Two Paws Up Dog Training LLC

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Lead, SD
Two Paws Up Dog Training LLC

Modern, science based dog training focused on client education and a positive relationship. Good behavior begins with you!
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Good behavior is the result of understanding your dog, creating predictability, and reinforcement. Serving Lead, Deadwood, Spearfish and the surrounding communities. Virtual training sessions can help dog owners across the country. As a society, our understanding of canine behavior is growing! Unfortunately, many dog trainers still use outdated methods based on force, fear, and intimidation. Our s

tudents obtain results using this simple formula:

1) Management
2) Predictability and Leadership
3) Reinforcement

In an unregulated industry, Two Paws Up Dog Training, LLC is owned by Brenda Belmonte, Certified Professional Dog Trainer, with more than 35 years experience in both the veterinary industry and as a professional dog trainer. Brenda established a successful dog training business in the northern suburbs of Chicago, before retiring and moving to the Black Hills. A reactivity and aggression specialist, Brenda created the trademarked S.A.F.E. Program For Dogs, which helps owners understand this challenging behavior, and establishes predictability for dogs. Through structured exercises and behavior modification, this program helps dogs of all ages. Member Organizations:

Professional Member: Association of Professional Dog Trainers
Canine Training Professional: Pet Professional Guild
Supporting Member: International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants
Certified Professional Dog Trainer-Knowledge Assessed: Certification Counsel for Professional Dog Trainers

08/20/2024

Exciting news!

Two Paws Up Dog Training is purchasing Happy Tails Dog Training Center in Rapid City!

We are looking forward to bring more training opportunities to the area.

Stay tuned for more details to come.

08/19/2024

Meme Monday

08/14/2024

Wednesday Wisdom

Let's ask not how we can change them but how we can help them.

08/13/2024

SAVE THE DATE!

Join the Black Hills Dog Training Club as we celebrate AKC Responsible Dog Ownership Day!

Dog demonstrations, vendors, "try its" with your dog and more!

Attendance is FREE!

08/09/2024

Fun Fact Friday!

We are pleased to be hosting the first Odor Recognition Test (ORT) in the State of South Dakota!

An ORT tests the dog's ability to sniff out three odors, Birch, Anise, and Clove, among 12 identical boxes. Passing all three odors is the first step in competing in National Association of Canine Scent Work trials!

https://www.nacsw.net/calendar/orts

Saturday December 7th! More information coming soon!

08/06/2024

Training Tip Tuesday

Dogs can display emotionally driven behaviors That often get labeled as “naughty” or “aggressive.”

Understanding when dogs are feeling worried or overwhelmed helps us look at their behavior through different lenses.

TRAFFIC LIGHTS AND REACTIVITY

Before trying to work on improving reactivity, consider what colour your dog’s emotional state is in.

The belief or expectation that by continually exposing reactive dogs to triggers will make them get over it, is setting dogs up to fail.

Generally, a dog that is reacting to something does not feel safe – they are in survival mode – a mode where learning and appropriate responses simply cannot take place.

Neurotransmitters like adrenaline and cortisol flood the brain causing automatic responses intended for survival. This red zone is certainly not the time or the place to try to change behaviour.

We need to start working with a brain that is calm, relaxed, focused and feels safe – the green zone, where learning can take place.

A calm nervous system is essential to learn a new way to respond.

To recognise which colour an emotional state is, we need to become more adept at recognising and interpreting our dog’s body language.

Being aware of body language enables us to intervene before our dogs’ emotions – the “traffic light” changes colour.

Always start in the green zone, this is where we can really help our dogs to learn strategies to cope with triggers.

Keep working in the green - reinforcing, proofing and building confidence.

Once behaviours are established in the green, we can try moving into the amber zone by allowing our dogs to notice and be aware of distractions, but at a sufficient distance where they still feel safe and are able to focus. This is where we can make distractions or triggers feel far less threatening.

Stay out of the red as much as you can. Avoiding this is not always possible – life happens / the unexpected happens and we have no control over this.

In this case get as much distance as possible between your dog and the trigger.

We can’t teach our dogs to feel safe, but we can help them feel safe by managing the environment, taking small achievable steps, being aware of body language and intervening when their emotional traffic light is about to change colour.

07/30/2024

Training Tip Tuesday

You can’t “break” dogs from barking at other dogs or people. You can help them feel differently and reduce their stress.

Learning your dog’s body language is key!

WHAT THE F?

Recognising stress responses in dogs.

Fight or flight are well known reactions to fear or stress, but these other “F” words are also important to understand and be aware of as they may not always be so obvious.

Freeze, Fawn, Fidget or Fool around are also responses to stress or fear and are also commonly seen in people.

Some dogs may have a genetic predisposition to one type of response while some react based on previous experience - what has worked for them before or what hasn’t. Some dogs have different reactions depending on the specific context.

Recognising and taking note of situations or circumstances where these responses are seen is important in understanding how our dogs are feeling.

When we recognise a fear or a stress response, we are able to intervene and advocate for our dogs.

07/26/2024

Fun Fact Friday

Summer is heating up and so is our schedule. Our classes for August and September are now updated on our website!

There are foundation classes for Basic Manners, Agility, Scent Work, and Barn Hunt!

https://www.twopawsupdogtrainingllc.com

07/25/2024

Thoughtful Thursday

We agree! We use all of these exercises for reactivity!

