Turning Point Dog Training

06/21/2024

Teddy has been home for a little over a week

If you’ve attended a pack walk or structured daycare, you’ve probably met Teddy. This goofy guy is a 1.5 year old Flat Coated Retriever who lives in Old Brooklyn with his parents, Kelli and Corey. Teddy began training with us as a five month old puppy and recently came back for a three week board and train with our trainer, Jess, to clean up his obedience and work on his excitement-based reactivity.

Exuberant, carefree, and amiable are three words that describe Teddy’s personality. Teddy is the highly social, active dog which makes him the perfect “go everywhere” dog, but his parents found that Teddy’s zest for life was making their outings more difficult. Their goal was to build a stable dog who can settle in public without the excited outbursts towards people and dogs.

Because Teddy had a solid understanding of the basics, Jess was able to jump right in. She spent a few days refining his existing knowledge but they quickly shifted to simple, then more complex field trips. Much of Teddy’s board and train consisted of going to the park on a slow day and simply observing the world moving around him. As Teddy became more stable Jess was able to push those boundaries and start going to Edgewater and busier places. Jess said one of her favorite parts of working with Teddy is how eager he was to learn.

Teddy had a great midway, take home, and we’ve even seen him out crushing his walks in the neighborhood. Here’s to a summer of fun for Teddy, Kelli, and Corey!

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06/18/2024

Is your dog part of your 4th of July plans?

Please read and share part two of our 4th of July prep series. These are some of our favorite do’s and don’ts when preparing your dog for a busy day that may fall out of their normal routine.

Please drop questions or additional tips in the comments below!

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06/16/2024

A big thanks to Kel for sharing some valuable information about canine communication!

At Turning Point Dog Training, our goal is to provide the most individualized training experience for each dog and handler and continuing education is a huge part of that mission. Our staff come from a variety of backgrounds (dog walkers, teachers, doggy daycare managers, artists, etc.), and each of those backgrounds can provide a different perspective to training and helping owners.

By expanding our knowledge we are able to see a dog’s behavior through a different lens and provide a multitude of solutions to create a harmonious relationship between dog and handler. We have a few more continuing education activities planned for 2024 and we can’t wait to share our expertise with you.

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05/24/2024

Introduction to Scent Work starts on June 18th!

Are you looking for a way to keep your dog busy during the summer heat? Do you have an older dog that needs a low-impact activity? Or are you looking to build your relationship with your dog? Our introduction to scent work is perfect for you.

Class will take place on Tuesday June 18th, 25th, July 2nd, and 9th at our training facility: 3504 Stanford Ave., Cleveland, OH 44109 at 6:30 PM. You will need a 6-10 foot leash along with some treats. All other supplies are included. The cost for this class is $180.

As of right now, this class is only open to clients who have completed or are in the process of completing a training package and/or board and train. If you are interested in signing up but are not a client, please email Paige ([email protected]) to learn more and set up an evaluation.

You can find the sign up at the link in our bio, or under the events tab on our website: www.turningpointdog.com

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05/17/2024

A special board and train only event is headed your way this June, along with our regular structured daycare and pack walks.

June 30th @ 10 AM // Board and Train Pack Walk
If you have ever completed a board and train with Turning Point you are invited to this board and train only event. We will start off with a regular walk and then branch off into a few training exercises focused on helping you and your dog. This is also a great opportunity to catch up with your trainer, ask questions, and practice your handling skills. Registration is under the events tab on our website. Please reach out to your trainer with any questions.

June 5th, 13th, 19th, and 27th // Structured Daycare
Drop off is between 7-9 AM with pick up any time before 6:30 PM. Each dog starts their day with a walk, training session, and then is rotated through play groups with dogs of similar play style throughout the day. The cost is $45 for the day.
If you are not a client but interested in giving your dog a more structured daycare experience, please reach out to Anthony to book: [email protected]

June 2nd, 9th, 16th, and 23rd @ 10 AM // Pack Walks
These pack walks are open to anyone with a dog! Pack walks are a great way to work on engagement, reactivity (human or dog), while practicing your handling skills. The cost is $10. To register and check out our rules, please see the events tab on our website.

Check back next week because we’ll be sharing our June group class!

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05/13/2024

Meet Luna 🌙

Luna joined us for a board and train in April and recently returned home to her parents and her dog brother, Tito. Prior to her current living situation, Luna was rehomed a handful of times, mostly recently for injuring another animal in the home. When Luna’s mom was bit by Luna in the process of breaking up a fight, she knew she needed to reach out for some help if things were going to work out between both dogs.

