Paws On Training

10/03/2025

Has your 6-month-old puppy stopped listening?

Welcome to adolescence! 🤯
It’s a real developmental stage where their brain remodels, and they test boundaries. It's not defiance, it's biology!

🧠 Brain Under Construction: Just like human teenagers, your dog's brain is going through a massive reorganization. They are testing boundaries, seeking independence, and their impulse control can take a temporary nosedive. It’s a normal, biological part of growing up!
This is also the time they are reaching social and sexual maturity, which can lead to new, and sometimes challenging, behaviors.

How to Navigate This Stage (and keep your sanity!):
Go Back to Basics: Don't be afraid to reteach the fundamentals like sit, stay, and especially recall. Keep training sessions short, fun, and use high-value rewards to remind them that listening to you is awesome!

Management is Key: Prevent unwanted behaviors before they happen. Use leashes, crates, and baby gates to manage their freedom and set them up for success, not failure.

Stay Patient & Consistent: This is the most important part. Your dog isn't being stubborn to spite you. They need clear, consistent boundaries from everyone in the house.

Remeber a bored teen is a destructive teen! Keep their minds busy with puzzle toys, sniffy walks, training games, and appropriate chews.

🐾 what's the biggest "teenage" challenge you're facing with your dog? Let me know in the comments! 🐾

10/01/2025

Is your new puppy a tiny land shark? 🦈
Are your hands and ankles their favourite chew toys? You're not alone!

​Puppy mouthing and biting is a completely normal, and expected, part of their development. Here’s why they do it:

​🐾 Teething: Just like human babies, their gums are sore and chewing provides relief.

🐾 Exploring: Puppies use their mouths to learn about the world, the same way we use our hands.

🐾 Play: It's how they learn to interact and test boundaries, just as they would with their littermates.
​
​- Redirect, Don't Reprimand: The moment you feel puppy teeth on your skin, immediately replace your hand with an appropriate chew toy or a tug rope. Make the toy seem super exciting!
(Always have toys or chews readily available. If you're settling down to watch TV, have one in your lap ready to offer before the biting even starts.)

- Reward the Good Choice: When your puppy chooses to chew their toy instead of you, or if they lick your hand gently, praise them! A calm "yes, Good dog!" or a small treat reinforces their good decision.

​- During play, if your puppy bites, withdraw your attention for a few seconds, this teaches them that biting has consequences—the fun game ends.

​Remember, every time you redirect your puppy successfully, you're making a deposit in their "Good Manners" bank. Patience and consistency are your best tools!

09/30/2025

I have a few spots left in my Puppy social this Sunday. Head to the website to book Www.paws-on-training.com

This is for puppies under six months of age.

09/25/2025

Advanced class Graduation tonight. These kids got their Dogree in obedience and manners.

Huge thanks to Urbane Eight for being dog friendly. ❤️ 🐾

09/24/2025

Let's talk about the most important part of your dog's training journey:
the time you spend outside of class. 🐾 🐾

​A trainer's role isn't to "fix" your dog. Our role is to empower YOU. We guide you, teach you the techniques, and explain the "why" behind them.

​But you, the guardian, are the one who puts it all into practice. By applying the lessons to your daily routines—on walks, at home, and during playtime—you are the one who makes the progress happen. The results you want to see are a direct reflection of the work you put in between sessions.

​You are your dog's most influential teacher. We're just here to give you the best lesson plan!

09/22/2025

I am absolutely inlove with all the photos from my business shoot with Karissavphotography.

Here's a few that I have saved so far.

Thanks again to Hudson, Finnegan and Hydra for coming. 💕

09/21/2025

These cuties had a blast today.

09/20/2025

Advanced class week four.

These amazing dogs headed into Micheals with confidence on Wednesday.

I couldn't be more proud of everyone and how each team navigated the entire store. They walked past customers, staff, and scary Halloween decorations.

Group stays, loose leash walking, and being polite at the checkouts, these guys did incredible.

Graduation is next week, and I can't wait to share photos ☺️

09/18/2025

Check out this adorable group of Intermediate class students that started last night.

09/15/2025

Putting skills to the test!

It’s one thing to practice in a classroom, but it’s another to navigate the sights, sounds, and smells of a busy store like Canadian tire.

Every single team demonstrated fantastic progress, especially with:

- Loose Leash Walking: Navigating aisles and passing others without pulling or reacting.

- Polite Greetings: Appropriately greeting other people and dogs with gaurdians permission.

- Duration Stays: Holding a solid "stay" while their humans were several feet away, browsing the shelves.

This is the freedom and relationship that dedicated training builds. I couldn't be prouder of this group!

09/14/2025

Paws on Training has been nominated in the Community Votes Lethbridge 2025 awards under Pet Training.

Your support means so much to me, and I would greatly appreciate your vote.

You can cast your vote here:
👉 https://lethbridge.communityvotes.com/2025/06/pet-and-pet-care/pet-training

Thank you for your trust and for allowing me to be a part of your dog’s training journey.

Official 2025 Community Voting Awards Platform for Lethbridge, AB. Where the community votes for their favourites every year.

09/12/2025

👻🎃 Are you ready for some spooky cute photos? 🎃👻

Fall/Halloween sessions are just around the corner, whether you're dressing up as a pumpkin, a pirate, or a perfectly adorable monster, I'm here to capture the magic.

Grab your broomsticks and fly over to the website for all the session dates and booking info! These spots disappear faster than candy corn on Halloween night!

Www.paws-on-training.com
October 18th and 19th