Rewarding Dog Training, LLC

09/28/2024

Congrats to Kaze for completing the Basic Manners Package!

Kaze is a lovable goofball who will often roll over on his side and ask for belly rubs when he gets tired or overwhelmed. However, when we started working together, he also showed some young dog tendencies of jumping and being mouthy when he's overwhelmed too.

Kaze learned so many new skills and loved using his brain to problem solve. He now has more skills in his tool belt for learning how to process the world without overwhelm. He even showed off by being able to quickly respond to his name and stop chasing a rabbit on a walk!!!

Reach out if you want to see how much progress your dog can make in just 4 sessions!

[ID: A light colored husky mix with an open mouth and tongue out lays down on hard wood floors]

07/08/2024

Congrats to Ziggy for completing the Basic Manners Package!

Ziggy is an absolutely charming puppy who would let you know when she's frustrated or having big feelings. Through learning over 10 new skills with the basic manners package, Ziggy is now making better choices on the first try, resulting in less frustration and less barking, jumping, pulling, and mouthiness. And her family now has a better way to work through her frustrations when they do occur.

Ziggy is also highly food motivated which means she sometimes tries to counter surf and can be pushy about meal time. The great thing about basic manners skills is that we immediately applied it to the real world situations where it was needed most so that Ziggy had more patience and calm behaviors, even in hard situations like when the food bowl comes out.

Reach out if you want to see how much progress your dog can make in just 4 sessions!

[ID: A husky mix with one blue eye and one light brown eye lays on a red striped carpet in front of a gray dog bed.]

06/28/2024

Congrats to Neko for completing the Basic Manners Package!

Neko has a hard time making new human friends so we really focused on helping her have skills to meet people out and about and to also feel more comfortable with people entering her home. She even learned skills to help settle down with new people around so that her people can start having guests over more regularly!

Reach out if you want to learn more about how you and your dog can have the skills to navigate life with ease!

[ID: A small, black curly haired dog with a white snout sits in front of a bookshelf filled with records.]

03/29/2024

Calling all US dog guardians! We at Rewarding Dog Training are interested in hearing from you about your experiences with your dogs in a 5 minute survey. Your insights are invaluable in shaping strategies to enhance our furry friends' well-being.

By participating, you can be entered into a raffle for a free 60 minute, virtual dog training session with our experts at Rewarding Dog Training!

Thank you for your contribution. We look forward to hearing from you!

Survey link can be found here: https://forms.gle/eL7btTFhDmjG1Aj46



[ID: Blue background with white square that reads "Calling all US dog guardians! 5 minute survey with option to enter raffle for a FREE 60 minute training session"]

03/25/2024

Congrats to Jaxson for completing the basic manners package!

Jaxson couldn't wait to show off his new "place" knowledge which is pretty incredible considering this 6 month old puppy loved to run and jump and was easily frustrated by anything requiring calmness or "staying" just 4 weeks ago.

Jaxson learned over 15 new skills in the 4 sessions and his guardian is now armed with even more knowledge of how to keep supporting him as he ages and encounters new situations.

Congrats again to team Jaxson for all their hard work!

10/17/2023

Here is a great local group class if you have a young puppy. I highly recommend!

This 1 hour weekly (6 weeks) group class is for puppies ages 8 - 18 weeks and focuses on teaching families with new puppies bite inhibition, crate and potty training, curbing/preventing undesirable behaviors and foundation skills like sit, stay, down, loose leash walking and much more.

08/04/2023

This is just a snippet of a recent review from a client.

Go to my Google reviews (under Rewarding Dog Training on Google) to read the whole review!

Plus, if you haven't left me a review and are feeling inspired, I wouldn't say no to that 😉



[ID: Geometric triangles and lines in blues, grays, and orange intersect in the background. The text reads: "Client Love. Nadia came to our home to meet with our new dog and was absolutely fantastic. Despite having several dogs before and one existing before adopting the new one, we learned new techniques from Nadia that we hadn't known about previously... I was amazed at how quickly our new girl listened to Nadia, following her every word and, I might add while our other Doodle was trying to participate... If you're in need of a great force free trainer, look no further as Nadia is the one to choose! -Daniel S"]

08/03/2023

Reminder: Regressions are normal.

Progress is not always linear (it rarely is).

It absolutely can be frustrating when you feel like you and your dog had mastered something but then you no longer are consistently able to achieve that anymore.

But no one, dogs included, is performing their best every single day. That's okay and normal.

Plus, regressions are often a time where you really revisit your foundations and your dog comes out on the other side understanding better than they ever would have before.

So keep up the great work today and everyday! It's not always easy but you are doing a great job.