Luna was very pushy and would often use her teeth and size to get her way. If you would go to push Luna away for jumping up at you she would often try to nip at your hands or body. Luna did not like being told no which made things very challenging for her family. Luna’s family wanted to be able to have proper control over Luna while being able to trust her to be around Tito without issue.

The most challenging part of working with Luna is having the patience to work through her nipping with counterconditioning and desensitization. Repeatedly telling Luna no was only worsening her response so we really had to work towards building trust and working towards a complete mindset shift.

The biggest turning point we saw in Luna was that she started to enjoy playing with Tito and other dogs. Before training Luna would play and then often go after Tito. Once we were able to clear up confusion and communication become clear, Luna was able to act like herself without becoming defensive. This also made a huge change in Tito and his overall body language. Tito was able to loosen up and reciprocate play instead of waiting for Luna to change her mind.

We’re very proud of the progress both Luna and Tito have made and have already gotten a handful of great updates from their mom!

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05/04/2024

Introducing Maki

Maki is a sweet, 3 year old Wheaten Terrier who came to us for reactivity around strangers, dogs, and sudden noises, along with strengthening recall and overall confidence building. Maki’s older dog brother, Bacon, often led the charge on these things so Maki was able to take the backseat and avoid these types of interactions. Between Maki’s assessment and being dropped off for his board and train, Bacon sadly passed away, adding more stress and confusion into Maki’s day to day.

Our goal for Maki was to show him that he can work through scary things by looking to his handler for guidance, not Bacon. We started by building a relationship with Maki and working on free shaping heel and place. Free shaping took some of the pressure off Maki they he may feel in a more traditional training session. Once Maki trusted us, we started working on confidence building by having him work on agility equipment, climbing on park benches and playground equipment, and bringing him into new places with busier surroundings.

The hardest part about working with a dog like Maki is that the training timeline is very fragile and cannot be rushed. With a dog as sensitive as Maki you cannot rush goals as it will add extra pressure and stress which can lead to some regression instead of progress. However, the best part of working with Maki was seeing his excitement at the end of a training session when he did a scary thing like climbing on the stacking table.

Maki has a very dedicated family that wants his life to be simple and easy for him. They’ve invested in his training, keep in contact with follow up questions, and are truly working towards a more relaxed life for Maki. We are so proud of the entire family, Maki included! ❤️

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04/26/2024

Loki & Doof are excited to share our May events

Pack Walks will be held Sundays at 10 AM at Loew Park (3121 Oak Park Ave., Cleveland, OH 44109). Please check the link in our bio for rules, cost, and registration. We ask that you please register ahead of time so we can contact you for a venue change in the event of inclement weather.

Structured Daycare will have five dates for May! If you are interested in daycare but have not completed training with us, please reach out to Anthony to schedule an evaluation: [email protected].
Existing clients can find registration for each date under the events tab on our website. Space is limited so please register as soon as possible.

Our second section of Patio Preparation Skills is full! We are in the process of planning more group classes for this summer. If you have a group class you’d be interested in, please send your ideas to Paige: [email protected]

Will we see you at an event this spring?
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04/23/2024

The goofiest, most expressive boy has made his way back to Columbus

Pluto is a 4 year old hound mix who completed a three week board and train to address some nuisance behaviors such as directional disputes on walks, attention barking, struggling to settle or do certain commands when asked, and bolting out the door. Pluto is a perfect example that training is not only for unruly or bad dogs - training can help bridge the gap between dog and handler communication and give your dog the best life possible in their environment.

Although a very sweet dog, Pluto would simply disregard what was asked from him if he felt it did not serve him. For example, Pluto would stop walking and plant himself if he felt his walk was ending too early or he did not want to walk down a certain street. In addition, Pluto would continuously pull on walks, sometimes trying to work his way into the street which can be dangerous. Brooke and Andy, Pluto’s parents, were becoming frustrated with Pluto’s behavior as it felt like he was starting to dictate many of their interactions.

Dogs like Pluto can be tricky because firm and fair are the name of the game but it can be a very fine line. We chose to focus on celebrating the small wins with Pluto and slowly building up a stricter winning criteria. We also noted a big shift in Pluto behavior when we transitioned from the harness to the starmark and ecollar. Pluto is the textbook definition of a dog that responds well to the on/off method of leash pressure. Sometimes a change in equipment is the missing link to a better behaved dog.

Brooke and Andy are extremely dedicated dog parents and truly want the best for Pluto. He is a very lucky boy to have parents that take the time to understand him, his new training, and how to get him to seamlessly blend into their lifestyle. We’ll miss seeing Pluto and his hilarious side-eye!

