I talk about this a lot in classes and with fellow dog owners/lovers:  you have to advocate for your dog.  Your dog cannot talk.  Your dog cannot tell people he is uncomfortable, scared or nervous.  That falls on you.  That means you have to know your dog AND you have to be willing to speak up.  I don't care if your dog is a new puppy or the best trained dog in the world--all dogs have needs and wants and thresholds and it is up to us as their owners to know those things.

All over social media you hear stories of people whose dogs end up starved, hurt or "broken" in the hands of professionals.  And most of it occurs while the owner is standing nearby.  Why?  Because they believe that this trainer is doing what is best for their dog because they are the professional.  But that is not always the case.  

A few weeks ago I was talking to a client and she told me a story that she has given me permission to share with you.  And I have to tell you--I was so very proud of what she did and how she handled herself that I immediately congratulated her on her willingness to advocate for her dog.

She was in my basic foundations class and her dog is a puppy--a typical happy, bouncy excited puppy.  She is a great dog and so very smart and responds very well to positive reinforcement.  To help her walk better on leash, we started using an Easy Walk Harness and they had seen great improvement in her.  They were happy.  The dog was happy.  I was happy.

But, apparently, someone wasn't.

The owner and her family were going camping and they knew that their puppy wasn't quite ready for that yet, so they decided to board her.  They researched facilities and the weekend before they were leaving they took their dog to the facility they had chosen to introduce her to the surroundings.  The person who runs the facility is also a trainer.  When they arrived they had their dog on her Easy Walk and one of the first things the trainer does is reprimand them for chosing that walking aide for their dog.  Told them they should put a choke collar on her and that would be better.  Before they knew what was happening, this trainer had a choke collar on their dog and was walking her around.  She did okay (not great).  Then, as they were standing and talking and this puppy was simply standing there, the trainer gave a harsh leash pop and collar correction. The owner saw nothing that warrented any type of correction and immediately told the trainer to take the collar off her dog and give her back.  And they quickly left.  As they were leaving the trainer said "So, I'll see you guys next week."  He didn't see anything wrong with what he had done.  

She and her husband were furious.  When we talked she said "If he was willing to make that harsh of a correction when I was standing there, I couldn't imagine what he was willing to do if I wasn't there."  She also said that she was upset that he was offering unsolicited training advice since she was there for boarding.  She knew that there was no way they were leaving their dog at that facility for a week.  But they also knew they were short on time.  

They spent their entire day going around to various facilities in the area looking for another option.  Please keep in mind that they had already planned to leave their puppy in the hands of the trainer they had just left--but they knew that they would not feel safe or relaxed if they did.  This family gave up their whole day in order to make sure that their dog was happy, safe and unharmed.  They found a facility they liked and their dog had a great experience and they had a wonderful vacation.  

And this is what I mean by advocate for your dog.  The owner told me that she was uncomfortable from the beginning and although she went into it with an open mind, she knew that this facility was not right for her dog.  The atmosphere felt wrong and the training went against what she felt was right for her dog.  Was it convenient for her to give up a whole day?  Of course not.  But, did she do what she knew was right for her dog?  Yes.  100% yes.  

Never second guess that feeling--you know what is best for your dog.  You know your dog better than anyone.  Just because someone is a professional does not mean that they know your dog better than you do. Ask questions.  Be informed.  And, most importantly, be your dog's advocate.  They will thank you for it.  

Clients ask often if they will ever meet Garmin.  I tell them no and when they ask why I jokingly say "because one look at his behavior and you will seriously question my abilities as a dog trainer."  We get a good laugh and we move on.  

That isn't at all the truth.  Truth is, Garmin is SUPER smart, trainable, eager and quick to learn.  He loves to train, is the reason I learned clicker training and shaping.  You guys have seen him in videos--he is a sharp dude. He also can relax without issue in my house and is the sweetest, most snuggly boy.  

But, deep down, he is an anxious mess.

