Often times, people will pick the veterinarian that’s closest to their home for their pets. While there generally isn’t any harm in this, one thing is certain: not all vets are created equal. Finding a vet that is patient, kind & knowledgeable will be priceless in the long run.

So, how do you find this vet?

Ask around. Ask your friends, co-workers & colleagues who they recommend. If you use pet professionals, ask them as well. Groomers, trainers & other professional usually have received feedback regarding local vets & have a few they recommend.

Call around. Call around to vets & ask them a few questions. Some vets will be happy to answer your questions, and some will not. For those who don’t return calls, or simply don’t have the time to answer a couple of questions, this usually is a good indicator of how they run their practice. You want a vet that will take the time to answer your questions & be happy to do so. What kind of questions to ask?

How long have you been practicing?

Are you familiar with (breed or species)?

Do you practice Holistic or Eastern Medicine as well?

What kind of continuing education do you participate in?

With the exception of the last question, there is no right or wrong answers here. Often you can get a feel for the vet by their answers.  I personally own Mastinos, many vets locally are not familiar with the breed. But, the vet I ended up choosing was willing to work with & take advice from my old vet (whom is out of state) regarding the needs of my Mastini. This was so important to me, and I would not have expected anything less. I also expect that my vet continue their education. As a professional working with dogs, I strive to continuously further my knowledge & education, I expect other pet professionals to do the same.

We recommend veterinarians that practice Holistically for the health & happiness of your pet. If you are looking for a holistic Vet locally, here are some great resources:

Holistic Vet Search – Search by city, state, zip code, etc.

Animal Wellness Association – Search for all kinds of practitioners, from Vets to Acupuncturists, to Trainers & Communicators

Whatever your choice. Make sure when you visit your vet that both you and your animal feel comfortable. It’s important that your vet is friendly & handles your pet in a positive way. If your vet gets frustrated easily, it is probably time to find a new one. Many animals become shy, scared, timid or even aggressive in a place as scary as the vets office. You don’t want to reinforce your animals feelings by having a vet that’s rough or insensitive. It their job to help comfort your animals and make the process as quick & painless as possible. Never be afraid to walk out & find another vet if you’re not completely satisfied with yours.

Good luck on your search!

There’s a myth out there that all rescue dogs are ‘damaged’. That they wouldn’t be in the shelter or a rescue if they weren’t. As a professional trainer, I can say that I have certainly seen some shy, hurt, sad & fearful dogs come through rescue. But the happy, healthy dogs I see far outnumber those. Pictured are two of my previous rescues.

Abigail, a black Fila Brasileiro & Arianna, a brindle Cane Corso. Abigail came from a situation where a women had too many dogs, she could no longer control or care for them. And Arianna had originally been seized in a dog fighting bust. Both situations sounds scary, right? Big, black, unpredictable dogs? You couldn’t be more wrong! Abigail spent time living with a family with small children whom adored her & Arianna was the best companion I’ve ever had. Loving, loyal & fiercely obedient.

Save a Life. It’s true, if you adopt from a shelter or private rescue, you are saving that dog’s life. Most shelters across the country euthanize animals at a staggering rate. Some shelters only give animals a matter of 72 hours before being put down. And those few hours are terrifying to an animal.

Purebred? Often people tell me they wanted a purebred. Perfect – purebreds are in shelters as well! Just look at Arianna & Abigail – both purebred dogs! On average, shelters have 25-35% purebred animals. And every breed of dog has a national rescue, often with local associations. If your heart is set on a puppy, don’t worry, these rescues often have puppies as well! Contact the rescue directly to find a purebred near you. But, do your homework before bringing home a purebred. Try to meet a few in person if you can, research their general personalities, grooming, habits & health. You’ll want to ensure that this dog fits your lifestyle.

Mixes. If you are concerned about possible health risks with a purebred, or if you haven’t found one with the right temperament for you, then bring home a mixed breed from the shelter! Generally these dogs are healthier & lead longer lives. And, there are some GREAT mixed companions out there.

Perks? Usually there are some great perks to rescuing a dog, well besides the fact that you single-handedly saved a life and helped reduce animal suffering & euthanasia. Many private rescues have fun events to bring their rescues together, you’ll be able to socialize your dog & make some great new friends. Shelters and rescues often offer a support network too. You’ll have someone to call if you have questions. Also, local businesses that cater to dogs will sometimes provide adopted dogs discounts, this could include daycares, groomers, dog walkers & trainers. (And yes, that includes us: Puppenschnoodles)

Rescuing a dog is one of the most rewarding experiences you’ll ever have. Whatever your reason for bringing home a companion – give yourself the opportunity to experience they joy & love that comes from  a rescue!

