Big Dog Energy Dog Training

03/01/2023

I caught this gem after some afternoon frisbee and hill sprints on .
Hill sprints are good for your dog in similar ways they are good for you! It builds up back end strength, cardiovascular health, and endurance. Just like with running and other intense exercise, if your dog doesn’t do it regularly, you should build up to it. Start slow and low, then gradually build it up!
Here’s the trick: pay attention to your dogs movement the next day. If they seem exhausted or sore, take the day off until they are back to themselves.

02/20/2023

Off leash hike today! These are some of the benefits of the efforts of thorough training. As a reminder: Having a good relationship with your dogs doesn’t always mean your recall is solid.
We were approached by a gentleman with two off-leash dogs who were more excited to see us than they were willing to listing to him.
Thankfully they stopped about 10feet from us after a stern “no” from me and a booming “come” from him (they didn’t return to him, but they did stop). While this experience ended safely, but it very well could not have. You have to train, train, train your recall. And then train it again, and then proof it. First on leash with distractions, then while dragging a long line with distractions and finally off leash with distractions. Your recall should be bomb proof on lead before you even consider trying it off leash. There have been too many people who’s dogs were approached and a fight broke out, who’s dogs ran off after something and scared them to death and sadly, too many whose dogs ran into the street and ended up hit.

Be thorough. Be considerate. Leash up when you see other people (dogs or not) and give them space. Always play it on the safe side.

02/18/2023

Check out Mr. KaCi!!
Today we worked on his heel and focus among distractions! After some initial excitement, he settled in and kept progressing from there! Forward progress is always good, even in baby steps! He showed us today that he knows the material, but doesn’t always do it when asked. That’s when we have to follow through with consistency and clarity to hold him accountable.

02/12/2023

Hello everyone!
As an FYI
If anyone is in the downtown Baltimore area- the Loyal Companion in McHenry Row (and Loyal Companion as a whole) is ceasing operations at the end of February! 😭 Everything in the store is 10-30%off as of now and will probably get more off the later that you go!! If you need anything, how’s the time!!

02/12/2023

We got out yesterday to do some walking since the weather gave us such an unseasonably beautiful day! I hope you all got to go out and enjoy the weather as well!

02/05/2023

We did it! I had my guys on a routine that they loved so much you could tell when we’d fallen off it! We had a lot of stuff going on these past two weeks and so we’ve been a bit off- I’m happy to say today starts the decline in life distractions! Today we were able to get up and went out to help get us back on that routine!
Life happens to all of us- training management and how you get yourself back into routine is what matters.

02/01/2023

Everyone please welcome Zuri! Zuri is already the best girl- she’s super sweet, polite and very very friendly. She is loved just the way she is, but for her own benefit, she’s here to learn some impulse control, calm down in the car and tune up her basics. Stay turned for updates on Zuri!!

01/07/2023

Photo dump from this afternoons beach extravaganza!

01/07/2023

Hello! My name is Megan and I am the owner/trainer of Big Dog Energy Dog Training. This is a bit about me:
My life, and my dogs lives, weren’t always like this. It took us a while to get here. In 2011, when my life was falling apart, my shepherd was two. Due to my emotional rollercoaster and the fact that I had done what I could to train her but hadn’t met or maintained her training needs, began to develop separation anxiety, was destructive when I left and all of her manners went out the door. That’s when we found balanced training. We started adding obedience and structure to our walks, doing place and work inside, and finding the routine that worked for us. Once we established a routine, our lives then began to shift into a more peaceful and trusting existence.
Fast forward a few years and I started training and shadowing with other trainers I learned a TON about training and about myself. Over the years I kept with it and eventually started Big Dog Energy Dog Training.
In July of 2021, I adopted my mutt, Juice. It took a good bit of patience and consistency to get through to him but here we are, loving the off leash life and going on beach adventures.
In the picture attached is myself and my two dogs 🐶 🐶 was taken this morning in . We like to take these little breaks for us so we can reset and just because vacations and self care is important, even for your pets!🐾
Check out my website for more information about Big Dog Energy Dog training. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask!

01/06/2023

Taking a weekend for us and enjoying the beach at !

