Best Buddies Dog Training LLC

01/20/2024

Just did a private training session with this sweetheart… meet Koda. Rottie/shepherd mix.

01/19/2024

Happy Friday! Be the AWESOME person your dog thinks you are and sign up for a fun workshop! Bonding, Body Language, Obedience, Manners and More!
Sunday - February 4 at 1PM-Puppies/Small Dogs
Sunday - February 4 at 3PM-Adolescent/Older Dogs
Saturday - February 17 at 3PM - Adolescent/Older Dogs
706/983-2420 or [email protected] or visit the website!

01/19/2024

First thing I teach in every workshop!

Training your dog to focus on you with the "watch me" command is important for all dog owners. Learn tips and tricks for teaching "watch me" to your dog.

01/17/2024

01/16/2024

Just added! An Adolescent (6+ months old) & Older Dogs workshop starting Saturday 2/17 at 3PM! Email [email protected] or call 706-983-2420. Only Five spots available!

01/15/2024

UPDATE! ADOPTED!!
Thank you to those who shared this post.Lana found a home!

She is being fostered and her foster moms says: Malena (Lana) is a loving and smart girl who is a dream to foster. She is playful and sweet, loves her crate, fully potty-trained and a great sleeper at night! We started private lessons with a dog trainer and she did so well! She follows commands and has shown zero aggression. We took Lana in to get her out of the scary shelter environment and she is thriving. She loves to play in the backyard and gets so excited when she sees a dog to play with.

Unfortunately we travel quite a bit in the spring so cannot foster her forever. She comes with 3 months of heartworm/flea and tick meds, new crate and bed, leash/harness, toys and food.

If interested email me at [email protected] and I will put you in touch with the foster mom.

01/15/2024

A high-energy dog’s behavior might beg a comparison to the symptoms of humans with ADHD or hyperactivity, but these diagnoses are rare in dogs.

01/15/2024

Holding at four. Well at least for right now. 😉

01/14/2024

Three weeks until the next two workshops start! Join us starting SUNDAY Feb 4 at 1PM for Puppies/Small dogs workshop or 3PM for Adolescent/Older Dogs workshop. Get a handle on Obedience, Manners, Focus Tools, Potty/Crate Training, Leash Walking, Jumping, Barking, Biting, Counter Surfing, Door Greeting and MORE. Fun, low stress environment using ONLY positive training methods. Group doesn't work? Private in-studio and in-home sessions available weeknights and Saturdays! Contact BBDT today to reserve your spot. Space is limited to 9 dogs/class. [email protected] or 706-983-2420. See you soon!

01/12/2024

People ask me about this often. It may never happen to you but it happened to me in my quiet little neighborhood. Of course I was walking my reactive dog and two dogs jumped the fence and ran after us. My dog was not amused!

What do you do if an off-leash dog approaches you while you are walking a dog? Make a plan today, learn more.

01/10/2024

Join us on Saturday, February 24 at 4PM for a fun workshop on Ways to Build a Stronger Bond with your BFF! Light refreshments provided Tickets are $25 (all proceeds benefit Off the Chain USA) For more info or to purchase your ticket contact [email protected].

01/10/2024

Someone just asked me about this during our workshop on Sunday.

How long should you walk a puppy depends on her age. A new puppy should go on a walk for no more than five or 10 minutes – here’s why.

01/09/2024

TRUTH. When I come for a private in-home session that means taking food puzzles, chilly penguins, lick mats, leashes, two style of harnesses in different sizes AND treats and toys. Without knowing the owner or dog, it's hard to imagine what they will relate to so you bring everything. Better to be safe than sorry so I bring all my tools! 🙂😉

What’s in a professional dog trainer’s toolbox? It’s a lot more than just treats. (Although that’s in there – a lot of smelly, high-value bits of food can go a long way!) The most important things that a trainer carries are often less obvious.

🐾 Rewards: This includes the previously mentioned treats, but rewards can be anything the dog likes! Sometimes specific toys are more exciting for a particular dog, or getting to splash in the water or find an interesting smell.
🐾 Safety tools: This may include leashes, seatbelt attachments for car rides, harnesses, and collars!
🐾 Water, a portable dog bowl, p**p bags and hand sanitizer: Meeting your dog’s physical needs are important, even (maybe especially) in the middle of a training session!
🐾 Knowledge and Empathy: You may not be able to see these, but they are some of the most important tools for professional trainers. Dogs aren’t robots, and neither are you!

It’s also vital even for professionals to know when they can handle something with a dog and when they need to bring in a different perspective. The APDT Trainer search at locateatrainer.org is a great place to find a professional trainer to be part of your training toolbox!

01/08/2024

For Beagle owners! I doubt this is true.. 😂

Good thing I’m only half beagle 🐶❤️😁🐾

01/08/2024

Some EXCITING news to share! Best Buddies Dog Training is collaborating with Bruce and Sabby on Saturday, February 24 at 4PM at their store to offer you a seminar on "All Things Dog". There will be a nominal fee charged and proceeds will be donated to a rescue organization. Hope to see you on Saturday 2/24 at 4!

01/08/2024

So true!

“If your dog was trained, you could just tell them to sit and be quiet!”

This is not how reactivity works. It’s a fundamental misconception that a well-trained dog is not a reactive dog … or that a reactive dog is not well-trained.

Whether or not a dog is reactive tells you nothing about the amount of skill training they have received. A dog can *both* be able to perform challenging and complex behaviors … and have intense responses towards certain triggers.

Skill training cannot always overwrite a dog’s emotional state. A dog may be able to “sit and be quiet” with food distractions, while you’re throwing a toy or even in the presence of wildlife … but not be able to do this at all in close proximity to a trigger.
This is really important to understand for both owners of reactive and non-reactive dogs:
If you own a reactive dog, your dog is not missing “obedience training”, as reactivity is not a lack of obedience … it’s a surplus of stress.
If you do not own a reactive dog and think that reactive dog owners just don’t know how to train their dogs to behave … that is also not true. The dogs are *not* poorly *trained*. The dogs are *feeling* poorly near triggers.
Reactivity (or lack thereof) and skills (or lack thereof) are not inherently linked.
There are …
💙 Reactive and very well-trained dogs
🩵 Non-reactive and very well-trained dogs
💚 Non-reactive and poorly trained dogs
💛 Reactive and poorly trained dogs

Don’t discount a reactive dog as one who just didn’t get trained … the topic is much more complex than this.

01/07/2024

January is National Train Your Dog month! The best way to train your dog is with positive training methods like I use! Have you heard of LIMA? Spots still available for private in-studio and in-home in January. You can also sign up for ANY workshop at ANY time!

01/07/2024

Are you one of the lucky ones that is in my first SOLD OUT workshop of 2024??!! If so I will see you later today to start the new year right!

If not, I hope to see you on Sunday February 4th at 1 or 3pm! Have a great Sunday!

01/05/2024

DOG FOOD RECALL! Sign up with Dog Food Advisor so you can keep your dog safe!

Blue Ridge Beef voluntary recall of Blue Ridge Beef Puppy Mix due to Salmonella and Listeria Monocytogenes contamination