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Dog Cold Season. We recently sent this announcement to our team to proactively prepare for Fall/Winter and our team asked that we share this with you! So here we go…

At Airdrie Puppy Pals, we prioritize your dog’s comfort and well-being with our proactive health and wellness checks included for every dog in our care. These head-to-toe checks help us spot any play scratches, early signs of ear infections, or other issues, which we’ll discuss with you at pick-up. More importantly, this routine helps dogs feel safe with gentle handling, ensuring they know they are always in good, caring hands.

Spending a week at the KPA Ranch's Training Across Species course taught me valuable lessons that apply directly to dog training. Working with goats, donkeys, and alpacas refined my techniques and enhanced my understanding of animal behavior, making me a better dog trainer.

With dogs, just like with humans, there will be situations they aren’t ready for right away. For example, expecting a dog to walk calmly on a loose leash in busy downtown Calgary on day one isn’t realistic. Training takes time, patience, and practice to build up to those challenging environments.

Nikki Nordick, CPDT-KA, CBCC-KA, CDBC, IAABC-ADT, FFCP—looks like alphabet soup, right? For those outside the dog training world, it can be confusing. But for me, these credentials represent dedication, expertise, and a commitment to providing the best training for your dog.

Ever noticed your dog sneezing or coughing and wondered if they caught a cold? Dogs can catch colds, and their immune systems work hard to fight off illness, just like ours. Even with vaccines like the Bordetella shot (for kennel cough), dogs can still get sick because, much like the human flu shot, it doesn’t cover all virus strains.

Last weekend, we said goodbye to Airdrie Puppy Pals' beloved Senior Kitty Advisor, Jinx. I adopted Jinx from the Winnipeg Humane Society when he was just eight weeks old, and we shared 19 wonderful years together. His absence is deeply felt, and he will be greatly missed.

When I first started Airdrie Puppy Pals as a Dog Walker, I offered in-home puppy sitting, but it came with challenges—dogs had to adjust to new routines, sounds, and smells. So, when we opened our facility, I aimed to offer an overnight option for our Daycare Dogs that felt familiar and comfortable, unlike traditional kennels. The challenge was figuring out how to make this happen.

When you see letters following a professional's name, do you know what they signify? These aren't just random letters; they represent hard-earned credentials in the animal field. At the recent APDT conference, Brad from the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers (CCPDT) and I, representing the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC), discussed the importance of certification.

Earlier this year, I decided to step out of my comfort zone and attend in-person conferences that I had previously enjoyed virtually. I'm so grateful I did. Beyond the motivational speakers, I discovered something I didn't even realize I was missing—connecting with industry professionals who specialize in not just obedience and puppy classes, but also aggressive behaviors.