Do you have a pup who’s rock solid but lately they’re acting out? Is your good dog getting ruder and ruder? If so, one of the reasons could be that they’re trying to communicate with you. When teenagers are trying to get their parents attention, they don’t say “mom, dad I need to talk to you.” Instead they steal something, go for a joy ride or do something else out of character. These actions can often be cries for attention rather then forays down the wrong road. The same can be true with dogs. If an otherwise good dog is struggling, take a good hard look at them. Have you gotten busier an ..read more

So often my brain reminds me of the dogs I wasn’t able to help, so I’m trying to celebrate the wins more prominently going forward. Have you seen this cutie decorating the pages of our social media? This is Champ. When Champ got here he had already been through too much. He and his sibling had been pulled from Gallup, NM and adopted out to a truck driver. They were approximately 5/6 mo old at the time, so had already had their puppy hood imprinted by life on the streets. We don’t know exactly what happened, only that a couple found tied Champ tied to a sign post at a highway rest area and bro ..read more

If you only say Leave it to me when a dog is around, Leave it means a dog is around! Be sure to use Leave it for more than just another dog ..read more

Dogs fill my life so I often ask weird questions regarding them…..for example, If dogs got tattoos, would they tell their story or show their favorite toy? Would they declare their affiliations or the number of bunnies they’ve killed? Would they tattoo tennis balls and frisbees or stuffed animals and peanut butter? Would they stamp the food they love on their bodies or perhaps a sloppy bone or favorite treat? If dogs got tattoos, there’d be a lot of I love mom tat’s but how about I love car rides, paddle boarding, or hunting? Would we see a tat that says Breathe before Barking or Remember the ..read more

Every animal shelter needs a sister organizations. A place where dogs who need a little extra time, space or attention can go. A place that’s set up for dogs so it can’t be destroyed and a place that’s focused on them so they can get their needs met. Meet Hawk, this sweet and special guy was transferred to LPCHS for adoption but was unadoptable in the kennel, Anytime we went near him, he was so over-the-top we couldn’t get a leash on him. He’d jump, climb, and mouth us painfully. He’d maul our hands and bodies so much that it took minutes and bloodshed just to get a leash on him. Hawk was yo ..read more

Dogs who come to pranaDOGS are dealing with a behavior issue of some type. In order for them to get through these, we need to set up the environment – and the dogs – in a way to optimize success. We start with a solid routine and adequate sleep. So many dogs in shelters and uncomfortable situations don’t get enough sleep, which like us, makes them irritable and not the best learners. Next we ensure they’re getting enough nutrients and we ensure they’re not in any pain. So many dogs have gotten good at hiding their pain that it can go unnoticed, but it can be key in a dog who’s struggling or ..read more

After 5 years of helping dogs in need it’s time to expand our facilities. This spring in addition to adding fencelines and additions to our confidence course, we’re also adding a training room and office. This way we’ll be able to help more people (dogs!) and share it with everyone ..read more

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UGH! It’s winter; shorter, colder days and less time to play outside with your pup. Consider these exercises to help you and your pup get through the cold winter and gain new skills in the process! Winter games are a great way to keep your dogs brain busy, give you something to do with them and help them excel at different behaviors. There are as many games as there are days in a year but a short list below should help you get started! First, find 3-4 activities/games you and your pup like, then set up a schedule, ie: Monday puzzles Tuesday buckets Wednesday find it games Thursdays man ..read more

It takes a village is a common theme in animal welfare, from the individual who sees an animal in need to the person who is able to catch, transport and then house the pet all the way to the eventual adopter; it takes many hands to help just one animal. That same need for many was true as October kicked off and one of our recent adopters got out and wasn’t located immediately. Daphne had been at the shelter at and at pranaDOGS for months. Never having been socialized, Daphne had some stranger danger and issues with anxiety. After living at pranaDOGS and doing fantastic, she was transferred b ..read more