Greenlight K9 Training

Do you know how to read your dog? Reading your dog is a skill that comes with building relationship and learning your dog’s body language and behaviours, and the meanings behind it. It’s an skill that working dog handlers of all kinds must know in order to work effectively with their canine partner. Learning to read the dog assist with many things. Here are a few examples....Continue reading

My pack and I live in coyote country. We have 3 packs in our area, one of which resides on the ridge just behind our house. If you hike often, this could be valuable information!

From our family to yours, happy holidays!

Why are down stays important? They can help keep a service dog out of danger! As well as provide a trustworthy command if the handler is working in tight quarters or the dog may get caught on something or too close under foot. Service dogs should be able to hold down stays for extended periods of time, only breaking when they are called, retrieved, or if alerting/responding to their handler. If you see a dog in a down stay, especially a vested dog, please do not distract them..., call them, pet them, or otherwise interfere with them. They’re still on the job, and the handler is likely close by. . Happy holidays! Starting Tuesday, we will be on holiday hiatus, so you probably won’t see us much. We’ll be on every few days to check messages and the likes. Today, we are volunteering at our university, putting together food hampers for families who struggle in our community. I (Sven’s handler) have been doing this for ten years now! This is Sven’s 3rd year helping! . Picture shows IISDA Svenja, lying on a brown place blanket next to her handlers grey backpack. #servicedog #respectthevest #independenceignitedservicedogs #greenlightk9training #happyholidays2019 See more

Some photos of IISD Ambassador Svenja and Retired IISD Kallie in their winter gear to remind you about the importance of boots this winter! With the snow having fallen a couple times now, the ice is beginning to form on sidewalks as well and with ice, comes salt. Salt can easily burn your dog’s paws, causing serious irritation and often, injury. For this reason it is important to have a good pair of boots for your working dogs. These boots protect the dog’s feet from salt and... contact with the direct cold. Many owners will also use socks in very cold weather. This prevents cold and salt injury so that your dog can continue working comfortably. HOWEVER, now that boot season is here, it may be tempting to leave your dog’s boots on all day if you’re out all day. Just remember! Dogs sweat through their feet. It is entirely up to your dog regard what they are comfortable in, but keep an eye out for signs that the dog may need a break from their boots. If you can, consider taking the boots off in indoor, heated areas. Make sure you are also checking your dog’s boots to make sure they are not rubbing their feet and causing sores or raw spots. Dogs with dewclaws may need socks to keep the cuffs of their boots from rubbing the dewclaw and causing irritation. Of course in the summer, the importance of making sure your dog can regulate his body temperature is an even more pressing issue, it still applies in the winter. If your dog doesn’t wear boots and works in the snow frequently (sled dogs, skijoring dogs, or other winter sport dogs), make sure that you check their feet for snowballs between the pads, where snow can build up and become an ice pellet. This can be very painful and irritating to the skin between the pads. It’s also a good idea to use a product like Musher’s Secret for these activities to keep your dog’s paws protected so they don’t get irritated or cracked. Of course for some working dogs, a coat may also be in order. Fleece lined dog coats such as Chilly Dog coats and Shedrow coats are very effective products to protect your dog’s core from the cold. Just make sure to keep an eye on your dog when they are inside and wearing this gear. It’s always a good idea to take coats of when indoors. Stay safe this winter, everyone! Remember to take extra time to get your K9 winter ready before you leave. Better to be late and prepared than on time and missing essential winter gear that your dog needs to work comfortably.

Hug your puppy