Learn With Levi Dog Training

This is a post I originally wrote 4 years ago, and unfortunately it’s still relevant, and maybe even more so than ever as irresponsible dog ownership seems to be at an all time high lately. Very often I get asked if I walk Levi down the street without a leash. And if you’ve asked then you’ve been given my age old answer of No. I love Levi. What I mean is that I would never put him into such pointless danger just to bolster my own ego. Levi walks on a 4ft leash paired with... a body harness. Levi loves his harness and leash. He is only let off of it in empty fields far away from traffic and people/dogs that we don’t know. Behaviour fascinates me. I guess that’s a given though, right?! But if I’m being honest, the behaviour that fascinates me most is human. Over the last few weeks/months I have had multiple experiences of being outside with a client only for one of their neighbours to walk by and say hello, and to then be introduced as our dog trainer. And when people meet me as a dog trainer, a lot of times THEIR behaviour towards their dog changes immediately. It’s weird. They turn into a drill sargent. They begin shouting at their dog, or jerking their leash, or even hitting them for small things that they were clearly unbothered by up until that very moment like a bit of barking or jumping. Or they unclip their dog’s leash in a weirdly out of place attempt to show off how well trained their dog is. But none of this is necessary or impressive.... or even appropriate. In these situations, I don’t think Wow! What a well trained dog. I usually just think Poor pup Dog trainers are not impressed by you yelling at your dog, hitting them or choking them with their leash. And randomly letting them run in the middle of the street isn’t a party trick I want to see either. As you can imagine, I’ve seen it all. Needless to say an overexcited jumping/barking dog doesn’t phase me in the least. I am not judging you based on how your dog behaves. If anything, I’m judging you on how YOU behave towards them. While I personally don’t understand the desire to try to show off for anyone, let alone myself, what I am impressed by is not perfect behaviour because there’s no such thing. I’m impressed by people who are unconditionally loving and kind to their animals regardless of the state of their training. I’m impressed by people who are respectful of their surroundings and keep their dog leashed while respecting the personal space of others (especially right now). But if you are the type of person who feels the need to prove something in front of your neighbours or their dog trainer, or anyone else for that matter- perhaps you shouldn’t be so mad at your dog when they jump and bark for attention too. TLDR: quit being a knob and leash your dog. Thanks for coming to my TED Talk.

HOW DOES THE NEW STAY-AT-HOME ORDER AFFECT YOUR DOG'S TRAINING? Well as we all know, this was sprung on us with very short notice today, but as of right now, the most current documentation I can find indicates that pet training is allowed to continue! Woohoo! (Link dated today: https://www.ontario.ca//enhancing-public-health-and-workpl) Of course this could change at any time. If it does, an email blast will be sent out to everyone who is currently enrolled and we will ...work together to rearrange things. Otherwise, please assume that no news is good news and your appointments will continue as scheduled. As always, masks remain mandatory for all sessions. For anyone who is uncomfortable proceeding with in-person training at this time, Zoom sessions are always available as an option. Hug your dog*, wash your hands, and I'll see you soon! -Nicole *don't hug your dog if your dog doesn't like hugs

Hi everyone! Happy (almost) spring! With in-person training resuming this coming week, this is just a friendly reminder of the Covid policies being held in place: -Masks are mandatory for EVERYONE present (including children/nannies/etc.) for both indoor and outdoor sessions. Kids who are too young or otherwise unable to keep their mask on for the duration of the appointment are unfortunately unable to participate.... Masks must fully cover your mouth and nose. Unfortunately plastic face shields cannot be permitted. Please make sure your mask is on BEFORE answering the door. I can wait! -In the event that anyone in your household is feeling unwell in any way (including mild cold/flu symptoms) advance notice MUST be given and your session will be rescheduled at no loss to you. Once arriving at your home, if it appears anyone is sick I will unfortunately be forced to end the session immediately. Your less will be forfeited and no credit will be given. -Please be mindful of social distancing and make a concerted effort to respect personal space. -Please wash your hands just prior to your lesson. I have 70% alcohol which I use to sanitize my hands, keys, phone and steering wheel between each session. I am also more than happy to wash and/or re-sanitize upon entering your home. Please don’t hesitate to ask! Thank you for helping to keep me healthy so I can help keep you healthy too! See you soon. -Nicole (Levi says hi too.) p.s. If you still have sessions to book from December/January/February I will be in touch with you very soon if I have not already been. I am contacting and re-booking everyone in the same order as originally scheduled. Please bear with me over the next week or so, and rest assured that you will be getting a priority appointment ASAP. Thanks again for your patience.

