SmartPaw Behavior & Training

08/13/2024

I would like to announce that we are no longer accepting clients for the time being. As some of you may know, I had a baby a little less than 2 years ago so many of my priorities have changed. I am currently focusing on my family and raising my amazing little girl. It was a hard decision to take a step back from training, but I always want to give my clients the attention they deserve and this was proving difficult with a toddler demanding 100% of my time and patience. 🙂
Please reach out to me if you need a referral to another trainer and hopefully I'll be back in a couple years when life calms down (and my little one is in school). All the best!
~Allison

03/15/2023

Every new developmental stage of a baby can be weird for dogs! First the arrival of a baby interrupts their routine, then the baby starts grabbing at them, rolling, crawling, walking, etc. Just because your dog was okay with the baby when they were a newborn does not mean that they will be okay with them as they become more mobile! Make sure to have management in place for when your dog needs a break. Baby gates are perfect for this! I had a reminder of this today when my 5 month old grabbed my dog’s leg hair with a death grip and wouldn’t stop pulling 😳 This was a mistake on my part for not preventing this and it made my dog very nervous. Scared dogs are always more likely to bite, so please don’t make the mistake of saying your dog should “get used to it”. They’ll have plenty of opportunities to become close friends when your baby gets older and can learn how to give your dog space when they need it!

03/07/2023

After 4.5 months of maternity leave, I’m ready to start taking clients again! I will be easing into it by only taking a few clients at a time and will not be doing aggression cases for the time being. Please reach out for my availability! Can’t wait to start seeing you and your dogs again 😄

10/12/2022

I’m now 5 days past my due date and baby still hasn’t made her appearance! I did get some maternity photos done with Finn, who has been enjoying the extra long daily walks to try and bring on labor 😆 Any day now!!

08/11/2022

I’m less than 2 months away from my due date and I’m already experiencing dog mom guilt 😓 I’m slowing down and it makes it more difficult to go for walks and adventures with my dog, Finn. I’m trying to prepare him for all of the life changes that a baby will bring, but I still want him to feel included and loved. The next month or so will be a whirlwind of narrowing in on Finn’s anxiety meds, getting him used to new sleeping arrangements and baby gear, and brushing up on his training. It’s going to be a huge adjustment for all of us! Send us all the positive vibes!

07/26/2022

And that's a wrap for 2022! I am no longer taking new clients for 2022 as I prepare for the birth of our baby and take maternity leave. 🍼 If you are currently a client, still plan on finishing out our remaining sessions as planned. 😄
Please feel free to reach out to me if you need a referral to another trainer in the area! Thanks for your understanding and I look forward to helping more pups and their families next year!

06/21/2022

Since I am 24 weeks pregnant, I thought it would be helpful for me to share what training I am working on with my dog to prepare for baby! My goals for my dog may be a little different than others but should be a good jumping-off point if you need ideas for yourself!
The first thing we are working on is crate training! Specifically inside this travel crate. Our baby will be born right before the holidays so we expect that we may spend the night at our family's with our dog, Finn. This travel crate collapses for easy transport, which will be needed with all of the baby stuff that will be crammed in our car. It also will be helpful so Finn has a cozy space to sleep or take a break from the commotion. The crate can be a wonderful safe space away from kids/toddlers!
Today, Finn enjoyed his lunch from a frozen Kong while relaxing in his crate! Give your dog treats, chew toys, or meals inside the crate to create a more positive association. Also, go slowly and build up time inside the crate gradually - especially if your dog has an existing fear! If your dog is fearful of their crate, I highly recommend reaching out to a certified trainer for help.

06/09/2022

Here's the reason I have been terrible at updating my social media lately! I'm currently 23 weeks pregnant☺️ Baby girl is due on October 7th! I'm still taking new clients, even if I'm not-so-present on my page 😆

01/21/2022

I can't believe we are celebrating our 1 year anniversary! This time last year, I unexpectedly lost my job as a dog trainer due to COVID-19. I quickly began planning and setting up my own business in the middle of the pandemic - pretty scary! But little did I know that it would be the greatest adventure! In the past year, I have met countless people that simply want the best for their dogs. I have celebrated all of the small victories alongside my clients and have learned so much about being a business owner. Some of these were tough lessons to learn, but overall I have no doubt that I have the best job in the world. Thank you to everyone that has supported me this past year and a HUGE thank you to my clients for allowing me to help with your four-legged family members! I can't wait to see what the next year brings

01/11/2022

There's nothing magical about putting your hand out to greet a dog. As a matter of fact, it's a fairly good way to get your hand bitten.

Try this instead.

12/31/2021

I hope you and your pets are safe! Humane Society of Boulder Valley is taking in evacuated pets and has food if you are in need!

Wildfire + power outage update: HSBV is accepting companion animal evacuees in need of shelter. Free pet food and supplies are also available to those in need. We will continue to post updates on Facebook and our website as information becomes available.

Our hearts are with our neighbors and responders impacted by these conditions. At this time, we are not in need of volunteer support or pet supplies.

12/30/2021

About a year ago my cat, Douglas, got his Performance Cat Freshman Certificate with Cat Trick University! We'll have to start working on his Sophomore Certificate soon 😄

12/28/2021

Akua is glowing in the sunlight during our leash walking training! ✨ What a handsome puppy!

12/25/2021

Merry Christmas to you and your dogs from SmartPaw!
Wishing you peace, love, and belly rubs ✨

12/21/2021

It's hard to believe this handsome 85 lb guy is still a pup! Griff is 8 months old and while he may look like an adult, he still has puppy exuberance! At some point, Griff got so big and strong that his guardians were unable to safely walk him. They enrolled him in day training with me and in 6 weeks together he learned sit, down, hand targeting, come when called, leave it, drop it, stay, wait at the door, loose leash walking, and more! I hope Griff and his family have many enjoyable adventures in the New Year with his new skills!

11/15/2021

Our foster dog is ready to find a home in time for the holidays! Below is his bio and please message me if you know of anyone interested in adopting him! He has been a joy to foster! 🥰
Agate is the cutest little 2 year-old Shih Tzu mix! He is the perfect blend of energetic and cuddly! Agate is always up for an adventure but is happy to crash on the couch to watch a movie at the end of the day. Agate would do best with either an active family or with another playful dog to help burn some energy. He has done well with dogs, cats, and children, is potty trained, and sleeps in his crate overnight. He does require regular grooming and was recently shaved due to severe matting. Agate is a sweet and confident dog that would love to have a home for the holidays!

11/10/2021

I love superstitious behaviors in dog training!
Superstitious behavior is when an accidental or unintentional behavior is reinforced, however the reinforcement occurred by random chance instead of based on a specific contingency.
In humans, this is common with sports. We all know someone who wears a lucky pair of socks, underwear, or a jersey because they believe it will help their team win. In reality, the lucky pair of socks has nothing to do with who wins!
I think it's amazing that dogs have superstitious behaviors as well! This photo is of Loki the Corgi learning "leave it". For whatever reason, Loki thinks that he is required to roll over every time we say "leave it". It's adorable and puts a smile on my face every time.

11/06/2021

It's a Corgi weekend! Loki and Archie are both new clients this week working on goals such as basic manners and resource guarding. Welcome to these cute lil lowriders! 🥰