I woke up to gift this morning...because I chose to sleep in and not be conscious of my puppers' requests to be taken out on several occasions.I wasnt mad, just got to cleaning it up. Poor Lailah felt more guilty than anything else, so she put herself in time out. Even my attempts to encourage her out of her create were ineffective until she was ready. Please be mindful of your dogs bathroom cues no matter how tired you are, especially if they had a huge dinner (8cups of food). This was not her fault, but mine. Do not punish your dogs for our own mistakes and decisions. Poor puppers should not feel guilty because humans are not paying enough attention to their attempts to communicate. That's simply my perspective; mistakes have been made, but nothing hurts more than my puppers blaming herself for something her human might have prevented by listening to her cues.

Sometimes I wonder what it would look like if humans acted a bit more like dogs — especially when it comes to emotions, learning, and relationships. Dogs: - Take breaks when they need them - Respond to what’s happening right now - Move away from things that feel unsafe - Celebrate small wins without minimizing them - Learn through experience, not shame - Communicate clearly with their bodies They don’t hold onto mistakes from yesterday. They don’t expect perfection from themselves. They don’t apologize for needing rest. In training, we ask dogs to regulate, adapt, and learn in environments that don’t always make sense to them — yet we often forget to offer ourselves the same grace. What if we: - Lowered our expectations a little - Noticed our own stress signals sooner - Took breaks before frustration took over - Measured progress in moments, not outcomes Dogs remind us that learning works best when safety comes first — for both ends of the leash. 💬 If you took one page from your dog’s playbook today, what would it be? Sometimes the lesson isn’t about training better — it’s about living better together.

The holidays can leave both humans and dogs feeling a little out of sync — even when things went well. Today isn’t about getting back on track or catching up. It’s about resetting gently. Rest might look like: - A shorter walk - Extra naps - Skipping training goals - Quiet enrichment - Doing less — on purpose Rest is not lost time. It’s how nervous systems recover and learning settles. 💬 Check-in: What does rest look like for you and your dog today? However it looks is enough.

Separation anxiety is more than a dog being “sad” when left alone — it’s a panic-based response to separation from a specific person or people. Dogs experiencing separation anxiety aren’t being stubborn, dramatic, or destructive on purpose. Their nervous system is in distress. What separation anxiety can look like. Not every dog shows it the same way, but common signs include: - Vocalizing (barking, whining, howling) when left alone - Destructive behavior focused on exits (doors, windows) - Pacing, drooling, or trembling - Inability to settle when alone - House soiling despite being potty trained Importantly, many dogs with separation anxiety are otherwise well-behaved when their person is present. What causes separation anxiety? There isn’t one single cause. It’s often a combination of: - Genetics and temperament - Sudden changes in routine or household - Loss of a person or companion - Lack of gradual alone-time learning - Past experiences that made being alone feel unsafe This isn’t about “spoiling” a dog — it’s about how their brain has learned to associate separation. What treatment actually looks like. There is no quick fix for separation anxiety. Effective treatment is systematic and individualized. A proper plan usually includes: - Management to prevent panic episodes - Gradual, planned absences that stay below the dog’s panic threshold - Teaching the dog that alone time can be predictable and safe - Adjusting routines so departures and arrivals aren’t emotionally loaded - Supporting overall regulation (rest, enrichment, predictability) In some cases, collaboration with a veterinarian or veterinary behavior professional may be part of the plan to support learning. What doesn’t help - “Letting them cry it out” - Punishment for anxiety-driven behavior - Flooding (leaving for long periods hoping they adjust) - Forcing independence before the dog is ready These approaches often increase distress and make the problem harder to resolve.

As we close out the year, I want to pause for something that often gets overlooked in training… Our dogs are learning from us — but we’re also learning from them. Dogs teach us about: - Patience and consistency - Celebrating small wins - Letting go of perfection - Starting over after hard moments - Being present - Trust Even on the messy days. 💬 Year-end question: What did your dog teach you this year? It can be something big, something small, or even something you’re still figuring out. Thank you for being here, for showing up for your dogs, and for choosing kinder training. Here’s to more learning together in the new year 🐾💚