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04/17/2024

Prior to his board and train, Rambo could be described in a similar fashion to the fictional Rambo: disregards orders, reckless, and has a tough-guy persona. Although Rambo may still fit the tough-guy looks, he’s just a sensitive, goofy, 10 month old puppy who needed a confidence boost while working on some household manners.

Much of Rambo’s board and train focused on giving clear instruction, adding structure, and showing him that he could do hard things. During his stay, every interaction had a specific set of parameters that he was expected to follow and that was enforced by each person that handled him. This added structure gave Rambo a clear picture on what was the “correct” or expected behavior versus creating his own fun. Once Rambo figured out how to win the game, he started offering those behaviors and it became part of who he was. No matter if it's a dog or person, we can all agree that clear expectations lead to a better experience for everyone involved.

A dog like Rambo, who thrives on structure, can make the transition home difficult for the humans responsible for his care. Some owners can make subtle lifestyle shifts for their dog, while Rambo’s parents needed to change how they handled almost every interaction with him. Michelle and John have a lot of work cut out for them, but they handled his midway and take home sessions beautifully. We focused on shifting to a calm mindset for themselves and for Rambo, working at a pace that is comfortable for everyone, and using what Rambo knows to introduce new things or up the stakes.

Rambo has been home for a little over a week and his mom reported that everyone is doing well with the transition. Rambo is much more behaved in the house and continues to work on his impulse control around the smaller dogs. We’ll have Rambo back for a tune-up later in May to keep him on the right path. This is proof that just because a program has completed doesn’t mean the training has fully ended.

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04/08/2024

Patio Preparation Skills beginning April 28th at 12:30 PM

Nothing ruins a fun patio outing like being embarrassed by your dog’s behavior. Our patio preparation class focuses on cleaning up the basics your dog already knows, how to ensure you are setting yourselves up for success, along with tips and tricks to keep both of you safe and stress free.

Our class will run Sunday April 28th, May 5th, May 12th, and May 19th, with the rain date of June 2nd. Not all classes will take place at the training center so please take that into consideration. The cost of the class is $150. This class is open to anyone who has completed a training package and/or a board and train.

To register, see the link in our bio or check the events tab on our website. Please reach out to Paige ([email protected]) with questions.
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03/25/2024

SAVE THE DATES

Pack Walks: Please see the events tab on our website to register for pack walks. We will be moving pack walks to Loew Park (3121 Oak Park Ave., Cleveland, OH 44109). In the event of inclement weather, pack walks will be moved to the training center (3504 Stanford Ave., Cleveland, OH 44109). An email will be sent to those who have registered on Saturday afternoons with the proper location.

Daycare: Daycare is $45 for the day with drop off between 7-9 AM and pick up any time before 6:30 PM. This is open to those who have completed a training package and/or board and train, or those who have completed a daycare assessment. If interested in an assessment, please contact Anthony to schedule: [email protected]. Clients, daycare registration is available under the events tab on our website.

Group Classes: Our first patio preparation class is full before the official announcement! A big thank you to the clients who signed up. A second section will be offered starting in late April with an announcement coming in a few weeks. Please check the events tab of the website for official registration.
Link to our website can be found in our bio. We appreciate the continued support as we move into spring!
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03/23/2024

Greetings from Grady!

This three year old Boxer mix recently completed a three week board and train to address his human reactivity. Grady experienced a lot of stranger danger to the point where he was lunging and barking at people he passed on the streets or who entered his home. Our goal over his three week stay was to ensure that Grady did not feel pressured into these interactions and that he felt he had an escape when things got too personal for him.

Anthony was lucky enough to do a 1:1 package with Grady prior to his board and train, allowing us to focus solely on Grady’s human reactivity. Because Grady’s reactivity was rooted in fear we did not feel it was best to simply correct for his outbursts and move on. While this would give us the desired result, it would not acknowledge the root cause: fear and lack of confidence.

Instead, we focused on counterconditioning Grady’s response to people he had to interact with, such as our kennel techs and other trainers. Our staff was instructed to take their time with Grady, read his body language, and allow Grady to set the pace of the interaction. Because of this consistent approach none of our staff had issues handling Grady. Anthony worked to build Grady’s confidence in his handler and seek out an escape with the help of his handler. This approach is time consuming and is challenging at times but often leaves the dog feeling like they have more appropriate options in situations that do not serve them.