Levi is the birthday boy today. My beautiful furry son is 9. Holy smokes does time fly. This little scruffy dude has changed my life in so many amazing ways- not the least of which was inspiring me to become a dog trainer and to eventually start my own business. He’s my snuggle buddy, my workout partner, my security guard, my therapist, my alarm clock, my overly enthusiastic co-worker and most importantly, my best friend. ... He has taught me so much about friendship, loyalty, and unconditional love. He’s the say yes guy, always down for anything. Want to go for a walk? He’s there. Want to go for a car ride? He’s there. Zoom training session? Say no more. Just want to lie on the couch and do nothing? There’s Levi. Need helping finishing leftovers? At your service! He’s always happy as long as we’re together. And I feel exactly the same way. Many of you have had the pleasure of meeting Levi in Zoom sessions over the last few months. And while I’m always appreciative of compliments towards his training, what I actually hope you see is not just a boy who listens nicely, but a boy who is so insanely happy and loved that anything I ask of him is met with excitement and enthusiasm. That’s the secret to a well trained pup- love, trust and a lot of fun. With those three things, training is easy. Everything else is just noise.

We are really excited to announce the launch of our new website - shopsocialpup.com! We know what our customers want and we've curated a thoughtful and gorgeous... collection of dog apparel, accessories, grooming tools, toys and more! We offer curbside pick up or delivery. Not sure of fit? We will help you size your dog curbside. Visit our online store today as we have a 25% OFF ALL WINTER JACKETS SALE to help us launch our site! shopsocialpup.com

Hi everyone! If you had an in-person appointment scheduled for sometime next week, please check your messages for information about postponing. As of right now, the lockdown has been extended until at least Feb 11th. Anyone previously booked will be given a priority appointment as soon as I'm back on the road. I know this is disappointing and frustrating, but unfortunately there's not much we can do but be patient a bit longer!... Everyone should have received an email, text message or FB message depending on how you typically reach out. If for any reason you haven't, please touch base ASAP. Thanks for your continued patience and understanding. -Nicole & Levi

Happy (almost) New Year everyone! Though this isn't what any of us were hoping for, in-person dog training has in fact been disallowed by the provincial government until Jan 23rd. If you have in-person training scheduled between now and Jan 23rd, please check your email for details on how to reschedule or switch to Zoom training. If for any reason you haven't received an email, please touch base ASAP. Thanks, Nicole

Tuesday, December 22nd, 2020. As I'm sure everyone is aware by now, new lockdown regulations were laid out by the provincial government yesterday overriding the current guidelines for businesses. These new laws are scheduled to come into effect this coming Saturday, December 26th. As of right now there is a bit of uncertainty as to where in-person dog training fits into the equation as it seems many of us in the industry are getting conflicting information when contacting Do...ug Ford's office and Ontario Public Health. Supposedly, some minor tweaks and adjustments to current wording may be made over the next few days, at which point there will be more clarity in how we may proceed. All sessions scheduled for the remainder of this week will continue as planned. As I will be off from December 25th to January 3rd, there will be no sessions during this time anyways. Regarding sessions scheduled for January, an email blast will be sent out this coming weekend to everyone currently in the midst of training, as well as everyone scheduled to begin just after New Years which will outline your various training options based on how the government determines dog training businesses can operate. Please keep an eye on your email (and this page) over the weekend to stay in the loop. Stay safe, snuggle your pups, and have a Happy Holidays. -Nicole

This is my new friend Nelly. One of the best parts of this job is when a nervous dog learns to trust me. The first time we met, she hid on the stairs and wouldn’t come near me. ... On lesson three, I got the happy dance at the front door. I had to take this photo very quickly on lesson four because when I bent down to snap it she sprung up at my face and tried to attack me with kisses, almost pulling my mask off in the process. Anyways, we’re buds now.

Everyone else’s dog: Playing in the snow. My dog: Blankets up to his ears, wishing we lived in California. Me too buddy, me too.

York Region enters lockdown on Monday. The government of Ontario has deemed animal services (including veterinarians, grooming, boarding and training) as essential services for the time being, which means that all lessons will continue as planned. In the event that this changes, alternative accommodations will be offered including the option to delay sessions, or to redeem them virtually via Zoom. ... Zoom training sessions are ALWAYS available (pre and post covid too!) and in-person sessions can be redeemed remotely via Zoom at any point for anyone who is uncomfortable proceeding face to face. As always, masks will continue to be mandatory for everyone during all in-person sessions, and extra hand washing is encouraged. Advance notice MUST be given in the event that anyone in your household is feeling unwell in any way (including mild cold/flu symptoms) in which case your sessions will be rescheduled at no loss to you. Let’s all do our part to keep our faces masked, our hands washed, and to maintain social distancing so that we can have a real summer in 2021. -Nicole & Levi

This is my new friend Nelly. One of the best parts of this job is when a nervous dog learns to trust me. The first time we met, she hid on the stairs and wouldn’t come near me. ... On lesson three, I got the happy dance at the front door. I had to take this photo very quickly on lesson four because when I bent down to snap it she sprung up at my face and tried to attack me with kisses, almost pulling my mask off in the process. Anyways, we’re buds now.

Everyone else’s dog: Playing in the snow. My dog: Blankets up to his ears, wishing we lived in California. Me too buddy, me too.

