Hound Towne and Training Academy

02/01/2022

Location: Dayton, OH

Cira (Pronounced Kira) is a 4 yr old German Shepherd. Spayed female. Bobtail due to a case of happy tail. Sable color. She has never really had much of a chance in life, but despite this she is a very trusting, loving, and goofy dog. She is EXTREMELY playful. She’s like a golden retriever stuck in a shepherds body.

She’s a retired MWD from Lackland AFB but was never deployed and has zero bite work training. She was started on explosives but lacked drive and they did not want a single purpose dog at the time for just patrol work. Cira was then put in a kennel to wait for adoption. From my understanding, due to the Covid Pandemic she basically only had 2 walks a day for about a year. She was adopted by a family in Ohio. They contacted me for training within 24 hours of bringing her home. What started with a 3 week board and train turned into an owner surrender. They just weren’t ready for such a young and active dog.

I planned on keeping her because she fit in our pack really well but with a young baby, I am not able to allow her to reach what I think is her full potential. She’s basically a blank slate. I cannot find out her original kennel/breeder or I would try to contact them first.

Pros:
- gets along with just about every dog she meets.
- Great around my baby.
- Decent toy drive for kong and balls.
- Super food motivated
- Zero reactivity to people. Never met a stranger.
- Finally knows how to chew on bones.
- Crate trained
- Zero sensitivities to environments such a noises, tile, change in flooring, etc.
- Respectful of fences and gate
- Wonderful for nails, baths, and blowers.
- Loves affection

Cons:
- terrible bowl/plate cleaner
- Eats water and drops mouthfuls all over
- Very mild separation anxiety
- Not 100% reliable potty training. You have to actually watch her go. She’s never gone in her crate but has in the house. She’s gotten wayyyy better though.
- Terrible on a leash and flat collar. Okay on a prong.
- NO CATS OR YIPPY SMALL DOGS
- Can become destructive in the house of left to her own devices. She spent most of the first three weeks her tethered to a place spot or to me and was rewarded for just being.

What I believe she would be suited for: barn hunt, nose work, SAR, rally. She would also be suited for an active home with dog knowledge.

I’m trying to get her to a pool soon to see if she’ll swim/ dock dive.

Ideally I would like her to stay close to me because I love her and want to watch her succeed. I will be very picky about where she goes.

Rehoming fee applies. Serious inquiries only.

10/09/2021

These are my favorite types of training days. Enjoying coffee and the weather. Hank is reactive but he is happily enjoying the sights and smells of a busy historic downtown. If this were a year ago, we would not be able to enjoy our coffee.

08/14/2021

Adventure class did awesome today! All the dogs are doing so well. They make great improvements each week. 🥰

08/02/2021

Today Cira laid down for the first time with a bone. The past week I’ve been rewarding her for just being next to me, for looking at me, basically she got a treat for offering any sort of calm behavior. She is a million miles a minute and has no idea how to just take a breath.

This “breath” was very short. Very short. But I was so proud. You could also tell she was relieved for that tiny moment too. These are the moments that I love. These are the moments that are so rewarding as a trainer.

07/31/2021

Adventure Class went to Warped Wing Brewing Company this morning. The dogs did absolutely amazing and we all enjoyed our dogs, conversation, and some food.

We still have spots available for this class and would love to have you join us.

07/30/2021

This is what baby/young child to dog interaction should be like. Dogs are completely calm, they came over on their own, and it is 100% supervised. The dogs can also leave this interaction at any time.

Remember, these interactions should not be forced. Respect needs to happen on both sides, and as parents it’s our job to understand both dog and child. Most, if not all bites are completely avoidable, you just have to make sure you’re catching and understanding what your dog is saying.

07/26/2021

Cira is really proving to be extremely playful. She can be a tad pushy about play but my other two dogs are helping with that. Hagrid and Cira are great playmates thus far.

07/25/2021

Everyone give a giant welcome to Cira. Cira has a very interesting story and is a recently retired MWD (military working dog). She’s with us for a 2-3 week stay and train. She needs an obedience refresher and overall is here to learn how to be a dog.

