Pawsitive Chance Dog Training

03/08/2025

Happy Friday!!!

PD: black and tan dog sitting on a couch tilting his head all the way back to look behind him. His jowls are flopping down to show his teeth so that it almost looks like he’s smiling.

02/27/2025

Training Tip: When taking your service dog or SDiT into a public restroom, make sure he remains standing or sitting the entire time - laying on a public bathroom floor is yucky! Keep him close, as public restrooms are small spaces and he could easily get in the way while walking to/from the stall and at the sink.

Description: light colored golden retriever looks at the camera with his mouth open and tail wagging. He is standing on a tile floor with bathroom stalls in the background.

02/13/2025

Update your pets’ microchip information any time it changes, but if your pets’ microchips are registered with this company you’ll need to register with a new company. Ask your vet if you’re unsure of the next steps.

The closure of a pet microchip company sparks confusion, but AAHA's microchip registry lookup tool can help.

02/12/2025

The county website has good information on warming shelters and other important resources during extreme conditions such as the current cold weather event. If you or someone you know is in need of resources, click the link below.

During extreme weather events (such as heat, smoke, or winter storms), emergency sites may be recommended by Public Health and County Emergency Management as a way to provide the public shelter from unsafe conditions.

02/12/2025

It’s real chilly here in Central Oregon - keep yourselves and your critters warm and safe!!!

Please protect your human & animal loved ones, as well as your homes. We all know these things, but reminders can't hurt.

Make noise before starting your vehicles to warn any community cats. Take pups on expedient potty breaks. Dress people & pups appropriately. Beware of the dangers of frostbite & hypothermia. Protect your pipes. Ensure that vehicle emergency kits include blankets & candles.

Warming shelter details (via NeighborImpact) can be found in the comments.

02/09/2025

NEW!

The new Low Cost Therapy Dog Training library for prospective therapy dog handlers is finally up and running!

A library of training exercises, videos, and step-by-step instructions to help you and your dog become a stellar therapy dog team!

Includes:
- A library of training exercises (videos and step-by-step instructions)
- A handy socialization checklist customized for therapy dogs
- A full run through of what the evaluation will look like (specific to the Pet Partners team eval) to best prepare you for what to expect day-of
- Helpful tips and tricks for passing your therapy team evaluation

If you are interested in becoming a therapy dog team with your dog or know someone who is, it is MUCH needed both here in Central Oregon and around the country and brightens the lives of so many people!

Check out the new Therapy Dog Training library now:

www.patreon.com/PawsitiveChanceDogTraining

02/09/2025

NEW!

The new Low Cost Therapy Dog Training library for prospective therapy dog handlers is finally up and running!

A library of training exercises, videos, and step-by-step instructions to help you and your dog become a stellar therapy dog team!

Includes:
- A library of training exercises (videos and step-by-step instructions)
- A handy socialization checklist customized for therapy dogs
- A full run through of what the evaluation will look like (specific to the Pet Partners team eval) to best prepare you for what to expect day-of
- Helpful tips and tricks for passing your therapy team evaluation

If you are interested in becoming a therapy dog team with your dog or know someone who is, it is MUCH needed both here in Central Oregon and around the country and brightens the lives of so many people!

Check out the new Therapy Dog Training library now:

www.patreon.com/PawsitiveChanceDogTraining

Low cost service dog and therapy dog training content

02/07/2025

𝗘𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗗𝗼𝗴 𝗕𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴—𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗗𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗠𝗲𝗮𝗻?

For us, it means putting the health and future of our breed above personal gain. Every single one of our dogs goes through 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗼𝗿𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 to ensure we are passing on the absolute best genetics possible. It’s not just about temperament, looks, or how many titles they’ve earned—it’s about 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗰𝗮𝗻’𝘁 𝘀𝗲𝗲 that truly matters.

On February 3rd, we got devastating news: 𝗟𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝗱𝗶𝗱𝗻’𝘁 𝗽𝗮𝘀𝘀 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗲𝗹𝗯𝗼𝘄 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁𝘀. Even though both of her parents have passing scores, she was diagnosed with 𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗱𝘆𝘀𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘀𝗶𝗮. You’d never know it by looking at her—she's stunning, sweet, calm, and just five points away from her AKC Champion title. But none of that changes the fact that she could have 𝗽𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗽𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗲𝘀.

