Chewsday is a great time to check in on how we’re supporting our dogs’ mouths and their nervous systems. Dental-friendly enrichment like chewing, licking, and food puzzles can: - Help mechanically reduce plaque and buildup - Increase saliva flow (which supports oral health) - Provide calming, regulating outlets - Support focus and decompression after busy moments Dental care doesn’t have to be limited to brushing alone — enrichment plays a role too. 🦷 A favorite option: Vital Essentials Raw Bar I often recommend the Vital Essentials Raw Bar because it offers: - Single-ingredient, minimally processed chews - Freeze-dried raw options that are easy to portion - Chews that encourage natural gnawing and licking - A variety of proteins to rotate based on preference and tolerance - Made in the U.S.A. The company is based in Wisconsin where they source all of their ingredients! Rotation matters — different textures and shapes support different chewing styles and keep enrichment interesting. As always, choose options that fit your dog’s size, chewing style, and supervision needs. (Quick transparency note: this is a product I genuinely like and recommend — always supervise chewing and choose appropriately sized items.) 💬 What dental-friendly enrichment has your dog enjoyed recently? Chews? Licking options? Food puzzles or frozen meals? Healthy mouths, calmer brains, happier dogs 🐾💚

In a world that pushes quick results, it’s easy to feel like training should move fast — more reps, more progress, more proof. But for dogs, slowing down often leads to stronger learning and a healthier relationship. When we slow training down, we give our dogs: - Time to process information - Space to regulate emotions - Clarity instead of pressure - The ability to succeed more often Learning sticks better when it feels safe. Slowing down might look like: - Shorter training sessions - Practicing in easier environments longer - Repeating familiar skills without rushing to the next step - Taking rest days without guilt - Choosing connection over performance This isn’t about lowering standards. It’s about building understanding first. Strong relationships aren’t built through urgency — they’re built through consistency, patience, and trust. 💬 Where could slowing down help your dog feel more confident — and help you feel more connected? Going slower doesn’t mean falling behind. It means building something that lasts 💚

It’s Super Bowl Sunday — a day many of us are focused on big plays, big moments, and big expectations. But in dog training (and in life), progress rarely looks like a sudden touchdown. It’s often quiet, subtle, and deeply personal. Instead of comparing where your dog is to where someone else’s dog is, try asking: 💛 “What does my dog need right now?” 💛 “How can I support them with compassion?” 💛 “What small connection matters today?” Releasing comparison doesn’t mean settling — it means seeing your dog as they are and building from there. Today, consider: - What feels supportive instead of demanding - What your dog did well recently - How your connection has grown quietly - How compassion helps you both feel safe Comparison pushes. Compassion supports. 💬 What are you choosing to focus on today — compassion or comparison? Even small mindset shifts change everything 🐾💚

Some of the most powerful skills don’t look like “training” at all. Calm check-ins — when your dog voluntarily looks at you, moves toward you, or engages without being asked — are signs of trust, awareness, and regulation. And they’re absolutely a skill we can build. What calm check-ins look like Calm engagement might include: - A glance in your direction - Choosing to walk near you - Sitting or lying down close by - Checking in during a walk or new environment - Looking to you before making a choice No cue required. No pressure. Why reinforcing these moments matters When we reinforce calm check-ins, we teach dogs that: - Engagement is safe and rewarding - They don’t have to be over-aroused to get attention - Connection doesn’t require commands This supports: - Better focus in distracting environments - Faster recovery after stress - Stronger communication over time How to reinforce throughout the day You don’t need formal sessions. Try: - Quiet praise or a tossed treat when your dog checks in - Reinforcing eye contact before opening doors - Rewarding proximity during calm moments - Noticing and reinforcing disengagement from distractions Consistency beats intensity. A gentle reminder You don’t have to ask for every behavior to reinforce it. Sometimes the best training happens when your dog chooses you on their own. 💬 When did your dog offer a calm check-in or voluntary engagement today? Those moments are building something important 💚

Not all wins are loud or obvious. Some of the most meaningful progress shows up in quiet moments of connection — the ones that are easy to miss if we’re only looking for big behavior changes. A small win this week might have been: - Your dog choosing to sit near you - A soft check-in during a walk - Relaxing more easily in your presence - Offering trust during handling or care - Recovering faster after something stressful These moments reflect safety, comfort, and trust — and they matter just as much as any trained behavior. 💬 What quiet moment of connection or trust did your dog show you this week? Let’s celebrate the moments that don’t always get noticed 💚