• Skip to main content
Unleashed Potential
  • Classes
  • UPX
  • Board and Train
  • Day Train Program
  • Find a Trainer
    • Become A Trainer
  • Store

dog trainer the vally

Adventures in Reactive Dog Encounters Part 1

May 8, 2016 By Camellia Saunderson Leave a Comment

Introduction: The purpose of this blog series is not to judge, but to educate!

I learned long ago that most reactive dog owners do not always appreciate a stranger in passing giving them reactive dog advice about their loved ones. More often than not, people tend to take it personally when you point out their dog’s flaws, rather than as a gesture of good will. These days, I wait for people to come to me before I offer my thoughts and advice, but with the wonderful world of the anonymous web, what better way to spread some much needed knowledge than through stories of my adventures in encountering reactive dogs and the things that their owners could be doing differently to help. So here they are, one by one, for your education.

Adventures in Reactive Dog Encounters Part 1: Little Dog Syndrome

It’s a beautiful day, one of the first of the season, and that always means that the dogs are out in full bloom, including mine! Hiking is one of the many ways that we exercise our bodies and having off leash control means that I have more opportunities to exercise their brains as well. On hiking trails, the dogs can run, sniff, and tire themselves out, but when other dogs are heard or seen in the distance, I can recall them back with ease and put them into an off leash heel until we pass the strange dogs politely.

1 3

On this day in particular, we came across a number of dogs of varying breeds and personalities, and not once did I have to worry about my dogs’ safety, thanks to their training and ability to ignore distractions. Yes, you read that correctly, I worry about my pitbulls’ safety around other dogs, because despite what many people think and despite their breed, they are more friendly and well behaved than most other dogs out there, but I digress. One pack in particular that we came across consisted of two humans and two small breed dogs. As soon as the owners saw my two medium sized, completely relaxed dogs coming their way, they picked both dogs up into their arms where they were held until we were gone; the moment the dog was picked up, loud aggressive barking began and continued long after we had passed.

13180942_10207873071958793_1462539321_n
Sketch by Leslie Murphy of Hound Tales Inn Dog Daycare

Could the humans’ response have been based out of fear over breed? Maybe, it is certainly something that we have experienced many times in the past. Could it have been out of fear that their reactive dog might start something with a larger dog that could cause harm to him? Most likely. A logical response if you ask any unbiased bystander; pick the smaller reactive dog up to save everyone a lot of hassle and potential vet bills. Unfortunately, what the owners are probably unaware of, is that they may actually be causing more harm than good!

First, by picking up a smaller dog, a child, or anything of that matter, whether it is into your arms or up over your head, you are drawing unnecessary attention to yourself. Many dogs are used to avoiding a small barking dog, but a dog up in the air is rare and interesting, worth checking out at the very least, possibly even jumping up to get a better sniff. Now pick up a smaller dog around a prey driven, controlling, or reactive dog, and that dog might be more likely to jump up and nip or bite. The better idea would be to leave the dog on the ground, ask the strange dog’s owners if their dogs are friendly, particularly with small reactive dogs, and try blocking that dog from your own. If your dogs are likely to run at other dogs, they should be on leash until taught some impulse control.

13153304_10207873069838740_898116055_n
Sketch by Leslie Murphy of Hound Tales Inn Dog Daycare

Next, every time you pick up your smaller reactive dog and another dog, or person, passes by, your little dog has just ‘won’ and their reactive behavior has inadvertently been reinforced. The dog thinks, ‘dog approaches, I get picked up making me feel bigger and safer, I bark, dog passes, barking successful, I am safe, my pack is safe, next time I will bark again and my pack will be safe.’ Cue next dog on the trail and the cycle continues; ‘dog approaches, I get picked up, I bark, maybe I bark louder because it takes longer for dog to approach, dog passes, barking successful, we are safe, next time I will bark longer and louder and my pack will be safe’. Get the picture? It’s a vicious cycle that might be stopped by simply not picking up the dog. Will this stop the reactivity all together? Likely not, but it will stop reinforcing it, making it worse.

Also, when you hold your dog while they are barking, pet them, and tell them, ‘it will be ok, the strange dog will pass’, your dog hears, ‘it’s ok, good job, keep barking’, which reinforces the behavior even more. So remember to keep four legs on the floor at all times, and you will stop reinforcing Little Dog Syndrome, then book a free consultation with me to find out how I can help address your dog’s reactivity and need to bark at passersby.

5
Camellia Saunderson: Certified Professional Dog Trainer

Are you at your wits end with your dog’s behavior and would like to have control, sanity, and above all else, safety? No matter the age or breed, please contact me now,  I assure you, I can help!