I promise, you and your dog will be stronger as a result of whatever regression you are currently experiencing.

[ID: A husky mix looks off to the side. The text says "Reminder. Regressions when training are NORMAL. Progress is not always linear. OK"]

07/17/2023

Some more client love that I received recently!

Have you ever tried to power through / go against your dog's wishes when they were uncomfortable and it didn't work?

That's a very common thing to try!

However, you aren't treating the underlying reason of why your dog is uncomfortable which is why it often isn't fruitful in the long run to do so.

Instead, it often is better to meet the dog where they are at and then slowly work together to help your dog feel better about what they are worried about.

I know it can feel like you are going backwards in progress but when you slow down to treat the root cause you will get to your finish line much faster.

Today's action: tell someone something that you appreciate that they have done. Or tell your dog something you about them!

Let me know in the comments who you are reaching out to make their day a little brighter!



[ID: Geometric triangles and lines in blues, grays, and orange intersect in the background. The text reads: "Client Love. Thank you so much for this, Nadia! I've been trying this approach for a few days and it seems to be really helping! You are right that trying to power through causes him to buckle down, so I've been doing a lot of direction changing and positive reinforcement, and he seems to be making progress.Really appreciate your help! -Sam C"]

07/11/2023

I get it. We humans can be impatient creatures.

Going at the dog's pace is one of the hardest things for us to do, but it is critical for long lasting success.

Do you remember the last time you tried to learn something and you kept getting rushed without being given the time to really learn the material?

I bet you didn't learn it as well as you could have and I'm pretty confident you did not enjoy the experience.

Would you be willing to do that same exercise again? Or show off how well you know the material? Probably not.

Well that's why we can't rush the experience for our dogs either. They need to feel fully comfortable in order to really learn that being alone is no big deal so you can all have long lasting results.

Are you ready to go at your dog's pace to tackle their separation anxiety? Reach out so we can get you scheduled for an initial assessment!

[ID: A black poodle lays on blue blankets, belly up. The text reads "Reminder: separation anxiety is treated at your dog's pace"]

07/10/2023

Some client love that I got last week! These messages make my day! I love nothing more than helping both dogs and their humans learn to better communicate with each other and have a great time doing it.

The best part of using positive reinforcement and force free techniques is how fun training becomes for both you and your dog! And if things are fun, you will keep practicing right? Plus, you, too, could have a dog who listens better overall and wants to keep having fun with you!

What is your dog's favorite cue to practice with you?



[ID: Geometric triangles and lines in blues, grays, and orange intersect in the background. The text reads: "Client Love. Thank you so much for coming over last week! We had such a great time learning from you and Louie absolutely loves the hand target! He is so responsive to that and he's gotten better with overall listening and doing lots of practice. These notes are incredibly detailed and I will definitely be scheduling another session soon. Thank you again, I'm so happy Louie and I found you :) -Laura K"]

06/02/2023

Suspending absences suggestion: bring your dog with you

Your dog can't be stressed about being home alone if they aren't home and are with you instead.

Many spaces are dog friendly like breweries and patios so you can take your dog with you. This can be a great option to suggest so you can still be social while not worrying your is panicking at home.

Also, depending on the weather and your dog's comfort in the car, you can even bring your dog while you run out and do errands.

Is your dog a car lover?

[ID: bring your dog with you. The text reads "Some spaces are dog friendly, like breweries and patios, so you can take your dog with you while you have fun outside the home"]

06/01/2023

Suspending absences suggestion: use your network

Many people in your local community, like neighbors or students, are willing to hangout at your house for a bit or host your dog at their house for a few hours.

Often proving internet and yummy snacks goes a long way to keep people comfortable and willing to hangout with your dog without it being much trouble at all for them.

This can be a great option to run some errands or get out of the house for an hour or two without setting your dog back in their home alone comfort progress.

Lots of people are often willing to lend a helping hand but don't know what you need if you don't ask.

[ID: a black pitbull mix stands next to a gray fluffy pitbull mix in a grassy yard. The text reads "Suspending absences: use your network. Many people, like neighbors or students, are willing to hangout at your house for a bit, especially if you provide internet and snacks"]

05/31/2023

Suspending absences suggestion: grocery deliveries

Often, one of the reasons people say they need to leave their home is for standard errands like getting groceries and supplies.

Instead of having to be away from your dog, you can order many things that you need from the comfort of your home. Plus, it often helps keep you to a budget because it's harder to impulse buy something that you see in the store.

Now, especially since the pandemic started, there are more options than ever to get groceries and other supplies delivered right to your door, often at no extra cost to you.

This can help take the pressure off of you to feel like you always have things you need to do outside of your home and use the other suggestions of this week to use your away time to have fun!

