Dogs of Service

Pairing Veterans with rescued service dogs and building a supportive community.

[Dogs of Service @DogsofService]

Hi #veterans if you need pet supplies let us know! We are stocked and happy to help during this difficult time. Can’t wait to hand out treats again to our furry students 🧀🥩🍩

[Maria Shriver @mariashriver]

LAFD is asking for help—any other firefighters anywhere, please help us here. This fire is zero contained. Resources are needed.

213-576-8962

Updates can be found here:
https://t.co/BRmykWGyv2

[Los Angeles Housing Department @LAHD___]

March 5th, 2024 is the deadline to inform your landlord about your pandemic pet for eviction protection!

Pandemic pets adopted before January 31, 2023 are protected - even if the pet wasn't allowed under the lease or rental agreement.

[Dogs of Service @DogsofService]

Merry Christmas 🎄

[Dogs of Service @DogsofService]

People still really believe rescue dogs are just going to be aggressive and have behavioral issues- they just accept it as truth and don’t even bother to train their dog! How do we in the rescue community educate about this before people and dogs reach crisis levels?

[The Joint Staff 🇺🇸 @thejointstaff]

On Veterans Day, we salute all who have served with courage, honor, and dedication while remembering those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

[US Department of the Interior @Interior]

Invasive plants are very, very frightening. 😱

But fear not! Frost – an invasive species sniffing super doggo – is on a mission to keep @GrandTetonNPS invasive plant free! 🐾

Photos by C. Adams / NPS

[Dogs of Service @DogsofService]

@theirnewstart Cats are not pack animals, they’re bonds are very for different inherent reasons and needs. More research is needed in this area!

[Decoding Dogs with Dr Dennis @DennisWormald]

My dog and I made up this game that I need to share. I call it "Follow the Leader". It's calming for both of us, a great bonding exercise, and fosters good communication. Watch the video and see if you can figure out the rules, then read on below 👇

Not all games we play with our dogs need to be high intensity, stimulating and exciting. Calming, relaxed games are much safer and can be just as enjoyable. The rules of Follow the Leader are:

1. You start walking away from your dog, glancing back at them regularly as an invitation to follow. This is the leader position.
2. Then you go for a stroll around your house for a while, looking back and checking in on your follower regularly as they tag along behind you.
3. Then when you have had enough, you stop and turn to face your follower. Eventually they start walking away and then you follow them. They are now the leader. You can hear my dog sometimes grunt when I do this to her in the video. It's like she's saying thanks!
4. You follow your dog around for a while, until they eventually stop and face you, giving leadership back to you. Then you start walking around as the leader. My dog normally does this within 30 seconds of her leading.
5. In this way, you pass leadership back and forth, while strolling around your house.

This game might sound really boring, but we love it. We play this for 15 minutes a day or more! She likes to carry something while she plays, but some dogs might not.

Step 3 of the game is the hardest for a dog to learn. They often aren't used to being allowed to lead, and so it can take a while for them to learn to take that position. If you wait long enough, they eventually walk away from you, and then you follow. It took a while for her to pick this up.

I think this also gives dogs confidence, as they get to have a go at being in charge. You will notice them taking you to things that they want and asking for them, like to the door if they need to toilet, or to the food if they are hungry. You can give them what they ask for if it's appropriate, totally up to you! In between wandering, my dog also likes to take me to visit my wife, and to check on the dog food containers.

Don't forget to follow me for regular interesting dog behaviour stuff like this!

To preempt some questions:

No this doesn't have anything to do with dominance and will not "make a dog dominant". Dominance is worse than useless for pet dog behaviour.

No my dog doesn't have separation anxiety. Many dogs will follow around their people and still cope fine with being left alone.

[Dogs of Service @DogsofService]

Can’t believe how much confidence she has now and is enjoying life!

[KTLA @KTLA]

The rising costs of everyday life are not only affecting the average American, but their pet, too. https://t.co/9mjCXtiiKj

[US Department of the Interior @Interior]

Every summer, adorable pikas gather mouthfuls of wildflowers and grasses, and build giant haystacks to stock up for winter. They’ll lay them on rocks in the sun to dry them out and then store them in their dens. 💐

Photo by NPS

[KTLA @KTLA]

A wildlife center is in desperate need of flatbed trucks to evacuate 1,000 animals to shelters ahead of Hurricane Hilary.
https://t.co/ilI7rN31gX

[Julie Castle, CEO of Best Friends @BFAS_Julie]

Thrilled about the reintroduction of the BARK Act.

This will no doubt empower shelters to utilize pet industry excess to help more pets in their care and ultimately keep pets where they belong: with their humans.

[Pasadena Humane @PasadenaHumane]

It's important to take precautions to keep your pets safe on the 4th of July.

Share this with your fellow pet parents!

[Dogs of Service @DogsofService]

Omg look at Cotton Balls cute video!

[Stray Cat Alliance @StrayCat_SCA]

ADOPT COTTONBALL! 💞☁️ Click here: https://t.co/WwRMDUr2ki

Can’t adopt? Be a Hero for Cats and donate here: https://t.co/7xj2an3c8A

Cottonball is a rare cat that comes through our rescue that is great with dogs AND other cats! Plus look at all that cuddly fur!🐱

[Stray Cat Alliance @StrayCat_SCA]

ADOPT COTTONBALL! 💞☁️ Click here: https://t.co/WwRMDUr2ki

Can’t adopt? Be a Hero for Cats and donate here: https://t.co/7xj2an3c8A

Cottonball is a rare cat that comes through our rescue that is great with dogs AND other cats! Plus look at all that cuddly fur!🐱

[LA Animal Services @LACityPets]

FREE MICROCHIP EVENT FOR YOUR DOG/S! NO APPOINTMENT NEEDED!

When: Saturday, June 24th, from 8AM-11AM

Where: @pawsforlifek9 People & Pet Innovation Center
15321 s Brand Blvd.
Mission Hills CA 91345

#lacitypets #petsafety #microchip #lost

[Dogs of Service @DogsofService]

@selfcaregamer1 They have filter masks for dogs, but it may take a bit of training to get them to tolerate it. Not perfect but could help! Air quality affects dogs like it does humans.