The WoofPack

Relationship Based Dog Training and Socialization.
(2)

11/09/2024

‼️RARE OPPORTUNITY ALERT‼️

We have one spot for a board and train open for 12/16/24-1/6/25!!! If you’ve been considering getting your dog some training, here is your chance! This board and train is especially perfect if you have a busy holiday season or have a lot of travel planned for the holidays. You can rest easy knowing your dog is in a safe home environment for their stay while also getting the training they need.

Our board and trains teach basic obedience(sit, down, stay, place, come), crate training, neutrality/calm training, leash skills and can be tailored to additional skills that your dog may need to work on (including but not limited too-reactivity, fear, anxiety, and working on dog-dog social skills).

We don’t offer board and trains regularly, so don’t miss this incredible opportunity 🤗 Message or email us ([email protected]) if you are interested or would like more information. A virtual or in person consult will be done prior to the stay.

11/05/2024

Dream Team🤩

The WoofPack team is here to be your people. We will support you through every step of the training, bring you results and make the process something you can feel good about.

The WoofPack has grown in many ways over the past few years and one of my proudest accomplishments is this team. Kayla, Eden, Hannah and I all bring tremendous skill, work ethic and individual strengths to the table; making The WoofPack team solid and well rounded. This is the team you want to be relying on to train your dog. Hands down, no question. How do I know this? Because they are phenomenal dog trainers but even more importantly, they are good people with remarkable character.

10/17/2024

For Nellie’s 1st Birthday, she is hosting a dog adoption event! Come check out some adoptable buddies and “Find the ONE”. Also come meet/hang out with Nellie and help her celebrate her birthday!! Adoptable dogs from will be there to meet!

What: Dog Adoption Event ()
Where:
When: Sunday November 17th from 12pm-2pm

Mark your calendars, Nellie would love to see you all there!!

10/08/2024

Yesterday we made a supply drop to some hard hit areas in WNC.

As we entered the mountain area, I could feel the hurt in the air. The pain was palpable. The destruction was apocalyptic. But there was also so much help. I saw convoys of disaster relief teams, trucks and trailers full of supplies, and utility vehicles driving to the towns in need. There were so many signs for places to get free supplies and aid. The hurt was strong but so was the help and even more importantly, the hope.

We delivered a van full of animal supplies to , a suv full of livestock feed to a local farm who was sorting it to be distributed to farms in need, and a handful of human supplies to a local church. These people are struggling but there were so many smiles and hugs going around.

Thank you all for all your donations, we are going to hold off on supply runs for now and wait for word on needs as the weeks progress and supplies dwindle. If you still want to donate, you can, we will get the supplies and monetary donations to those who need it most. I posted a call for help and you guys delivered. This WoofPack community is nothing short of amazing. You guys rock!!

Also huge shout out to Stephanie who runs (the rescue we partner with). She headed and planned all the donation runs and rescue missions. Yesterday was her birthday and she spent it delivering supplies to those in need. She is an angel walking amongst us and I’m beyond honored to know her and to be able to call her a friend. HAPPY BIRTHDAY STEPHANIE!!! 🥳

10/05/2024

Look at everything that has been donated in the past 24 hours alone 🥹 and we have raised $2000 in the past 24 hours for additional supplies.

This doesn’t include the van full of donated supplies(and $800 worth of purchased supplies from donations) that we delivered yesteday.

You guys are all amazing. I will continue to get these supplies to those who need it most and 🫶🏼

10/01/2024

With so much devastation in the mountains, I can’t help to think about all the dogs that are affected. Farm dogs, family dogs, shelter dogs, foster dogs… So in effort to try to help, WoofPack will be hosting a dog food drive. Any and all unopened dog food will be accepted. We will also happily take donations of beds, blankets, cat food, and cat litter.I have a giant 12 passenger van, LETS FILL IT UP. WP clients, we hope we don’t see you show up empty handed when we see you next 😉We are located in Cornelius, but we can possibly coordinate drop off locations in charlotte!!

09/12/2024

We will be closed for DayTraining on Friday September 20th. We will remain open for boarding!

If Friday is your normal scheduled day for DayTraining, please reach out to us to schedule a make up day!!

09/09/2024

WOOFPACK GROUP CLASS ENROLLMENT 🥳🥳

WoofPack1 and WoofPack 2 will be offered Sundays at 11am starting 10/6!

WoofPack 1 is for any WoofPack clients who have not taken a WP group class before. You will practice obedience and state of mind around other dogs while learning handling and new obedience skills!

