Wagmore's Training and Learning Center

09/02/2024

Follow me where I go, what I do, who I know
Make it part of you to be a part of me.
Follow me up and down,
all the way and all around,
take my hand and say you'll follow me.
~ John Denver

08/31/2024

08/11/2024

Walking back to the truck after swimming and… This was a first! 

08/11/2024

Juniper swam for the first time today!

08/09/2024

Persia (14 year old yellow lab retired Guide Dog), Athena (yellow lab, first day board and train), Luke, River, Pippin, Obi, Juniper, Juneau, Penny and Ellie

08/05/2024

We've had countless dogs learn to swim at this spot. Today Luke joined them! 

08/04/2024

08/04/2024

Client appreciation BBQ. I love it when the humans meet their dog's bestie's peeps.

08/02/2024

When you're under house arrest but driving everyone crazy because you wanna go outside. 

07/29/2024

I get this from clients who've adopted through shelters ALL THE TIME!

Dogs are afraid of many things. The fact that they’re afraid doesn’t mean anything negative has transpired, it simply means they’re… afraid. This typically comes from weak genetics, and/or lack of familiarity/exposure.

We humans love (and need) a good story. We see a dog’s reactions to things and construct a narrative which makes us feel like saviors/heroes, or grants us attention, or just resolves the tension which arises from an unexplainable/unpleasant reaction… even if this narrative negatively impacts the dogs or owners.

Think about who dogs predominantly interact with in shelters, rescues, foster care. It’s rarely men. Along with that, men tend to also have more assertive characteristics (deeper voice, larger physique, less fluid movements, and a more assertive presentation in general). If a dog is unfamiliar with men, and/or has weak nerves, it’s fairly easy to understand why they react to men in the negative fashion they often do.

Instead of burdening a dog with the abuse story, and saddling them with all the guilt, permissiveness, and coddling it engenders, how about we create a hero story where we work our dogs through their challenges (however they present) and treat them like creatures who are resilient, capable, and eager to transform—and then watch them grow and flourish through sharing strength, rather than unhelpful weakness?

Of course that means prioritizing the dog’s needs over your own, but that’s no issue for someone who professes to truly love dogs… right? Right?

07/28/2024

05/31/2024

Good morning

04/22/2024

It's Spring!

04/15/2024

Lucy is a 2 year old Labrador here for an evaluation. She attended another company's board and train for 3 weeks. At the end of her training, her humans had to go to the training facility to pick her up. They were given a brief sit down talk with the trainer, zero practical/hands on training with Lucy and very little instruction on the use of the e-collar. Naturally, as a result Lucy's training didn't stick when she returned home and she actually seemed afraid after the e-collar was used on her.
We had her join us for the day to get an idea of her relationship to the e-collar. At first she was timid with the use of it but throughout the hike and rest of the day, with proper use of the collar, Lucy relaxed and was responsive.
She will be back in a couple of weeks for an abbreviated board and train to fully recondition her to the e-collar!

04/10/2024

Nice relaxing hike. Enjoyed getting to know park employee and neighbor, Denver, originally from Ireland

04/10/2024

Chief's first off leash hike with his human. Nice heel past 2 well behaved leashed pups.

04/10/2024

7 month old Chief's first off leash hike with his human.
Wish I could say I set this up, but this was all real world encounter. These 2 did soooooo good!
"He/she's just a puppy" is no excuse for a poorly behaved dog.

04/10/2024

Chief's first off leash hike with his human.
Nice heel past 2 well behaved leashed pups.

04/10/2024

Chief went home yesterday and today is his first off leash hike with his human.
His is just about 7 months old. "He/she is just a puppy" is no excuse for a poorly behaved dog.

Very nice warm up before releasing him.

04/08/2024

Celebrated the completion of Chief's training with a beer at our local brewery. He got lots of practice with down stays and calm greetings.

04/05/2024

A decent Spring storm today 😀

04/04/2024

Being a Golden Retriever Chief is a natural social butterfly. He's learning restraint and focus when out in public.

04/03/2024

Gorgeous Tahoe Day!

04/03/2024

Excellent recall by Chief, calling off from playing with his bud Juneau!

04/03/2024

One of our favorite training hikes, with socialization to snowmobiles and bonus from our neighbor out skiing

04/02/2024

Jessica working with Chief teaching him to sit instead of jumping up, while Pippin and her bestie boy-next-door Jameson are having a noisy love fest 🤦🏽‍♀️