S A M S Dog Training Center

04/03/2025

PUPPY PROGRAM: (AKC STAR PUPPY) Start your puppy on the right paw! This program meets once a week for six weeks. Along with teaching 40 basic behaviors that build a solid foundation for your puppy, we also address chewing, housebreaking, crates, puppy stages, meet and greets, behavior, and much more! Your puppy can earn their AKC STAR Puppy Award through this program. The total is $110. Call to enroll 814-724-7391

SAMS ⭐️SATURDAY⭐️Puppy Hop Workshop:
For Puppies 8 weeks- 6 months old
Dates: Saturday, April 5,12,19, 26
Time: 2pm-3pm
Location: 13857 North Wayland Rd, Meadville
SAMS Puppy Hop Workshop will cover basic obedience, socialization, house training, and more! The total cost of this workshop is $70.
Call to enroll:814-724-7391

****Refresher Workshop:
for dogs in a group class with us OR elsewhere. We Welcome You and Your Dog To SAMS!
Date: Saturday, April 12, 3:30-4:30pm.
Location: 13857 North Wayland Rd, Meadville Pa.
Join us as we refresh the basics of stand, sit, down, stay, come, loose leash walking and more with a fun and exciting atmosphere. This group workshop will be held inside and outside-weather permitting.
Price: $20.
Call To Enroll: 814-724-7391
ALL DOGS MUST BE HUMAN AND CANINE-FRIENDLY.

SAMS Walk About Workshop:
Call to enroll: 814-724-7391
Dates: Wednesday, April 23, 30 May 7
Time: 6pm-7pm
Location: 13857 North Wayland Rd, Meadville
Lessons: Loose Leash, Attention, Target, Come Front, and Stay.
We'll teach you how to keep your dog's attention during distractions with a loose leash! This Walk About Workshop meets one hour a week for three weeks. The total is $55 for this workshop.

SAMS GO THE DISTANCE WORKSHOP :
This workshop meets for one hour a week for three weeks.
Dates: Wednesday, April 23, 30, & May 7
Cost: $60 total
Time: 7:30-8:30pm
Location: Inside our facility at 13857 North Wayland Rd, Meadville.
Call to enroll: 814-724-7391
2ft, 4ft, 6ft, 8ft, 10ft Distance Behaviors Taught: Stay, Sit, Down, Stand, Wave, Back up PLUS Optional Behaviors: Bow, Spin Left, Spin Right, Speak, Sit Pretty, Target, Roll Over and more.
If you are training for your Champion title with Do More With Your Dog or want to enhance your dog's obedience at a distance, then this workshop is for you!
This workshop is limited. Call now!

SAMS S.P.L.A.S.H. :
Starts Wednesday, May 21, 7:30-8:30pm and meets one hour a week for six weeks.
Location: 13857 North Wayland Rd, Meadville
Program Overview: Week 1 Strength: Learn the proper way to stretch and strengthen your dog to prevent injury. Stretching and strengthening your dog’s muscles are crucial for their overall health and well-being. Strengthening exercises promote better muscle tone, support proper posture, and improve their stability and coordination. Just like with humans, a healthy, strong body enables your dog to move with ease and enjoy life to the fullest!
Week 2 Proprioception: Proprioception refers to your dog’s ability to sense the position and movement of their body in space. This skill is essential for balance, coordination, and confidence during activities and training. A dog with strong proprioception can adjust their movements more efficiently, navigate obstacles with better control, and reduce the risk of injury.
Week 3 Locomotion: Training better locomotion with your dog is essential for their overall physical health, performance and minimizes the risk of injury. By teaching your dog to move with correct posture, gait, and coordination, you’re helping them develop stronger muscles, improve their agility, and enhance their overall stamina. Better locomotion allows your dog to move smoothly, comfortably, and with confidence.
Week 4 Ambition: Building ambition in your dog is crucial because it helps to create a confident, motivated, and mentally engaged pet. When you encourage your dog to work towards goals, whether it's through training, play, or problem-solving tasks, it stimulates their mind and strengthens their bond with you. Ambitious dogs are more eager to learn, follow commands, and be active participants in their environment.
Week 5 Speed: Building speed in your dog is essential because it can enhance their overall performance and confidence. Speed allows your dog to build momentum as they approach the dock, giving them the power to launch off with greater force and distance. The faster they run, the higher and further they can dive, making them more competitive and improving their success in the water. Speed also boosts your dog’s excitement and drive, keeping them engaged and motivated to train and perform.
Week 6 Harmonize: When you’re in tune with your dog, you can better time your cues, ensure they’re focused, and anticipate their movements. This creates a calm, consistent atmosphere where your dog feels confident, reducing distractions and anxiety. Harmonizing allows you to build trust, making your dog more willing to give their best effort, while also strengthening the bond between you.
Meeting location will change during the program to introduce your dog safely to the water and learn muscle strengthening, water edge stays, water safety, dock diving, water retrieve games, water recalls, water-leash safety, impulse control and Lots Of Fun! You and your dog are going to get wet. Please dress appropriately. ALL Dogs MUST have a life jacket and be on a 30 ft long line.
Call to enroll 814-724-7391

