Clever Companion Dog Training

03/09/2025

02/20/2025

Who is ready to get ready for walking season!?? Despite our view outside today, Spring is right around the corner!! Do you have a pup that struggles with barking and lunging at other dogs people or vehicles when going for a walk? Come see me at All Breed Training Club of Akron! I teach very affordable, fun and safe group classes for reactivity and they can change everything for you and your dog. Let’s have some fun together and get ready for sunnier days! Reach out for info and to get on the wait list for April classes !!
My credentials are in the comments! ❤️

02/15/2025

Adolescence occurs between six months and 18 months of age—a time when guardians typically struggle the most with their dogs. Some guardians are so overwhelmed and underprepared for this developmental stage of their dog’s life, they choose to surrender the dog to a local shelter or rescue group. In a recent study published in the Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science found that the majority of the surrendered dogs (47.7 percent) ) were between 5 months and 3 years of age (M.D. Salman,John G. New, Jr.,Janet M. Scarlett,Philip H. Kass,Rebecca Ruch-Gallie &Suzanne Hetts, 2010)

The neurobiology of adolescence is fascinating, with some key events that alter both the structure and function of the brain.

During canine adolescence, changing s*x hormones effect the animals stress responses. Adolescent dogs have a decreased ability to process information they are receiving from the environment including the presence of dogs, vehicles, people, or really anything around them. They behave in ways that might feel frustrating or upsetting for the dog’s person.

The connectivity between the frontal cortex (responsible for decision making) and amygdala (responsible for emotional processing) decreases, resulting in less behavioral control. We see increased risk taking and more sensitivity to fear.

So what does this mean? This could mean that what was once no big deal to the dog now feels scary; what was once easy to do is now stressful; what once made sense is now confusing. At times, the world can feel like ‘too much’ for the adolescent dog.

As your puppy undergoes this transition into adulthood their inner world is intense, even chaotic. Many pet owners experience an increase in undesirable behavior and find themselves becoming increasingly frustrated. In turn, our own frustration and impatience can cause us to act unpredictably. This adds to our puppy’s inner turmoil. When the inside and the outside are both unpredictable it can be difficult for our dogs to adjust.

If you have an adolescent dog, what can you do? You can give your dog the time and space to observe what is going on around them when on leash at a distance away from the activity when possible. You can give your dog long walks to sniff and explore in nature, giving their brain time to decompress. You can offer your dog a quiet space to sleep so that they can consolidate memories effectively. You can continue training various skills, breaking them down into easier steps that can be generously reinforced.

By understanding what our adolescent dog is experiencing we gain greater compassion and understanding. When we approach adolescence with patience we create a world that is predictable and gentle so our puppies grow up to be their best adult selves.

02/08/2025

Dogs with big feelings don’t need more obedience. They need patience and space for peace and behavior modification. One important component of behavior mod is enrichment. Want to add a little spice to your decompression long line walks?? Add a sensory bag with things to sniff eat and chew. My sniff testers give these bags of sniffs and chews 4 paws!

Ready for classes tomorrow!

Check out the link below for deets on the “rucksack walk”. I’m glad I found it, and I hope you are too!

https://www.offleashmke.com/blog/the-rucksack-walk

01/10/2025

Less than lovely weather brings out the creativity! How about a scavenger hunt for kibble on a cold winter’s evening! You may hear the heavier panting of a hard working pup looking for kibble in a space adjacent but gated off to where Zeus is here.

01/07/2025

Have you been looking for ways to keep your pup enriched indoors? Check out the sale on puzzles and food dispensing enrichment toys on Chewy. They have some amazing deals right now!

01/01/2025

Happy New Year! May it be a year of health, peace, kindness and love for all!

An old fave that was shared quite a bit last year. It’s funny how old posts get a bunch of traction at random times but..the message remains. Cheers to you this year and all the things you will do and continue to grow in ❤️

12/24/2024

Season’s greetings to all! May your days be filled with family, friends and love!

11/28/2024

Wishing you all a wonderful Thanksgiving day!!

11/25/2024

The cutest little thing ever. Adoptable Lizzy.
One day I will actually capture good indoor video showing how truly amazing she is instead of forgetting to whip out my phone. Check out the extra pics and an outdoor video in the comments! Please continue to share her! I am happy to chat with anyone that is seriously looking for a forever friend. DM me for more info!

11/17/2024

Training update! Lizzy is doing FANTASTIC in her training! She is saying see ya later to her worries! She is so focused on her foster dad, and so responsive to him that other dogs aren’t currently concerning her! Here are some pics from her pawparrazi! 😜Stay tuned for videos in the coming weeks of her working near other pups.

She ia adoptable from Maggie’s Mission rescue.

11/03/2024

This is Lizzy and her amazing foster parents!! She is looking for her forever home so hard that she wakes up every Sunday morning early to come to school. 😉
Seriously though, I love this dog. She would make a wonderful family member for an active family. She loves training and loves her humans hard.
Please share this cutie patooti! She is adoptable through Maggies’s Mission.

10/31/2024

No tricks, only treats!! Happy Halloween!’