PupDOGS Training, LLC

11/17/2023

When I started working with this amazing family, there was a history of the shepherd attacking the collie. Now, look at these snuggle bugs. Thank you, Kristen, for all of your dedicated training. I couldn't be happier for the entire family.❤️

11/12/2023

I spy a Mojoe on a baby hike.

After 3 months of house arrest to heal a herniated disc, we get to start doing things to get his body strong again. And what a beautiful day to celebrate the milestone!

11/07/2023

Treadmill Training Step 2: Turn the machine on. It must seem weird, and you can see the hesitancy in Voodoo's movement, but it won't take long for this to smooth out.

11/07/2023

Treadmill Training Step 1: Teach dog how to get on and off, plus build a positive association to being on the stationary machine. This was Mojoe's first time on 7 days ago. Now, he's already stepping on it at random times hoping to get more treats. I'm waiting to move onto Step 2 until his spine heals a bit longer.

10/29/2023

7 days ago I was hiking in shorts. In 7 weeks, I'll be thinking today's temps are "shorts weather." Voodoo thinks I should make the air this cool all year!

10/22/2023

More hiking pics, but I can't help myself! It was 5 miles of gorgeousness.

10/21/2023

I've transformed a room from a 'catch all' to a conditioning area. Complete with foam flooring and the newest addition, a doggie treadmill. I may not want it to arrive, but we're ready for winter!!!

10/20/2023

Rob (after walking the dogs in Hopkins): "We lost Voodoo's stick somewhere."
Me: "Thee stick???" (voice rising an octave)😯😯😯
Rob immediately turned around and went back to the vicinity of said stick. Voodoo immediately beelined to the right spot.

I was as impressed by Rob's lack of complaining to go look for a stupid stick as I was of Voodoo's memory of where he left it.

So, of course, we needed to take it on a hike!

10/15/2023

Sometimes he just stops, drops his stick, and looks around. Oh, how I wish I knew what he's thinking.....what his perception of this lovely place is.

10/13/2023

This is our homework video for a conditioning class we're taking. Walking backwards is the exercise, but Voodoo wanted to try some other things first 😂 Me laughing is reinforcing to him, and he makes it happen often!

10/12/2023

Got a hike in before the rain. Lone lake mountain biking trails (multi-use so ok to hike). 7 minutes from the house, and didn't see another soul. What a great place to live!

10/07/2023

Caption This: A friend lovingly sent me home with some of her dog's favorite treats - dried minnows.

09/25/2023

Is your dog ready for the “What Ifs?” We had one this weekend, with Mojoe ending up in the ER on Friday, and then again on Saturday. The reason isn’t the point, so I’ll just say it’s a GI thing, and he’ll be fine.

Since puppyhood, we’ve made handling, grooming, and health care into low-stress routines. Every day we do a little something - as simple as touching a body part, to more involved under the umbrella of Cooperative Care. This is Mojoe’s third Chin Rest session as a floppy-eared baby.

But, “What If” he needed emergency care? He would be separated from me and probably wouldn’t get treats. We would need to rely on the resiliency built through training. In the 3 years since this video was taken, he’s had thousands of repetitions and reinforcers associated with various caretaking.

In addition to body handling, we prepared for ….
1. A stranger walking him away from his mom.
2. Crating for an extended time, especially since we don’t use one at home anymore.
3. Handling by unfamiliar people.
4. Restraint for diagnostic tests.

Mojoe passed with flying colors. When released, my sensitive boy looked so relaxed and nonchalant about it all. (Me? Not so much, but that’s a different hurdle!) It says a lot about our training. And it says a LOT LOT LOT about the caring AERC staff. A few purposely came to tell me what a lovely and sweet boy he was. Maybe they tell everyone that, and probably they don't. It doesn't matter. He was comfortable, and he got the best care possible. It’s everything I wanted for him in that time of crisis.

09/18/2023

We hiked a few trails at Interstate Park in WI and Taylor's Falls, MN. Gorgeous, but do NOT do the trails we did if you're with your dog. Echo Canyon, Summit Rock, and River Bluff trails in WI were rocky with stones of every size. You'd have to carry small-medium dogs for long sections. Large dogs need to be in excellent shape and be able to balance differently on each paw. Voodoo fits that bill, so he was ok, but I wouldn't do it again. The MN side on a Sunday night? Too many people and dogs for my liking, and it was definitely off-peak compared to other times. I highly recommend paddling the St. Croix River. THAT'S an experience not to be missed!