Book your FREE consultation and demonstration today!
Send an email to camellias@upk9.ca  Like us on Facebook
!

Not in my area? Find a trainer near you! 

For more information on how you can  purchase Duke’s Dog Training Genesis and become a member  CLICK  HERE 

Filed Under: Camellia Saunderson, UPK9 Main Blog

Dog Food- A Simple Guide to your Ingredient List

February 9, 2016 By Camellia Saunderson 1 Comment

IMG1
FROM Salmon Tunalini
  • The first thing you need to know is that every ingredient in your dog food is listed on the bag in descending order. This means that the first ingredient holds the most weight, the second ingredient holds the second highest amount of weight, and so on.
  • Meat vs. Meat Meal: For the purpose of this blog, ‘meat’ refers to protein such as Beef, Fish, Chicken, Pork, Lamb, Etc. Avoid anything referred to simply as ‘meat’ on the bag. Meats listed on your dog’s food are weighed prior to the cooking process and contain 60-70% water, therefore they actually weigh less after cooking. Meat meals, although more processed, are cooked before being added to the kibble and thus offer more of a true weight. The very first ingredient should be a meat or meat meal. The more meat and meat meal you have at the top of the list the better.
  • Avoid by-products at all costs! These are the internal remains of animals and often include diseased tissue and organs.
  • Avoid corn and corn syrup. Corn syrup is a sugar that is used to help make the dog food taste better. Too much sugar can lead to obesity, disease, hyperactivity, and changes in mental behavior.  Corn is a very inexpensive filler that has the potential to develop into mold and many dogs have a hard time digesting it properly.
  • To grain or not to grain? The first thing to realize is that any dog food containing rice, barley, wheat, oats, or any other cereal grain is a grain product. Should they be avoided? As much as possible, yes, but all kibble contains grains of some kind, so if you are feeding a dry dog food, the less grain the better.
  • Grains, corn, and soy cause obesity, diabetes, arthritis, chronic skin infections, allergies, and autoimmune disorders such as dry irritated skin, itchiness, ear infections, yeast infections, hot spots, hives, gastro intestinal upset, and more. If your dog suffers from one or more of these things, consider switching to a new, higher quality dog food.
  • Likewise, dogs can have the same averse reactions to meat; the most common being chicken or poultry.
  • If you are thinking of switching your dog’s food to one with high levels of meat protein, and your dog’s current list starts with corn, wheat, or soy, you should consider switching gradually to avoid upsetting their gastro intestinal tract. Once on a quality kibble, it is easier to switch between quality brands without having to worry.
  • When deciding how much food to give your dog, you should always check the feeding guidelines on the back of the bag and feed based on the weight your dog should be, not the weight your dog is; unfortunately, many dogs are overweight and should be fed less and exercised more. Once this is done, adjust slightly, more, or less, depending on the amount of exercise your dog gets on a daily basis. Some days my dog may get 3 cups, while other days he may get 3.5, it just depends on how active he was that day.
  • Before picking out a new brand of food, try looking it up on an unbiased third party review site, such as Dog Food Advisor, for a detailed, in-depth analysis. Some brands that my dogs enjoy include Boreal, Fromm, Now, Acana, and Pulsar.
  • Helpful Hint: Just because your vet recommends a food does not mean it is the most healthy option for your dog. Many have appropriate nutrients but lack quality ingredients.
  • So why make the change? It is simple, your dog will live a happier, healthier life, and despite the obvious price difference between low and high quality foods, your wallet will thank you in the long run because your dog will require fewer vet visits over his lifetime. Now go grab your dog’s food bag and read the ingredient list!
12660378_954491991264744_1306511487_n
Buddy with some of his favorite quality kibbles

Are you at your wits end with your dog’s behavior and would like to have control, sanity, and above all else, safety? No matter the age or breed, please contact me, because I promise you, I can help!

Book your FREE consultation and demonstration today!
Send an email to camellias@upk9.ca  Like us on Facebook
!

Find a trainer near you! 

For more information on how you can  purchase Duke’s Dog Training Genesis and become a member  CLICK  HERE

Filed Under: Camellia Saunderson, UPK9 Main Blog

Home | Contact | Find a Dog Trainer | Dog Trainer School | Dog Training | Store | Blog | Privacy Policy


Follow Duke Ferguson on Facebook Follow Duke on YouTube Follow Duke on Instagram


Copyright © 2025 · All Rights Reserved

Unleashed Potential - Stratford, PE, C1B 2W2, Canada
Phone: (902) 367-3647 · Toll Free: (844) 364-3647

Hours of Operation:
Unleashed Potential Main Office:
Monday - Friday: 9am-4pm | We are closed on Saturdays & Sundays
Dog Training & Coaching - All hours by appointment only