Pets and Their People

08/21/2026

Paws to Connect: Navigating Anxiety Together – A Multidisciplinary Approach to Healing
https://www.petprofessionalguild.com/webinars-events/webinars/paws-to-connect-navigating-anxiety-together-a-multidisciplinary-approach-to-healing/
📆August 23, 2026
⏰4:00 pm - 5:00 pm (ET)
Registration: $30.00
Learning Objectives:
✅Understanding anxiety and cultivating an awareness of your and your dog’s anxiety
✅Strategies for managing your own anxiety
✅Strengthening communication with your dog
✅Enhancing your relationship with your dog through co-regulation

08/21/2026

"I'd much rather have a dog standing, where if a child reaches and the dog is unsure, the dog can take a step backwards or decide they're free to move away. And then the person has a clear read on that dog's body language." - Rescued By Training
More information in the description below⬇️

Why I don't ask dogs to sit to meet people, especially kids.

Sitting often takes away your dog's choice to move away from a trigger or a threat. I see this a lot when dogs meet children. People put their dog into a sit, presumably so the dog won't jump, but then the dog can't move away if the children scare the dog.

So now we've potentially created a situation where we have a dog unable to move away and if that dog is scared then their only option might be to growl or snap. This isn't ideal.

I'd much rather have a dog standing, where if a child reaches and the dog is unsure, the dog can take a step backwards or decide they're free to move away. And then the person has a clear read on that dog's body language.

Quit the sit...my topic on this week's post. Let's think about when and why we ask dogs to sit. And reconsider, does it really have to be a sit? Read my post here:

https://rescuedbytraining.com/2026/08/17/from-the-archives-quit-the-sit/

08/19/2026

August PPG Advocacy Panel – What Happens When We Offer Pets More Choices?

08/18/2026

NEW POST!📣"Think about your lifestyle and what you want your relationship with the new cat to look like. Make sure you have realistic expectations." - Misty Hampton of Fellow Creatures Pet Consulting
Read Cat Adoption: Considerations for Multi-Cat Homes:
https://www.petprofessionalguild.com/pet-owners/pets-and-their-people/pets-and-their-people-blog/cat-adoption-considerations-for-multi-cat-homes/

by Misty Hampton

08/17/2026

"Curiosity gives us somewhere to go. Judgement rarely does."-Mutts & Mischief Holistic Dog Education and Behaviour Services
🤔Curious? Read the description below⬇️

08/16/2026

✨NEW blog post! ✨Does Your Cat Want a Feline Friend?
https://www.petprofessionalguild.com/pet-owners/pets-and-their-people/pets-and-their-people-blog/does-your-cat-want-a-feline-friend/
"When it comes to pet cats, some become stressed from living with other cats, while others are stressed when they live without feline companions." - Misty Hampton (CCBC, FFCP), cat trainer and behavior consultant, owner of Fellow Creatures Pet Consulting

by Misty Hampton

08/14/2026

Providing these opportunities usually doesn't take us any extra time. It just requires us to ask “Can I give my dog a choice here?” - Treats and Triumphs Dog Training

Giving your dog choices doesn't mean letting them run your household. It just means looking for little moments where they can have some say in their day.

That might look like:

🐾 Choosing which direction to go on a walk.
🐾 Picking between two toys.
🐾 Sniffing the lamp post for as long as they want to.
🐾 Picking which treats to train with.
🐾 Having lots of cozy places to rest.

Choice is enriching. It builds confidence, gives dogs a sense of control, and helps them become active participants in their own learning.

Providing these opportunities usually doesn't take us any extra time. It just requires us to ask “Can I give my dog a choice here?”

Share this with a friend who could use a reminder that little choices can make a big difference! ↔️

08/11/2026

"When we stop fighting their nature and start working with it, everything gets easier, and more importantly, everything gets kinder."- Rescued By Training

It's time we let dogs be dogs.

Every single day, we ask our dogs to be something they were never designed to be and we ask them to be less dog.

Walk on a leash and don't pull, even though dogs naturally cover far more ground than any human. Don't bark, even though barking is one of the primary ways they communicate. Don't stop and sniff, even though sniffing is how dogs gather information, process their environment, and interact with the world around them. Don't jump, even though jumping is a natural and enthusiastic greeting behavior. Don't dig, even though digging is an innate canine behavior, and some breeds have been selectively developed specifically for their digging ability.

Stop trying to control their every move and let dogs be dogs.

Read more in this week's post.

https://rescuedbytraining.com/2026/07/27/dogs-be-dogs/