09/17/2023

My Chicago boy enjoys hiking, but doesn’t understand why we would drive beyond the nearby trails. So, while he stays home with the ‘resting’ Mojoe, Voodoo and I are exploring the trails that are about an hour away. Even when Rob’s NOT going, he complains about the distance. “What’s wrong with Minnewashta?” (a beautiful nearby park, but one we could hike with our eyes closed).

Yesterday, we went to a new-to-us park in Northfield, Nerstrand Big Woods State Park. It’s gorgeous!!! A woman passing us took this picture and texted it to me. She thought Voodoo carrying his log “souvenir” was the cutest thing ever. Who could argue with that? Little did she know that this particular log came home with us from Lake Michigan and has been lovingly carried on every hike since! It’s actually something I encourage because it REDUCES the number of times he carries a 10-foot find that make passing people on a trail an impossible challenge. It still happens. Even on this hike he carried a tree for about 200 feet, but it helps 😊

There’s supposed to be a waterfall, but the drought has left it a trickle. It was still cool, and Voodoo was happy to get his paws wet after a 4.5-mile hike. In case you want to go, but don’t want to hike that far, it’s only about .5 miles from the parking lot, but we hiked there from the backside.

When we got home, I tried to convince Mojoe that we had been at the vet, as if he can’t smell the difference. Voodoo doesn’t even try, bounding into the house to tell Rob all about his adventures. I do my best to make it up to him, but oh my, the guilt. 5. More. Weeks…

09/10/2023

Mojoe shouldn't be jumping or using stairs. So this happened while Voodoo and I were gone hiking. Mattress moved to the living room 💕 I wasn't as surprised by the move as I was that the bed was 'made!' Evidently, Rob CAN do that 🤣 (I expect the mattress will stay there for a long while!)

09/04/2023

We were attacked this morning. I had both boys along for Mojoe's short therapy walk. Way off in the distance I saw an off leash dog. Its owner was talking to someone else with a leashed dog. At this point in life, I don't trust any off leash dogs, so even though they were far away, I did what I coach my clients to do, change directions, increase distance, and get out of their visual line of sight. Done.

Even so, a few moments later, there it was. Not the off leash dog, but the other with its leash dragging behind it, no owner in sight. I hoped it was friendly. I yelled for the owner, "Get your dog. I HAVE AN INJURED DOG HERE. OMG, OMG, GET YOUR DOG!!!!!!!" And in those few seconds, it was already on us, baring its teeth and targeting Voodoo.

It repeatedly lunged and bit at his face and neck. After what seemed like hours (but was probably 10 seconds), the owner appeared and stood there, WATCHING his dog attacking us, not moving, not helping. "WHAT THE **** IS WRONG WITH YOU!!! GET YOUR **** DOG!!!" (I've read somewhere that yelling at an owner in this type of situation isn't helpful, but oh well.)

Voodoo did his best to defend himself with his big size and big voice. His big teeth probably helped as well. The owner finally grabbed the leash, maybe realizing his dog had no intention of ever stopping the attack on its own. There were no apologies. No, are you OK. No nothin'. He just turned around and walked away.

Voodoo will be physically ok. He has some minor scratches to his face. Most of the saliva was by his neck and cheeks where he has an incredibly thick coat protecting him. I haven't found any punctures yet.

There will be psychological wounds. Even here, Voodoo may be ok. He's shown himself to be very resilient. Mojoe and I, on the other hand, are shaken to our core. Time will tell for us all.

There are all kinds of articles, etc with advice on what to do in this type of situation. I listen to the discussions at virtually every training conference. The only thing that would have helped us here is if I had a spray deterrent like, Spray Shield. It's been ordered.

I called the police and made a report. I know the owner, though not his dog. He's a neighbor, and a nice, albeit irresponsible, guy. But he needed to be put on official notice so that this never happens again to anyone.