Now accepting new clients:
Bring harmony to the home with our reward based training.
One low price for multiple family dog training! Affordable-day and evening appointments are available.
Call SAMS Dog Training Center 814-724-7391
Location: 13857 North Wayland Rd, Meadville

04/02/2025

SAMS GO THE DISTANCE WORKSHOP
This workshop meets for one hour a week for three weeks. Wednesday, April 23, 30, & May 7
Cost: $60 total
Time: 7:30-8:30pm
Location: Inside our facility at 13857 North Wayland Rd, Meadville.
Call to enroll: 814-724-7391

2ft, 4ft, 6ft, 8ft, 10ft Distance Behaviors Taught: Stay, Sit, Down, Stand, Wave, Back up PLUS Optional Behaviors: Bow, Spin Left, Spin Right, Speak, Sit Pretty, Target, Roll Over and more.

If you are training for your Champion title with Do More With Your Dog or want to enhance your dog's obedience at a distance, then this workshop is for you!

This workshop is limited. Call now!

04/02/2025

Congratulations Team Phoebe, Team Tigger, Team Winter, Team Willie, Team Whiskey, Team Emmett, Team Nebi, Team Bluey, and Team Ylva!!

Congratulations and Thank You for choosing SAMS!

03/31/2025

It’s something to think about, and there are two sides to every story. Plus, the findings in science change over time. So, if you’ve read a post telling you Not to play fetch with your dog, then read this one.
Some dogs love the game of fetch, does yours?

I didn’t think I’d spend my career fighting for dogs to be allowed to play fetch. But here we are.

Four years ago, I noticed little hints of pet parents being warned about playing fetch. I had clients whose working dogs got no exercise.

“We used to play fetch, but the previous trainer told us to stop so he wouldn’t become a super athlete,” one Aussie owner told me. “The arch of the ball in the air causes adrenaline spikes,” one trainer wrote. “It causes compulsive disorder” is a common theme. “They are addicted”. The list goes on and on.

At that time, I warned that it would spread like wildfire, and indeed it did. Now, the concept that fetch is bad is in most pet households. Why do I care? Because many dogs are underenriched. Most dogs are underexercised. Taking away the one joyful thing they do is terrible. Especially when the claims are false.

Yesterday, I was tagged on a post about fetch. My followers know I’m pro-fetch (because I’m pro-happy and excited dogs). Heck, I wrote a chapter in my book about fetch.

When I saw the post, my heart sank. The post, with the click-bait “HERE’S THE SCIENTIFIC TRUTH NO ONE TALKS ABOUT,” had 900 shares. Then 1000. Now 2.1k.

I’ve tried so hard to stay out of these debates. I just want dogs to be happy, but the world is on fire, everyone is stressed, and we’re all focused elsewhere. But this morning, someone shared it with a cattle dog group. One commenter said, “I play fetch with my dog once a week, and now I’ll rethink that.”

And just like that, my heart snapped in half.

In 2.1k shares, there are countless guardians who will stop playing with their dogs because of that post.

So, I woke up this Sunday morning and found myself here, making this post, attempting to put a bandaid on the gushing chest wound of the assault on happy, excited dogs.

The first claim of the viral post is that fetch mimics the predatory sequence. This is the pattern that all predators use to hunt. They find the prey, then they stalk it. Next, they chase, then grab, bite, kill and consume. The poster says that fetch is bad because “the kill bite never comes” and reports that “the dog is neurologically left in a state of arousal.” I get it. When paired with words like “dopamine,” “adrenaline,” “and cortisol,” it sounds potentially bad.

