Wallington Dog Training

05/24/2025

This Memorial Day weekend, we pause to honor and remember the brave men, women, and service animals who gave everything for our freedom.

In their memory, Wallington Dog Training is offering 15% off your first training session or your dog’s first night of boarding—because every pup deserves the chance to learn, grow, and thrive in the safety they helped protect.

Book by May 30 to take advantage of this special offer. Simply message us or comment "Hero" below and we'll reach out to you.

From our family to yours—thank you, and may we never forget their sacrifice.

03/21/2025

🐶 Thinking about training your pup? 🐾

Join Wallington Dog Training TOMORROW at the 27th Lowell Community Expo from 9 AM - 2 PM! 🎉

We'll have:
🐾 Expert training tips
🎁 Pawsome freebies
🐶 Puppy cuddles
🏆 Your chance to win an exciting gift basket AND a free training session!

Whether you’re dealing with barking, jumping, or just want to build a stronger bond with your furry friend, we’re here to help! Stop by, say hi, and let’s talk training! 🐾✨

📍 Lowell Community Expo | Saturday, 9 AM - 2 PM

Tag a fellow dog lover who needs to visit us! 🐕💕

12/10/2024

Send a message to learn more

12/10/2024

12/06/2024

Take a moment and read through my article on K9 Personality!

Give me feedback! How do you like the new format?

Please Like and Share - as Christmas approaches if you are getting a Christmas puppy and have questions let me know!

07/23/2024

Puppy Trapping Your Girlfriend or Boyfriend

Introduction: Imagine this: You’re in a blossoming relationship, and everything feels perfect. You and your significant other decide to take the next step—no not a wedding ring. But something that requires a lot of food, loves to p**p, doesn't sleep at night and is absolutely adorable. No, I'm not talking about a baby!

You could get a puppy! It’s cute, it’s playful, and it seems like the perfect addition to your love story. But beneath the surface, there's a deeper, more complex motive: puppy trapping.

A Flowery Beginning: Sarah and Jake had been dating for about six months when they decided to get a puppy together. It was almost like preparing for a baby. They spent weeks researching breeds, discussing which one would fit best with their lifestyle. Sarah wanted a golden retriever for its friendly demeanor, while Jake leaned towards a husky for its adventurous spirit. Eventually, they found common ground and chose a golden retriever.

Naming the puppy was an event in itself, akin to choosing a baby’s name. They tossed around names, laughed over silly suggestions, and finally settled on Bella. She was their new family member, a symbol of their commitment to each other.

The first few weeks were magical. They imagined taking Bella on holidays, picturing her splashing in the sea or hiking with them in the mountains. They dreamed of her being a part of all their future adventures. Their social media feeds were filled with pictures of the happy trio, and their friends couldn’t stop commenting on how perfect they all looked together. It seemed like Bella was the key to their happily ever after.

The Reality Check: But as time passed, the initial excitement began to fade. Then came the breakup. The once joyous decision of getting a puppy now turned into a painful dilemma. Who would keep Bella? They had shared the costs of her care, but now splitting the bills became another point of contention.

"If I dont get the dog, I'm not paying for it." You'll hear it. Trust me.

Now what happens during the day when the new single (puppy) parent was at work? Is the dog crated for 10+ hours? Sent to Doggy Daycare? What about moving, will there even be roomates interested in living together with this new puppy? The cherry on top is the pricing for pet insurance at your new apartment that you will pay. Alone.

Here's a glimpse into the messages that I often receive when the fairytale turns into frustration:

• "My parents are telling me I either have to move out or rehome her."

• "I caught my roommate hitting Bella and she bit them. Now what?"

• "I didn't have the money to get training, and now Bella is reactive to any date I try to bring over."

• "My ex keeps trying to come over to see Bella."

Conclusion:

Admittedly, I benefit from this situation. The worse dogs are, the more stable my job is. But it saddens me to see so many people leveraging the emotional high a puppy brings to address boredom in their relationships. Puppy trapping can certainly seem like a sweet gesture to solidify a relationship, but it’s essential to recognize the underlying motives and potential consequences.

