Dexter progress
When it comes to walking your dog there are SO many different tools to choose from. And while I may recommend some tools over others, each dog and trainer will find what works best for them. Changing the tool will not immediately fix your walk, and there is always training to be done regardless of what you use, but there are some situations where some tools work better than others and will help in the training process!Dexter and Holly here are a great example of what finding the right tool and putting in the work with training can do to improve your walks! Dexter in the first clip is using a prong collar, and as you can see still pulled his mom and was putting a ton of pressure on the leash. In the second clip, Dexter is wearing an easy walk harness and has been training and practicing with Holly on their walks for about two months. You can see how much calmer he is, how he is looking at mom and checking in, and the nice loose leash! Dexter isn’t the only one who had to practice over those two months though as Holly worked on her own leash handling skills - learning to hold the leash in a leash lock and giving Dexter some slack on the leash to prevent frustration from Dexter - and learned the markers of when to praise Dexter and what to look for to reward him on. So proud of the progress this duo has made and can’t wait to continue to see them progress!
Compassionate Canine
A new round of basic obedience classes starts in just a few days! Class begins on Monday September 23rd and will run for five weeks from 6-7pm! During class we will cover basic commands like sit, down, come and stay as well as start building the foundation for some more advanced skills like focus, polite greeting, and loose leash walking! Message, text, call, or email for more information or to sign up!
Meka
Meka’s mom reached out and scheduled some private sessions because of Meka’s dog reactivity
With the help of my trusty fake dog friend, we have been working on teaching Meka that other dogs are no big deal!
The first clip is from my first session with Meka. We worked at a distance to show Meka that there isn’t anything so scary about other dogs after all by having myself and the fake dog at one end and mom and Meka at the other. Our focus was just on showing Meka that other dogs are okay, and rewarding her for calm behaviors with another “dog” in the area. The second clip shows Meka’s progress as she worked up the courage to not only walk past the other “dog” but she also calmly acknowledged that there was another dog present, calmly checked in with mom, and kept walking. This was a huge step for Meka and I couldn’t be prouder!
Private sessions like this are all about you and your dog, your goals, your needs, and developing a plan together to get there!
My camera roll is filled with pictures of dogs from class and private sessions…and I wouldn’t have it any other way!
Basic Obedience Class
Whether it’s your dog’s 1st class or their 100th, basic obedience classes can be so beneficial! Class settings are great for not only introducing your dog to new commands, but also for strengthening their knowledge of existing commands and practicing them in an exciting new environment full of distractions.
Come join me Monday nights for basic obedience classes! Classes start Monday August 5th and run for five weeks from 6-7pm.
Call, text, or email for more information or to sign up
Whether it’s out and about during private sessions or in the “classroom” Mondays and Thursdays, there is no where else I’d rather be than with my clients and their dogs 🐾
Looking forward to starting a new round of Intermediate Obedience Classes this Monday (June 24th) and spending my Mondays in my happy place! There are still spots available if you want to join! Message, call, or text for info!
You so totally rock Knox!
Look at him go navigating walking around other dogs! Knox gets super excited by other dogs and they are a big distraction for him - he is one of our friends that had to spend his first class behind a barrier to help reduce the distractions and over stimulation from being around other dogs - so this was a huge moment for him and I’m so proud of him!
And check out the other rockstars in class maintaining their place even while another dog walks near them!
If you’re interested in exercises like this, then my intermediate obedience class is perfect for you! We will be building up your dogs knowledge of loose leash walking, polite greeting, and their duration of stay as well as introducing them to the commands place, drop it, and leave it
Classes start Monday June 24th in Williamsville and run for five weeks from 6-7pm! Call, text or message for more info or to sign up!
Tuesday Testimonial Time!!
Meet Kelly and her dog Knox:
“Knox is 2 y/o Doberman/Rottweiler mix and is a rescue from Alabama through Nickel City Canine Rescue. He was 6 months old when I got him in the winter of 2022 and came ‘dog, horse and cat friendly.’ Being a dobie mix and the lovie dovie boy he is, his friendliness and excitement towards other dogs presented as major reactivity on a leash. Shelby was recommended through NCCR and we jumped into training right away.
We started with private sessions as I was hesitant to take him around other dogs while leashed due to the reactions I got around my own neighborhood from both Knox himself as well as reactions from the neighbors walking by. It made me self-conscious to take him on long walks, an activity he loves. Shelby came to the home and helped us build the foundation of good leash manners to build the confidence to be around other dogs during our private sessions. She not only helped train Knox she helped train me on the cues to set him up for success. This built my confidence into taking him to group classes.