WoofPack 2 is for any WoofPack clients who have taken a group class with us. This is to practice and learn more advanced obedience and handling skills!

These classes will be combined but each class will have its own trainer and curriculum! The classes are $200 for 6 weeks of classes and will take place at Nevin Park in Charlotte

Sign up before we fill up! Message me if you have any questions!

08/31/2024

Being a good dog owner means showing up for your dog the way they need you too not the way you want to.

Dog ownership looks different from person to person and from dog to dog. While we can definitely find so many similarities when looking at each dog, we also have to honor our dog’s individual needs. The hard part is when the dogs needs don’t align with what we, as owners, want.

That’s really where a true test of character comes in (at least in my opinion). As a dog trainer, it is not uncommon for me to be recommending a client do something that they would otherwise prefer to not have to do. This can range from asking a client to do a daily training session with their dog to following a crate schedule or the things people really struggle with which is implementing boundaries or limiting affection. I think that expressing how you feel about having to do these things is totally understandable and acceptable but refusing to do them is a whole other story.

Having a pack of 9 dogs of my own-a pack of varying personalities, needs and temperaments- I can relate to most everything that my clients are going through. I empathize and I understand. It’s not uncommon for me to put my therapist hat on (one of the most common hats us dog trainers wear) and to talk through the struggle and emotions with my clients. I get it. I really do. What I don’t get, what I don’t understand is when a client is not willing to do it. When I see a dog struggling so immensely and clearly the owner does too (hence why they called me in the first place) but they aren’t willing to do what their dog needs because it makes them as owners feel uncomfortable or is inconvenient to them.

In most cases, I’m not asking anyone to take drastic measures. I pride our training program on its ability to work with owners to make the changes that are needed as seamlessly as possible and to introduce new things/rules in easily digestible steps. Willingness is really all that’s needed. A willingness to look beyond yourself and make the changes your dog so desperately needs. To give them the structure and training they crave. They deserve it!!!

07/26/2024

The essence of all growth is a willingness to make a change for the better and then an unremitting willingness to shoulder whatever responsibility this entails. 💪🏽

07/06/2024

Let’s talk quality of life.

What is quality of life? It’s defined as the overall enjoyment of life (general well being). More specifically the degree to which one is healthy, comfortable, and able to enjoy the activities of daily living.

Why is it important? I believe that ensuring quality of life is one of the biggest responsibilities we have as dog owners- but it is often overlooked. For a dog to live a happy balanced life, we need to ensure that they are comfortable mentally and physically. Dogs (or any living being for that matter) aren’t meant to just survive. As our dogs age or as they have medical issues, it tends to be easier for us to accept a lower quality of life. Age and health status should not be cause for a lower quality of life though.

QOL always has and always will be very important to me when it comes to my dogs. I find myself reflecting on this a lot lately, as we have 3 dogs that are 12 years old and 3 dogs who have chronic medical issues. QOL looks different for every dog- whereas one dog may still be able to have a high QOL despite having some activity restrictions, another dog may suffer greatly not being able to be active.

How do I gauge QOL? I have a list of what a high QOL looks like for each of my dogs, as well as a list of non negotiables (like not being able to hold their urine/feces, not being able to get around on their own, having to undergo excessive vetting to stay alive, ect). These lists help me if/when I’m going through tough times with any of the dogs. Because in the thick of it, our emotions tend to take over, not our logic. A trusted vet or pet professional can also be a great source to help you gauge QOL.

I personally would rather have my dogs live a shorter life at their best than live a long time as a shell of dog. Dogs don’t understand time like we do and they don’t live life with regrets. They can become depressed and stressed though if they are struggling mentally and/or physically. Now ideally my dogs would live long full lives but that’s not always under my control. What’s under my control is advocating for my dogs and making sure I’m not looking past my pets QOL for selfish reasons.

06/17/2024

WoofPack Urban Training Day 🤩

Our Urban Training Day dogs were each paired with a WP trainer and brought out to a busy environment to work on improving a bunch of different skills! Having one dog per trainer allowed us to individualize our approach which really helped us focus on each dogs specific training goals. These dogs got some great training in today and had a blast while doing it!!

WP clients➡️Want to take advantage of this unique and beneficial experience for your dog? Let us know! We will be offering this one Monday a month and only will be accepting 3 dogs each time. Don’t miss out on Julys Urban Training Day!!

06/09/2024

Don’t quit before the miracle happens.