The truth of the matter is that I don't bring Garmin to class because he couldn't handle it.  It would be too much for him and he would be frantic and then he would shut down.  And since I talk often about advocating for your dogs, it would be unfair of me to place him into a situation that he would feel uncomfortable in.  

Does he love people?  Oh, yes.  He will launch himself at you, grinning all the while.  Does he like dogs?  Meh--he's indifferent.  He really ignores dogs if we go swimming or are in any situation where he may be off leash. On leash, he is different.  He does not like dogs on leash. We have worked on it and he is better, but he needs space, so I give it to him.  The only dog he can't live without is Gracie, so I am fortunate in that regard.  

Garmin has a near perfect heel/loose leash walk in my house.  He has a flawless loosh leash walk in my driveway.  But, take him somewhere off my property and suddenly the world is scary.  He hates the car.  Every leaf, bird, voice, dog barking, car engine--something to potentially be worried about.  He is hyper alert all the time when we are off my property.  He forgets all he knows about leash walking.  Not because he is being defiant, dominant (laugh) or stubborn.  But because his brain literally won't let him do it.  

He and I have been on a very long journey.  Three years long--all in hopes that one day we can take a walk like a normal team.  In a neighborhood with dogs and people and kids on bikes.  And we are getting there, but it is slow.  Do I sometimes get frustrated?  Of course I do.  Could I force him to do it?  Sure--I could flood him and force him to get over it, but at what price?  He trusts me.  And in a world where he thinks most things are scary, that is a precious thing and if I force him into a situation where he feels unsafe, I may lose that and I am not willing to take that chance.

If you find yourself the owner of an anxious dog, just remember that your dog will not progress like every other dog.  Your dog will not be as quick to rebound as other dogs.  Your dog may never be the social butterfly you had hoped he would be.  But he is your dog and you are his person--listen to him.  Learn from him and remember that your dog determines how fast you get to go.  He isn't on your schedule--you need to be on his.

Patience is your friend when you have an anxious dog.  Garmin is on his way to being more relaxed--he has come so far already.  There are days when it is hard for me to see that because I think "he should get this by now," but then I remember we aren't on my schedule.  We are on his. 

I know there are plenty of people out there who disagree and say that we should push these anxious dogs so that they can "get over it" faster, but, in the grand scheme of your relationship, what price are you willing to pay?  

It's no secret that I work with a lot of rescue dogs.  I spent years working in rescue.  I have two rescue dogs myself.  And I have talked to lots and lots of adopters.  And I talk to a lot of rescue agencies and so many of them have three words of advice to anyone who adopts a dog:

​Two week shutdown.  

The two week shutdown is simple in theory--give your dog time to adjust.  Don't take them on a ton of stressful outings.  Don't invite the whole family over.  Don't throw them into an obedience class or into a board and train in the first few days.  Don't take them on long, winding walks in the new neighborhood.  In fact, don't take them on any walks.  Stick to your yard.  Don't take your new dog to the dog park.  And don't give your new dog free run of your house.  

And PLEASE don't toss newly adopted dog into the mix of your three established dogs/cats.  Or have a group of 12 seven year olds over for a sleepover the day you bring new dog home.  

Why?  Because chances are your new dog is frightened and unsure already.  Her whole world is new.  She is in a new home with new smells.  And having new people rushing at her, car noises whizzing by her, dogs barking at her, or children yelling excitedly all might make her just a little more uneasy. It is proven that overstimulation leads to bad behavior and, as a result, she may act out, and at this point she might not know you enough to trust you.  And you don't know her well enough to know that she is uneasy.  She needs to understand that you are there to protect her and provide a safe environment for her, and without this initial period, that trust is missing and you may end up with a dog that is insecure, frightened and unsure of the world. Or worse:  returned to the rescue.  

