geekgirldogtrainer

[geekgirldogtrainer]

This is so beautiful!

Xólotl, the Aztec yellow dog to carry the souls through the first level of Mictlán. There’s a lot of different variations of the myth, but my favorite is the giant dog that literally carries you through the after-life. 

[geekgirldogtrainer]

Go out and explore the world with your dog!

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My pups, Chupacabra and Wolfie, this past weekend in Lake Lure, NC.

[geekgirldogtrainer]

Some more word art combining my two favorite things...tattoos and dogs!

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A little word art. My favorite dogs at the shelter are always the misfit, problem ones. :)

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This is the number that was assigned to my dog when she first came into the shelter. We adopted her the day she got on the adoption floor nearly seven years ago :)

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Love this illustration!

Now Available For Purchase! Shirts, stickers, prints, and more!

first pass at colors

[geekgirldogtrainer]

Two of the most important thing to remember when working with dogs.

No matter their breed, a dog is always a study of one. You can’t rely on things like “all retrievers do this”, “all terriers do that” or “I’ve always had hounds and they do this”. You are doing a disservice to the dog in front of you when you do that. They are their own unique being.

Also, dogs are a result of nature AND nurture. There are some things that they receive genetically (not because of breed but because of their specific lineage). There is also much that they learn from their environment. It is best to keep in mind that both affect behavior.

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My dog’s name is Chupacabra and she is my heart. She has taught me so much about dogs, behavior, fears, love, empathy and myself. A little art to honor our bond.

[geekgirldogtrainer]

I’ve been vegetarian for 19 years and a vegan for the past 1.5 years. It is without a doubt, one of the best decisions I have ever made. I love all animals and can’t imagine consuming them.

Make compassionate choices...go vegan!

[geekgirldogtrainer]

The punk scene gave me a sense of purpose and direction when I was young. It was where I learned to take a stand for what I believe in.

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[geekgirldogtrainer]

When I fully understood my reactive pup and her challenges, I made these promises to her (after I saw some inspiration from artist Sydney Koehl and her adoption of a sweet, fearful pup).

You don’t have to have a fearful or reactive dog to make these promises. These are a great reminder that our relationship with our dog is a two-way street. Our pups are not just with us to provide us love, comfort, entertainment, etc. We HAVE to give them what they need too.

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Isn’t that the truth? Just by existing in our lives they can transform us.

[geekgirldogtrainer]

For those of us who love and care for a reactive dog, most days can fall on the hero or villain side: the Batman days and the Joker days. What does this mean?

The Batman days look like any combination of the following: -You successfully avoid all the neighborhood dogs on your walk -You recognize the signs of stress in your dog before she gets over-threshold and employ positive interrupters ("Leave It", hand-targeting, foraging, etc) -You see the loose dog before your own dog does and are able to get to safety -You play "Look at that" with one of your dog's triggers (let's say a squirrel) and she stays in tune with you -You plot out and enact a training plan to help her learn self-control -Your dog looks to you for guidance when she gets nervous -You play with your pup then enjoy a good cuddle on the couch

These are the days where you feel like a hero for your pup. You feel like you can protect her from everything and that the two of you are one.

But inevitably, you will have some Joker days. This could be when: -Every street you turn down has a loose dog or cat -You have to run from a loose dog, screaming at their human to come get them -You run out of treats halfway through your walk -You miss the signs of stress and your dog lunges to the end of her leash and starts snarling and barking. She can no longer hear you because she is over-threshold. -Even in the house, your pup can't come down from her stress for hours -Your training plan falls apart -You get frustrated with yourself and your pup -You sit on the couch and waver between crying and laughing maniacally

These are the days that are the hardest. You feel like a failure and, at times, like you are going insane.

It is in the Joker days that you need to remember that the hero always wins and you are the hero to your pup. You care for her and put her needs first and always, always try to make life better for her.

Joker ends up in Arkham Asylum and Batman keeps the city safe. You are Batman…even on the days when things unravel and the Joker is peeking out from the chaos. Never forget that.