Yet, I hear it all the time—especially from backyard breeders:
🗣️ “𝑴𝒚 𝒅𝒐𝒈 𝒊𝒔 𝒔𝒐 𝒔𝒘𝒆𝒆𝒕 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒕𝒕𝒚; 𝒔𝒉𝒆 𝒅𝒆𝒔𝒆𝒓𝒗𝒆𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒆 𝒂 𝒎𝒐𝒎!”
🗣️ “𝑩𝒓𝒆𝒆𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒉𝒆𝒍𝒑 𝒇𝒖𝒍𝒇𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒎𝒚 𝒅𝒐𝒈’𝒔 𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒆.”
🗣️ “𝑴𝒚 𝒅𝒐𝒈 𝒊𝒔 𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒇𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒍𝒚 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒍𝒕𝒉𝒚! 𝑺𝒉𝒆’𝒔 𝒏𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒉𝒂𝒅 𝒂𝒏𝒚 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒃𝒍𝒆𝒎𝒔.”

❌ None of that matters if you aren’t health testing. ❌

Backyard breeding is 𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. Maybe you get lucky and only deal with environmental allergies. 𝗢𝗿 𝗺𝗮𝘆𝗯𝗲, 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝘄𝗼 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝗼𝗹𝗱, 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗱𝗼𝗴 𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗽𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗮𝗻 𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗮𝗴𝗻𝗼𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗱𝗲𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁. Maybe they live in pain because their joints are deteriorating. These aren’t "bad luck" cases—they're preventable with proper health and genetic testing.

So why doesn’t the nice lady down the road who breeds 𝙞𝙣𝙨𝙚𝙧𝙩 𝙗𝙧𝙚𝙚𝙙 𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 do health testing? 𝗕𝗲𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗶𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝘀𝘁𝘀 𝗺𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘆. Because when the results don’t go their way, they stand to lose thousands in future puppy sales.

𝗧𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝘄𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗶𝗰𝗲.
Lady was spayed and officially retired from our breeding program. It hurt. The time, money, energy, and dreams we had for her were all pulled out from under us in a few X-rays and paperwork. But you know what? 𝗟𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁.. She’s still the same incredible dog—she just has a different path now, one filled with love, adventure, and plenty of spoiling.

✨ Find a breeder who tests.
✨ Find a breeder who honors those results—even when they don’t go in their favor.
✨ Find a breeder who puts the dogs before the dollars.

Because 𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗯𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘆—𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗶𝘁’𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱. 🖤

02/02/2025

It was a blast seeing all the dogs (and their humans!) run and handing out more whipped cream filled treats than I can count. Always happy to support The Bend Ronald McDonald House and Humane Society of Central Oregon - can’t wait until next year! Thanks to Sunriver Brewing Co. and The Village At Sunriver for having us again!

Thank you to everyone who helped make the 2025 Sunriver Brewing Co. K9 Keg Pull a success (including the adorable dogs and their awesome owners)! Your generous donations will go a long way in support The Bend Ronald McDonald House and Humane Society of Central Oregon. Click the link to see where your dog placed! We look forward to running with you again in 2026!

02/01/2025

Looking forward to watching all the pups run tomorrow! If you’ll be there, stop by our booth for a chance to win a gift basket with all kinds of goodies for your dog!

01/29/2025

Good news! We are one step closer to releasing our Therapy Dog Virtual Training Library! If you’ve ever considered visiting hospitals, schools, nursing homes or other places with your dog, there is a huge need! And you won’t want to miss the launch of this new, low cost membership program!

This self study library is complete with video tutorials and troubleshooting guides to help steer you back when things go wrong, and teaches you step-by-step all the skills your dog needs to pass your team evaluation.

Photo: a picture of a person, hugging a dog. Below it a black background with words hidden behind a plastered over title that says “Therapy dog virtual training library coming soon!”

01/24/2025

I’ll have a booth educating about service dogs and answering questions. Stop by for a chance to win a free raffle basket with lots of goodies for you and your dog!

Support The Bend Ronald McDonald House next Saturday at the 2025 Sunriver Brewing Co. K9 Keg Pull in The Village at Sunriver! We hope to see you and your pup's smiling faces there!