Can we talking about something really quick? In the past few weeks, I've felt like I'm experiencing deja vu as I have had the exact same conversation with probably 10 families. The scenario plays out like this:...Continue reading

I can help you catch up on your emails! he said. I turn my back for one minute and this little punk is ordering a pizza.

Let’s talk #LearnWithLeviEnrichment shall we? Keeping your pup entertained is of the utmost importance. Bored dogs are very good at finding ways to entertain themselves- usually in ways we don’t approve of. Young puppies in particular can be a handful, needing constant entertainment and supervision. One of the most important things you can teach your pup is to keep themselves busy and out of trouble. I’m a firm believer in it being SUCH a waste of opportunity to feed your ...puppy from a bowl. Instead, those pieces of kibble can be hand fed as training treats and/or fed out of food dispensing toys. Here’s why puzzle toys are THE BEST toys you can buy: 1. They keep your dog busy and provide enrichment, while preventing boredom and the forming of bad habits. 2. They teach your pup to problem solve and use their brain! 3. They teach and encourage a non-destructive way to play. (You can only allow so many teddy bears to be decapitated and then something has to give am I right?!) 4. They slow down way-too-fast eaters, assisting digestion and preventing regurgitation. 5. They give YOU a break. Relax for a bit knowing your dog is having fun and not getting into mischief. Want to supercharge your pup’s puzzle toys? Our new favourite game is Scavenger Hunt! Break up your dog’s meal portion into several puzzle toys and then HIDE THEM AROUND THE HOUSE and encourage them to FIND ‘EM! It’s way too cute and so much fun for the doggies. And yes, you can do this with treats too. Breakfast served in a bowl = 10 seconds Breakfast served in a puzzle toy = 2 minutes Breakfast served in a few puzzle toys = 5-10 minutes Breakfast served in 3-5 puzzle toys strategically hidden around corners, on shelves and in closets = 30 minutes of fun As you can see, we have quite the collection.and this isn’t even all of it! Links for the toys pictured (left to right; top to bottom): JW Pets Holee Roller Ball: https://amzn.to/32Kz8ug PetSafe Busy Buddy Squirrel Dude: https://amzn.to/2QMUFgo Kong Treat Duo: https://amzn.to/2F146WE Kong Classic: https://amzn.to/3gRxSdI Kong Wobbler: https://amzn.to/3jyWt92 JW Pet Caterpillar: https://amzn.to/34WRQl8 Kong Genius Mike: https://amzn.to/3jCF6Eg Omega Tricky Treat Ball: https://amzn.to/32QvKy7 Kong Quest Bear: https://amzn.to/3jwRbuA Kong Gyro: https://amzn.to/3lEuQ0f

How exciting! These fabulous four pups just graduated level one obedience class last night Out next two sessions are SOLD OUT but check back for new dates coming soon! www.socialpup.ca

Your dog owes you nothing. Not a thing. The decision for him to be in your life wasn’t his, it was yours. He doesn’t owe you anything. If you look at your dog ...as owing you something in return for your attention, food, medical care etc, then that’s the first problem we have to tackle before we can even begin true training together. Your dog doesn’t owe you obedience he doesn’t owe you respect he doesn’t owe you good behavior simply because he gets to share the same space and life with you. If you want that kind of relationship and behavior; that’s on you to create, not him. YOU owe your dog. You owe it to him to understand his history, his development and his ancestors. You owe it to him to learn about his needs, his characteristics and his individual personality. You owe it to him to become educated on how he communicates with you, his body language and train him in a way he understands and enjoys and doesn’t cut corners just because it’s easier on YOU. You owe it to him to protect him and keep him safe. You owe it to him to modify YOUR environment to help him be successful. Dogs are a privilege. WE created THEM. We’ve done them so many injustices and yet they still go to war with us, herd our livestock, protect us, find people for us, assist us devotedly, meet us at the door wagging their tails and comfort us when we are down. The tasks they do for us go above and beyond any other partnership between species imaginable, so you have to be willing to do your part too. Your dog owes you nothing. You owe your dog. Let’s get to work to make a great team.

One of the most common concerns new puppy people have is growling during playtime- especially during tug of war. Is growling during play a sign of aggression? Will playing tug with my dog make him aggressive or dominant? No!... Growling during playtime is perfectly normal and a sign your pup is having a ton of fun. Playing tug is also perfectly fine, and actually a great way to teach impulse control. (You also don’t have to win every round.) Puppy biting the toy = game continues Puppy accidentally biting your hands or otherwise being too rambunctious = game stops for 30 seconds and resumes once puppy has calmed down. I always say: Growling is like yelling. Sure, you may yell when you’re mad. You’re probably also pretty loud when you’re being silly and having fun. Iced tea bottle: 1 Levi: 0

https://www.treehugger.com/things-humans-do-wrong-at-dog-pa

My little storm watcher.

Did you know that 77% of dog bites come from your own dog or a close friend's dog? https://www.youtube.com/watch

Don’t scare your pup. And don’t act like a giant squeaky toy! Just teach them what you want them to do!