🐣 Let your dog in on the Easter fun—without the fear!

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Training when you need it, where you need it!

One-on-one dog training is the most effective means to address severe behavioral problems like anxiety, house training, and leash reactivity

However, in-home training with a professional dog trainer can be expensive, and finding a time that works for everyone can be difficult. Virtual Leash offers the same benefits as in-home dog training with a lower price tag and more flexibility.

Last year, we discussed setting up an Easter Egg Hunt for your dog and the benefits of snout exercises. You can have this kind of fun at home, but with the weather warming up and so many dog-friendly activities available, who wants to be stuck at home?

Your anxious dog, that’s who.

Especially after hibernating for a few months, your dog could probably use a refresher on feeling comfortable and confident around strangers. Whether you’re inviting family over for Easter dinner, getting photos with the Easter Bunny, or taking your pup to the park for Kite Day, Sit & Stay is here to help your dog keep its focus where it belongs—on you.

We can’t decide if this photo is cute or creepy.

Poll Results

We asked, and you answered! The biggest behavioral concerns for our readers are aggression, leash behavior, and resource guarding. Thanks for sharing!

Sit & Stay Pro Tip — Prepare Your Dog for People

If your dog has severe anxiety or aggression, the best advice we can give is to find an in-home dog trainer. One newsletter is not going to fix a lifetime of fear. However, if your pup just needs a refresher after coming out of their cave, here are a few things you can do to help them enjoy spending the Easter holiday with people.

1. Reinforce basic obedience training.

   It’s important that you and your dog know what to expect from each other and have a good rapport. Reviewing basic obedience is an excellent way to achieve both goals. Spend twenty or thirty minutes a day bonding with your dog while ensuring they reliably obey your commands.

2. Practice good leash behavior.

   Some people (definitely not me 🤞🏻) get a bit lazy about taking their dogs for walks when it’s cold outside. Now winter is gone, and so are the excuses. Review proper leash behavior and the heel command with your dog before venturing into busy Easter events.

3. Try a small group first.

   Introduce the idea of a crowd to your dog slowly. Invite a few friends over or go to a local park to test your basic obedience and leash practice around distractions.

4. Desensitize them.

   This section depends entirely upon how festive you are during Easter. If you want to take your dog to meet the Easter Bunny or visit a spring carnival, getting them used to new images, objects, lights, etc., is helpful.

5. Don’t forget the power of positive reinforcement!

   When your dog offers the behaviors you want to see, it never hurts to throw a treat their way, like these Peeps for pups ($19.99) and carrot-shaped treat dispenser ($5.64) from Amazon.com.

Poll

Dog Food and Supplement Recalls

No new recalls to announce! 🥳

We’re having a good 2024 so far!

The Smile Section

If you have a photo and/or story that can make us smile, send it to [email protected].

Vet Recommendations — Keep the candy away from Fido.  

This infographic from Belgrave South Veterinary Clinic breaks down how much chocolate is too much for your dog’s system to handle.

Treats

• ⛳ Dogs on the golf course: This guy walks his 10 well behaved dogs on the golf course to tag along while he plays.

• 😴 Pug smells treat while sleeping: This pug’s owner, holds a chip in front of his pup’s nose and his tongue slowly slithers out towards the treat.

• 🥊 Boxing golden: This Golden puts on gloves and dukes it out with his owner and delivers a KO.

Want your dog to be featured?

We’d love to!

Think your dog can make us smile? Submit a pic to [email protected] for a chance to see your pet in our Smile Section!