Dogged Pursuits

07/16/2024

My top travel tip for you and your dogs this summer: Pace yourselves!

https://www.instagram.com/p/C9fIx5ApOtN/

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06/24/2024

🤔 And my answer is…

B!

To account for trigger stacking, I always assume that the next trigger is more challenging than it may first appear—even on days when my dog is absolutely nailing their skills. This means that I am more conservative with each passing trigger.

Especially after a close encounter with a flexi, I’m running for the hills if I see another dog, because I want to end our walk on a high note and preserve my dog’s feelings of confidence and accomplishment.

There’s nothing worse than tripping and falling flat on your face just short of the finish line, so dig up that extra ounce of patience and play it safe out there!

Remember: Slow and steady wins the behavior modification race!

03/08/2024

If you can get into Joint Base Andrews, you're eligible for pay-what-you-can dog training classes! I'm excited to be teaching this spring at their community center with Wag Workshops.

Comment below with questions or share to help spread the word to our service members!

🇺🇸 Attention Service Members & Families at Andrews Air Force Base! 🇺🇸

Registration is now open for our 6-week "Basic Manners" dog training course, proudly hosted in partnership with Liberty Park at Andrews!

Learn essential skills such as sit, down, place, cued relaxation, recall, and loose leash walking.

Classes will be held on base at the community center every Tuesday from April 2nd to May 7th, from 5:30 to 6:30 pm.

For more information & registration: https://wagworkshops.org/community-programs/training-classes/joint-base-andrews-dog-training/

*Please note that base access is required for participation.*

02/16/2024

I am excited to share that I have completed Michael Shikashio's Aggression in Dogs Master Course. This is one of the most comprehensive courses in aggression and covers everything from resource guarding to breaking up dog fights to human-directed aggression and compassion fatigue.

Michael is the trainer that started my crossover journey thanks to an interview he gave on The Canine Paradigm, and finishing this course feels like a full circle moment. I am so grateful to follow in his footsteps and help owners resolve tough challenges with nothing but a noggin' full of knowledge and a pouch full of treats.

01/05/2024

I'm happy to announce that I'm officially a board member for Wag Workshops and will continue to bring positive reinforcement-based dog training to our service members right on base at JBA.

Our mission is to bring top notch, science-backed, pay-what-you-can dog training services to Southern Maryland (which is currently a hotbed of compulsion training). Our work keeps dogs with the families that love them and defends the public from misinformation in our unregulated industry. If you're a dog or animal lover, please consider supporting our work and spreading the word!

Liberty Park2097 San Antonio BlvdJoint Base Andrews, MD 20762

12/12/2023

My December blog post is up! I'm developing my New Years Resolutions, and of course, it got me thinking about how I can design my life to make consistency easy. Consistency is a pain point for many pet guardians, so I thought I'd expand upon it as we look toward 2024.

Read on here:

Have you ever found yourself frustrated with your dog's training progress? The key might be hidden in a simple but powerful concept: positive reinforcement for YOU, the handler. Yes, you heard that right – the reason your dog training isn't working as effectively as you'd like could be linked to h...

12/04/2023

Confession! The first time I attempted the Relaxation Protocol with Della, I quit halfway through!

It was too hard, taking too long, and driving me bonkers with frustration. But wasn’t the protocol’s fault! It was my approach.

Incorporating these tips has made a world of difference for me and my dogs. Try them out, and let me know if they work for you!

11/29/2023

New program alert! 🚨 I am shifting away from Board & Trains and into Day Training! Why? I think it provides the best blend of convenience and results.

This program lets us focus on 1-3 key areas over four weeks. Here’s what you can expect each week:

- 2 Training Sessions (Mondays & Wednesdays OR Tuesdays & Thursdays): I’ll work directly with your dog while you’re busy at work, taking care of the kids, or occupied with other tasks. These sessions take place in your home during daytime hours.

- 1 Private Lesson (Sundays): Together, we’ll review what your dog learned and preview new skills allowing you to actively participate and reinforce new behaviors.

You'll also receive additional support & resources such as:

- Customized curriculum and homework assignments tailored to your dog’s needs

- An individual resource library containing videos, written instructions, and worksheets

- Email and text support during business hours from Monday to Friday

Comment or send me a message with questions!