Bindi…the anchor of our agility team. My clear headed, steady, reliable teammate. When we walk into the building, she walks next to me- focused on me and neutral to her surroundings. When we walk into the ring, she is confident and ready. She exudes a steady calm(while I attempt to take deep breaths to calm my jitters😂). One look at her and I swear her eyes tell me “we got this”. When I can’t calm myself, I rely on her energy. It is not uncommon these days for Bindi to carry me through our trials. She excuses my mistakes and handles my poor handling moments with ease. She’s my rock and my role model.

But that wasn’t the story a few years ago. Bindi was nothing but trouble. She caused pure chaos and turmoil in my house/pack. I would look at her and feel immediate resentment. Nothing about her made me feel calm- she actually had the opposite effect on me. Her presence was enough to shift my whole energy to an anxious, frustrated state. Multiple conversations were had about rehoming her. Many tears were shed over this dog that just didn’t seem to get it.

How could this be the same dog?! How crazy is it that I can rely on her now to help hold our team together when I’m struggling(in agility and day to day life). A dog I used to feel so disconnected from is now a dog that makes the best partner. We flow fluidly as a team, her responding to my smallest cues and knowing exactly what I want from her in an instant. I run our courses feeling like she is an extension of me, or me of her. We just connect and go.

It’s a miracle. And no I don’t feel like I’m being dramatic when I say that. This miracle didn’t happen overnight and this miracle required a lot of work. I made mistakes, I failed her at times, she failed me at times but we didn’t quit. We woke up and kept at it. No. Matter. What.

I could have given up on Bindi at many different points and just accepted the turmoil we lived in. And trust me, at times I was tempted to. But with the right guidance and support we persisted! Don’t quit before the miracle happens. You never know how close you could be to it, and I promise, it’s worth it.

06/06/2024

Just want to give a quick a shout out to all of our amazing DayTrain clients! Your hard work, commitment, consistency, and dedication does not go unnoticed by us (or your dog!!). Couldn’t ask for a better group of dogs and people to work with on a weekly basis 🥰

05/16/2024

ITS BACKKKKKKKKKK🥳🥳

We’re relaunching our monthly Adventure Day!! We took a little break but we’ve been listening to all the requests for its return!!

Adventure Day is for WP DayTrain clients only. It is $85 for the day. Treat your dog to a day filled with training, play, exercise and most importantly ADVENTURE! We have limited spots so don’t delay in reserving one for your dog!

Payment will be required at time of booking and there will be no refunds. Adventure day does NOT substitute for your dog’s weekly day of DayTraining. This is an additional service!!

Our first one of this year is going to be Monday June 17th!

05/12/2024

Happy Mothers Day to all the Moms in our WP family. Human moms, dog moms, cat moms or whatever kind of mom you are!!

Super grateful to a be a mom to not only my 4 legged kids but also sweet Nellie. Also equally as grateful that my 4 legged kids have been such welcoming brothers and sisters to the human puppy!! 🥰

05/07/2024

Training is a journey, not a destination.

Goals are great, don’t get me wrong but being so focused on the end game not only can lead to frustration, burn out and disappointment but it also robs you of celebrating small wins and enjoying your dog through the process!

As time goes on, goals may change and new problems may arise- which is totally ok! Take it one day at a time! Work towards your goal(s) but most importantly, enjoy the journey with your best friend!! Remember, they are your goals not your dogs!

10/23/2023

WoofPack will be CLOSED for DayTrain/Daycare the week of thanksgiving (11/20-11/24). Please plan accordingly 🦃

Address

Cornelius, NC
28031

Website

http://TheWoofPackNC.com/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when The WoofPack posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to The WoofPack:

Videos

💥Dedication and consistency 👆🏼the big ingredients to having a well trained dog 🧠 a good trainer helps too 👀join our next group class if you need some accountability to stay consistent 🗣️ or reach out to us for some 1 on 1 training, so we can help!

🚨DOG FOOD DRIVE🚨

When you’ve been working on threshold manners with the dogs this month..and it is showing!!! Getting a whole pack of dogs to wait at a gate, with a simple “wait” command, is not easy. But after working with each of them one on one to solidify this behavior, it was a breeze!!!

