Honor Bright Dog Training with Janice K Applegate

10/21/2024

If a decompression walk is judged by the dirt it the water, I think we nailed it 🤭

Mom's job is stressful, time consuming and currently taking over life. So, I took these kiddos out for a few hours!

Baths were already in the plans this evening, so we got down and dirty!!! That "water" is just from legs and bellies!!!

Bet they are out cold now!!!

10/12/2024

10/12/2024

Day 2 getting underway!

10/07/2024

I am so incredibly fortunate to be attending THE Agression in Dogs Conference in person this year! I will be away with extremely limited availability Wednesday 10/9 to Wednesday 10/16.

Looking forward to seeing friends, colleagues and mentors in Phoenix!

Should we be treating symptoms, or understanding causes?

10/05/2024

Hey... clients (present and past!)! Please, remember. We are so very fortunate to have fenced in our front hay field! I can't guarantee hot air balloon landings, but the best sunsets happen at Honor Bright Farm !

Please take advantage of this incredible fenced in area to decompress WITH your dog. Text/ email me!!!!

10/03/2024

Super excited for Dr Amanda Modes new endeavor!

09/29/2024

I got to start making friends with Enzo today! This poor guy has been through a whole lot in his 2 short years!

Enzo is not so fond of new folks, and definitely not fond of new folks coming into his home.

So, we set everyone up for success in our huge fenced in field! The fence makes for a beautiful barrier. Enzo was able to use as much space as he needed while inside the field. His mom stayed inside the field while we chatted over the fence.

Not one single bark from Enzo! He was happily taking treats and playing with me while still maintaining safety.

Next visit, we will again meet at the farm. I want to make sure Enzo is cool with being friends prior to me invading his home. One step at a time!

09/28/2024

Today, in the rain, Billy came to visit all the way from New York! We have been working together virtually, but today they made the couple hour drive to Hunterdon county to work in person!

Billy is extremely "reactive" to cars. He has pulled his guardians down (causing injury) been hit by one, has redirected his frustration by biting and been through multiple trainers before me.

Billy's people have been so very dedicated to helping him, but literally fear walking him from the driveway to the house, or from the car to the vets office.

Today, we worked with Billy inside a fence, with a harness and long line. He worked around the horses. We practiced leash techniques. Then we headed to the park. This park has a path that runs along 3 roads. Mostly 35+mph, frequently traveled. Billy in his harness and long line making AWESOME decisions and HUGELY successful.

Did WE make mistakes? Of course we did. Did Billy wind up over threshold? Yup. Sadly.
Did he recover? OH MY DOG YES!!

We observed his body language together. They observed MY body language and things I didn't even realize I do!!

See, Billy once redirected his frustration every time he was corrected for car chasing. He was not corrected once today.

Positive reinforcement works folks. Even with those "high drive" dogs. Even with those with a bite history. Even those big dogs that have had the opportunity to rehearse "in appropriate behavior".

If you are currently using a shock collar, prong or choke collar because you feel its the only way to remain in control or rely on saying NO... we can help you say YES!

The best moment for me today... "For 2.5 years we have felt defeated. Today, we go home with hope."
I LOVE MY CLIENTS and the role I play in their lives!

www.honorbrightdogtraining.com

09/26/2024

I wanted to provide an update on my bestest Boi Ditto. There is no doubt that Ditto has a huge fan club and i am honored to be the president!

Ditto has been my work partner long before HBDT came into existence. He has a knack for reading dogs and knowing just what they need to have a successful session in the presence of some their biggest triggers.

When we learned that Ditto had mass cell sarcoma, there was no doubt that whatever needed to be done would be.

Dr Ruskin and her team made me feel at ease the moment I walked through the door. Each day I left Ditto, despite the 1.5 car ride, he bounced into the office ready to greet his adoring nurses. Everyone there treated him like the rock star he is and I know they cared for and loved him like their own. This is the first veterinary office that everyone greeted him with a hello, a scritch or a requested hug. Ditto has spent 4 full days at VCA so far!

Barkley's staff, especially Michele and Brian have been instrumental in helping me improve Ditto's diet within my budget (here's where having TOO MANY animals is a problem!). The whole house had had a diet change as well as additional supplements.

It is HUGELY important to advocate for ourselves and our animals. I often say "I know enough to be dangerous". Having a trusted team that is advocating for your animals right along side of you is the best support system.

Huge thanks to VCA and Barkley's for being experts in their fields. Ditto and I are so incredibly grateful!

I can not recommend our friends at VCA and Barkley's enough.

Ps- Michele and Brian.... Ditto will be in for a picture soon 😘

08/24/2024

Meet Maggie!

Today we had our second in person session. Maggie has a fairly significant vision impairment and struggles with her confidence. New places scare her. New people cause her worry. She has a hard time settling.

Who can blame her!?!

Today, she got to come run in the field. She got to explore all of the sights, sounds and smells on the farm.

She met "Pappa" (aka my Dad). Sure, it took her a minute. We used some good ol social interaction and the "Mr Roger's Hack"... within a few minutes she was soliciting pets from a stranger! A big, male, stranger (who doesn't always listen to his dog trainer daughter 🙄).

Maggie has made HUGE improvement in just a few weeks!!!! Bravo team Maggie!

08/22/2024

What a beautiful few days we had!
Bodhi and Violet had an absolute blast today!
Please remember how important it is to let your dogs just be dogs sometimes!

Excuse the snorts, but Violet is a character. She is deaf, and moves like a rabbit. SHE LOVES BEING DIRTY!!! She is affectionately nicknamed Dirty V and I have decided she is my spirit animal.
Digging in the shore, rolling in whatever they pleased, running into things. These terriers got to terrier! It makes my heart happy.

08/20/2024

Just in case you wonder why you livestock guardian breed (or even mix) barks and guards....

08/20/2024

Had to drop in our favorite store for some awesome treats and some advice from Michelle on supplements and nutrition!
It is such a relief to have knowledgeable and honest friends to lean on.

Thank you Michelle!! ❤️ 😍

08/05/2024

We were so thankful to have extra paws on staff to oversee the kong stuffing station for KONG DAY! Barkley's Branchburg

08/04/2024

My favorite part of KONG day was definitely seeing Josie and Deb mingle amongst multiple dogs of different ages and breeds.
So proud of this team!

08/04/2024

Come visit me in Branchburg!