Anthony’s favorite part of working with Grady was seeing the overall shift in his behavior once he was able to overcome his anxiety. Towards the end of his board and train Grady was able to go on field trips, play with all our staff, and had excellent handler engagement. We are so sad to see Grady go as he and his family are moving soon but are so thrilled for the new life he can enjoy

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03/20/2024

Meet Duke, a 6 year old pit mix, who is our March client spotlight 🌟

Sophia and Stephen, Duke’s parents, reached out to Anthony for training because they wanted Duke to have a seamless transition into their family while ensuring Duke was still able to be a dog and enjoy his life. Stephen said his favorite thing about Duke is how much he loves and trusts him and Sophia.

Many of Duke’s behaviors before training stemmed from a lack of impulse control. Stephen and Sophia’s goals for training were to have better control of Duke on walks, be able to effectively handle and navigate Duke’s dog reactivity, and have Duke hold a solid place command when needed. Stephen said they are continuing to work daily on Duke’s training which allows them to further socialize him with people and dogs. Stephen said the most valuable thing he learned during training was how to walk Duke properly, while Sophia said the most valuable thing she learned was that Duke does have the capacity to learn new things and they can continue to build on his existing knowledge.

“Duke is a rescue who spent years where he wasn’t able to be socialized with other dogs, and as a result had become somewhat reactive to them on walks. We want him to be able to enjoy stress-free walks and eventually to make some dog-friends. We had a great experience with Anthony! He really listened to what we wanted to get out of training, and approached Duke as an individual with a unique personality and history. We made so much progress during the course and cannot recommend it highly enough. Anthony’s approach is pragmatic and empathetic.”

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03/14/2024

03/01/2024

Meet the Trainers: Paige, Jess, and Anthony

Chances are you’ve met the whole training crew, but if not, here is your chance! Having multiple trainers on our staff is not something we envisioned a short five years ago, but we’ve truly built up the best team.

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Dog Trainer, Cleveland Dog Trainer, Puppy Trainer, Reactive Dogs, Dog Reactivity, Resource Guarding, Doggy Daycare, Boarding, Board and Train, Pack Walk

02/16/2024

Introducing Alex, Andrea, Sam, Kel, and Charlotte 🌟

Our boarding, board and train, and structured daycare programs truly would not be possible if it weren’t for these five hard working ladies. They ensure our kennel area and training rooms are clean, safe, and a fun place for your dogs to hang out while you’re away.

🏷️ Dog Boarding, Dog Training, Puppy Trainer, Dog Daycare, Cleveland Dog Trainer, Lakewood, Westlake, Cleveland Heights, Rocky River, Ohio City, Tremont, Akron

02/15/2024

We usually like to wait until a client has completed a training package before featuring their dog for a client spotlight, but Jade and her parents have been putting in SO much work that we figured we’d make an exception.

Jade is a 1.5 year old German Shorthaired Pointer who lives in Cleveland Heights with her parents, Meredith and Bob, and her younger GSP brother. After a scary off-leash incident where Jade wouldn’t recall, Meredith and Bob inquired about training to sharpen up their handling skills and provide Jade with a strong off-leash foundation. Meredith said her goals for Jade are to be able to enjoy walks with no pulling, have a reliable recall, and hike with Jade off leash.

When asked, Meredith said the most important thing she has learned in training so far is the importance of high value rewards and the appropriate use of the training collars. Our goal is to make training as black and white for Jade as possible, so it is crucial to have correct timing with our markers, rewards, and corrections. When Jade isn’t training with her parents, they enjoy marveling in her athleticism and spending time cuddling on the couch.

We’re so excited to spend the next couple of weeks with Jade and her incredibly dedicated parents!

“We’re very happy with the clear instruction Paige has provided and the results in our sessions. In this short time we’ve seen noticeable improvements with Jade and look forward to continuing our training.”

01/30/2024

Beat the cold weather by joining us for an indoor pack walk!

Pack walks are an excellent way to work on socialization in a safe and controlled setting while learning more about our trainers and training programs. These events are held weekly on Sundays in our climate controlled facility located at 3504 Stanford Ave., Cleveland, OH 44109.

Pack walks are open to anyone with a dog, but we do ask that you follow a few rules:
• No on-leash greetings and maintain 6-8 feet between each dog and handler
• Dogs must be on a 4-6 ft. leash. No retractable leashes allowed. If you do not have a standard leash we have some available for purchase.
• Please potty your dog before entering the building. There is a large field to the left of the training center
• One dog per handler
• Pack walks are $10. Please bring cash or venmo @/turningpointdogtraining

To register for any of the events, please visit the events tab linked in our bio

Will we see you at a pack walk?