Instead of rushing into things, take it slow.  Bring the new dog in, give her space to call her own.  Get her used to her crate.  Establish a feeding routine.  Introduce the leash.  In fact, tether her to you.  That way you can catch any and all good behaviors and even start to see any potential needs of future training.  Toss a toy here and there (but don't force her to play).  Let her learn the world around her.  Let her learn that you are the source of good things--and start to build that bond.  Just you and your dog.  

Ignore "bad" behavior (crying, whining, jumping) and gently praise good behavior.  Don't shower your new dog with love and affection.  Don't force yourself on your new dog.  Take it slow--this is a relationship after all, and you are getting to know each other.

Please know that "two weeks" is a general guideline of the amount of time you should follow this program. Some dogs will settle in faster, some will take longer. It all depends on the individual dog and their needs. PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR DOG. They will "tell" you when they've had enough.  Adult dogs often need the shut down more than puppies, but, again, pay attention to your dog--they can all benefit from a little decompression when they first come home.  And never give a puppy free run of your house (more on that later!)

I know when you adopt a new dog you want to show her off to the world--I mean, who wouldn't?  But, for the future of your relationship, share photos and fun stories via Facebook, Twitter, Instragram or the family newsletter, but don't overwhelm your new dog.  Set her up for success, build that bond and you will be amazed at what happens.  

Dogs are not born learning bad behaviors.  They are either taught by us (they jump, we pet, they learn that jumping is rewarding), taught by another dog (one dog sees another counter surf and suddenly you have two counter surfers) or they are self taught (if they get into the trash and learn that yummy food is there, they will go back to the trash again and again).  

Are dogs born with instinct?  Of course!  If you get a cattle dog, they will have the instinct to herd.  If you get a beagle, they will have their noses to the ground.  Can those instinctual behaviors manifest into bad habits?  Yup.  For example:  your cattle dog nips at the heels of people who move to fast (that is instinct).  You let it go and let it go and let it go...and then suddenly you want it fixed.  Now you are working against instinct AND habit. 

All too often I see dogs with behaviors that are troublesome.  And worse:  engrained.  What that means is that they have been exhibiting the behavior for a long, long while. And if we don't give them new habits, those bad ones become the only ones they know.  And if that behavior has been going on for a while, it will take some time to modify.  And you may need a professional.  

Before contacting a trainer, however, here is what you will need to do.  Ask yourself if you have seen ANY signs of the behavior in the past--even small ones.  If you really can't see any, contact your vet. Often sudden behavior changes have medical reasons.  If you can find clues that the behavior was present, contact a trainer and be prepared to work.  

Here is my point:  as soon as you realize a behavior is manifesting in such a way that COULD be a problem down the road, call a trainer for help.  If your puppy growls when you try to take a toy away, that may be cute to you but when the dog he becomes does it, it is suddenly an issue.  Your 5 pound puppy jumps up to greet you?  Adorable.  But when that puppy turns into a 40 pound dog and jumps on your small child, it isn't so dorable.  So, the thing is, it wasn't sudden.  It had BEEN an issue.  You just didn't realize it.  

When you reach out to a trainer, be honest--don't hold back.  We can't help you if you don't tell us everything about when the behavior started, what you have done (good and bad) and how often the behavior occurs.  And please realize that if the behavior has been happening for a while, it will take time for the behavior to be modified.  You and the trainer will be working to create new habits--and if you think of how hard it is for you to create new habits, THAT is what we are working with.  It will be difficult to give a clear time line of when the behavior will be modified, but what I can say is that if you are dedicated and consitent, you will see results. But you will have to be patient.  It could take time.  Weeks.  Months.  But it can work.  And it will.  

How do I know?  Because the minute I knew Gracie had anxiety, I reached out for help.  And as soon as I realized that Garmin had intense leash reactivity resulting in redirected frustration?  Worked on that, too.  If I didn't, those problems would have simply gotten bigger.  They would not have gone away. Are they gone completely?  Nope--in fact, some of those behaviors will never completely go away.  They can be modified.  And managed.  But they may never go away.