This is the beauty and happiness of off leash life. A well trained recall and relationship with your dog is the only way off leash life is responsible and as enjoyable for you as it is for your dog!

12/22/2022

Meet KaCi! This sweet, energetic mini Golden doodle is training with us to help him learn some basic manners! He’s a bit of a wild child and loves to sing to his mom… all night so we are focusing on calmness, impulse control and leash manners to start using up some of that mental energy! Stay tuned for some updates on KaCi!

12/16/2022

Rain 🌧️ ☔️ went away- in the mud we play!

Being socialized doesn’t always mean the dog park. Having balanced, trained friends who remain under control is just as great! Socialization also includes meeting people, visiting new places and just being able to exist in the world.. and it’s even better when taught to do it in a controlled and polite manner. Plus, having reliable off leash skills is pretty awesome and makes life with your dog so much more fun!

12/16/2022

This one hits me hard on days like today! 😂 luckily, being able to use your obedience to have your dogs sit and stay or go to place/crate they wait their turn to be dried off is SUPER helpful. A few ordinary person tips I’ve found work nicely over the years:
1. Prep before leaving. Make sure you have the necessary items you need ready to go for when you return. 🧺
2. Develop a routine for you and your freshly 🚿rinsed-by-nature 🌧️ pooch to determine what works best for you and your dog. 🐶
3. Remember that rain sucks for every outdoor pet owner out there and we are all suffering. You are not alone! 😂

12/09/2022

The beauty of having off-leash freedom. You find an empty field and can play a good game of frisbee with your 4 legged sidekick.

It’s dangerous to have your dog off leash without a solid recall. Squirrels, people, dogs, cats, bikes, other wild life or a variety of other distractions can pull your dogs attentions and 💥 boom 💥 off they go. Off leash without a reliable recall can cause BIG issues. Do the best thing for you and your dog and train a reliable recall or don’t take them off leash.

11/28/2022

My happy pups holding their heel for our shortened morning walk (1.6miles) today. Adding structure to your dogs walk can help burn off extra energy that many dog owners interpret to be physical energy. Dogs need to burn off mental energy as well! We sit at corners, walk in a heel and vary speeds to help challenge their focus and their ability to maintain the heel position at varying speeds.

11/25/2022

Juice is exhausted. It’s been a long two days for this kid- his first set of holidays that weren’t the “everyone stays home” type. He’s seemed a bit all over the place today so we have been structuring his day and holding him more accountable, to help him settle back in to routine. Sometimes using the basics helps get everyone back on track!

11/24/2022

A nice picture of some sleepy dogs after a long day. Believe it or not- we didn’t do much today at all. We slept in, cooked some food, spent some time in the crate and on place, took a walk and overall just relaxed. Now we are zonked out on place while I crack open a good book and drink some tea. ♥️
Happy Thanksgiving everyone! I hope you had a safe and happy day!

11/22/2022

A few weeks ago, Juice and I took a field trip to Druid Hill Park to work with my sister and one of her dogs that needed a planned distraction to help them work through some things. Druid Hill Park is the home of the Maryland Zoo, which made for some great photo opportunities outside of the Zoo!
Creating a solid pattern of behaviors and expectations is vital to your dogs success- over excitement gets you no where, and calmness & polite behavior gains you everything!
The training doesn’t just apply at home or in familiar locations.. the training travels everywhere you take your dog to!

11/19/2022

Hi guys! I know there has been a break in my posts- I’ve spent the last few months working with clients, on my personal self and my own dogs. Now, my social media hiatus is over and I’m back! I’ll be playing catch up these next few weeks to get you guys back in the loop, but for now, enjoy some recent pictures of Juice! These are pictures from our weekly run group that we participate and he gets all the new experiences- ice cream shops, new neighborhoods, interactions, breweries, etc. (I promise I will keep posting about these moving forward!) gaining all the knowledge of how our training travels. It’s applicable everywhere!
What kind of adventures have you been on with your dog recently?