If you are a parent and you think your kids are getting puppy trapped. Please share this post.

A puppy is a significant commitment that requires mutual agreement, realistic expectations, and clear communication. If you can't answer the following questions please reconsider.

1. Who keeps the dog? Get this in writing.

2. Where will the new single owner live? Name a specific person.

3. How will they afford it? Break down all the costs from daycare to the new apartment.

Or don't, but then at least call me after so I can help you with training. If this post was helpful, interesting (or at least funny) then please like and share!

06/13/2024

Choosing the Right Puppy: Beyond Looks

When bringing a new puppy into your home, it’s tempting to choose based on appearance alone. However, selecting a dog based solely on looks can lead to challenges and mismatched expectations. It’s essential to consider the breed characteristics to ensure a happy and harmonious relationship with your new furry friend.

1. Instinctual Drivers: Every breed has instinctual behaviors that are ingrained through generations of breeding for specific purposes. For example, guarding breeds like Rottweilers, German Shepherds, and Doberman Pinschers have strong protective instincts. These dogs are naturally inclined to guard their home and family, which can be beneficial but also a potential liability. Without proper training and socialization, their protective nature can become overly aggressive, leading to unwanted behaviors and potentially dangerous situations. It's crucial to understand these instinctual drivers and ensure you can manage and channel them appropriately.

2. Energy Levels: Many people hope that getting a dog will help them become more active. However, the reality is that most people don't significantly change their activity levels. If you bring a high-energy dog into a low- or medium-energy household, it can lead to frustration and destructive behaviors in your pet. Breeds like Border Collies and Australian Shepherds need lots of physical and mental stimulation. Without sufficient exercise and engagement, these dogs might resort to chewing, digging, or other unwanted behaviors.

3. Temperament: Temperament can greatly influence how well a dog fits into your family and daily routine. Breeds like Golden Retrievers and Labrador Retrievers are known for their friendly and outgoing nature, making them great for families with children. Conversely, breeds like Chihuahuas and Dachshunds can be more reserved or even protective.

4. Grooming Needs: Grooming requirements vary significantly between breeds. Poodles and Shih Tzus, for instance, need regular grooming to maintain their coats, whereas short-haired breeds like Beagles and Boxers require minimal grooming.

5. Training and Intelligence: Some people falsely assume a smart dog will be more obedient. The truth is, intelligence means the dog can make more correlations and connections, which they can frequently use against their owners. This includes behaviors like running away, reactivity after bad interactions, or demotivation towards listening to commands. Breeds like Border Collies and Poodles are highly intelligent and can quickly learn commands. However, this intelligence also means they can become easily bored and may outsmart their owners, leading to mischievous behavior if not properly engaged.

6. Size and Space: Consider the size of the breed and the space you have available. Large breeds like Great Danes and Saint Bernards need more room to move around and may not be suited for apartment living. Small breeds like French Bulldogs or Pomeranians can adapt well to smaller living spaces.

7. Health Concerns: Certain breeds are predisposed to specific health issues. It’s important to research potential health problems associated with the breed you’re interested in and be prepared for possible medical care.

Conclusion: When selecting a puppy, take the time to research and understand the breed’s characteristics beyond their appearance. Matching your lifestyle, living situation, and expectations with the right breed will lead to a more fulfilling and joyful experience for both you and your new puppy. Remember, a well-chosen puppy is a lifelong companion that brings happiness and companionship for many years to come.

If you found this guide helpful, please like and share it with your friends to help them choose the perfect puppy too! 🐾

10/06/2023

Very excited to be hosting a group class in Lowell at Holly's Critter Care off of M-21 with Hope Hindenach.

Message me if you'd like to sign up!

09/15/2023

Come visit me here this Saturday! Buy a dog toy or get some treats. 😁😁😁

Come join us Saturday 9/16 from 11am-2pm at Pet Supplies Plus! We will have adoptable dogs & puppies at the event! 😊

06/11/2023

If any of you are looking to donate to cancer research this year, here is a great opportunity that I will also be competing this coming weekend!

Help Me Tap Cancer Out!