And, one last thing...A previous client of mine witnessed the whole thing. Once we were safe, he approached to make sure we were ok and to comfort us. I didn't recognize him through my sobbing. But he reminded me that I helped with his dog, Biscuit. His kind words in those moments helped more than he'll ever know.

09/03/2023

I prefer to think of my dog's lives in terms of days rather than years. There's so many more of them!. And these last 8 with Za Voodoo...I will cherish them forever ❤️

09/02/2023

I couldn't get the video I wanted. One of Voodoo (of course), on a casual walk. Mostly, choosing to be at my side and effortlessly in sync. Occasionally, wandering off for a sniff or curiosity. It's his expression that's so exceptional, and people comment on it all the time. I wish I could show you.

But I couldn't get the video. Because, if I'm Looking at Voodoo, despite a camera separating us, then Voodoo won't stop Looking at me. And, evidently, if Voodoo is Looking at me, despite the amount of time, then I can't stop Telling him what a good boy he is and that I love him. (cue the audio)

Yeah. I guess this video will do.

09/01/2023

We hiked the Pigeon River today. There's Canada in the background. It has the highest waterfall in MN (see my comment), but we both prefer the less populated hiking along the river. Minnesota is such an amazing state!

08/31/2023

We hiked to the Devil's Kettle (James Magney State Park north of Grand Marais). If you like waterfalls, this is a good one. If you don't like stairs, then maybe not. There are about 200 to get into and out of the canyon.

08/31/2023

We've had a few days of hiking rugged and steep terrain + some swimming. So, today we had some downtime. Here, we're doing some light stretches for his hard-working front legs while soaking up the beautiful day.

08/29/2023

The day's last hike, a mostly leisurely stroll near the cabin. Our cortisol levels dropping.

08/26/2023

Well…&* #$. Two weeks ago, I noticed a change in Mojoe’s movement and stamina. I took him to TC Rehab to ask the age-old question, “What’s wrong with this little guy.” While we couldn’t find any obvious problems, my spidey sense went on high alert, preparing for a spine injury.

He got progressively worse. This video is from Monday, and it makes me cringe.

Days later, I overhead Rob telling someone else about Mojoe running in the yard, when he tripped and did a full somersault with a twist. “Whoa…Wait a minute. When did THAT happen?” Of course…the night before symptoms.

He had an MRI yesterday with two findings.
1. The vertebrae that meet at his back and tail (L7-S1) are fused. It’s a problem that occurs in the womb. While it’s not the acute issue, it does explain some other things.
2. 3 bulging discs at his middle back (T12-L2). The disc at T12-T13 is slightly herniated, but does not need surgery. Thank Goodness.

The positives outweigh the negatives:
1. I caught this early. I didn’t know about the somersault, but I know his movement better than the back of my hand. Plus, I have videos of his gait going back through time. That allowed his medical team to see EXACTLY what I was talking about. It will also help us assess his progress.
2. He has medical insurance so we can afford the best care.
3. He’s in excellent shape. Conditioning is part of his every day: stretches, strength, balance, stamina, proprioception… He wasn’t perfect (see Finding 1!), but the best shape that Mojoe could be in. That’ll help his recovery. And now that I know about the lumbosacral issue, we can focus on things that will minimize the effects.
4. For the first week of his 8 weeks of rest, Voodoo will be in Lutsen…..doing stuff out-of-sight. Yes, I’m nervous about leaving him because that’s who I am. But his dad will take great care of him, so all will be fine.
5. Did I mention he does NOT surgery. Well, it’s worth mentioning again.

After writing all of this, it’s time to go give my sweet, fragile boy some treats and snuggles.

08/23/2023

Happy 6th Birthday to my Happy Voodoo! It's too hot to do anything especially fun today, but his real present is coming next week. 8 days of hiking with his mamma.....in the cool of Lutsen!

07/28/2023

Voodoo licked off most of his sand mustache before I could snap a pic, but he's still damn cute!

07/22/2023

Voodoo's tail never stops wagging...even while his parents try to enforce a stupid play break 😘

07/16/2023

This is sooo Mojoe. A happy boy who dances to his own beat 🥰 Of all his fancy floaty toys, this little ring is his absolute favorite!

