The Keys To Dog Training

02/10/2024

Sharing some photos from last night’s pack walk. Thank you all for joining us. All humans and puppers did awesome, I was proud of all of you. 🫶🏻🐾

02/01/2024

Sweet Ruby 🤩

01/31/2024

Thank you to everyone for the feedback regarding pack walks. We are going to have our first walk on Friday February 9th at 5pm.
Click on the link
Choose February 9 in the calendar
Location & driving instructions are listed

I am looking forward to seeing everyone that can make it!

https://pocketsuite.io/book/sharleen-belke

01/29/2024

For those of you wondering “Is she ever going to announce group classes?!” Well, this is now the newest obstacle I am dealing with. A new home being constructed behind our property. If my downstairs was enclosed, it wouldn’t be so much of an issue. The only solution I have is a park, anyone down for that?

01/19/2024

How adorable is baby Finnigan?!

01/18/2024

I really don’t understand how Rebel is not adopted yet. He lived with us for 15 weeks and in the time I trained him to do so many things. He was a rockstar. The only thing that he was really pushy about was leash walking but with the proper tools, he did awesome for me. Also, one time he hoovered my plate of pierogis.
😂 That was really traumatic.

Rebby would be an awesome playmate for another dog. I never had a problem with him, even after an off leash dog snuck up on us, he just looked to his buddies (my pack) for support.

He just needs the right family to make him their own. 🥹

01/18/2024

Remember Jada? She back and she brought her new little brother, Enzo! 🥰

01/08/2024

His name is Kevin and I love all 200lbs of him. 🥰

01/04/2024

The way this Babydog looks at me makes my heart sing 🖤 I always reach down and rub his cheek 🥰

01/01/2024

We started our new year volunteering at the Florida Keys Children’s Shelter with Bingley and Birdie. The puppies were a hit with the sweet kids, there were even a few junior dog handlers in the making! 🥰

12/21/2023

Lainey was surrendered by a back yard breeder to rescue. She could not have landed with better parents than her awesome Mom and Dad.
This girl is a major fear case- fear of humans to be clear. We have had two sessions and yesterday was our third. I brought Bingley along to boost her confidence and assist in the session as my demo dog.
It was a great success!

12/18/2023

Checking in to see who is still interested in Saturday morning group classes? What about pack walks? Should I start these in January?
Photo of cutie tripod Winter 🥰

12/18/2023

I am so happy for Ladybug! 🙌🏻🤍🩷

Miss LadyBug is showing off her personalized stocking hanging in her FOREVER HOME! This sweet girl’s amazing foster mom decided to make her an official member of her family! Merry Christmas LadyBug, you’ve been a very good girl.

12/12/2023

I have met Ladybug and truly just fell in love with her! I cannot understand how she hasn’t found her home yet either 😭 She just needs a confident leader and consistency.
If you’re interested in her reach out to Marrvelous Pet Rescues - MPR they would love for you to fill out an adoption application!

12/03/2023

🐾Happy December, friends. A few updates for you:
🐾Loki has been doing well. At his follow up appointment his tumor had reduced in size by 30%. Although that sounds promising, it does not change his fate. He got a lot better when we initially started him on some cancer support supplements but just last night he was up quite a bit coughing. 💔 We are taking it one day at a time and hoping to celebrate Christmas together.
🐾We rented an RV over the Thanksgiving holiday to drive to see family in Tennessee. I have a very small family and one member sadly has terminal cancer. This trip was so important to see them as I never know if it will be my last. We stayed in an RV park on the way, visited friends in Alabama, and used a few sniffspots. My brother and sister in law have just over 30 acres on a mountain top the puppies were able to enjoy. We practiced a lot of off leash recall and getting used to horses. It was great to challenge them on this trip, working them in new ways. It was also beautiful to see them stretch their legs so freely.
🐾Marrvelous Pet Rescue invited myself, Sarah (Keys Pet Nanny) and Franco (Balanced Paws) to their annual gala where we were all 3 recognized for our support of the rescue. 🥰
🐾I am steadily working. I had Taz, a GSD with a bite record, as a board and train until right before we left. He is doing amazing back at home with his family and his parents are so proud. I may not post a lot on here but that is just because there often is not enough time in the day. I have zero desire to be a social media influencer. My main reason for this page is to allow clients to get to know me a bit more before they reach out.
🐾Last spring, we were 2 days away from getting our house on the market to make an offer on a bigger property when it went contingent. It was frustrating at the time because this house was perfect and it sat for over 3 months without interest. But, I chalked it up to “it wasn’t meant to be”. Then, recently, when we thought another opportunity was happening for us, the same thing happened.
Why am I telling you this? Because more than anything I would love to have the space to offer my clients things like group classes or temperature controlled training space or a private sniff spot. BELIEVE me, I am looking. But, we live in the Keys and let’s face it, I will not be a millionaire dog training. Honestly, I made more serving when I first moved back here than dog training. But, it was unfulfilling and made me struggle with my relationship with people in general. We have had the worst of the crappy contractors, empty promises and “Keys Disease”. Our property situation has been my number one source of frustration. I am praying God has bigger plans than those I am dreaming but there are days I struggle to see the possibility. 🙏🏻
🐾I am aware of the respiratory illness going around. I originally heard of it back in the spring/summer. To protect my dogs, I have them all taking an immune booster. While we traveled, I stayed away from public spaces, we stopped at places less frequented by dogs (stayed away from the dog parks at rest stops and opted for private sniff spots or grassy areas behind large department stores). I would encourage you to stay away from dog parks, walk & train your dog so they get their physical & mental exercise and call your vet immediately if you have any concern your dog may have contracted this illness.
I already had lightened up my schedule for December (just doing 1:1s) since I have family visiting and I boarded last year through the holidays- I wanted to give myself time to try to enjoy the holidays this year. That means I only have my 6 dogs in my home right now and honestly, it feels pretty good to give us all a break. Celebrating Huckleberry Finn’s favorite holiday without him is so hard but knowing this is Loki’s last gives me reason to try.

