Plum Creek Canines

03/07/2025

"Calm" is one of the first things I teach all dogs that come to me for training. When a dog cannot easily access a calm state of mind, they become anxious, quick to react, over excited, etc.

When we give a dog the tools to choose to release stress and settle into themselves, we also give them the tools to make better choices.

03/03/2025

🎓 Training Tip Tuesday 🎓

Short, Sweet Sessions

Most training sessions should be kept to brief, focused sessions of 5-10 minutes. Long, drawn-out sessions can lead to fatigue or frustration for both you and your dog. Shorter and more frequent sessions are much more effective in maintaining your dog’s interest and retaining their focus, as well as building their understanding of what you are asking of them.

This is especially crucial for younger dogs or beginners, who may have shorter attention spans. By keeping things short and consistent, you increase the chances of your dog mastering each behavior before moving on to something new.

03/02/2025

🍀 Lucky Dog Special – March Only! 🍀

Get more for less this March with our exclusive Lucky Dog Special! Take advantage of these discounted daycare and boarding packages before they’re gone!

Daycare Deal – 10 days for $200 (Save $50 – 20% off!)
Boarding Bundle – 5 nights for $120 (Save $30 – 20% off!)

📅 Available for purchase all through March!
📆 Use these packages to book any dates starting March 24th or later!
✅ No limit—buy as many as you’d like!
✅ Packages never expire—use them whenever you need!
✅ Non-transferable
✅ All regular policies apply.

Message us to grab your package today!

02/28/2025

Exciting things are on the horizon! We’re expanding our services to provide even more options for you and your dogs. With the addition of 𝐁𝐎𝐀𝐑𝐃𝐈𝐍𝐆, alongside daycare and more training avenues, we’re set to offer a broader range of services in a new space designed with your dog’s needs in mind. We’re eager to share more as everything falls into place. Stay tuned—you won’t want to miss what’s coming next!

02/26/2025

Today is a new day and we’re back to focusing on the pawsitive!

Furever Full is an amazing resource for our community and check out what they’ve got planned now!

Spay and neuter is essential to reducing the oops’s and keeping our animal population at a managable level.

Pop over to their page and give them a follow too!

02/26/2025

🎾 Training doesn’t have to be boring! Our 8-week Group Games Class makes obedience fun with activities like Musical Place & Paper Plate Recalls—perfect for real-world distractions! 🐕🎯

📍 1003 Gateway Ave, Bismarck, ND
💰 $390 for 8 weeks

🐾 Who Can Join?
✅ Dogs with basic obedience training
✅ Owners who want a fun skills refresher

📲 Sign up now!

02/25/2025

🎓 Training Tip Tuesday 🎓

Reward Desired Behaviors

In training, it's vital to reward behaviors that you want to see more of. If your dog is lying quietly instead of jumping or barking, this is an opportunity to reinforce calm behavior. By rewarding these moments, you teach your dog that quiet, composed behavior is what leads to things that they enjoy.

This approach is important because it redirects your dog’s energy toward desirable behaviors, rather than inadvertently reinforcing negative ones. Over time, this will make the desired behaviors your dog's preferred choice.

02/24/2025

When you breed—whether on purpose or by accident—you take on the responsibility for an entire litter. That responsibility doesn’t disappear when things get hard. It is not someone else’s burden to carry.

When the expenses pile up, when you’re exhausted from sleepless nights, when you struggle to find homes for the puppies—it is still your responsibility.

If you want to avoid the challenges of an unexpected litter, make the responsible choice: spay and neuter your pets.

Shelters, rescues, foster homes, and kindhearted individuals are overwhelmed and stretched thin. The solution starts with responsible pet ownership.

Guys - it’s not often that I feel the need to put things on blast on our page but I need to be really clear with everyone about a few things.

Everything we do with Bakken Paws is volunteer. Every single volunteer here has at LEAST one other job and a family that needs their attention as well.

While our volunteers were working their regular jobs and attending memorials for lost friends today, this is what we got messaged.

This isn’t the worst of the messages, just the ones that started it.

We aren’t the only rescue that gets these kinds of messages and we wanted to share this as a reminder that NO ONE deserves to be shamed, guilted, gaslit or berated like this person felt we deserved today.

We are volunteers. And burnout is real.

Please be kind and conscientious of the people you are asking to drop everything to help you with your problem.

02/21/2025

02/19/2025

Sweet Raine is joining me for training!

I'm so excited to have been given the privilege of volunteering my training servicew to this young poodle mix. She is one of the dogs currently in Bakken Paws' foster program.

Raine deals with some anxiety and underconfidence in herself, something I'll be working to help her through. By giving her the tools to self soothe, choose behaviors and activities that provide her with a sense of confidence, and laying down training foundations, I'll be setting her up for success with her future adopter.

Today, we began the bare foundations. This included beginning to teach "place" using "free shaping". This method relies on the dog offering behaviors, rather than us telling them what to do. Using this method allows me to instill confidence in making her own decisions, as well as helping her to build a positive association with "place".

We also worked on luring, recall, not jumping on myself or the table, and basic engagement! After only a handful of hours with this girl, I can already tell she'll be a fun little training buddy.

If you're interested in adopting her, you can fill out an adoption application here:
https://petstablished.com/adoption_form/4819/generic

02/18/2025

🎓 Training Tip Tuesday 🎓

Marker Cues Matter

A marker cue (such as “yes!” or the sound of a clicker) is a fundamental part of clear communication with your dog. It marks the exact moment when your dog performs the desired behavior, which helps them understand what they did right. Accurate timing is essential for successful training. If the marker word is delayed, your dog may not connect the behavior with the reward, making it harder for them to learn.