During our first basic obedience class Knox was behind the tables due to his barking excitement with the other pups and inability to focus. We slowly worked our way from two tables to one all the way to none by our last week! A feat I thought was unattainable! Since then we have continued to work with Shelby and did her intermediate obedience class to build on these tasks. Knox is now able to sit and stay in place while other dogs walk right by him! We then moved onto her special edition Adventure Class which included pet stores with new smells, new people and new pets. Knox can now walk by aisles with other dogs and have a peaceful time in the store if I choose to bring him.
Training in general and Knox’s leash reactivity work is an ongoing task. We continue to work with Shelby and have made huge strides with him! We are at the point we can go to breweries and sit with him on the patio and c
Testimonial Tuesday
It’s time for a Tuesday Testimonial!!
Meet Rebecca and her dog Loki!
“When I adopted Loki, he was 3 years old, not neutered, and came from a rough shelter in Texas. I knew nothing about his background. In his first two weeks here, he got a chicken bone and when I tried to take it from him, he bit me. I was a mess - mad at myself for dropping it, terrified he would die, and upset he bit me and I couldn’t take it from him.
Shelby was recommended to me by several people. I signed up for one on one lessons. Shelby is amazing at what she does. Loki and I learned several useful behaviors during our lessons, but the best thing she taught us is the “LEAVE IT” command. She gave us the gift of safety.
If Loki got another chicken bone, would he bite me if I tried to take it? Probably. But I am 100% confident he will not touch it when I tell him leave it!
Of all the behaviors for a dog to learn, this one is the most important to me. Recently, he caught a mouse in the yard and had it in his mouth. He immediately dropped it when I gave the command. What if the mouse had been poisoned?
I am grateful for what Shelby taught us and would recommend her to everyone.”
So proud of the work Rebecca and Loki have put in and could not be happier to hear about Loki’s amazing progress and how much learning the “leave it” command has helped these two!
I took this photo graduation night of my first ever intermediate obedience class and I am still OBSESSED 😍 these dogs and their owners put in the work and it paid off! ‼️And now I am so excited to announce that I will be offering TWO new rounds of INTERMEDIATE obedience classes‼️These classes are being offered to any clients who have completed basic obedience or done private sessions with me! We will be building off of the skills we’ve introduced to your dogs and working on increasing duration of those stays, polite greetings, loose leash walking, and the place command! Classes will be held Monday and Thursday nights and will run for five weeks from 6-7pm. Monday night classes will be in Williamsville and begin on June 24th. Thursday night classes will be in West Seneca starting July 18th! Message, call/text, or email to sign up or with any questions!
Night 4 out of 5 tonight for this Monday night crew and they’re crushing their recalls! We worked on recall as well as loose leash walking (especially when walking by another dog), holding our stays while other dogs moved around the room, and polite greeting people who approach!
Nothing beats a strong recall
I truly believe that a strong recall is one of the most important skills for your dog to learn. I can’t tell you how many clients I have had tell me that their dog got loose or got out of the backyard but thanks to their strong recall, they were able to get their dog back to them quickly and safely!
I teach recall not only in my private in home sessions but also as a part of my basic obedience classes!
If you want to teach your dog “come” (along with some other basic commands) -or just strengthen their knowledge of the commands - come join us Thursday nights for basic obedience classes starting on May 30th! Additional details are in the comments! Message, email or text with questions or to sign up!
Last night’s class worked on staying in place even while handlers dropped the leash and walked around them, recall, and loose leash walking beside another dog!
All these owners and dogs have made AMAZING progress, but I have to give a special shout-out to Lou (featured in the last clip on the left hand side). Week one of classes, Lou had to stand behind a barrier out of view from other dogs because of the over excitement he had when next to other dogs, but now look at him walking like a pro beside another dog!
‼️Spots are still available for Monday night classes‼️
Classes start Monday May 6th and run for five weeks from 6-7pm.
We will cover basic obedience skills like sit, down, come and stay and also start foundation for more advanced skills like focus, polite greeting and loose leash walking.
Call, text, or email for more information or to sign up! Additional class information is in the comments 🤗
I’m home session - Violet and Dexter
Did you know along with group training sessions I also offer private in home sessions that are tailored to your specific needs and goals??
Holly and I worked with her dogs Dexter (husky/shepherd mix) and Violet (Great Dane) over the weekend and started working on what we can do to make them less reactive when the front door is opened - Dexter wants to run out the door, and Violet gets overstimulated thinking company is coming! So we are taking baby steps working towards greeting guests politely and getting them used to staying settled in place when they hear the doors opening and closing. Great steps towards a bigger goal!