Never be afraid to ask for help--it's how we learn and how we grow as dog owners.  ​But, the sooner you reach out for help, the higher the probability that you will be able to turn it around.  Would it be easier to give up?  Probably, but you owe it to your dog to try.  

Often when I take Gracie out into public I get stopped by people who have dogs themselves and we often strike up a conversation.  Inevitably, I hear at least one of the following things:

"It must be nice to have a dog who is as well behaved at that"
"My dog could NEVER be that well behaved"
"I can't believe she listens to you like that"
"I wish my dog would act that way."
"I can't even get my dog to sit, much less anything else."

So, I thought I would address a few of those things.

"It Must Be Nice to Have a Dog as Well Behaved as That."
It is.  But she wasn't always that way.  She didn't come to me that way.  I worked with her A LOT to get her to this point.  Gracie has been in training of some kind since she was 5 months old.  She went through basic obedience, intermediate obedience, advanced obedience and therapy dog training.  She also had private training sessions for issues like separation anxiety and leash reactivity.  She was CGC certified and therapy dog certified by the time she was a year old.  Not because she came to me perfect. It was because I got her in classes and, in addition, worked her at home.  

"My Could NEVER be that Well Behaved."
Yes.  You dog can be this well behaved.  Remember:  Gracie was awful.  She had moderate separation anxiety, crate anxiety and she was nearly impossible to house break.  She was afraid of men.  She was afraid of people in hats.  She hated people coming into my home.  In fact, when I told the private trainer I had hired that my goal was to get her to have her Canine Good Citizen Title, he told me she would most likely never do that because of her issues.  I thought otherwise, so I worked hard.  Everyday.  I still work with her everyday.  And her behavior is the result.  Maybe your dog won't ever be a therapy dog, but your dog can learn manners, but it isn't going to happen overnight.  You are going to have to work at it.  Rarely (if ever) are you going to have a perfectly well behaved dog dropped into your life.  Yes, maybe if you adopt an older dog they will have some training so it will be easier, but it will still be up to you to make sure that you continue the training.  Getting to the point of having a well behaved dog is hard.  Maintaining that behavior is also a challenge because after finishing classes often maintaining a training schedule is hard.  You have to commit to your dog if you want the well behaved dog.

"I Can't Believe She Listens to You Like That"
She listens to me because she trusts me.  She listens to me because I have shown her that there are benefits to listening to me.  She listens to me because I have encouraged her to do so.  She listens to me because she has learned that when she does, amazing things happen.  I have a great relationship with Gracie.  She knows I will never hurt her, lead her into danger or set her up for failure.  She listens to me because I have never given her a reason not to.  I have never hit her, made her fear making mistakes or harmed her in any way.  I can't say I have never raised my voice (I have.  I am human and I make mistakes), but I can say I have never put her in a position to lose her faith and trust in me.  I have never put a shock collar on her to "encourage" her to behave.  I have never put a prong collar on her to "encourage" her not to pull.  I have simply shown her that there are rewards to listening.  And she has thrived on it.  This is why I don't offer board and trains (and, no, I am not bashing those trainers who offer them as I know quite a few).  I don't offer them because it takes YOU out of the equation.  And I think building that bond and that trust is a key component in training. 

"I Wish my Dog Would Act That Way."
Your dog CAN act that way.  But wishing for it to happen and making it happen are two different things.  Ask yourself:  what have you done to get your dog to the level that Gracie is now?  I didn't have a magic wand to make her this way.  I wished she was better behaved and took action.  Trust me, I get it.  Garmin would make a GREAT agility dog, but he has some issues that need to be ironed out first.  So, instead of me saying "I wish Garmin could be an agility dog," I have to take action to get him to the point where he can be an agility dog.  If you have goals in mind for your dog, you can start working towards them.  Even if you never get there, at least you end up with a dog that is better balanced, better behaved and you will find you have a better relationship. 

