Dog Blog

When a dog trainer breaks her foot, and needs to confront injury, recovery and wellness in a very personal way, the lesson isn’t just about healing — it’s about stillness, asking for help, and listening more deeply. This reflection explores how injury reshaped my understanding of wellness, mobility, and service — both for myself and the dogs I support at Kinder K9 Mind and Motion.

Have you ever tried wrangling three dogs into a car for what should’ve been a quick trip to the pet store? Let me rephrase: have you ever willingly created a dog-shaped tornado of fur, barking, and chaos—just to pick up kibble? Because that’s what I did. This is the story of a totally avoidable dog mom disaster. It started with the sentence: “I’m out of dog food for Mr. Darcy.” It ended with me juggling three wildly different dogs in a Pet Valu parking lot, wondering how eve

In a world that runs on 5G speed, what happens when progress looks more like dial-up? This week, a conversation with my colleague reminded me how often those of us working in canine behaviour and therapy are offering slow, steady solutions in a culture that expects instant results. Whether it’s building trust through positive reinforcement or gaining enough comfort for a dog to accept hands-on therapy, meaningful change takes time.

My mission at Kinder K9 is simple: use my skills and experience to prevent situations that lead to the unnecessary re-homing of dogs. That includes training support, yes—but it also means championing ethical breeders who are doing it right from the start.

I started practicing some basic training skills with Lucy again—and that’s when I noticed just how little she wanted to move. She wasn’t being difficult. She just wasn’t comfortable. It didn’t take much research to consider that she might be in pain.

What Is Your Dog Trying to Tell You? On Intuition, Behaviour, and the Hidden Role of Pain As a Gen X kid born in the 70s, pajama parties weren’t complete without signs of the zodiac, ouija boards, or crystal balls. So when my sister recently asked, “Remember that ‘light as a feather’ game?”, it sparked a conversation about something I use in my work with dogs every single day—intuition. Fast forward a few decades, and I now run Kinder K9, where I combine dog training and Ga

Our recent holiday to Prince Edward County was a great experience because of what I've learned on past trips. If things don't go perfectly, that's where you learn for next time and try again....Keep reading for tips for a great road trip with your dog and a list of dog friendly Prince Edward County places to visit as a bonus!

When I introduce Mr. Darcy, I get one of two responses. Many people immediately look at him and say "Darcy, aren't you cute!". Alternatively, pretty much an equal number of people look up quickly, meet my eyes and say "Mister Darcy! I love that!!". Those are the fans of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice who totally get me.....I need to introduce you to this somewhat lesser known purebred option in the "toy" dog category.

Whether you are at home this summer, taking some camping trips or hanging out at the cottage, if you have a dog and a kid around this article is for you! The first recommendation I have is a book by Vanessa Estrada Marin, "Dog Training for Kids".

Working with both dogs who were at similar life stages actually challenged me to be better at what I do. I had to be better at planning in advance, time management and observing dog body language. Here are some of the things I did that worked and some things I wouldn't suggest when you are training in a multi-dog household.

If you decide you want to adopt a dog from the shelter, be prepared to give them ALL of the time, support and financial support that you would have needed to give a baby puppy. Set yourselves up for success by...

Outdoor market season is here and it is looking like a great one! I was at the first Midland Farmer's Market this morning with my dog, Mr. Darcy, to check out the fresh herbs, baked goods, smoked meats, wines and more. There were lots of other puppies and dogs also visiting this morning....

When I got Mr. Darcy, I chose a Havanese for many specific reasons that I thought would make it easy to have him with me as often as possible. He is only about 13 lbs, non-shedding and highly unlikely to engage with a skunk! However, I didn’t originally intend for him to share the bed. ..

This time of year really pushes my ability to be flexible in my plans for exercising and playing with the dogs. It could be t-shirt weather one day, a snowstorm the next and even from one to the other in the same day! Just when we get into a routine of where and when we want to walk or play something changes. It could even be Daylight Savings!

Working with my incredible clients this year, I’ve realized that the struggle is real for SO MANY people. It’s quite possible I could specialize in just house training puppies and be busy 24/7.  There are just so many variables and every website has the same advice and the same bulleted lists that are going to “guarantee success”. ....Read on for my top three list of what I didn’t find online!

I was terrified of dogs as a kid! I wasn't much better as an adult. When I was about six or seven years old I was riding my bike through the park and a random dog started to chase me. It was terrifying.

A review of Deb Jones book on co-operative care. How to incorporate a fear free method into grooming our dogs!