07/15/2023

One of our favorite places on earth. Miles of sandy beach all to ourselves + cool temps = smiley dogs and relaxed humans.

06/22/2023

I just registered for a working spot in an Introduction to Treiball class. It's a sport where the dogs herd balls instead of sheep. It's online. It's one week. It will be a lot of fun! Anyone want to join me?

Online dog training classes for obedience, rally, agility, tracking, nosework, dog behavior, freestyle, and foundation skills.

06/15/2023

Well said.

06/10/2023

As I watch Mojoe lounging on the rainy deck, it reminds me of his uncle, My Mojo, who loved to do the same. I miss this dog something terrible, but the memories are sweet.

06/09/2023

I don't usually share posts like this, but these puppies are from Voodoo's breeder. I would take another in a heartbeat if I didn't already have my hands full. If you're hoping for a GSD...who isn't a couch potato :-)...here are some awesome dogs!

We have 5 handsome young men available for a once in a lifetime kinda price! These boys are higher energy and drive but the are sweet and loving as can be! 3 Bicolors and 2 solid black. All long coated. Must pick up because I’m not available for shipping.

06/04/2023

He's got this. How long until he learns to operate the faucet?

05/21/2023

I've had some good gardening helpers over the years, but Mojoe is really something else. Once he's done with the 'throw ball in the hole' game, he's all snuggles. I spent 8 hours weeding, and he never left my side. My heart runneth over ❤️. Where's Voodoo you ask? He thinks it's complete BS that we're in the yard without playing, so he's pouting...while lying inside, on the cold tile, like any dog with any good sense would do!

05/13/2023

With visitors becoming more frequent now that the pandemic's over, polite greetings made to the top of our training list. I've spent 6 weeks working on the dog's foundation skills, and this is our first test with a friend. As I tell everyone, you can only train 1 dog at a time, so Mojoe is having major FOMO in the background. But, before this, it would have been mayhem with Voodoo barking and jumping to give some powerful full face kisses. We're well on our way to goal! Thank you Michelle Lundgren for helping with their training!!!

04/28/2023

I get to come home to this. The video speaks for itself 💞💞💞

04/22/2023

Voodoo and Rob passed their 3rd of 3 odor recognition tests today! Rob did such a great job of not calling false alerts (a few "If I smash this box, can we search for Mamma?" moments). So proud of them both. Such a fun Saturday morning!!!

04/21/2023

Happy Friday!

04/12/2023

With the arrival of canine influenza, I wanted to share the information from Wag'n Woofs where we hold our group classes. As with other health risks, we take them seriously and do everything we can to minimize them. We have strong cleaning protocols, keep our class sizes small, and do not allow sick dogs, whatever their symptoms, to attend. We will continue to monitor the situation. Please stay informed so you can make the best decisions for your pets.

Per the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA): "The symptoms of a CIV infection resemble those of canine infectious tracheobronchitis ("kennel cough"). Dogs infected with CIV develop a persistent cough and may develop a thick nasal discharge and fever (often 104-105oF). Other signs can include lethargy, eye discharge and reduced appetite. Canine influenza infections can cause mild to severe illness in dogs. Some infected dogs may not show any signs of illness, but can still be contagious and able to infect other dogs

Most dogs recover within 2-3 weeks. However, some dogs may develop secondary bacterial infections which may lead to more severe illness and pneumonia. Anyone with concerns about their pet’s health, or whose pet is showing signs of canine influenza, should contact their veterinarian."

At Wag ‘n Woofs, the health and safety of all dogs coming through our doors is top priority, and with the recent outbreak of the canine influenza virus (CIV) in shelters, we would like to update you all on our protocols!

We are currently not requiring any further vaccinations than what is mandatory to attend our facility — distemper, rabies, and bordetella — but we encourage all owners to make the best decision for their pets, especially puppies and seniors.

We have a very rigorous cleaning routine that we do daily. Both on and off the play floors, our facility is tended to with safe and effective cleaning products. We take care to mop up any and all messes immediately, and any potential for illness is taken very seriously. We will continue to keep you up to date as information comes through, and if our protocols evolve to adapt to the situation.

If there are any developments we will update protocols as recommended! We will be posting information in the lobby, so take a look toward our announcements board. As always, please reach out with any questions!