Valiant Canine Training

12/06/2025

Happy 11th Birthday to the girl who truly changed our lives… Piper!! 🎉🎉🎉

I was looking through old photos and videos the other night… memories from Gulfport and Big Pine/Key West. Every moment reminded me of the challenges we faced together, the growth that came from them, and everything we accomplished together once we made it to Mobile. Through every high and low, we never gave up. We may have had some set backs.. but we never quit.

I am beyond thankful for this girl every single day. She is the reason for so much of who I am, and for the life we’ve built.. a life I wouldn’t trade for anything. And even at 11, she’s still out here raising hell and reminding us that shes still as loud and crazy as ever! 😅

Happy 11th Birthday, our Sweet Pea!! 🥹🫶🏼 Thank you for the life you helped build, the journey you started for us, and the love that has carried us through every chapter. We love you more than words will ever be able to express!! 😭💕

🌐 www.valiantcaninetraining.com
☎️ (810) 705-0437
📧 [email protected]
📍Mackinaw City/Cheboygan, Michigan

12/05/2025

I’ve had a few folks reach out recently about getting their dogs involved in therapy work!! Michelle has started a wonderful non-profit right here in the Cheboygan area, and she’s a great resource for anyone interested in starting the process! If you’re thinking about having your dog become a therapy dog, feel free to reach out to her to get things rolling! We’re so glad to have her as part of the community!! 🤗🎉

🐾 Join our team!

💙 Make an Impact within your community!
🐶 Strengthen Your Bond With Your Dog
😊 Bring Joy Wherever You Go
🌟 Share Your Dog’s Superpower
🤝 Join a Supportive Community
🧠 Enrich Your Dog’s Life
🎓 Gain Training Skills & Experience
❤️ Give Back in a Unique, Heartwarming Way

✨ Perfect for Dogs Who Love:
🫶 People
🐕 Gentle cuddles
🏥 New environments
💛 Making someone’s day just by being themselves

Interested? Send us a DM for more details!

12/04/2025

As silly as it might sound, having insurance for your dog can be a total lifesaver!! Piper has definitely put ours to good use over the years. From her mystery illness earlier this year where she stopped eating that had us running every test under the sun, to the annual hip X-rays, an emergency visit after a dog bite, her TPLO surgery, and even this amazing tPEMF bed her incredible vet prescribed, insurance has helped us through all of it! Kino’s covered too, and thank goodness, because his heartworm treatment after we brought him home was no small expense. Plus, since he helps me in my work, it gives me so much peace of mind knowing he’s covered.

It’s one of those things where we always say, “I’d rather have it than not,” because you truly never know when something unexpected will pop up! Just be sure to check for any preexisting conditions your dog may have so you know what’s covered. For anyone considering it, we personally recommend Figo and Pets Best, they’ve been wonderful for us!!

🌐 www.valiantcaninetraining.com
☎️ (810) 705-0437
📧 [email protected]
📍Mackinaw City/Cheboygan, Michigan

12/04/2025

I’ve taken this webinar with Aimee in the past! HIGHLY recommend to shelter staff and trainers looking to learn more about play groups!!

TOMORROW! New to playgroups? Need a refresher? Don't forget to register for our Q4 Playgroup Webinar at 11am Eastern!
Sign up: https://loom.ly/b542SAs

12/03/2025

We had Maizie’s first in home lesson tonight and she did so well!! Her owners have been telling me about some pretty awesome recall moments she’s had lately, and you can definitely tell they’ve been practicing on all their walks! She even had a stellar moment when her other owner arrived home, recalling back after wanting to run down the driveway! We then took a stroll to practice some more, and her sister Bonnie tagged along as an added distraction!

We went over her place work, downs, stays, and talked through a few behavior questions for Bonnie. And we even had perfect timing with the UPS driver showing up, which turned into a great real life training moment for all 3 dogs and showing her owner what to do. As you can see, Maizie was ready for a nap!