08/30/2022

A pretty picture of my sweet old girl for your enjoyment. 😍♥️

08/22/2022

Sometimes, when you don’t have a yard, you have to put your own discomfort aside to do what’s best for your dog(s)- even if it means wet dog smell and squishy shoes! I will ✨ALWAYS✨ encourage you to find time to walk your dog 🐕 daily. It’s such a valuable time for the two of you. These two were chomping at the bit to get out this morning and aside from needing to go potty, they needed to MOVE. So we did. My feet are soaked but my dogs are happy. 🤷🏻‍♀️☔️🐾♥️

07/30/2022

It was an old dog field trip morning. We joined .the.beloved and , as well as their senior dogs Clementine and Yogi in for the and some dog friendly ice cream from !

Sometimes it’s easy to get lost in the dogs that need more work- clients and my own- and i am reminded why she is the GOAT.

It has been a good start to the day so far. ♥️

07/11/2022

Meet Koba! Koba is a 5 year old mix breed working with us for a few critical reasons. He is reactive on a leash towards dogs, bikes and cars. He elevates quickly and explodes, then has trouble settling down again afterwards. He has some major separation anxiety, and has destructive tendencies when left unsupervised. While he is all of these things, Koba is super sweet and seems eager to learn. We have already started working on his struggle points and begun making steps toward a better life for Koba and his family! Stay tuned for more progress from Koba!

07/10/2022

The many faces of “place”.
What do you see? Bored or relaxed?

Many people worry that if they use place too often, your dog will be bored and not wear down any energy. While this theory makes sense for some people and most kids who sit for long periods of time, it’s not the same for a dog.
Dogs run on impulsive urges. Being stationary is a WORKOUT all on its own. Additionally, it puts any stress and anxiety to a productive outlet or “job”.. staying on place.
Remember, not all energy outlet is physical! Mental outlet is just as important!

06/22/2022

When you tighten up your puppy’s heel positioning. From one to two. ♥️

06/16/2022

Check out Teddy and Lola!!
Housemates who have been struggling with impulse control, separation anxiety and diving for anything edible that drops from plates, counter tops, tables or anywhere else!
In our time working together, we have set and held simple boundaries for them. Using place and crate to keep them out from under anyones feet, threshold manners to keep them from impulsively darting out doors and gates, and added skills such as “leave it” to help keep them from ingesting something toxic.
These two are coming up on their last session and I am extremely proud of the progress they have made in my time working with them! Congratulations to their owners- they have been putting in the work!! The results will always show it!

05/26/2022

As we near summer, please consider this with your smooshed-face (Brachycephalic) dog breeds such as all bulldogs, boxers, pugs, Shih Tzu, Boston terrier, Pekingese, Brussels Griffon, Lhasa Apso & Cavalier King Charles spaniel. These are just some of the breeds that won’t be able to cool off as quickly as others, but it is STILL extremely imperative that you be mindful of the temperatures outside and of the asphalt you’re asking your dog to walk on! Dogs do not cool off at the efficiency humans do! PLEASE BE CAUTIOUS!

A picture is worth a thousand words

Share this one with your clients so they have a better understanding of the struggles for a brachycephalic pet.

Image credit: International Canine Behaviorists

05/25/2022

05/23/2022

Dear Mom and Dad" Let me stay home. It's not nice for me to walk and run next to you. But because I am a loyal dog, I often go beyond my limits. So I walk and run beside you, standing still if I have to. And feel my paws burn.
I'm looking at you for a moment, but you do not understand. Because in a little over 5 minutes we're at the cool puddle, right? But those little 5 minutes can be fatal to me. Because I sweat through my paws, and in this heat, I just can not get rid of the sweat. My whole body is boiling, but I keep going .....
And then I end up on the tarmac. In the heat and in the sun. With my tongue out of my mouth and my eyes flashing in the sun. My paws are burning, my tongue is dry and my head is pounding in the heat that my body cannot get rid of ...
Instead, let me stay at home where I can enjoy the sun, with a large bowl of water, somewhere in the shade. And best of all like in a cool area with grass.
Love
Your dog

