Tails of the Team: Meet Bleu

Racheal’s dog Bleu

Welcome back to the Unleashed Blog! We’re excited to continue our Tails of the Team series, where we highlight the beloved pets of our team members and share how these relationships have shaped our approach to pet care.

At Off Leash MKE, we believe that every dog teaches us something special. Whether it’s the importance of patience, the value of enrichment, or the power of trust, our own pets shape the way we care for the dogs we work with every day.

Today, we're featuring Bleu, Racheal’s loyal adventure buddy. Since joining Off Leash MKE in 2021, Racheal has been an integral part of our pack plays and home visits. Over the years, Bleu has taught her invaluable lessons about adaptability, enrichment, and embracing each dog’s individuality. Keep reading to learn more about Bleu and how she’s shaped Racheal’s approach to pet care!

Tell us about your dog (name, breed, and age) and how they came into your life. 

Bleu is an 11 year old Heeler mix. After having family dogs my whole life,  I found myself living alone and ready to find a companion of my own.  I wasn’t quite sure what breed I wanted, but I did know I wanted a dog that would enjoy hiking, camping and traveling.  After scouring the humane society websites for months I saw the cutest litter of heeler mix pups and went to meet them.  She stood out to me because she was a little reserved among her excitable siblings but curious; and after some 1-1 time I knew she was the one.

What is your dog’s personality like? Any quirks or unique traits?

She’s a smart gal with a lot of energy, a quick study, eager to please and a bonafide frisbee freak.  She also has her goofy side and loves to lay on her back with all paws in the air and big ol grin on her face.

How has having your dog influenced your approach to pet care or dog walking?

I’ve learned to shed expectations about how a dog “should” or “shouldn’t” behave.  It was new to me to have a dog that wasn’t the social with other dogs type.  She would rather follow me at the park or play with a person instead of another dog in any given situation.  Over time I realized this was just her normal and that was fine!  I learned to adapt to her so we just have more 1-1 time doing the things she is comfortable with and enjoys, instead trying to force her to make friends.  It taught me to look a little harder at what each dog individually responds best to and how I can help create a space that lets them be comfortably themself.

Are there specific challenges you’ve faced with your dog that have made you a better pet care professional?

Bleu can have tendency to fixate on toys and objects, especially anything she can play fetch with.  When she was younger I indulged this behavior and would let her play frisbee to her hearts content. I started to notice how it was maybe becoming a problem to the point where she would run herself into exhaustion, or if the object was in the room she just couldn’t quite relax.  It had become what seemed to be her sole source of excitement so overtime we worked on redirecting her focus by going on more walks instead of just to the park to play fetch, and keeping her busy at home with fun challenges like puzzles or sniff mats.  Her fixation wasn’t necessarily a happy thing for her, she took it very seriously and honestly still does, but by offering her enrichment and stimulation in other ways she is able to find more interest and joy in other things.

How do you incorporate Fear Free principles when caring for your dog?

Our most used fear free principle is definitely positive reinforcement.  Since a young pup, Bleu has always been eager to please and sensitive to negative reactions.  Using a stern loud voice will make her ears go down and she tends to freeze up and not move.  By using a much softer tone when encouraging her to listen, keeps her calm and more open to direction.

What’s your favorite way to spend time with your dog?

I love our longer walks out on trails in the woods or along the rivers.  We both are able to explore a bit at our own pace and immerse ourselves in the environment.

How do you keep your dog mentally and physically enriched?

We go for our daily walk around our neighborhood and are lucky to live near the Hank Aaron trail so we are frequently doing stretches of that.  Mentally, when we are out I let her sniff as much as she wants and explore at her own pace.  We also have puzzles and she loves games where she has to find an object.

Are there any particular games, exercises, or routines you do with your dog that you recommend to clients?

One of our favorite games to play is “hide-and-go seek” with her toys or high value treats.  It’s especially great for days when the weather hasn’t been great and we haven’t been able to get out for nice walks.  I will have work on her basic commands of “sit” and “wait” while I go and hide the toy.  I’ll say “ok!” and let her into the room to do her best to find it.   As soon as she does she comes right back over to me smiling and showing off and looking for pets.