"I Can't Even Get My Dog to Sit, Much Less Anything Else."
Then start small.  Enroll in an obediece class where you start with the basics.  In the last Basic Foundations class that I had I had a one year old dog that came to me not knowing any commands.  He wouldn't sit, come, lay down.  Nothing.  It took two classes for him to learn sit.  It took three weeks for him to decide that he knew "down."  But, after that, there was no stopping him.  In fact, he is now enrolled in my advanced obedience class.  So, your dog CAN learn.  You just have to take that first step.  Focus on that relationship you want with your dog.  Don't worry about anyone else.  

And always remember that it is okay if your dog doesn't get it right away.  It is okay if they struggle a little.  Just don't give up.  And maybe one day people will run into you and say "I wish my dog was THAT well behaved" and you can tell them "well, let me tell you how I got here..."

iI wish people could see the dog we see.  At home, he is so good.  Out in public, he's totally different."

I can't tell you how many times I have heard that from clients.  And I get it.  100%.

Because Garmin is that dog.

You see, at home, Garmin is sweet and fairly calm.  He has his moments when he paces and is on edge (usually when we haven't had a chance to walk or train), but, for the most part he has settled in nicely here and can find a soft, warm place to sleep or chill and he is content.  

But in public, people don't see that.  He is a whining, panting, vocal mess.  He is still sweet as can be, but he can't be quiet.  And he can't stand still.  I can get him to focus on commands and perform them, but not with the accuracy he can do them at home.  I can't even take my own dog to group classes because it is just too much for him.  

I can see people eyeing him and shaking their heads.  I can see them whispering to each other about him.  And I don't care.  Why?  Because I know that he is doing the best that he can.  Is it perfect?  No.  Are we working on it?  Everytime we go out.  Is he making progress?  Absolutely.  But he is anxious and tries his best.  And that is all I can expect of him.  It is all anyone can expect of their dog.  I tell clients that--don't worry about what others think.  Accept what you can do.  Accept what your dog can do and work from there.  No one else has to like it, understand it or agree with it--you just have to do what is right by your dog.  Show them that they world isn't scary.  Even if it takes some time.  

Garmin, like so many other anxious dogs, is a great dog.  He loves to work and train and he wants more than anything to please me.  He loves people.  The world is just a big scary place to him.  

One day he may calmly walk through a store or ride in the car without being upset, but, for now, people will have to take my word for it. 

 As I sit here on Christmas morning I am compelled to put together something important about me, my dogs and our relationship. Especially since I know that so many people are most likely adding dogs to their families this holiday season (hopefully after careful consideration!)

Gracie came into my life when she was 4 months old.  She was on the euthanasia list in a rural Indiana shelter.  She had been there since she was about 2 months old.  When she came to me, she was sweet and cute and eager to learn.  And then after about a month, the honeymoon was over.  I quickly learned that she hated to be left alone (she would destroy any blanket left in her crate and one day she could reach curtains--which ended up pulled down and shredded), she hated strange men, she barked menacingly at any person who came into the house, she refused to housebreak.  Oh, and she was leash reactive.  

Garmin came into my life a few years later.  He was five months old, had been dropped at a shelter by a neighbor and had to wait in a kennel for three long weeks before he was released for adoption or rescue.  It was right before Christmas and the last thing this husky/cattle dog mix puppy needed was to be a present under someone's tree, so he came to live with me.  Well, he was supposed to be a foster, but that changed.  Garmin was a non stop puppy.  GO GO GO GO GO.  He, too, was eager to learn and smart.  But, he was a biter, also refused to housebreak, was a resource guarder, hated his feet messed with and was extremely touch sensitive.  And did I mention that he was pretty much nervous about all stimuli outside?  Oh, and he was also leash reactive.  

Through lots and lots and LOTS of work, both of my dogs have overcome a lot.  Gracie is now a certified therapy dog (she achieved that when she was just shy of two years old) and she has her Community Canine title from the AKC.  She is an excellent therapy dog.  Nursing homes to library programs, this girl loves her job.  And people love her.  Garmin has his CGC title and is one of the fasters learners I have ever worked with. And he has never met a stranger.  Seriously.  This dog loves everyone almost too much.  And he's funny and goofy and makes everyone laugh. 

