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Owned by Sierra

Wildflower Paws

5 members • Free

Helping overwhelmed and stressed dog owners become confident handlers, so they can enjoy a peaceful home and a strong bond with their pet.

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Skoolers

175.5k members • Free

7 contributions to Wildflower Paws
The ONE skill every dogs should know
“Place-Stay" The "Place" command is a core skill for building calmness and impulse control in any dog. The secret is about teaching them a calm mindset. What is "Place"? It's teaching your dog to go to a designated spot (a mat, bed, or cot) and stay there until released. It teaches them to settle and self-regulate, even when exciting things are happening around them. How to Start Implementing it TODAY: Mealtime Patience: Have your dog go to their Place before you sit down to eat. Make them stay until you give the release command. It's a powerful lesson in impulse control as well as respecting your boundaries. Doorway Manners: Practice having your dog go to Place before you answer the door, talk to a neighbor, or grab a package. This transforms the chaos of the front entry into a peaceful, structured event. Action Item: If you teach Place, tell us how it's changed the dynamic in your home! If you're new to it, what's the first situation you'll try it in? 👇 Let's turn your tension into tranquility with intentional training!
The ONE skill every dogs should know
The Hard Truth
This might be tough to hear, but your dog is a reflection of your training—whether you know it or not. Every time you interact with your dog, you are training them. When you give them a treat for sitting, you're teaching them. When you let them jump on you to get attention, you're also teaching them. Every single decision you make is either helping you raise the dog you want, or accidentally training them to "misbehave." Because you are encouraging what you permit. So, how can we be more intentional? Start small. The next time your dog does something you don't like, pause and ask yourself: "What is the reaction I want to foster? What can I do differently this time?" This isn't about guilt; it's about empowerment. By being more intentional, you have the power to raise the dog you've always wanted. What's one habit you want to change in your dog? Let's talk about it. 👇
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The Hard Truth
Zoomies & Brain Games! 🧠
Does your dog seem to have endless energy? Or get high strung with certain triggers ? Physical exercise is great, but don't forget the power of mental stimulation! A tired brain leads to a happy, well-behaved dog. But that can be tricky when you're stuck inside with the AZ heat! Do you have a go-to brain game or activity? If you're looking for a new one, try Hide and Seek! ESPECIALLY if you have kids! Start small: Hide a favorite toy or a small pile of food nearby, maybe under a cup or a towel. Tell your dog "Seek _____!" and encourage them to find it. As they get the hang of it, you can increase the difficulty! Share your ideas below. I'd love to hear them! 👇
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Zoomies & Brain Games! 🧠
Myth Busting: Old Dogs & New Tricks
True or False? Training is only for puppies. FALSE! It's never too late to teach a dog of any age. In fact, teaching new skills is a great way to further build your bond, and help keep your dog mentally stimulated! But it doesn't always have to be a 'new' skill, it can also be strengthening a skill they already know. Increasing the duration of their 'stay', increasing the distance that they'll listen from (maybe without a vocal cue!), or even combining skills into a new one (sit-down-sit-down for pushups 😆) Choose something to advance this week, even just five minutes a day, and have everyone in the family help! What skill, big or small, will you work on with your dog this week? I'd love to hear about it! 👇
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Myth Busting: Old Dogs & New Tricks
Beyond "Obedience": What's the ONE Thing You Wish Your Dog Understood?
Hey everyone, I see so many of you in here working hard on being good dog owners. Sometimes, when we're focused on "obedience," it feels like we're just managing behaviors, or even worse, constantly correcting our dogs. It can feel like a power struggle, right? I know I’ve been there. Instead of just getting our dogs to "do what we say," what if we shifted our focus to something more powerful: understanding? When we build a stronger bond and truly understand why our dogs do what they do, and how to help them, the "obedience" often falls into place much more naturally. This week, I want to hear from you. Let's get a conversation going. What's ONE thing you wish your dog understood better? It could be anything—from the big stuff to the small, funny things. * Maybe it's ‘not to jump on furniture’ * Maybe it's ‘how to eat slowly’ * Or maybe it's just ‘socks are not toys’ Share your answer in the comments below. 👇 Let's create a space to share our frustrations and our hopes, and maybe we can all learn something new from each other's experiences. I'll start: I wish my dog, Eli, truly understood that visitors aren't here only for him. 😂 Looking forward to reading all of your comments!
1 like • 23d
@Emily Hamblin hide and seek is actually one of my favorite games to teach to my dogs! We start with a favorite toy (or food, if they're more food motivated) that he can recognize the name of, and start in easy to search spots- around the corner, under a rag, etc. and just repeat 'Seek ____’ (warning, if you've taught them 'speak', it sounds very similar and they might get confused 😅). You can use whatever terminology you like, as long as you keep it consistent! And you can help them find it as you repeat (occasionally, not constantly) your phrase (ex. Seek ball). Then LOTS of praise when they 'find' it. Then we work on recognizing family members by name, and start 'seeking' them when they're in the same room/right next to us or similar. And lots of praise when they go over to them (or even just look at them in the beginning, but working up to them going to the person). Usually by that point they have it down well enough that they can then find them pretty easy, but you can continue to increase the difficulty by having them hide under a blanket, in the next room, etc. We use it primarily for play, but the purpose behind it was in case of any emergency. I bet Toby would LOVE that game! If you're needing a busy brain activity, I use little spots of their food hidden around a room. I have them 'sit' and 'stay' in another room, set little piles of food around- some obvious to see, others a little more tricky- and then 'release' them to 'Seek food'. It's great for getting their sniffer going!! Reactivity on leash is a very common one. And there's LOTS of ways to go about it. But emphasizing that it's a better (easier/more comfortable) choice to keep their attention on you, will help build their neutrality to outside stimuli!
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Sierra Hans
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@sierra-hans-9996
Mom of 4, two fur babies, lover of all things outdoors and the arts!

Active 1d ago
Joined Aug 22, 2025
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