In 24 hours she has already proved herself to be SUPER fun to work with and she LOVES playing with her new dog friends.

07/19/2021

We had a small class Saturday due to vacation schedules but Adventure class was a blast!

07/15/2021

The first Adventure Class last Saturday was a blast! We still have 3 spots left if you’d like to join. 🙂

07/08/2021

Saturday is the first meeting but it is open enrollment!

Contact me for more details and to get added to the class Facebook group! I would love to see you guys there.

07/04/2021

We hope everyone is having a wonderful 4th of July!

Celebrate responsibly because you have a 4 legged friend waiting for you at home.

06/30/2021

Thank you Christian for these great photos!

06/29/2021

Everyone say hi to our newest Luna. She’s quite the cutie, and looks to be a fun mix. She’s 18 weeks old and is pretty smart. We’ll be there working on basic manners and reliable potty training, but I know no doubt in my mind that she’ll be a superstar.

06/29/2021

Adventure Class!

Starting Saturday July 10th we will be rolling out a new class that focuses on socialization. Socialization is not just meeting dogs. It’s inducing your dog to new places, sounds, textures, smells, people, and being able to work around these distractions.

Class details:
When: every Saturday at 9:30am or 4pm (depending on location)
Where: changes weekly - examples would be pet friendly stores, parks, restaurants with dog friendly patios)
Price: $120 for 6 weeks

Now there are a couple restrictions with this class as we are working around the public. If your dog has certain behavioral issues (aggression, overly fearful, overly reactive, or etcetera), must book a consult with me (for my consult fee) before I can admit you to class. I may recommend you going through private training first before coming to this class.

If you have any questions or concerns, please let me know!

06/28/2021

It’s time to prepare for the holiday weekend.

If your dog needs medication for the fireworks, please contact your vet now for the prescription. Don’t wait for the last minute.

Fourth of July celebrations are just around the corner- help yourself be prepared with these helpful tips.

06/08/2021

I love this post. Patricia McConnell is amazing and I hope to go through the Family Paws program. Ever since I had my own baby I’m even more vigilant for stress signs in my dogs.

Please never force your dog into a situation with a baby or child. Let the dog come to them. Teach your children to look for stress signals from the dog. A bit is RARELY “out of nowhere.”

Dogs. Babies. Adorable. Unless you’re a trainer or behaviorist, and cover your eyes while watching some of the “cute” on line videos, showing young children at risk of being bitten because the dog was radiating discomfort while the parents cooed and laughed. People like me, CAABs (Certified Ap...

06/06/2021

Say hello to Luna! This SWEET little pup is with Hound Towne to learn some manners, work on some leash reactivity, and gain lots of confidence along the way.

05/15/2021

Say hello to little Miss Bella! Our newest pup to start training! This mini weanie is so precious and we can’t wait to watch her become more confident with herself!

05/04/2021

I am a huge supporter of people taking their pups out for dinner and lunch activities! I love being able to meet a friend for dinner and having my dog with me.

If this is something you want to do but you’re worried about your dogs behavior, contact me for a consult to discuss training.

05/02/2021

If you have a double coated dog. Please read. 😊

04/20/2021

This is a great article for those that have dogs and young children or babies.

I'm not saying that your dog doesn't like your child, but I am saying that your child does things that your dog doesn't like.

04/03/2021

We hope everyone is has a wonderful Easter Weekend!

03/20/2021

Happy Saturday!

As of April 1, 2021 services will be up and running again and for the entire month of April, I will reducing the price of the initial consultation by $25.

I have been enjoying my maternity leave but I am very excited to jump back in the swing of things!

Thank you for your patience!

02/11/2021

As of tomorrow all services are shut down until March 12, 2021. We will be welcoming our newest edition to the world next week.

Texts, messages, and emails will still be checked on a weekly basis, but expect longer response times.

Thank you for your patience and understanding.

Stay tuned for our next blog post this weekend.

02/10/2021

I hope all your pups got to enjoy some snow time today!

01/28/2021

01/23/2021

Check out our first blog entry. Thank you!