[ID: a black pitbull mix lays on her side on a green yoga mat on a light wood floor. The text reads "Suspending absences: grocery deliveries. Lots of groceries and other supplies can be delivered which removes one more errand you need to do without your dog"]

05/30/2023

Suspending absences suggestion: sitter swap

One of the easiest ways to suspend absences at no cost is to do a sitter swap!

You can trade with another family who has a dog or kids (especially if they have been asking for a dog) so that all parents and caregivers can each have the opportunity to get out of the home and maybe even have a "date night".

This is an awesome way for everyone to have a chance to have guilt free fun away from their homes because they know that everyone is safe and being cared for.

Sitter swap is a great option because you aren't just relying on the generosity of others, you're helping them out too. Being able to step up and take care of each other is a great way to help build community too!

Do you have anyone you know who might be interested in swapping care with each other?

[ID: a Bernese mountain dog puppy lays down next to a mastiff puppy drinking water in a grassy yard. The text reads "Suspending absences: sitter swap. Trade with another family who has a dog or kids so everyone can have a 'date night'."]

05/29/2023

Separation anxiety and suspending absences: how do these go together?

The phrase "suspending absences" gets thrown around a lot when talking about best practices for separation anxiety.

But first, what do we mean when we say suspending absences?

Suspending absences is where you make sure your dog is never left alone outside of training sessions.

The reason we do this is because it's really hard to learn that something can be safe if you are also often trapped in the situation you're so worried about.

Let's take a human example and say that you are really afraid of spiders. Would you be comfortable touching a spider? Being left alone locked in a room with one? Almost certainly not.

What if every day you practiced being far enough away from the spider so it wasn't scary at that moment but the rest of the day it was locked in a room with you? It would make it really hard to make progress in learning that spiders are okay because you keep being trapped past your panic point.

This is precisely what we don't want to do with our separation anxiety dogs. If left alone before they are ready, they are likely to feel like they are "trapped with the spider" and are panicking with no way out. That's a really hard place to start from to teach them that they are safe when left home alone.

But suspending absences does not mean that you always have to be with your dog though.

Often, many other humans can help fill in the gaps when you need to leave your home and help keep your dog from panicking while you're away.

The big focus point is we are making sure to keep your dog below their panic point so they can really learn that being alone is always safe.

This week I will give some suggestions for how to incorporate suspending absences into your life without feeling like you are a prisoner of your own home.

05/26/2023

Teamwork: Working with family & friends

Working with your family, friends, neighbors, and local community is a huge help for many different aspects of your separation anxiety journey.

One of the big ways these people can help is by proving emotional support. Separation anxiety training does not have a quick fix and can be incredibly emotionally taxing as you're working through it. It is great to lean on your friends and family to be a kind listening ear when sometimes you just need someone to understand that you're trying but it's still tough.

They can also help provide decompression for both you and your dog through giving you both opportunities to do fun things that fill your emotional cup like having a play date or having an opportunity to get out of the house to do something fun .

Another way that family, friends, and your local community can help is by watching your dog while you go out so that your dog is not left alone before they are ready for it. Much like parents often need a "date night", you too deserve the opportunity to have fun while not stressing because your dog is being well cared for while you're away.

What are some ways that family and friends help you with your dog training journey?

[ID: A black dog on a dirt path by a lake is following a man walking a black dog in the distance. The text reads "Teamwork. Working with family & friends. Helpful for: emotional support, suspending absences, decompression for both you and your dog"]

05/25/2023

Separation Anxiety Teamwork: Working with a dog walker / sitter

A dog walker or a dog sitter (or both!) are often additions to you and your dog's support network.

They can be really helpful for meeting your dog's physical and mental needs. Separation anxiety is not fixed by exercising your dog more but a dog whose needs haven't been met yet is much less likely to be successful in separation anxiety training.

Also, since suspending absences is so critical for separation anxiety training (more info on that next week), a dog walker / sitter can be really helpful in making sure your dog is never alone. Just because your dog can't be alone doesn't mean they always have to be with you. A walker or sitter can be a great option so that you can feel untethered from your dog and do fun, non-dog friendly things without worry.

If a dog walker or sitter ever doesn't understand your dog's behavioral sensitivities, your separation anxiety trainer (like me!) can be a great resource for them to make sure your dog is getting the care that will best support their recovery. It takes a team and it is always best when everyone works together.

Want to learn more about separation anxiety training with me? Find out more at www.rewardingdogtraining.com

[ID: A golden retriever is walked on a black leash. The text reads "Teamwork. Working with dog walker/sitter. Helpful for: meeting physical and mental needs, gives you time away from your dog, suspending absences"]