Reactivity is a dog's outward expression of frustration. It can be caused by fear or as trainers sometimes describe it: "frustrated greeter syndrome."

07/24/2024

Wednesday Wisdom

Why do we train without pain? We believe in setting dogs up for success and creating resilience, not behavior based on fear.

07/23/2024

Training Tip Tuesday

Hot weather can be uncomfortable and even dangerous for dogs. Follow these summer safety tips to help you keep your pet happier and healthier during the dog days of summer.

07/19/2024

Happy to be hosting this new venue to our area!

Happy Tails Dog Training Center and Two Paws Up Dog Training LLC are proud to announce that they are hosting the Black Hills 1st NACSW Odor Recognition Test on Saturday December 7th!

SAVE THE DATE! More information will be coming soon!

07/19/2024

He loves his “swim swims” New personal best jump of 21’3”!

07/17/2024

Whatever Wednesday

Let them be dogs! Many behavior issues are due to a lack of appropriate physical and mental exercise.

It is time we lose the “must take our dog for a walk” mentality and provide them with the exercise they would naturally choose. Walks should only be a small part of their exercise, and sniffing on walks should be encouraged, not punished.

Did you know that increasing a dog’s exercise not only increases their fitness it increases their need for activity and decreases their ability to self calm if we are not careful. Just like we need a mental and physical break, our dogs do as well; balance is important. Thank you Dogs Disclosed for this helpful graphic.

Self calming is taught in our puppy and lifeskills programs. We also teach lower impact programs like scent detection and intro to trick training to help dogs live more fulfilling lives on days when they can’t get out for the physical exercise they might crave. Learn more https://www.redbarneventcentre.com/classes.html

07/04/2024

Happy 4th!

Remember to keep your pets safely secured inside.

07/03/2024

Wednesday Wisdom!

This is an excellent article that outlines the steps needed to help dogs that use aggression, looks at the human emotion of living with an aggressive dog, and the prognosis for improvement!

Dog aggression is a serious and potentially dangerous behavior. Learn what it is and the motivation behind it so you can better help your dog.

07/02/2024

Training Tip Tuesday

Leave your pets at home and give them
A safe space!

06/28/2024

Factual Friday

More dogs are lost over the 4th than any other holiday.

06/27/2024

Thoughtful Thursday

Are you prepared?

There are things you can start doing today to help your dog who is afraid of fireworks.

06/26/2024

Whatever Wednesday

Stationing, or “Place Training” has many names. Platform training, which uses an elevated surface, is one of our favorite ways to help learn calm, consistent behavior.

Using platforms are favorites with pro dog trainers—here’s why you should add them to your training to-do list.

06/25/2024

Training Tip Tuesday

Let them sniff!

06/25/2024

You can find out more about these two events on the American Kennel Club's website:

Farm Dog Test: https://www.akc.org/sports/herding/farm-dog-certified-test/

Fetch Test: https://www.akc.org/fetch/

Address

Lead, SD

Telephone

+16055491644

Website

http://www.twopawsupdogtrainingllc.com/

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Videos

Does your dog like to run? Here’s FAST CAT - the 100 yard dash for dogs! All dogs can do it!

Thoughtful Thursday Good dog trainers always strive to learn. Here is a snippet from one of our runs yesterday. You can see how much we reinforce a wait behavior (Start Line Stay) The three D’s - Duration, Distance, and Distraction are all in play. These must be worked on one at a time, then slowly work them together. Duration - 25 seconds Distance - 20 feet Distractions - People, other dogs, and exciting environment

Be creative! Help keep your pets comfortable during this cold spell!

Training Tip Tuesday

Fun fact Friday Dogs should have the opportunity to be dogs! Kanan loves the water and REALLY LOVES dock diving. His breed is a water retriever! See the connection?

Loving the Woof Pupsicle

Here's our unsolicited review of the Woof Pupsicle and the Pupsicle Pops. Dishwasher safe Refillable (their inserts or create your own and freeze) These typs of activity toys are useful for tether training, stationing, crate training and more! #mywoof

Want to give your dog a wonderful outlet for energy and have some fun? Learn about the sport of barn hunt! RyeDoodle Boarding & Training is hosting a two day learning opportunity, September 9th and 10th. Your dog does not need to have any prior experience to participate in either the workshop on Saturday, or the private sessions on Sunday. Who LOVES barn hunt? 🐁 Terriers and terrier mixes 🐁 Dogs with prey drive 🐁 Active dogs 🐁 Dogs that love to sniff 🐁 ALL DOGS https://www.ryedoodle.com/barn-hunt-workshop is the link for more information and to register!

Weekend Wisdom

Whatever Wednesday Ping Pong recalls are a great way to build a reinforcement history for coming when called. They are also a great way to involve the whole family in training, as it is easy for children to do! Here's a video from my team back at Two Paws Up Dog Training, Inc in Illinois that demonstrates how to do them.

Helping owners reach their goals! Goal behavior - impulse control, so owner can throw ball easily! Look at them now! #positivereinforcementworks

Wednesday Wisdom Here is an example of a "field trip" to a parking lot, shot in December. Most owners would say he is "fine" because his tail is not tucked and his ears are forward. You'll notice, however, that Kanan has difficulty focusing on me, can barely reorient, and will not take food. He is more interested in getting back into his crate, which he considers a "safe" spot. These are indications that he isn't ready to enter a store, greet people, or be walked down a busy shopping center sidewalk. Field trip sessions are short and Kanan's behavior guided the session.