In dog training, trainers often say “we need to provide your dog with a more structured environment.” This is not us saying, “your dog needs to act like a robot, and can never have fun.” Puppies, adolescent dogs, dogs with behavioral issues, and dogs new to your home are perfect examples of ...

01/19/2021

🎉Attention new dog owners🎉

We are excited to announce that we are re running a special which will run from today until February 2, 2021! This special is targeted specifically to those that have just gotten a new dog or puppy.

Are you wanting to start your new family member off right? Are you new to the dog owning world? Does your new puppy or new dog need help learning the new routine? Do you just have questions regarding training or socializing?

Private training is one of the best things you can do for yourself and your new friend. Private training allows you to work on specifics one on one in your home and outside your home. Not only will we work on manners in the house, we’ll go on field trips to work on all our socialization skills!

Get $30 off your at home private consultation (normally $100.00), if you meet the following requirements.

Requirements:
- owned your puppy or dog for LESS than 60 days. Proof of ownership or adoption in be checked.
- have had your pup to the vet at least once to establish care and vaccines.
- Puppies- must have at least two rounds of shots.
- Dogs older than 6 months are required to be fully vaccinated.

Pleas contact me with any questions or to get signed up!

* Please note: I will be having my baby mid February, but I will be training until then, and shortly after her birth. Weekly sessions can be in person or virtually!

01/14/2021

Good morning!

I am quickly approaching my due date and will be operating with limited services.

Boarding and Board and Train Services will be unavailable from February 1, 2021- May 1, 2021.

At home training for new clients will be unavailable from February 13, 2021 until March 12, 2021.

Current/past clients, I am always here for you and will be available by email!

*Dates are subject to change. All dependent on when baby decides she wants to come. This post will be edited as needed.

Thank you for your understanding.

01/09/2021

A quick muzzle training session with one of my own dogs. Hagrid is a dog that I could just put the muzzle on, walk out the door, go to a store, and he would be completely fine with walking around and doing whatever is asked of him.

Why though? I try to make training fun and positive for all the dogs in my care. Muzzling can be stressful to some dogs. So if I’m in a situation where my dog is uncomfortable or for safety I need to muzzle him, but he’s already conditioned to said muzzle, I’m not adding anymore stress to him.

I recommend that all dogs be conditioned muzzling because you never know when your dog could need one.

12/25/2020

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas.

12/19/2020

Some important points to remember if you have people over!

Set your dogs up for success so they can have an enjoyable day too. 🙂

12/15/2020

Protect yourself and your pup! All counties in the State of Ohio require you to license your dog(s).

Buy yours today!

2021 Montgomery County dog licenses are available to purchase now through February 1, 2021.

12/05/2020

As we all know, COVID-19 numbers are rising and our home county of Montgomery is under a Level 4. In order to limit exposure, we’re going to try something new now through the new year. Virtual training using Google Meet. I still plan on operating in person as well, but want to offer this option for those that are interested.

I know most people are used to virtual rooms by now, which I think may make all of this easier. I will be offer private and group classes using this platform.

*******For those interested, please send a message and I can go in depth how this will work.*******

Since this process is new for everyone involved, I’m sure there will be some learning curves.

This is open for both new and current clients.

- Group Sessions is great for dogs and handlers that are looking for basic obedience (leave it, loose leash walking, sit, down, wait, etc.), general enrichment, and those wanting to strengthen their relationship with their canine friend. Limited to 4 dogs per session. Sessions are 1 day a week for approximately 1 hour for a total of 6 weeks. Starting the week of December 21st. I will pick days based on interest and those members availability. Total Price: $100

- Private Training is great for dogs that have behavioral issues that need a one on one approach. Or for people that prefer to learn one on one. Sessions are 1 day a week for approximately 1 hour for a total of 6 weeks. The first week is the evaluation and it is solely focused on learning as much as I can about you and your dog. Price: Evaluation - $75 and Weeks 2-6 - $50.

12/02/2020

We’re late on this bandwagon but Hagrid would love to see all you photos!

Post your photos in the comments!