Using consistent marker cues sets up the foundation for all future training. By consistently using a marker word to highlight desired behaviors, you increase your dog’s understanding and reinforce the actions you want them to repeat.

02/18/2025

Attention South Heart area residents. The annual pet licensing and vaccine clinic will be held this Saturday, February 22nd at the South Heart City Shop. City Licenses are $10 and West Dakota Vet will be onsite administering vaccinations at an additional cost.

While you are there, you can sign up to win this beauty that will be given away in April!!

Also bring the kids to claim their own stuffy and candy grab bag!

02/11/2025

Dickinson community, we need you and your skills! We need a logo for our first expo, and we want it to be by a talented community pet lover.

Contest is for 13 and older, professional or amateur.

Help support this community event (which we plan to make a yearly thing!) and share your creative skills.

❓ What: Dickinson Pet Expo

🍁 Theme: Dog Days of Fall

⏳Deadline: April 1st, 2025

✍🏼 Media: Digital Logo (meaning submission must be in a high quality .png format. )

📝 Notes: Transparent background. Fine art is more than welcome but must be submitted in digital scanned format.

Lettering does not need to be added - we can add that later to fit our needs

ABSOLUTELY NO ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE SUBMISSIONS

🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾

Please message the page privately for our email to submit your art to. All submissions will be displayed at the expo so we can show off all your awesome skills!

Chosen design will be announced April 15th and artist will receive a tshirt with their design and a 💵 of $100 sponsored by Maxx the Hearing Alert Cardigan Corgi, a local service dog team. Artist will be required to sign a release allowing us to use design in all advertising and will retain credit.

Let’s get creative! Can’t wait to see what you come up!

01/08/2025

🌟 New Service: ADVENTURE WALKS 🌟
Is your dog in need of more than just a regular walk? Adventure Walks are the perfect solution! These 60-minute hikes aren’t just about getting your dog out for some exercise—they’re a fantastic way to stimulate their mind, burn off excess energy, and explore the great outdoors.

Why choose an adventure walk?
🚶‍♂️ Physical Exercise: A 60-minute hike gives your dog the chance to burn off energy and improve their fitness, helping them stay healthy and strong.
🧠 Mental Stimulation: New sights, smells, and sounds during a hike provide valuable mental stimulation, keeping your dog’s brain engaged.
🌳 Exploration: Dogs love to explore, and adventure walks give them the opportunity to experience the world in a safe and controlled environment.
💤 Restful Relaxation: After an adventure walk, your dog will feel calm, content, and ready to relax—perfect for a peaceful evening at home!

If your dog has a lot of energy or you’re looking for a more enriching way to exercise them, an adventure walk is the perfect way to go! Contact me today to schedule your dog’s next adventure! 🐾🌄

01/08/2025

If your dog seems to have more energy than they know what to do with, you're not alone! High-energy dogs often need more than just a quick walk to burn off that excess energy, especially during the colder months when outdoor play is limited. That’s where dog daycare and walks come in!

At Plum Creek Canines' daycare, we combine physical exercise with structured playtime, training, and enrichment to help your dog channel their energy in a positive way. If you're struggling with a high-energy dog, daycare and regular walks are a great place to start! Not sure about daycare? I also offer 15, 30, 45, and 60 minute walks!

01/05/2025

🐾 Why Crate Training is Essential for Your Dog's Success 🐾

Crate training is one of the most beneficial things you can do for your dog, and it’s not just about keeping them safe when you're away.

✅ Safety and Security: A crate provides a safe space for your dog when you're not around to supervise. It helps prevent destructive behaviors and keeps them safe in potentially dangerous situations.
✅ Helps with Housebreaking: Crate training is one of the most effective ways to teach your dog where it's appropriate to go to the bathroom. Dogs naturally avoid soiling their sleeping area.
✅ Promotes Calmness: Dogs need a designated place to relax and unwind. A crate offers a quiet retreat, helping them feel secure and less anxious.
✅ Travel Safety: Crates are essential for safe travel, whether it’s by car, plane, or other modes of transportation.
✅ Comfort at the Vet: If your dog is injured or has to stay at the vet, they'll often have to stay in a crate. By having them used to being in a crate, you will majorly decrease their stress levels- making the vet a less scary place!
✅ Control and Peace of Mind: Have lots of family and friends over? Running in and out of the house? Plumber coming to fix your sink? New dog in the house? All of these are situations that often end in stress for the dog, the owner, and anybody else involved. A crate is a safe and comfortable place for your be instead!

01/03/2025

IMPORTANT UPDATES IN SERVICES

New Pricing for regular Walks and Check-Ins:
15 minute: $15
30 minute: $20
45 minute: $25
60 minute: $30

Vaccination Update: All clients will be required to re-upload their dog’s vaccination records due to new software.

New Forms & Contracts: We will be implementing updated forms and contracts in the new year, so please watch for those.

Payment Policy: For all services, payment must be completed before I leave your property or when your dog is picked up/dropped off in the evening. This may be paid in advance. Cash, check, and venmo are still options. The new software will also have a built-in payment processing feature.

I am currently in the process of getting a website up and running. Information and links to book services will be located there. Additionally, you will find a link at the top of my page to book services.

Thank you for your understanding and continued support as we implement these changes! Please reach out if you have any questions!