No matter how eventful the adventure is, it’s always worth it and always a good time ☺️

2022 was a huge year for us. A year of growth, uncomfortability , setbacks, wins, lessons learned, connections gained and connections lost. And all of it led me to exactly where I am supposed to be. Thank you to all of you for supporting and following along with us. To our amazing clients, I get to work with some of the most dedicated and incredible people, we wouldn’t be here without you guys. My mentors and support systems, I know I way over use you guys and I’m grateful everyday for all the help and support you all have provided. The WoofPack isn’t a me thing, it’s a we thing. Now let’s see what fun adventures 2023 brings us, I am ready for it!!! ☺️

WoofPack Success Stories: Maya

I’m always so proud of this team and they are a great example of training the dog in front of you. Maya’s an incredible dog and through training, consistency and patience, her family now enjoys a wonderful and enjoyable life together. They travel to the mountains, walk through busy streets, have lunch on patios and much more. All things they didn’t think were possible before they worked with us. So grateful to have such a wonderful dog and family as a part of our pack 💙

Here at The WoofPack, we don’t use the word “adventure” in adventure day lightly😅 Yesterday, we hiked to our favorite waterfall/swimming hole, got caught in an hour long thunderstorm on the way back, walked through swarms of bees, someone fell in the water when trying to get the perfect group shot, and our tires *almost* got stuck in the mud. BUT, we had fun and the dogs enjoyed themselves too (except Sheldon, he has requested to never go in an adventure ever again 😂) Huge shoutout to Kayla and intern Kristin for their good attitudes through our adventure yesterday 🙏🏼

The Good Life with The WoofPack!! Want your dog to come on an adventure with us? If your dog comes to us regularly, they are eligible to attend!! Adventure days provides incredible real life training, a good physical workout, mental fulfillment and overall happiness for your dog!

POV: part of your job is taking dogs on adventures every Monday

Never measure your progress using someone else ruler 📏 This video seems like nothing out of the ordinary, just 2 dogs walking happily.But this video documents some HUGE progress for Ginger! Ginger has some severe dog reactivity that her mom and her have been working with me on for the past couple months. We’ve spent a small handful of sessions working on their overall relationship and communication before we worked with Ginger directly on her reactivity. With that foundation we introduced Ginger to a controlled, on-leash situation(shout out to my best helper dog, Kloi💕) Ginger and Kloi started off at a distance and slowly Kloi and I got closer to Ginger and her mom. We took our time to give Ginger space and allowed her mom to help guide Ginger through her emotions without them getting out of control (or reaching the dreaded “red zone”). Within 20 min, Ginger went from staring, pulling and wanting to lunge towards Kloi to standing next to her with totally neutrality. Ginger just needed the proper guidance with some good communication, that she could understand. We used food and marker words to reinforce engagement with Mom and to reinforce calm reactions to Kloi and I. We stayed calm and kept her moving when she was disengaged and reacting towards Kloi. Ginger needed to see that it would actually be ok to not flip out at a dog. That it actually feels better not too. She needed to feel safe but also not be allowed to just run away from the situation. The results were just beautiful. Ideally we would keep our dogs out of situations that stress them out but it’s just not realistic. So we need to show them how to cope in these situations and make it a point to practice with them. Controlled situations like this are a great way to set your dog up for success when it comes to practicing. I am so proud of Ginger and her mom for all their hard work and excited to see this team continue to progress!

Fear is the result of a lack of confidence. A lack of confidence is the result of not knowing what you can do. A lack of knowing what you can do is caused by a lack of experience. A lack of experience is caused by a lack of doing something new. Brodie is full of fear. To the untrained eye, his aggressive and intimidating antics make him seem like an overly confident and dominant guy. But that is furthest from the truth. Brodie is scared, mostly of the unfamiliar, which unfortunately is a lot of things. It’s a vicious cycle, his aggressive ways have caused his world to become very small, which means he doesn’t experience a lot of new things. Which only feeds his fear. When we would go out for a walk, he was glued to my side and would freeze or react when we walked by someone. He didn’t care to interact with the world at all. A dog who sticks right by you that doesn’t care about anything but you- what a dream, right?! No, wrong. A dog should be a dog, they should want to sniff, they should have a healthy curiosity about things and want to explore. So, I encouraged Brodie to disengage with me. I focused on building a healthy state of mind-not so much leash manners and obedience. I brought along some moral support on one of his walks, his best friend, Shenzi. He watched her sniff, pull and explore. Monkey see, monkey do. In no time the dog who previously would stand next me,stiff as a board, started frolicking, pulling, and sniffing. He was acting like a REAL dog. And for the first time, on our way back home, we passed a man and Brodie didn’t bark or freeze. He sniffed the air at him, he pulled slightly (out of curiosity) and then wagged his little nub and continued on his way. Confidence people. State of mind is always more important than obedience. I can fix obedience and bad leash manners rather quickly if I have a good, confident state of mind. Without that, all the obedience in the world isn’t going to help. We are excited to continue to help