a stray. I don’t know what happened to him between being sold and being picked up by AC. Maybe his new owners tried to move him there and he escaped their yard? There’s really so many possibilities. Animal rescues transport animals between rescues all the time. Some shelters are full while others have room and so dogs who struggle to find placement or who they just don’t have room for will transport to other rescues. Dogs can travel across Canada and the United States in this way. Fred ended up in a city 925km from home. He was well taken care of by shelter staff and was even neutered and put up for adoption (keep in mind, he’d been missing only a few weeks). By the time Cheryl and her family found him he was to be adopted out to another family the NEXT DAY. Cheryl’s mom was able to go to the shelter and identify him, but the SPCA would not release him to her, only his rightful owners. They compared photos and videos of him and were able to confidently declare him as Fred based on several distinct scars on his ear, muzzle and leg. Purebred dogs can be difficult to tell apart at times, but there’s no denying that many factors. The SPCA told them the dog was not a match and that if they wanted the dog they had to come adopt him. They spent the next 24 hours scrambling to raise money to go get their dog.

This story has a happy ending. They were able to raise the money they need and they SPCA decided to let the dog go to the owners who rightfully claimed him. The last update I heard was that the owners were on their way to get him.

Here’s my two cents, as a dog trainer/enthusiast… I think both parties are in the wrong and the poor dog is the one who had to suffer for it. I think that if you let your dog wander, especially without any identification, you’re just asking for something to happen to them. What happened to this dog is a pretty extreme, and probably not a super likely scenario, but it’s a good reminder that you just never know what’s going to happen. The least you can do is put a tag on your dog’s collar with their name and your phone number on it. Better yet, have your dog tattooed or micro-chipped.

I also think that the shelters that handled this dog were in the wrong. There was not a long enough window of opportunity at either shelter for the dog to be properly claimed (especially since he came from a different town). When the owner did come forward with identifying the dog and proof that it was her dog, the SPCA should not have denied that it was Cheryl’s dog. Why was it so difficult for them to ID him, when even I could see this was the same dog? I understand their need to recoup some of their costs to care for and neuter him, but the really short time-frame with an ultimatum of either pay for the dog within a day or he’ll be rehomed, was pretty heartless. Even though I feel the owner was misguided in the way the dog was left to wander, I do believe they deeply love their pet. They wouldn’t have gone through SO much trouble to find and get him back if they didn’t. The SPCA is here to help animals, but it should also be here to help people too. Help reunite animals with their owners so that you’re not adopting out dogs that already have a home (which takes a home away from a dog who does need it). It should take this as an educational moment and teach this owner how to be responsible instead of just using money as a teacher. Do you job and explain to the family how to keep Fred safe at home from now on. Give them resources such as local dog trainers (hello!) and information that can help them be better dog owners so that something doesn’t happen to Fred again.

I saw a lot of people suggested that Cheryl takes Fred’s story to the news and calls out the SPCA for the way they handled this situation. I agree, I think she should too. I understand how difficult rescue is, I understand many of the rules they have around adoption etc. are there to keep the animals safe. What I don’t understand is how they can be so black and white and not realize there’s a LOT of grey in-between when it comes to people. It’s not always so simple as this person is good and this person is bad. We are complex animals taking care of other complex animals (dogs). They need to consider other factors when it comes to adoption as well as reuniting pets with their families. I tried to adopt a dog to bring with me to dog training school and they wouldn’t let me because I had another dog at home who had guarding issues with food. An issue I worked on with him for years and by the time he was an old dog nobody knew he had these issues. The dog I would have adopted would have had a chance to be trained in a professional setting, with someone who loves dogs SO much I wanted to make a career out of it. This was just one of many experiences I’ve had or heard about with the SPCA that makes me shake my head and wonder are they really doing all they can to help animals? Or have they become too possessive over animals?