10/25/2023

UPDATE 11.01.2023
Class has been cancelled. New classes will resume in 2024.

As promised, cooler weather means group class!
Who’s coming? 🐾
This class is for existing clients. Comment your dog’s name and I will send the sign up info!

10/08/2023

🔆Morning walkies with my crew! Leroy loves hanging with his big brothers and sister.
📣I will be taking a much needed vacation from 10/9-10/19. My crew is getting a break from board and trains and some one on one time with their Daddy while I am away.
🤗It’s going to be good!

Buddies Thru Bullies, Inc.

10/04/2023

Bimini and Leroy 🥰

09/26/2023

Leroy update! 🐾
Excuse all my “ummms” I just decided to take a quick video explaining what we are doing. He walked first, cooled down and this is me bringing him out for his place work and the rest of his breakfast.
I also want to add that after the first week he has not had any potty accidents in the house. Proper crate training helped create clarity for him.

09/23/2023

What better way to debut a new little brother than at a taco birthday party? Welcome to the Belke family, Leroy!
Leroy first came to us as “Mondo”, a board and train from Buddies Thru Bullies, Inc. When I spoke with Carol [from the rescue] I told her my only concern working with her dogs is that my husband really wants an English Bulldog and he may fall in love.
3 years ago Alex had his first contact with a bulldog and wanted one. He found his breed. Since then, he takes every chance to love on a smushy little wrinkle face that comes his way. After losing Huckleberry Finn, my client’s dog Tonka came to stay with us as a board and train. Little did I know, Tonka was the comedic relief we needed- bulldogs are just innately hilarious.
My heart is still very much grieving the loss of my soul dog, Huckleberry. But when Mondo showed up, I could not deny the connection Alex instantly had with him. He took one look at him and said “I want him”. 😅 I did that once with Gruff (the gray newfie pictured), I knew that feeling of “this is my dog” and I was right… so was Alex.
The first week I was in denial and said no. But their bond grew day after day and then I had a dream we kept him and his name was Leroy. I woke up and instantly thought about my favorite cartoon characters Leroy and Stitch- Leroy is Experiment 629. (All my dogs are named after characters in books or cartoons with the exception of Loki and Badger who Alex named.)
And I just knew this boy was home. I told Alex about the dream and he laughed and said it reminds him of Leroy Jenkins.
So, I had him examined by my trusted vets who both were impressed with him and on 9.13.2023 we signed the adoption papers, Leroy’s gotcha day! He and Alex have been like 2 peas in a pod since!

09/23/2023

“Rebel wants you to know he’s doing great! Such a sweet smart boy!”
From his new foster Mom 🥰

09/22/2023

After 15 weeks together, Rebel just left to move into his foster home! 😭🙌🏻 Thanks for being the best boy Rebby, we love you and we are so excited for your future!

09/22/2023

Pretty pretty princess Luna enjoying a sunset walk tonight. ✨

09/20/2023

Rebel is meeting a potential foster today. Wish him luck! 🌟