The Oxford Canine: Behavior Consulting

05/31/2023

We are so excited to be nominated for best dog trainer of Granville County! If you would like to vote, please go to the link below and look under services. Then scroll to the bottom. You will see us, The Oxford Canine! Thank you again for the honor!

Check it out now!

04/24/2023

Wow! I’ve been nominated for best dog trainer in the Best of Granville County by The Butner Creedmoor News! Thank you for the honor and to those that nominated me!

01/17/2023

GO FAST TURN LEFT!
Remind me one day to tell y’all the story about how Luna literally almost knocked my eyeball out of my skull!

05/13/2022

It’s national pet month! Take a moment to appreciate all your pet does for you and yours. The love and emotional support they bring to so many is priceless!

12/05/2021

This is why it’s important to know how you want your dog to greet people, and fully understand what that means for the both of you situationally. NEVER expect ANYONE is going to know how to react to your dog correctly.
Plus, that post man taking selfies with those 3 dogs was adorable!

11/02/2021

The day I met Luna, I knew she was special. She has proven that to be true in every way, and has grown to be an amazing companion and best friend to my children. It just goes to show how great family members rescue dogs can be!

Anise aka Minnie and her new mom!

08/15/2021

Traveling with your canine this summer? Here are a few tips to make things easier:

🐕‍🦺 Make a list so you don’t forget the essentials: bowls, food, extra collar/harness, leash, toys, a favorite blanket, bed, brush, puppy pads (great for mess prevention) and so on.
🐶 Get a check-up and make sure your dog is up to date on all vaccines and is healthy enough to travel. Your Veterinarian can also supply copies of vaccine certificates and help attach their rabies tag. Don’t forget heart worm, flea/tick prevention.
🦮 Speaking of, make sure your dog has a collar with tags on them at all times! Bring a copy of their microchip info. If they aren’t microchipped already, your vet can easily take care of that at their appointment.
🐾 Consider the benefits of a pet first aid kit. Make sure to pack all of their medications and means to give them. Bring extras in case you are gone longer than expected. Red Cross has a pet first aid app that is a must!
🦮 Call ahead to make sure your destination is pet friendly. Websites aren’t always up to date so double check.
🐶 Choose activities wisely. And find places along the way to stop and give your dog a reprieve. There are even apps that can help like Bring Fido and Dog Vacay so you can map out pit stops.
💙 Bring bottled water for the main trip and activities. You never know where clean water will be available. Also consider a collapsible bowl to keep on hand with easy storage.
🐕‍🦺 If your vehicle isn’t big enough for them to be crated, still bring one if possible. Consider using a seatbelt, sling, or hammock to contain them so you can keep your eyes on the road.
🐾 Exercise! Wear them out before leaving so they will be settled for travel. This will also help them relieve themselves before leaving.
🐶 Provide chew toys that you don’t have to watch them with. And bring tug toys and the like for physical activities during pit stops.
🦮 Take a practice trip to know if your dog gets anxious in a moving vehicle. Don’t ignore their nerves, or you are both guaranteed a miserable trip. There are natural stress reducing remedies like supplements and thundershirts. And of course, consult your Vet on what would work best for your dog.
❤️ When you get there, settle in. Let your dog feel it has a safe space to rest and return to between activities.
💖 Most important: prevention is the safest way to handle problems. That means basic training and manners are a must. Brush up on what they already know or consider working with a trainer if you need help. Some of the most helpful commands for travel are sit, down, stay, come, wait, place, look at me, and heal.

06/30/2021

After a long wait, I can finally say we have a real website! Though it is still under construction, we will be able to take appointments and transactions as well as messaging and email communications through www.theoxfordcanine.com in the coming week! My goal is to make client experience as easy and smooth as possible. Please let me know any opinions you may have to help us get there!

At The Oxford Canine, we strive to provide a humane, reward-based training methodology to build a relationship of trust and respect between you and your pet. Browse our site to learn more about us or contact us to schedule a consultation.

04/28/2021

We’re coming to the end of Stress Awareness Month. Time is flying by for us this year. Do you have any good techniques for helping your pet stay calm? Here are a few:
🐾 For dogs with audio triggers, play soft music like classical, soft rock or jazz. Drowning out surrounding sounds can help them lose their anxiety of the unknown, but mind the volume.
🐶 Aromatherapy has been proven to work for dogs with separation anxiety. Make sure you are using a quality product for canines, as their sense of smell is strong and something too strong could have the opposite effect. Lavender and dog-appeasing pheromones have shown to have the biggest impact.
🦮 Petting/physical contact can go a long way. This is tricky though because we don’t want to praise a dog for unwanted behavior. Consider removing them from the situation, then petting (not hugging) them for a few short minutes.
🐕‍🦺 A routine of exercise can help with nervous energy. A research team has found that mild exercise and physical contact with the dog's person can have a calming effect on canines as observed by the reduction of the cortisol levels measured in canines' saliva.
💙 Crate time can help a dog have a moment to themselves, as long as they are crate trained and know it’s a safe space.
🐾 And of course, remember that dogs are are tuned in to the energy and people around them. Reducing stress in your own life is a big factor. Dogs are creatures of habit and routine, and a stable life means a higher quality of life.

04/20/2021

🛑✋PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT:
April is Stress Awareness Month. And while we should all be taking a moment for ourselves, many don’t know their dog needs a moment too. Just like people, every dog handles stress differently. It can be upsetting to think your dog is suffering in silence with their anxiety. Knowing the signs so you can offer relief is the first step! Here are a few signs your dog might be stressed:

🐶 Body language:
🐾 licking lips
🐾 yawning
🐾 panting
🐾 tucked tail
🐾 ears pulled back
🐾 whale eye 😳👁

🐶 Health and Behavior:
🐾 loss of appetite
🐾 digestive issues, diarrhea/constipation
🐾 avoidance/isolation
🐾 increased sleeping
🐾 excessive shedding
🐾 destructive behavior
🐾 excessive grooming, scratching/chewing
🐾 increased vocalization
🐾 aggressive behavior

These are just a few signs. Learning them is the first step to helping your canine companion live it’s best life! And helping yourself live a little more stress free.