06/01/2023

The Redirection Misconception:

The start of many novice puppy owners jouney begins roughly the same. The puppy starts off cute, and even when it's naughty, it's naughtiness is endearing.

A few weeks pass, and the biting and nipping starts to hurt more as the puppy gets bigger and their jaws can use those sharp puppy milk teeth more destructively. It's at this point most owners take to Google to figure out how to stop puppy biting or nipping.

After becoming a master of Google-fu these novice owners are taught that when a puppy bites or nips, offering a toy as a replacement will effectively redirect their attention away from inappropriate biting and to the human this makes sense, it reads something like:

"You are biting me, but I want you to chew on this toy instead, so heres the toy chew on it instead."

But lets take a moment and read play by play of what the dog experiences.

1. I wanted to engage with Mom/Dad.

2. I play bit them.

3. They gave me a toy and played with me.

What has the dog learned?

"If I want to play with mom and dad, I bite them to start it."

🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️ Shoot!

Unfortunately, this approach can unintentionally reinforce the behavior. Puppies may likely perceive the toy as a reward for biting, leading them to repeat the behavior in search of more toys and attention. It's important to understand that dogs learn through associations and consequences. By offering a toy as a replacement for inappropriate biting, we inadvertently reinforce the idea that biting leads to playtime and interaction.

"Okay, that makes sense, but what now? How do I fix it?"

I will give you one method I use to begin extinguishing this behavior. Please note, not every strategy works with every dog, each puppy is an individual with individual motivations and desires.

Deliberate Miscommunication

First ask yourself: "Who taught my puppy to bite and why?"

Likely, you'll realize they taught it to themself through spontaneous experimentation and they do it because they are trying to tell you something.

But what if you played the role of the "Dumb Human"? What if puppy nipping meant "I want crate time?"

Let's set this up:

Step 1. Play with your puppy. Get them rough housing until they attempt to use your hands as chew toys.

Step 2. Immediately say "Okay" and place them into the crate for 30 seconds to 2 minutes.

Step 3. Let them out with an option to play with a toy, or to chew on your hand - if they pick toy play for a while with them. If they pick hand, repeat step 2.

Goal: Get them to puppy play bite you 20 times. What you may find is they begin to reject your hand. "No way, that ends the fun."

Have questions about training? I'd love to help!
Share, like, and comment to get this post some attention! It is much appreciated!

05/04/2023

An idea that may help you overcome public reactivity.

Don't create "Significant Moments" unintentionally.

Recently I was walking through the Ionia State Park with friends. This is a large enough park that you could go through it without seeing another person. There was another couple with a clearly reactive dog on leash we happened to run into and their dog began to fire off.

Now, I don't blame them for stopping, pulling their dog back and letting us pass - thats how most people handle reactivity. Almost like they are just trying to get past the conflict. However, it dawned on me that because they stopped, made a show of watching my group, becoming rigid (in order to have the strength to hold back their dog), and justifiably getting nervous (because who wants to deal with a dog acting like that) that this moment suddenly became VERY important to the dog. Good, bad, or otherwise it was important.

Like a child who falls at the park and has a parent remark "Oh No!" before crying. Reactive dogs take tons of cues from their owners, and now another file is put away in this dogs mind that reads "When I see someone in public, it is something very important." problem is, with reactive animals whenever they face novelty their reaction isnt "oh interesting, let me see what this is." Their reaction is "DANGER!".

As an owner of a reactive animal, you necessarily need to set the "energy" and if you know your dog reacts to newness with fear or aggression, that behavior needs to be confronted - not simply placated. You're not trying to reward them for not reacting*, you just simply and casually continue the walk. (Then because you're like me and love giving treats you find some reason to tell your dog they are doing great.)

Be mindful of what you pay attention to on walks. Because what is significant to you will be significant to them, and confront their behavior head on** when they are treating unimportant things as important - or worse as dangerous, do this until they are looking to cooperate rather than to pacify you long enough to reinitiate with the thing they are reacting to.

Have questions about training? I'd love to help!
Share, like, and comment to get this post some attention! I appreciate it!

*exceptions apply here, such as marking unsolicted check-ins.
**do not do this if your dog redirects aggression towards you.