Hello, Fellow Dog Lovers!
Happy Thanksgiving to all my friends in the States! I hope you're as excited as I am to chow down on some delicious food and gather with friends and family. November has been a busy, exciting month in the Positively world and it's hard to believe the holidays are already upon us. I had the pleasure of speaking at both the APDT Conference and the PPG Summit within the last month, and I'm looking forward to a three week-long trip to the UK in December, where I'll be spending time with my Victoria Stilwell Academy students. Look for a big announcement about the Academy later in the newsletter! In this edition of the Positively Newsletter, you'll find lots of Thanksgiving safety tips, information on adopting senior pets, and an exciting new product I just launched. As always, throughout this newsletter you'll find exclusive content and training tips that you won't find anywhere else. Hope you enjoy!
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Check out these great pet safety tips for Thanksgiving from Jessica Shipman of Beagles & Bargains. Making sure the turkey is cooked in time is stressful enough. The last thing anyone wants on Thanksgiving is to deal with an emergency, especially one dealing with your pups!
In an effort to help make your Thanksgiving holiday go extra smooth and stay pet safe, we're sharing a few tips and a few hazards to avoid during your family and pet friendly celebration.
1. Water, Water, Water Everywhere!
Make sure your pup's water bowl is always accessible and never empty. Frequently check it throughout the day to see if the water level is running low. Make sure to pay more attention if you have visiting pets for the holidays. TIP: Set up a few different water stations in your home and introduce your pets to them before guests arrive. This way if one water bowl is blocked or dry, your dog will have other hydration options.
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| The brand new Positively No-Pull Harness has arrived!
It’s back and better than ever! Victoria has redesigned her popular Positively No-Pull Harness, making it an even more effective tool for stopping leash pulling.
Check out this short video on how to put the harness on your dog, why it works better than any other harness, and how to use it effectively.
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| Unlike most other harnesses which constrict or are designed to cause even slight discomfort to the dog, the new Positively No-Pull Harness works by utilizing the dog’s natural center of gravity much the same way a harness on a horse does – effectively and painlessly allowing the handler to redirect the dog when she pulls during walks.
And now with two chest connections, you can effectively stop pulling while walking on either side of the dog.
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| Harness Features:
New double front connections to maximize no-pull effectiveness from both left and right -
Comfortable velvet underarm strap prevents chafing -
No ‘Martingale’ effect between shoulder blades (eliminates any discomfort for dog) -
4 adjustment points allow snug fit for all shapes and sizes of dog -
Traditional shoulder connection allows standard harness use after training -
Stylish new unisex grey color -
Includes Victoria’s leash-walking training tips
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Victoria chats about a new dog treat her pups have been enjoying.
My dogs’ health is always a priority, which is why it’s important for me to find the right balance of exercise and nutrition. To supplement their diets, I like using Zuke’s Enhance Functional Chews, which are made from some of the best herbs and high-quality ingredients. Designed to support and maintain your dog’s body function for a healthy, active life, the chews come in six forms: calming, digestion, endurance, fresh breath (yes please!), mobility and shiny coat. I love that these chews were made with the help of a PhD herbalist. Whether it’s chamomile and L-theanine for calming, or turmeric and MSM for healthy hips and joints, each form’s primary functional ingredients are listed on the front of each package.
Have a look at www.zukes.com for more information and to see the varieties available.
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Our current Victoria Stilwell Academy classes are already fully booked and well underway, but enrollment is now open for our three 2017 Dog Trainer Course classes. With 2 classes featuring in-person intensives in Atlanta (beginning in March and October), and another class with UK intensives (beginning in June), this is your chance to learn directly from Victoria and VSA’s world-class faculty.
5 Things to know about VSA’s Dog Trainer Course:
1. Stay at home more. Students only have to travel twice during the six-month class – once for 5 days and once for 8 days. The rest of the course is completed in your hometown.
2. Learn from Victoria. Unlike some other courses, Victoria herself is a key faculty member both for the in-person learning as well as the online Cyber Classes.
3. We’ll find your mentor. The mentor component of VSA’s course is critical, so we find a professional mentor in your area and support them as they guide you through the at-home portion of the course.
4. 90% hands-on & in-person. By having students attend two in-person intensives and providing them with a mentor who follows a structured course guideline, VSA is able to ensure that 90% of the instruction within the course is in-person – not recorded webinars or distance learning.
5. Comprehensive Curriculum. Victoria built the Dog Trainer Course to employ multiple learning models in order to keep the learning varied, dynamic and engaging. Doing so allows us to deliver a huge amount of content in a relatively short amount of time (just six months!).
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Positively Contributor Jennifer Kachnic gives her top reasons to consider adopting a senior pet.
The need for senior dog adoption is great. What makes this need even more saddening is the fact that, despite the wonderful attributes of older dogs and all the best efforts of most shelters, these dogs are frequently overlooked in favor of puppies and younger animals. The ageism that causes seniors to be passed over is a prejudice without merit, as oftentimes it’s the older dog that is best suited for a happy household and a lasting marriage of dog and family. Here’s why:
1. What You See Is What You Get
With an older dog, what you see is what you get. There are no surprises. Their physical size is established so there are no mysteries about whether they’ll exceed the weight limit for your apartment, and by and large, their temperament and personality are also fully developed. In other words, they’ve become what and who they are going to be.
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NOW AVAILABLE: The Newly-Redesigned Positively No-Pull Harness
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Victoria has redesigned her popular no-pull harness so that it's now even more effective at stopping leash pulling. Plus, you can use use it as a super-comfy traditional harness, too!
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Victoria's new book has been officially released in the US! Find it at your local bookstore or order it online here. For those of you patiently waiting in the UK, the book will be available for you in March! Readers are raving about The Secret Language of Dogs, which gives you the newest information about what your dog is really thinking - and saying - through his body language and other expressions.
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There's are a still a few weeks left to purchase discounted earlybird tickets for the 2017 UK Dog Bite Prevention & Behaviour Conference!
This unique two-day event is the UK's preeminent dog training and behaviour-related conference, featuring an incredible lineup of presenters.
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Alynn (Aly) Lecznar, head trainer at The Animal Scientist, utilizes practical positive reinforcement teaching methods backed by scientific research. She wants to set your dog up for success and focus on what you want your dog to do, instead of reinforcing the behaviors you do not want. Her academic background in research and training helps her bring the latest and greatest techniques to you and your dog. Need a dog behavior expert in Atlanta, GA? Get in touch with Aly today:
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Victoria was featured in the latest edition of Dogster Magazine, where she gave her tips for keeping your pets off the furniture, without the use of force or intimidation.
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Counter surfing is especially tempting for your dog during the holidays, as there's lots of delicious food on the table and we humans are busy with guests and holiday plans.If you don't have time to work on training with your dog before the hustle and bustle on the holidays, simply manage the behavior by putting up a physical barrier that blocks your dog's access to the kitchen or dining room. A baby gate is an easy solution that keeps you and your dog happy and stress-free (and keeps the turkey on the table).
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