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Hello, Fellow Dog Lovers!

Spring is arriving, and I'm sure many of you are looking forward to the beginnings of warmer weather. Down here in Georgia, we've had a strange mixture of freezing spells followed by summer-like hot weather.

Wouldn't it be nice to be on a boat with a warm breeze drifting through your hair as you sailed through the Caribbean? And wouldn't it be fun if I were there too? Well, that dream is becoming a reality! In December 2017, The Victoria Stilwell Positively Cruise will be taking to the seas! Learn more below or by clicking here. It's going to be a blast!

In this edition of the Positively Newsletter, you'll find some ideas for stress-free alteratives to dog parks, how to find pet-friendly housing, and more.

As always, throughout this newsletter you'll find exclusive content and training tips that you won't find anywhere else. Hope you enjoy!

P.S. Don't forget to check out my blog for more articles from me!

Tissues are recommended for this heartbreaking episode of Guardians of the Night. In this episode, you'll get a rare inside look into the life and legacy of a very special police dog. It's a poignant episode that captures the very spirit of a working dog and what each of these dogs means to his or her handler and community.

New episodes of Guardians of the Night air every Tuesday at 12pm ET on Victoria's YouTube channel and Facebook page.

Brought to you by State Farm.

Watch the Series

Wanna go on a cruise with Victoria?

Victoria is hosting dog lovers from around the world on an exclusive 7-day Caribbean cruise this December where she will meet, mingle and share her experiences and expertise with fellow cruise guests.

This unique experience to spend extended time with Victoria will take place from December 2-9, 2017, sailing from Miami through the western Caribbean to destinations including Key West, Cozumel, Mexico, the Cayman Islands and more.

Guests will share intimate experiences with Victoria including:

an exclusive welcome cocktail party
shore excursions to shelters and organizations sharing Victoria’s Positively mission
photo opportunities
lectures and seminars about dog training, behavior, and Victoria’s life and work
Question & answer periods
Book signings
Dinner opportunities with Victoria
And much more….

Get the Details

Positively Contributor Alex Andes shares some alternatives to taking your dog to a dog park.

Does your dog really love going to the dog park? In some cases, the answer is yes! For highly social pups, the dog park can be a mostly fun and stress-free experience. But if you've noticed that your dog spends most of his time at the dog park glued to your side or pawing at the exit door, it's worth considering some other alternatives.

1. Puppy Play Dates
If you have a young puppy, socialization is critical to help prevent fear and aggression from developing later in life. But a trip to the dog park could prove disastrous. Not only are young pups not fully protected from disease, but they're also easy targets for rude or bullying dogs that can frequent dog parks. Spare your pup from a potentially unpleasant outing and opt for a playdate with a friendly dog or two that you know is fully vaccinated and plays well with others.

Positively Contributor Laura Brody gives her tips for finding a truly pet-friendly neighborhood.

I have seen a very disturbing trend in the past 20 years of subdivisions utilizing covenants regarding fencing that are clearly “un-dog-friendly”. The fences must not be over 36″ high and require field fencing wire mesh that never blocks the view. The situation is intensified when the yard backs up to an open space walking path. There is a second and equally critical situation with these low, see through fences: the fence doesn’t keep predators out of the yard.

Dog owners need to understand that the fence means nothing to the dog. Dogs are naturally territorial. When “intruders” come within a few feet of their territory, they bark at them to send them away. And from the dog’s perspective, it works.

Did you miss it? Victoria's post about a firefighter that saved a dog's life by performing CPR on him for 20 minutes stirred up lots of comments and shares from Victoria's audience.

Emotions were strong from Victoria's fans all over the world. See more on her official Facebook page.

Victoria recently opened nominations for the Kindness is Powerful Awards, brought to you by the Petco Foundation and the Victoria Stilwell Foundation. Do you know an exceptional person that deserves an award?

Nominate someone here.

Have you picked up your copy of Victoria's newest book, The Secret Language of Dogs? In it, you'll find all sorts of fantastic facts and information about how your dog thinks, learns, and perceives the world.

Get your copy.

The 2017 UK Dog Bite Prevention & Behaviour Conference is just a few months away!

This unique two-day event is the UK's preeminent dog training and behaviour-related conference, and features an incredible lineup of presenters.

HELEN HITCHINGS
Positive Pets

Helen completed her full diploma in Companion Animal Behavior Therapy in 2002. She combines her love of teaching and animal behaviour by offering one-to-one behaviour therapy for cats and dogs, and also runs lectures and workshops on pet themes.

Helen is also proud to be a Victoria Stilwell Academy mentor.

Need a dog behavior expert near Southsea, Hampshire? Get in touch with Helen today:

EMAIL HELEN

Visit Helen's Website

Find a Victoria Stilwell-licensed trainer near you!

Victoria's latest article in Dogster Magazine is about "hangry" dogs! You'll get some great tips on how to help your dog learn to be a bit more polite about her food.

Read more.

Tethered or chained dogs have a greater propensity to respond aggressively to an approaching person, even if that person is someone the dog knows, because chaining or tethering a dog for long periods of time causes excessive agitation, increased anxiety, and exacerbates aggressive response.

Do your dog a favor and keep him off of any chain or tether!