01/26/2024

We’ve seen how beneficial opening our daycare services to new clients has been so we’d like to extend our boarding services to non-clients as well. Our boarding experience includes:
● A personal boarding experience with only 8 dogs in our care at a time
● Daily exercise, training session and/or play group
● Large indoor and outdoor spaces for daily exercise no matter the weather
● Climate controlled kennel room
● Medication administration
● Spacious kennels

If you have a dog that is not outwardly social, needs more work with socialization, or is dog reactive, our boarding program was made with you in mind.

In order to book boarding, new clients must complete an overnight stay to evaluate your dog’s behavior and ensure this is the best fit for them. The cost of the evaluation is $70 for the night. To schedule your dog’s evaluation, please email Anthony: [email protected]

Dog Boarding, Cleveland Dog Boarding, Cleveland Dog Trainer, Dog Trainer, Puppy Trainer, Dog Reactivity, Dog Socialization, Lakewood, Westlake, Rocky River, Cleveland Heights, Shaker Heights

01/23/2024

Ruby goes home this weekend 🏡

Ruby is a 1.5 year old Beagle mix that came to us for a three week board and train to address issues stemming from a lack of confidence and anxiety. Prior to training Ruby had terrible separation anxiety, would chew on things (including her kennel), and was extremely reactive to other dogs on walks. Our responsibility as the handler is to show Ruby that we’ve got things covered and she no longer needs to feel the pressure of making choices on her own. This leads to a more trusting, relaxed, and happy dog.

To address Ruby’s mental state, we started by introducing the place command. Teaching a dog like Ruby place is no simple task. Dogs like Ruby are often on high alert because they are looking for something to manage and/or reactive to. Place gave Ruby the ability to settle and be “off duty” as she realized her handler was intercepting anything that may cause a reaction from her. Although Ruby looks like a bright eyed, smiling dog, these are generally signs of an anxious dog.

Ruby has made serious strides during her three weeks with us and we are so excited to see how her mom can continue with the training at home. A board and train can be a great start for dog’s in adolescence that are on the peak of maturing into their adult self. Our structured daycare and pack walks will be so important in Ruby’s continuing success, especially during the snow, rain and ice.

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01/17/2024

Structured Daycare continues for February

We are still accepting two evaluations per day for remaining January dates and all February dates. Evaluations are for dogs that have not completed training with us but had been deemed unfit for daycare at another facility.

Clients - daycare is still business as usual for you! Drop off is between 7 - 9 AM with pick up being any time before 6:30 PM. The cost of daycare is $45 for the day.

To schedule, please email Anthony at [email protected].

Dog Socialization, Dog Daycare, Doggy Daycare, Cleveland, Cleveland Dog Trainer, Dog Trainer, Puppy Training, Obedience, Board and Train

01/01/2024

Happy New Year from an aptly named dog, Holiday

Holly is a 6 month old Pomsky (Husky x Pomeranian) that came to us for a three week board and to learn the basics, build a reliable recall, learn proper socialization around other dogs, and finish up potty training. At home, Holly was constantly pestering her canine brother, Maverick, and two feline siblings. We often see owners waiting for their puppy to “outgrow” these behaviors, but Holly’s parents took the proactive approach and decided to nip it in the bud for good.

Huskies are often known for being independent, pushy, and high energy. Holly can be quite a ball of energy, but she is an extremely biddable puppy. She is constantly looking for direction and thrives with proper leadership and expectations. During her first week we focused on solidifying her basics and building trust and engagement. During her last two weeks we’ve been able to test what she’s learned around the neighborhood, at local businesses, and during our structured daycare. She still has some typical puppy moments, but we are so proud of everything she has accomplished.

We are so excited to see how Holly continues to develop into adolescence with her committed parents guiding her along the way. We’ll miss you, Holly!

🏷️ Cleveland, Lakewood, Dog Trainer, Puppy Training, Board and Train, Cleveland Dog Trainer, Husky, Pomsky, Dog Socialization

12/28/2023

New Year • New Daycare Policies

Beginning on January 3rd, we will be opening up TWO evaluation spaces to non-clients. If you have a dog that has been previously kicked out of daycare, or are looking to offer your dog a smaller, more structured experience, this is for you! The cost for evaluation is $45 for the day. Dogs must be up to date on vaccinations.

Daycare will continue as normal for existing clients. Drop off is between 7-9 AM, with pick up any time before 6:30 PM. The cost for the day is $45.
Structured Daycare will be offered January 3rd, 11th, 17th, 24th, and 31st.

Interested in booking or have questions? Please send Anthony an email: [email protected]

🏷️ Dog Socialization, Dog Daycare, Cleveland Dog Trainer, Dog Training, Puppy Training, Structured Daycare, Doggie Daycare