Learn more:

During a four-week program, you will tackle 1-3 priority areas, such as basic obedience, reactivity, recall, or loose leash walking. Each week includes two daytime training sessions, where I work directly with your dog while you're busy at work, and one private lesson, where we review what your dog

11/20/2023

If you are planning to board your dog for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or NYE, you may want to reconsider. There is a new upper respiratory infection going around that is resistant to antibiotics and does not have a vaccine.

It is almost a guarantee that your dog will get sick with SOMETHING if they board over the holidays (Kennel Cough or Canine Influenza are the usual concerns), but this particular illness is more concerning than usual. Be aware, speak to your vet, and make informed choices!

https://www.today.com/health/mystery-dog-illness-2023-rcna125553?fbclid=IwAR3phisw18W6pHcMOdk_8jR-wfxgJ3jANMQSRz-vyDIw3f8vguZ832pqM2c

Cases have been reported in Oregon, Colorado, Indiana, Illinois, Washington, Idaho, California, the Northeast and more.

11/02/2023

Just in time for the holidays! Tips for successfully introducing your dog to other dogs in your inner circle. This strong strategy goes a long way toward familial bliss.

Read all about it here:

There are times when it's very beneficial for your dog to get along with the dog of a friend or family member. So how can we introduce them in a strategic way that increases the odds of friendship?

10/10/2023

Thank you, Team Rami, for this wonderful review! It made our day!

Read the full review here:

★★★★★ "Virtual training converts! Our experience with Jen and Dogged Pursuits has been fantastic! Initially, I wasn't sure if virtual training would be effective for our recently adopted reactive street dog from Egypt. There were issues that I did not feel capable of handling on my own and...

10/03/2023

I'm loving my Basic Manners class at Join Base Andrews with Wag Workshops! It's such a joy to bring positive reinforcement-based dog training to our service members and their families. Everyone is growing in leaps and bounds!

09/26/2023

Billy and I are about to start our second in-person class, and the school we picked runs a tight ship when it comes to setting up their students for success.

When researching, I looked for exclusively positive reinforcement-based programs that mention visual barriers in their class descriptions and leave the dogs at home for the first meeting. Billy and I have had a great experience with this criteria, and we’re going to stick to this checklist moving forward.

What do you look for in a group class?

09/25/2023

Our Virtual Course: Loose Leash Learning Circle starts this Sunday! Here's some Q&A I've received about this course:

Q: My dog is reactive. Is this course appropriate for us?
A: This course does not address reactivity directly. However, we will cover many foundational skills that will make your reactivity training progress much more efficiently. This course is a great investment for reactive dogs.

Q: I want to hike with my dog. Will this course help me work with long lines?
A: Yes! Many of the best national, state, and regional parks require dogs to be on leash. Whether it's a walk through the neighborhood or on trail, a successful leashed adventure requires that your dog looks to you for guidance and is aware of where you are in space. We'll spend a lot of time building these skills!

Post your questions in the comments below!

Registration & additional info here:

Are you tired of being dragged down the street by your energetic pup when all you want is a peaceful autumn stroll? Well, fret no more! It's time to turn your daily walks into a harmonious and collaborative experience for both you and your dog.

09/11/2023

New blog post! Learn why it's nearly impossible to reinforce your dog's big feelings and resulting undesired behaviors.

Feel free to ask questions in the comments. This is one of the most misunderstood aspects of dog training!

Read more here:

Rewarding desired behaviors is a fundamental principle in dog training. While this concept is widely applicable in many training scenarios, it's essential to acknowledge that behavior modification can be far from straightforward—especially when strong emotions come into play. This 'golden rule' ca...

08/18/2023

I've started a blog! Dog training is so much more than the name lets on. It's a lifestyle, and especially when you take a wholistic and collaborative approach, it can get quite philosophical and spiritual. I'm excited to share the philosophy-side of dog training in longer form on my blog, and I hope you find these ideas to be inspiring.

My first post focuses on how I use dog training as my short cut to daily mindfulness. I don't think I'd be able to continuously train with my darling behavioral heavyweights, Della and Billy, without melding my "dog training" practice with self care. I would have burnt out many moons ago.

Let me know if there's a topic you'd like to see me blog about, and check out my first post here:

Don’t let dog training be another item on your to-do list that inhibits your self care. Design your sessions so that self care is part of the package. Before you know it, you’ll find yourself training more and stressing less.