05/21/2022

“Um, Ms. Meg, I don’t think I heard you correctly.. did you say ‘no more impulsive decisions’?!”
Oh, sweet boy.. I did. Theo is a super good boy, but has a habit of doing impulsive things like: jumping on people, rushing out the door & pushing past people on the stairs, jumping on the counter and snagging and chewing his favorite item- SOCKS 🧦!! All of these behaviors can be dangerous to both Theo and his family!
Teaching and enforcing the place command, threshold manners, and basic obedience skills in the home, as well as outside help to teach your dog to wait for release from the stationary position they are in, instead of acting on impulse. This stimulates your dog mentally, helping to drain all that access energy!!
Don’t worry- we still incorporate plenty of time to play, enjoy their lives & just be a dog.. we make sure it is well-timed between sessions of skill work and structure!
Train on, my friends! ♥️🐾

05/20/2022

Anyone have any to donate?! I’ll meet up with you and take them over if need be!!

05/20/2022

Need more info about heat stroke in dogs? Here you go:

☀️ With this weekend being the first of many with high temperatures, here’s your friendly reminder about heat stroke and pets 🔥

05/12/2022

“WHAT?! No more pulling?!”
Oh, it’s true Kylie, girl! Check out Kylie, rocking her sit-stay outside. Prior to starting training, Kylie was a big puller! At almost 90 lbs, she is INTIMIDATING and strong! And when pulling and jumping at the end of the leash, it’s been hard to control her and it has taken her mom off her feet multiple times. So her mom called me to help! We have added structure and are replacing her impulsive behaviors with more appropriate and polite ones! Kylie is making quick progress of her steps toward a calm and balanced life, but still has a ways to go! Keep watching for more progress!!

05/07/2022

Meet Kylie!
Kylie is an almost 3 years old Dane/ Retriever mix who has had a very luxurious life! Kylie’s owner and her have a very tight bond that needs a little bit of adjustment to balance Kylie out to be as well mannered as she is sweet! A front door and outdoor enthusiast, Kylie needs some work on her threshold manners and leash skills.
Follow along to watch Kylie grow from a sweet and over excitable girl to a still sweet, balanced & polite girl!
Train on, my friends! ♥️🐾

05/07/2022

Check out Theo working his place command!! Theo is just a baby and struggles with impulsive behaviors such as jumping, mouthing and shadowing his mom. So we put him to work! He had his basic obedience training in a group puppy class, but applying it to the real world and following through is where his mom wanted some guidance! She wants to be sure she does it correctly and times the praise and rewarding correctly!
And look at them go! Mom is putting in the work! Theo is makibg great progress with solidifying his place command and door manners!! I’m so proud of this them!!
Keep up the great work!!

Follow along to watch their progress!
Train on, my friends! ♥️🐾

05/04/2022

Let’s welcome Teddy & Lola to the Big Dog Energy Dog training family!! Both 3yrs old, these cuties struggle with separation anxiety and walking on a leash, as well as impulse control. Lola had had basic obedience training already, but is very selective about when she listens, so she gets a tune up and Teddy will learn his basic obedience through out!
Keep an eye out for their progress!!
Train on, my friends! 🐾♥️

05/02/2022

Check out this Ham!!! Schatzi girl feeling good after her grooming appointment!!
It can take a lot of work for your dog to feel comfortable with & at the groomers. Handling your dog from the time they get to you, plus socialization is KEY. Ears, mouth, feet, nails.. knowing what your dog will do and how they handle themselves is THE key to safety for your groomer. Be honest, a good groomer will know how to handle your dog.

04/28/2022

Let’s welcome Callie to the Big Dog Energy Dog Training family!
Callie is a 2 year old Hound who was recently adopted from a local rescue. She is a sweet girl, with a good heart. Callie is in need of some guidance, boundaries and structure to help her adapt to her new home and to help her start her new life off on the right paw!
Stay tuned for updates!!
Train on, my friends! 🐾♥️

04/26/2022

Ah, the beauty of down stays.
Here is a picture of my dogs,(and boyfriend 🤣- just kidding) holding down stays on our mini-vacation while I unpacked. We did it throughout our stay and again when it was time to pack up.

Adding structure (down-stay, place or crate time) to ANY place you go to- short or long duration, helps your dog to understand that expectation is consistent anywhere! This will help with anxiety and over excitement, while allowing you to pack, unpack and settle in.
Train on, my friends. ♥️🐾