01/21/2025

COMING SOON - low cost training resources for service dogs and therapy dogs. These will be step-by-step training videos, handouts, an online community where you can interact with others who are going through the same journey, ask the trainer questions directly, and submit videos for personalized feedback!

This is all still in the works, but I’ll be posting updates as we get closer to launching so you know when you can expect to see these awesome low cost training resources!!

Photo description: Shelby and her two dogs (a black lab and a black and tan kelpie) with the words COMING SOON over the top. Below says Pawsitive Chance Dog Training Low Cost Service Dog and Therapy Dog Training Content

PD2: says “Wecome. I'm Shelby and I am a Certified Guide Dog Mobility Instructor, Service Dog Trainer, and Therapy Dog Evaluator. I have been training dogs professionally for ten years and want to bring accessible training to you.
The purpose of these memberships is to create a variety of low cost resources to support you on your training journey and help you make your dog the best they can be. Whether you are training a service dog or therapy dog, there will be resources here that will benefit you on your journey.
Depending on your needs, goals, and the type of training you are pursuing, there may be several membership tiers available to you. The most basic tiers include a library of videos and handouts that you will have access to for as long as you’d like. These will be step-by-step how-to videos as well as helpful training tips, checklists, and other training tidbits. If you are looking for a community-based group where you can chat with others, ask the trainer questions directly, or submit training videos for personalized feedback, consider joining one of the higher tiers.
Things are always changing around here and content is being added regularly to keep challenging you to help your dog become the best they can be - and to help you become the best handler you can be - so stick around to see what else is coming!”

12/13/2024

E-fences, do they actually keep your dog safe? It actually turns out not so much. 😬

People often turn to electronic collars, and electronic fences, as the seemingly top-tier method of keeping their dog within a certain confined space. However, a study published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, found that they are actually significantly less effective than the bog standard fence types including privacy fences and see-through fences. In fact the dogs confined with an electronic fence were almost twice as likely to escape (44%) than those using the other fence types (23.3%).

This is also not the only issue with using an electronic fence/ e-fence to keep your dog confined compared to the more traditional fence types, such as...

❎ It doesn't prevent dangers entering, which could put you and your dog at risk.
Even if the fence was able to keep your dog in, it doesn't stop other creatures, or people, entering the space that could either hurt your dog or even try to steal them. A privacy fence, or other fence type, would not only deter a dog from leaving but unwanted visitors from coming in too.

❎ If the dog does get out, they may not be able to get back in.
Sometimes dogs are hit with such strong adrenaline it will surpass the pain of the e-collar shock, this could be due to fear, prey drive or something else. This could leave them free outside the confinement area where they could get hurt, or become exhausted, and then not be in the same state of adrenaline in order to get in again, leaving them vulnerable and stuck outside the confinement area.

❎ It can create unexpected or unintended negative associations if the dog gets shocked whilst watching something near the fence line.
Dogs like to watch things, we all know dogs who sit at the window all day to have a nosey at what is going on in the neighbourhood. If your dog is watching at the fence line, and see something interesting, such as another dog or person, they may inadvertently move forward enough to receive a shock. They may now associate whatever they were watching with this negative consequence, which could lead to fear or even aggression if they encounter the same or similar visual later on.

So E-fences are not only not as effective as they are often perceived to be, but they also carry their own specific risks on top of that as well. So if you wish to keep your dog safe, I would recommend to always aim for a suitable physical fence, rather than relying on an e-collar. 👍

You can find the study quoted in the graphic here: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28117644/ #:~:text=Dogs%20confined%20by%20an%20electronic,22%2F82%20%5B26.8%25%5D).

12/08/2024

Help a local family this holiday season! The Giving Tree that used to be located at Mountain Jug is now conveniently located inside the Sunriver Village Bar & Grill! Grab a tag (or two!) to give to a local child, adult, or family this Christmas.

Not located in Central Oregon? Find a local Giving Tree in your area to help local families near you!

I’ve already got my tags and am ready to bring holiday cheer to a few local kids asking for warm clothes and toys.

12/03/2024

Give your dog a workout for Christmas from a certified Canine Strength and Conditioning professional!

10/27/2024

10/27/2024

Uber is rolling out new features to assist riders with disabilities and is adding training for drivers to help better accommodate them.