Enrichment Over Entertainment: Have You Seen This New Viral Video?

he media is full of viral videos featuring animals because people find them cute and funny. However, many of these videos present a welfare concern to animals.

TrainingKC OfficeNovember 29, 2017viral video, pet video, body language, gulity, cute pet videosComment

A Journey Through Desperation - The Dark Side of Seeking Help for your Dog

The squeaky wheel gets the oil or so they say. Often we try hard to push problems to the side until they are too large to ignore. However doing this with our dogs usually only leaves us with desperation, disappointment and suffering.

ProfessionalMolly SumridgeOctober 24, 2017professional, Dog Training, trainers, aggression, problems, bad dog, emergencyComment

Want to become a better dog trainer? Get a cat!

TrainingKC OfficeSeptember 26, 2017cats, training, positive reinforcement, dog training, training cats Comment

Your Dog's Facebook - How Dogs Use Social Media

Here a beagle is urinating on a fire hydrant and when the next dog walks up, she smells the beagle's pheromones and she marks the spot. To an extent, this is analogous to a person scrolling down facebook and "liking" a post.

KC OfficeJuly 6, 2017Comment

Your Ignorance is Showing

Assumption is present where empathy ends. To assume means you are looking inward at your own experiences and not at whatever you should be considering. In the case of a dog, to assume the reason for a behavior without observing it in some way and taking a history so that you can empathize and analyze is an exercise in willful ignorance. If labels and constructs are the first thing to come to mind when considering a quandary then your ignorance is showing.

Prioritizing Success with your Pet!

Any good dog trainer will tell you that if you want results, you have to put in the work. That doesn't always sound easy with the busy lives most of us have. But it is possible with these 5 steps.

Molly SumridgeMay 8, 2017Comment

Raw Fed Enrichment: keeping raw fed pets busy

When dogs are bored, they try to find their own fun. This can lead to attention getting behaviors such as barking and jumping, destructive behaviors such as chewing and counter surfing, or various other ways that they may attempt to relieve their boredom or stress. There are different ways to combat canine boredom. The dog’s undesirable behaviors can help you choose which type enrichment your dog needs. A lot of these products and techniques are catered towards kibble fed dogs, so I will be giving tips for how to swap out kibble and processed foods and treats for more natural options.

Training, Guest BlogKC OfficeDecember 26, 2016raw, food, toys, central asian shepherd, enrichment

Give The Gift They Will Actually Be Grateful For

When you give a gift to a pet, you are not giving a material object, you are providing a ticket to an experience between pet and owner. A moment in time that bonds two souls. You are giving them memories that will be cherished for a lifetime. That is an amazingly powerful gift that can cost as little as a few dollars.

Blog ContentMolly SumridgeDecember 23, 2016christmas, gifts, presents, holidays, shopping, giving, helpingComment

7 Fitness Tricks To Take Anywhere

Besides being great tools for building body awareness, these tricks will also give your dog a workout physically and mentally! Here are a few of my favorite, easy to train, fitness exercises - with no equipment needed besides some tasty treats and maybe a clicker.

TrainingMolly SumridgeAugust 10, 2016tricks, fitness, canine, training, clicker, yesComment

A primitive guardian: The Central Asian Shepherd

"Contrary to the name, this is a mastiff type dog (molossers), used for watching over estates and protecting livestock from predators, rather than herding livestock like breeds such as the Australian Shepherd. The difference in type is highlighted by their personalities as well."

KC OfficeAugust 3, 2016

What You Learn When You Go From Dog Trainer to Animal Control Officer

In reality, we should be called "Dog Control Officers." It would make things a bit more clear to the general public. I thought I would be dealing with ALL animals - domestics and wildlife alike, but that is not the case at all.

KC OfficeJuly 27, 2016 Comments

5 Reasons Why Your Dog Isn’t Motivated By Food

A common phrase that pet owners say about their dog is, “He’s not food motivated,” or “He doesn’t like treats.” Usually dogs earn this title during a training session when the owner tries to reward their pet for good behavior, and then the dog doesn’t take the treat. But if the dog truly had no food motivation, then he simply would not eat at all. However, there may be underlying reasons why he doesn’t want to work for that biscuit.

TrainingKC OfficeJuly 18, 2016training, dog training, treats, motivation

THROW OUT THAT BOWL! - FOOD TOYS

This secret is one that all the top trainers and dog sports competitors do because they know it works, it’s easy, and it sets their dogs up to be the best. It even helps solve behavior problems list fear, anxiety, sound sensitivity, boredom, rude behaviors, and even aggression.

Training, ToolsMolly SumridgeMay 23, 2016toys, food, calm Comments

Bound by Canine

Why, when we have so much in common, is our field so stratified? Why is there so much hate, bullying, and arguing when we all agree on the same fundamental topic - we love dogs? We are sisters and brothers, bound by canine.

ProfessionalMolly SumridgeMarch 24, 2016trainers, bullying, professional Comments

Expiration Date: Why I'm not renewing

Today I received final notice that one of my dog training industry organization memberships expired today. I've been thinking about the prospect of saying good bye to this membership for a long time and I can confidently say today that I'm glad I'm not renewing...

ProfessionalMolly SumridgeFebruary 24, 2016APDT, PPG, IAABC, IACP, trainers, membership Comments

[Guest Blog] Moving My Dog Training Business – From Texas to New York

First of all, yes, you read that right. I moved across the country to a city I had never been to – not even visited. I had no connections in the area and certainly no referral sources set up yet. Thankfully, years of being active online meant I knew a thing or two about online marketing.

Professional, Guest BlogMolly SumridgeDecember 4, 2015business, moving, dog training, digital marketing, google, seoComment

Socialization - That word you keep using... I don't think it means what you think it means...

The idea seems sound - take your dog out into public so they get used to people, other dogs, and their surroundings. The problem is, that this isn't how socialization actually works and to make matters worse, this may actually be causing your dog to act fearful or aggressive.

TrainingMolly SumridgeOctober 10, 2015shyness, adopt, shelter dog, rescue, socialization, fear, aggression Comments

2 Months!?! Where has the time gone?

Blog ContentMolly SumridgeOctober 10, 2015Comment

Early Bird shows how to be a dog friendly business without going to the dogs

Early Bird is a coffee, tea, espresso and mercantile business what serves prepared drinks and baked goods. Because of health codes, they cannot allow dogs in their estabilshment, but that doesn't mean they've forgotten their furry friends.

Professional, TravelMolly SumridgeAugust 20, 2015business, service dogs, coffee, out on the town, travelComment

Is Your Dog Really A Faithful Companion?

Our faithful canine companion...for us to celebrate something so widely, it can then be assumed that it is special and therefore not commonplace. If that is the case, what is really going on with the relationships of the 80 million dogs in the US?

For The Love of Dog:A Kindred Companions Blog

For The Love of Dog:
A Kindred Companions Blog