the raintown countdown
Your monthly dose of puppy positivity in a bite-sized 5-minute read.
3
Cute Pics
2
Training Tips
1
Short Reflection

Kids and Dogs: 3 Don’ts
To avoid conflict and to keep everyone safe, I recommend a puppy safe zone that your child cannot access, especially for meal times and rest times. Use a baby gate or a separate room where your pup can unwind without the sticky-fingered (albeit loveable) interruptions of your children.

Preparing your Dog for Spooky Season & Puppy Socials
Halloween is approaching - cue the fireworks, door knocking, and happy kiddos!
If your pup is sensitive to sounds or has never experienced fireworks before, here are a few tips to help you prepare:
1) Play fireworks, door knocking and children laughing sounds from YouTube or Spotify at a low volume and pair with high value treats. Slowly increase the volume only when your pup is comfortable at the current level….

To Buy or Adopt, To Alpha or Not
Do you, in fact, need to show your dog you're the boss?
In a word. No.
An American biologist, David Mech, drew on studies - and conducted studies himself - of wolves taken from different packs and placed into confinement…

Grooming, Counter-surfing, & Finding the Right Trainer
Dogs who grab food off counters/tables or get into the garbage are being dogs, not criminals. Think how strong the reinforcer is for this behaviour! (‘I get CHICKEN scraps from this surface sometimes!’)
A behaviour that clearly works is tough to extinguish….

Mouthing, Housetraining & Backyard Breeders
How to house train you puppy, redirect their biting, and stay alert for scam breeders.