There were times I wanted to give up.  Times that I thought I couldn't get through it with either of them, but I always took a deep breath and a step back and tried again. I didn't go it alone--when I was in over my head, I asked for help.  I learned.  I read.  And I kept going. And I am so thankful that I did.  They are the inspiration for all that I do and they keep me on my toes.  

But I guess my message to you is this:  The dog you GET may not always be the dog you WANT.  Rarely, if ever, are you going to get that perfect dog that loves all dogs, people and things.  In fact, most dogs that are like that have gone through training of some sort to make them that way.  Good, well balanced dogs take time and effort.  And if you are willing to put in the time and effort, I promise that you will have a stronger bond than you can imagine with your dogs. Does that mean there won't be days that you want to give up?  Of course not--you will most likely have a few of those.  When the puppy pees on the floor after just being outside or when your adolescent dog chews up your new XBox controller.  But, if you make the choice to continue passed all that, great things await.  

If you and your family added a dog this Christmas, please make sure that you are willing to commit to their training as well as to their overall care.  Training is so important--it helps show the dog what you want and it helps you guys build a stronger bond.  And training is life long.  I work with my dogs one way or another each day.  Sometimes it's serious training. Sometimes we play games.  Sometimes we work on tricks.  It doesn't matter.  What matters is that they are learning, we are bonding and they are loving every minute of it.  

Are my dogs perfect?  No.  Not by any means.  In fact, they are so imperfect it's adorable.  I don't expect them to be perfect.  I expect them to be fun, happy, loving dogs who enjoy each day they have on this earth.  Why?  Because their start to life was terrible-and they have earned the right to relax and enjoy themselves.  But, I also know they will do whatever I ask them to do because we have worked and trained and grown together.  

​Commit to your dog 100% and I can promise you that they will never let you down.  Trust in your dog and they will trust you.  And that is a bond that will last a lifetime.  

That's right!  We are running a Black Friday special.  If you enroll in Basic Foundations or Advanced Obedience by November 27th at 11:59pm, you will receive $25 off your enrollment fee.  We must receive your enrollment by 11:59 to qualify.  Payment will be due on night one of class.  Both classes will begin on January 13th, 2016.  If you have been wanting to enroll, now is the time to take advantage of this deal!  Visit our enrollment form today to get started.  You can also email with any questions.  

I know it is a long way off, but for those of you who like to plan ahead, we have start dates for 2016.  No new classes will be added for 2015 due to the holiday season, so we will be finishing out Basic Foundations and Trick Training for the 2015 training season!

First up will be Basic Foundations starting at 6:30 on Wednesday, January 13.  Class will meet weekly for eight weeks and will cost $130.

Our much anticipated Advanced Obedience will start on Wednesday, January 13 as well.  Class will meet at 7:30 weekly for 8 weeks and will cost $150 (this includes the price of the Canine Good Citizen test fee)

Clicker Basics will be offered in late March 2016--I am attending the Clicker Expo in March of 2016 and hope to have lots to add to the curriculum!

If you are interested in pre-enrolling in any of these classes, please visit our enrollment form.  

We are so excited to announce that we are starting a BRAND NEW class--trick training will begin on November 11th at 7:30 pm at Pawsitively Purfect Salon and Daycare, Inc.  This class will run for 4 weeks and will be $100 (sorry, no discounts available for trick class).  We will cover shake, play dead, sit pretty, roll over, weaving through legs, spin/twirl, play shy and more!  

It is suggested that your dog have basic obedience under his/her belt before attempting the trick class as some of the skills build on basic foundations.  

Our next short session will be clicker training, so be on the look out.  We are excited to be able to offer these fun opportunities to bond with your dog.  To enroll, visit our enrollment form and feel free to email with questions.  

Space is VERY limited, so act quickly!