Setting Dogs & Owners Up for Success with Clear Standards! One of the best ways to ensure progress in dog training is by having clear, measurable goals after we meet their welfare needs. A minimum standard helps both trainers and owners: ✔️ Stay consistent in their approach ✔️ Track real progress over time ✔️ Build confidence in training ✔️ Create a clear path to success Having a measurable standard isn’t about perfection—it’s about setting realistic expectations and celebrating progress. As a general rule I focus on teaching reliability in 4 movement skills… move with me… move to me… move away from me… and don’t move. What’s one skill you think all dogs should have as a foundation? Let me know in the comments! #topdogtraining #topdogsky #thewholedogblueprint
I found this little frog when I was taking care of a litter of pups last year. This little guy hopped on my hand and hung out for a little bit. Every time I pick up a frog, snake, play with a dog or do something with animals is thanks to my mom. She encouraged that growing up. The past 4 months have been tough with mom getting sick and passing away a month ago. My business, the projects I was working on and the dogs suffered. Life got in the way. When my clients have challenges I usually have a list of things they can do to make it a bit easier. This time I had to take my own advice. This wasn’t the blog I was planning to write… but these are the cards we’re dealt. The link to it is in the comments below #thetopdogproject #dogtrainingtips #lifegetsintheway
2024 was a year of big wins and unfortunately an even bigger loss. My business Top Dog Training, Kentucky celebrated a decade in operation and I also launched the Top Dog Project website with more to be added soon. Unfortunately the bigger loss….We lost mom in December. She was the best mom and grandma and driving force behind my love for animals in that she let me keep an unregistered zoo in my room growing up… like snakes, lizards, turtles, rodents, birds, fish and we also had the family dog. She was also the biggest champion of the business… always liking or commenting here or there with a “Hey John!” So yeah, 2024 ended pretty crappy… but other thing about mom was that she was an eternal optimist with her classic “you’ll be fine” or “I’ll be fine” regardless of the challenges we or she faced. So going into 2025… thank you all for the support, the messages and the check-ins.my plan is simple… To help dogs and humans by giving boththe skills to live their best lives as a team in the modern world. #thetopdogproject #topdogsky #thewholedogblueprint #kentucky
GUINNESS IS SEARCHING FOR HIS FOREVER FAMILY!
Guinness from The Arrow Fund has a lot of love to give, is the hiking buddy you’ve always dreamed of, adores serious sessions of tug to burn off youthful energy, has been working so hard on self-improvement and wants desperately to find his perfect friend or a couple who will invest time and energy into his untapped potential to be your loyal friend for life.
Are you interested in being his best friend??
Earlier this year, Guinness was found suffering from a severe wound, consistent with a snare-type trap. His body is healed and the only sign that he suffered is a racing stripe through his zoomie engine in the rear quarter panel.
Not knowing for certain his breed makeup, his behaviors plus beautiful, leopard-spotted merle coat; cute, triangle-perky ears; and drive and endurance suggest a mix of Shar Pei, Bully breeds and Australian Cattle Dog (and probably many more below the surface!).
No matter the mix, this handsome dude has plenty of personality to fill your heart as the only pet in your home (with older children or adults only). Besides, he’s just way too cool to share your attention with other animals--this monogamous mutt would prefer to fly solo as your only date!
While he can be around other dogs his intense play style can be frustrating for most dogs even other high energy dogs.
Do you have space in your heart and energy to match Guinness? To submit an application for your buddy for life, please click on the link below.
https://thearrowfund.org/our-animals/adoption-application/
It’s easier to go to a shelter and walk out with a dog that day.
Or you can work with the The Arrow Fund.
This requires an application, a reference check and them doing their due diligence to make sure these guys get their forever homes and ones that are set up best for the dogs individual personalities.
Athena is still available through no fault of her own. You can she she’s pretty awesome and a typical adolescent German Shepherd.
I will provide one on one private lessons and coaching to help her adoption and follow on life be successful.
She does well with most dogs but being a teenager can push boundaries.
Go to https://thearrowfund.org/our-animals/adoptable-animals/ and fill out an adoption form.
Guinness learning how to hike!
Guinness learning how to hike
Here’s Guinness from @thearrowfund learning how to hike. He’s learning “let’s go” which is a general way to keep your dog near you but still have the freedom to explore and interact with their environment.
Hey everyone!
It’s Monday and I've got a story to share that might just change the way you see the dog you live with.
This fox that I caught on video running through the yard killed one of my chickens free ranging the day before.
Not uncommon, right?
But hold on, there's a twist!
My wife saw a fox pup on the porch the other night and while doing yard work yesterday I found the fox has a den of pups under our porch!
What's the connection to dog training?
Well, it's all about understanding behavior.
My dogs and the dogs currently staying with me will be acting “different” for a little while based on the location of a den of fox pups on the other side of the fence.
I may have to keep an extra watch on them because fox moms can be pretty defensive of their pups… sort of like how some dogs “guard the house” when the mail carrier or delivery people come by.
By knowing what drives animals… the 3 categories of behavior (I cover in the intro lesson and bring up in training) we can understand them more be better coaches for our dogs… hence “training through understanding” on the website.
So, let's learn from my encounter, keep our dogs safe and work with them, deepen our bond and let nature do what nature does around us.
And also RIP Fergie #4 (the chicken)
Thanks for reading this!
-John
#DogTraining #CanineBehavior #LifeLessons
The Recall “Here” is one of 4 primary behaviors all dogs should learn. Here’s Guinness from The Arrow Fund working today around a few distractions.
Four month old littermates Coco & Loxley just hanging out unfazed with kids yelling on the playground next to us and a large truck beeping and backing up. Great start with these 2!
When I work with clients we establish goals and then start with the foundations.
The goal for this client is to eventually hike and enjoy adventures and life “off leash” when possible with her dogs.
Today was the first step!