Maizie’s family has a busy schedule with all the extracurriculars mixed in, but they’ve still been finding those small pockets of time to get some reps in, and it really shows. Those intentional moments truly add up!! I seriously love these in home post program lessons, and I’m already looking forward to the next one. Great job, everyone!! 🤗💕

🌐 www.valiantcaninetraining.com
☎️ (810) 705-0437
📧 [email protected]
📍Mackinaw City/Cheboygan, Michigan

12/02/2025

Especially when you’re dealing with behavioral issues. It’s so important to ask as many questions as you need to and choose your trainer wisely. Make sure they’re committed to continuing their education, and don’t hesitate to ask about their process for addressing the specific challenges you and your dog are facing. “Shock and awe” quick results or flashy fixes do not equate to good training. Real, lasting change takes time, consistency, patience, and a thoughtful approach. The wrong approach doesn’t just impact your wallet, it can have long term effects on your dog’s well being. You and your dog deserve someone who wants to build a lasting relationship with you and truly understands how to navigate these challenges with care and intention.

Before you hire a dog trainer, slow down.

When you talk to a trainer, write down exactly what they say — word for word.
Then probe anything that sounds broad or polished:
• “Assertive presence.”
Cool. What does that actually look like in practice?
• “Obedience.”
According to who? What does that mean to them, not you?
• “Balanced trainer.”
Balanced how? With what tools? With what philosophy?
• “ #1 in the area.”
Based on what? Reviews? Results? Or just website wording?

If the words are big but the explanations are vague, that’s a red flag.

And here’s the part most people miss:

Your environment influences your decisions.

Stress, fear, pressure, embarrassment, a new baby, a reactive dog — all of that can rush you into choosing someone fast.

Slow the process down.
Ask questions.
Take notes.
Look for clarity, not catchphrases.

A good trainer can explain their approach simply.
A bad one hides behind buzzwords.

Your dog deserves the difference. 🐾

Pictured: When you read claims like this, ask for definitions. Ask for evidence. Ask for clarity. Advertising isn’t training.

Trainers we recommend:
Animal Aide
Eastern Shore
Heyfarm
Sun paws
Mobile bay dog training club.

12/01/2025

Safe to say Piper is very happy about this snow!! ❄️🥰 I swear you won’t find a dog who loves winter more, she’ll happily hang out in the snow all day! It’s officially her favorite time of year! And honestly, it makes sense… she’s a December baby! Our girl turns 11 this Friday (the same day our next training dog arrives!), so we’ll be celebrating all around!! 🤗🎉

🌐 www.valiantcaninetraining.com
☎️ (810) 705-0437
📧 [email protected]
📍Mackinaw City/Cheboygan, Michigan

12/01/2025

Transparency is incredibly important to me. Over the last three months or so, I’ve had on and off issues with both my Google Business email and my GoDaddy website. When I was setting up a Shopify store, something glitched on the backend and caused my email to stop receiving emails entirely. I didn’t discover this until I was trying to communicate with a professional organization I’m part of, and they let me know they couldn’t get emails through to me when I asked in the community group.

This means behavioral questionnaires were being submitted, but I wasn’t being notified, and some of them unfortunately slipped through the cracks. I only discovered this when a few more came in over this weekend and I was reviewing everything.

I truly apologize for this. I’m currently reaching out to everyone I missed, and I am so incredibly sorry for any frustration or inconvenience this may have caused. If you’re seeing this and have submitted, please keep an eye out for an email from me! Again, thank you for your patience and understanding as I get everything back on track!!

11/30/2025

Got the sweetest update from Atlas’s owner yesterday! They had another family dog over for the day, and everything went beautifully! The dogs played together, enjoyed the snow, and relaxed! She even sent me a few videos, and Atlas looked so comfortable! This was a huge goal for them, and seeing all of their dedication paying off is absolutely fantastic. I’m SO proud of this team!! 🥹🤗💕

🌐 www.valiantcaninetraining.com
☎️ (810) 705-0437
📧 [email protected]
📍Mackinaw City/Cheboygan, Michigan

11/30/2025

Apollo is an incredible dog with some fantastic training under his belt! If you’re looking for a fun, family friendly companion who loves to work and learn, he’s your guy! Reach out to Grunt Style Canine Training for more information! 🤗

Apollo is still looking for his forever home.

11/28/2025

Are you a fellow dog professional looking to grow your skill set and learn from some of the best in the industry?! Grab your ticket for the 2026 International Association of Canine Professionals Conference and secure your spot early! Both member and non-member pricing are available!

Thinking about becoming a member? We’d love to have you join the community! Just use my member number 15189 when you sign up. Let’s keep learning and leveling up together! 🤗

Save on the can't-miss event for canine professionals! Black Friday sale ends Dec 1.