11/30/2020

Birk stayed with me for Thanksgiving. He did great. He has a lot of work to do when it comes to meeting new people and being in new environments but he was great and even made a doggie friend.

11/27/2020

Long post ahead!

🐩 Puppy season is upon us! 🐕

Christmas is one of the top holidays for people to get dogs or puppies for themselves or their families.

While puppies can be super exciting and joy bringers they are a lot of work. They’re not something to bring into your home if you’re expecting you child to take care of it, solely on their own. Puppies and dogs are a lot of responsibility and it is not fair to let all of that responsibility on a child. Puppies and dogs require constant and consistent training, they need adequate mental and physical stimulation, food, water, vet care, and etc. They are a responsibility that everyone in the household should be committed to.

Still want to bring a dog or a puppy into your home? Awesome! I’m super excited for you to go on the amazing journey of owning and loving a dog.

Purchasing or adopting a dog is a huge decision! I am an advocate of both adopting and purchasing dogs from (ethical and reputable) breeders. The decision to adopt or purchase should be one that is not rushed.

For those that know me personally, I love rescue/shelter dogs. All of my own dogs have come from a shelter or a rescue. I would not trade them for the world, but they each have MAJOR faults. I personally believe not all families can handle the unknowns of shelter/rescue dogs, and THAT IS OKAY!

What’s the first thing you should do before getting a puppy or dog? Research. Research. Did I say research? Definitely research. Look up different breeds and their traits. Look up different sports to do with your future. Ask yourself are you prepared for this. Research the price of grooming that dog needs. Does he need brushed daily? Does he need to go to the groomers every few weeks and if so, are you prepared to spend $60-$150 on a full groom? Reach out to breed clubs and trainers in the area for help and to share their experiences.

Now remember, picking a breeder is a responsibility in itself. You want to avoid pet stores and puppy mills. You want to avoid breeders that are selling high price mixes, often listed as designer breeds. You want to make sure you’re finding ethical breeders. Remember PUREBRED does NOT EQUAL WELL BRED. Just because you found a breeder that has AKC or UKC or CKC (Canadian Kennel Club) papers doesn’t make it well breed. Puppies from pet store generally come with papers but they generally also come from puppy mills. This is where finding a a breed club can be SUPER helpful.

If you’re wanting to adopt, there a some really amazing breed specific rescues if you’re wanting to go that route. Most counties have a shelter with adoptable pets. Dayton specifically has quite a few rescues and humane societies that offer great support to their adopters because they want you and your dog to have a successful life together.

Adoption:
- you’re providing a dog a home that probably hasn’t had the best life.
- Comes vaccinated, licensed, and either spayed or neutered. Unfortunately though, if it’s a puppy, pediatric neutering can cause behavioral or health issues down the line.
- You’re supporting said rescue or county shelter which in turn provides funds to help other unfortunate animals.
- A majority of dogs or puppies from rescues or shelters have unknown histories. Genetics play a HUGE factor in how a dog will grow, mentally and physically. Major behavioral issues can show up anytime, but generally 3-4 months after you’ve brought them home. It takes a while for a dog to truly open up in a new home.
- Temperament testing varies by rescue and shelter. They also have hardly any decomposition time until they’re already in your home.
- There are a lot of unknowns. Wether it be behaviorally or physically.

Purchasing from an ETHICAL and REPUTABLE breeder:
- The puppy or dog is picked for you. Which means the breeder is going to go through your application and pick the puppy they think is BEST suited for your home and lifestyle.
- Health tested, titled, and proven parents.
- Good breeders have contracts which protects everyone involved.
- You’re helping with the preservation of breeds and proven bloodlines.
- there is generally a wait list because puppies are sold before they hit the ground.
- These dogs and puppies were put on this earth for a purpose and a job.
- The breeder is invested in that puppy and your family for LIFE! Meaning if anything happens to where you’re unable to provide for the dog or there is an issue with the dog, that dog has a home with the breeder. They also want their dogs to succeed.

11/26/2020

We here at Hound Towne want to wish you and your hounds the safest and happiest of Thanksgivings!