08/17/2023

If your sentence starts with, “I just want to see if my dog can…” 🛑 STOP 🛑 what you’re about to do!

Try working from a place of “I know my dog will succeed if I set up the situation such that….”

You will progress so much faster if you rehearse success until it becomes second nature. Pinky promise!



Plus, it’s way more relaxing and fun!

06/13/2023

Don’t take it personally if your dog won’t work for their kibble! What looks like overkill to us may be the bare minimum for your dog depending on what’s happening internally for them.

I like to begin my walks with a few easy training exercises to “ask” where my dog’s head is at that day. If your dog is slow to respond or totally unresponsive, assume they’ve got big things on their mind and bust out the good treats.

When you work with what your dog finds reinforcing, whether that’s kibble or cheese, you’ll both have more fun and better communication.

05/18/2023

Behavior meds are a contentious topic. Here are 3 core questions that cut through the hubbub and get to the root issue: quality of life.

If your dog is bombarded by daily stressors, constantly on edge, and has more bad days than good, something’s gotta give.

Dog trainers can’t make the final decision, but they can prepare a letter for your vet or help you polish your own notes to maximize your appointment.

If your trainer scoffs at behavior medication as “merely sedation” or request that you take your dog off meds so they can “see what they’re working with,” run-don’t-walk away. 💨

Send in your questions in the comments below!

05/12/2023

For ease of conversation, you’re going to hear me toss around the phrase “separation anxiety” frequently in the coming months. But as with all dog training, things are more nuanced than they seem.

We’re really enjoying our separation anxiety group class via . I’ve read ’s comprehensive book on the topic more than once, but I love the support we’re receiving as we put those high-brow theories and concepts into practice.

We’ve observed that Billy is presenting with a bit of all three of the separation anxiety flavors.

☔️ He shows significantly more distress when I’m gone versus when Dog Dad leaves (if only he could find a different way to flatter me).

☔️ He definitely panics at the thought of being left alone by himself.

☔️ And as we observed with his potty training journey, he’s fearful of crates to the point of urination.

He’s an interesting medley, and I’m interested to see how these three flavors of separation anxiety play off of each other throughout our training journey.

04/26/2023

Tomorrow marks two weeks since we brought Billy home.

Every morning, I journal about the previous day’s training sessions, remedial socialization outings, and general observations. Then, I set all those expectations aside and start our day with fresh eyes and an open mind. The central question that drives every activity is, “Who are you today, Billy?”

You might be thinking, “But two weeks is a long time! You must have a sense of who he is by now!” 

There’s a good reason I don’t. It’s because Billy’s hierarchy of needs is still settling. There are few things more disruptive to a dog’s life than rehoming via the shelter system. Billy was plucked out of the shelter by a rescue in Flordia. He endured a grueling drive all the way up to Alexandria, VA. He was with that second rescue for just over a week before he came home to us. 

The repeated upheavals to the bottom three layers of his pyramid have left cracks and fissures in his wellbeing. They’ll smooth out and heal up with time and predictability, but the greatest gift I can give him in the meantime is non-judgement. 

Right now, I’m giving him space to figure things out in safe and low-stakes environments that are set up to help him succeed. My helicopter parenting instincts are in full force, and I’m protecting Billy’s budding optimism about life.

Of course, I want to people-please and invite friends over to meet him. Of course, I want to take him out for pup cups and show him off downtown. But all those activities are for me—not for him. 

Right now, Billy’s happy place is breakfast, a short nap to digest, a small adventure with mom, an afternoon nap, a handful of intriguing training sessions, dinner, and a warm bed. And until his pyramid is actually pyramid-shaped again, he’s in the driver’s seat. We’ll get to my fanciful ideas later.

04/22/2023

I'd like to present the newest edition to the Dogged Pursuits family: Capability (Billy for short)!

My hope for Billy is that he has what it takes to become my "helper dog" at work. I'm training him to ignore other dogs and tolerate their outbursts to assist my reactivity clients. He's also going to learn how to ride in a stroller, purse, and backpack to mimic all the weird ways you see dogs moving about the world these days.

I can't wait to share his training journey with you!

84 likes, 7 comments - Jennifer Shearer | Dog Trainer () on Instagram: "Let’s hope he enjoys the patience, diligence, and work ethic of good gardener! 🌱 ..."