A great place to start your search: Petfinder

I get asked quite a bit about jumping up. Some people think it’s endearing, most think it’s obnoxious and some even think it’s a sign of dominance. That could actually not be farther from the truth. Let’s explore the reasons dogs jump up and the most effective way to modify that behavior.

I Love you, I missed you. Often dogs jump on us when they first see us. To be clear, what they are seeking is attention, not dominance. They are trying to get closer to our faces & hands – both places of reinforcement that they enjoy. Because they are seeking your attention when they jumping – any type of attention you give them for this reinforces the behavior. Talking to them, looking at them, or touching them is all reinforcement. You may think that telling Fido “off” and pushing him to the ground sends a clear message. But, Fido actually gets what he wants – you to talk to him and touch him. Thus, reinforcing the behavior and ensuring that it will happen again.

One thing is certain. All dogs should know that it’s not appropraite to jump up unless asked, it’s good manners. Your dog should also not be punished for jumping up. As I have pointed out, this is an attention seeking behavior, and we do not want your dog punished for doing something in total innocence. Any time you punish your dog, you are teaching him that you are mean and unpredictable.

So, how do you make it stop? Simple… Stop any type of reinforcing behavior when your dog jumps on you. That means you will ignore your dog. When he jumps up, turn your back and hold still until he calms down. As soon as he calms down and keeps all four on the floor (or sits) immediately praise him and offer him your attention. If he gets excited and jumps again, start over.

Patience is important anytime your dog is learning a new behavior. So, set him up for success by being consistent and positive during training! Happy Training!

So… Fluffy’s hyper, out-of-control, & never seems to settle or calm? How about Fido who likes to act out, bullying others, and destroying things?

Some pets come with unique problems and issues that seem incredibly difficult to overcome. If your pet is one, it’s time to get professional help.** But, if there were a holistic remedy that would compliment your pet’s training, and even speed up the behavior modification process while offering emotional support – would you want to know? Yes!

Enter Flower Essences. Flower Essences are energetic remedies that work to heal the root cause of the issue. They don’t suppress symptoms, they help heal the emotional wound that is causing that animal to suffer or act inappropriately. Energetic remedies work for all animals on a variety of behavioral and emotional issues. Every animal can benefit, whether it’s an animal that suffers from a physical symptom, or one that acts out emotionally – from pulling on leash and acting hyper to snapping and growling.

How to use Flower Essences. One thing I really love about flower essences, is that you cannot overdose, and they will not conflict with traditional medicine, diet or training – there are no negative side effects. That being said, a little goes a long way. I generally recommend about 8-10 drops per day for the average animal. The drops may be placed into their water dish to be lapped up, massage the drops onto their ears, or even give the drops orally. Whichever method is the easiest for you and the least stressful for your pet. For cases of extreme emotional distress, I will give the essence everyday in their water and also administer orally right before an event or reactive situation. This helps the animal to prepare emotionally.

How to find an essence. I highly recommend that you purchase an essence from a company that will talk to you and offer personal support. Flower Essences can be very specific remedies since every animal is different. One thing that we tend to stress with animal owners is to find flower essences that are not preserved with alcohol. This is the standard today, and although those essences may work wonderfully for you, animals can sometimes have issues coming in direct contact with strong alcohol preservatives, such as brandy (the most common alcohol preservative). Here are some wonderful essence companies that we recommend:

Puppenschnoodles Flower Essences (Our custom line of essences)

Green Hope Farms (Animal Line)

Bach Rescue Remedy (Pet Blend only)

Flower Essences are an easy and non-invasive way to help your animal. we keep several on hand at home, and use them for everyday occurrences, such as stress. But have also helped animals heal and bonds strengthen. We hope it does the same for you!

*smooches to the pooches*

**If your dog needs professional help, please visit: www.TrulyDogFriendly.com for referrals to local trainers who are experienced, knowledagable and use positive-reinforcement only.

I get asked this quite a bit. Holistic Training is behavior modification which takes the ‘whole’ dog into account, as well as external influences and the emotional state of the pup.

So, what does that mean to you. It means that often, when I recommend behavior modification, I will also recommend dietary changes, supplements, aromatherapy and energetic remedies to ensure that we are not only changing the behavior of your pup, but also changing their emotional state, for mental and physical well-being.

If there’s any behavior questions you’d like answered for your pup – just let us know!

*smooches to the pooches*