If we are concerned about completing the sequence, we can rest easy knowing the dog does, in fact, “capture” its ball “prey.” If they want to shake it, they do. They can if they want to hold it with their paws and rip it apart with their incisors, instinctively acting out the “consume” part of the sequence.

But fetch isn’t a broken predatory loop. It’s a modified, learned behaviour that is naturally rewarding, fun to do, and often reinforced with positive feedback and the ball being thrown again.

Not every dog must complete the full sequence to experience satisfaction or neurological "closure." Many have been selectively bred not to complete it (e.g., gun dogs retrieving without damaging prey and herders bred for various tasks). You might see some of your breed’s version come out during fetch, like when a border collie stalks his ball.

There’s no evidence that fetch causes chronic stress. Cortisol spikes during activity, including play, but this is not pathological. It’s a normal response. Studies do not support the idea that fetch causes chronic arousal or leaves a dog dysregulated. Chronic stress is caused by uncontrollable, unpredictable stressors, not voluntary play.

Studies show that predictable, rewarding exercises like fetch can reduce stress when balanced with rest. The claim that “dopamine is not the reward chemical—it’s the pursuit chemical” is a half-truth. Dopamine is involved in wanting AND liking. If dopamine release from play were inherently harmful, food training, nose work, and toy rewards would also be "dangerous" because they rely on the same reward circuitry. But there’s no evidence that normal play dysregulates the brain.

A meta-analysis on canine behaviour problems (Tiira & Lohi, 2015) found that lack of activity is associated with increased problem behaviours, including anxiety and destructiveness. Dogs, especially high-energy breeds, need both mental and physical outlets. Fetch can absolutely be part of that. It’s not "coffee for a child with ADHD”. It’s more like recess for a kid who’s been sitting all day.

While play can resemble predatory behaviours (chasing, biting, shaking), which is why we have stuffy squeaky toys, tug toys, balls, herding balls and candy-coated ways to let our dogs kill things, it’s functionally and emotionally distinct. Play triggers positive affective states in the brain and is associated with dopamine, endorphin, and oxytocin release—not just adrenaline and cortisol. Studies in dogs and other mammals show that play is self-rewarding and contributes to stress regulation, not dysregulation.

We also know dogs can distinguish between real predation, acts of aggression, and sexual behaviour vs play. That’s the whole point of play. It’s like humans playing house when we’re kids. Dogs are acting out the real-life version of what they might need to do, from fighting to hunting prey.

Again, no peer-reviewed studies show that playing fetch daily creates “chronic sympathetic dominance,” weakens immune systems, or causes behavioural burnout. These claims rely on theoretical ideas, not research. In fact, routine play, when balanced with sleep, training, enrichment, and calm time, contributes to emotional regulation and well-being.

On top of all of the fake scientific-washed bu****it, the concept that it makes dogs less focused on their handler is where I really want to pull my hair out. Our dogs are literally focused on us for survival. They are captive animals, rarely getting more freedom than a zoo animal. They rely on us for everything from potty breaks to feeding, and these days, they can’t even sleep where they choose. I’ve never met a dog who is less apt to focus on his handler because of fetch, but if I do, I’ll congratulate him for having some agency in his day, some ability to not care what the human is doing.

In fact, the very act of fetching and retrieving IS directly tied to the “level of synchrony between human and companion animal.” Delgado MM, Stella JL, Croney CC, Serpell JA. Making fetch happen: Prevalence and characteristics of fetching behaviour in owned domestic cats (Felis catus) and dogs (Canis familiaris). The very concept of fetch is believed to be tied back to days when it was helpful for us to have dogs bringing back animals killed with projectiles, something we still use the behaviour for to this day in hunting breeds.

If you ARE worried your dog is compuslive or “addicted”, know this. NO TRAINER IS QUALIFIED TO MAKE THIS DIAGNOSIS. Especially when the diagnosis is coming because a dog is focused on the ball, jumpy, potentially a lot to manage, Barky, “pushy,” or otherwise doing what excited dogs do. Including not wanting to stop. Imagine, as a kid, if you were running into a playground, excitedly yelling and begging your mom for five more minutes when it’s time to go home, and someone said you were “addicted.”

Compulsive disorder in dogs still needs a lot of studying, but it is likely genetic is often made worse by underlying conditions, like pain. Stress and anxiety usually contribute along with a lack of exercise and enrichment. Your dog enjoying playing with a ball is not a diagnostic criterion. In fact, I use play, including fetch, to help my compulsive disorder clients.

All that to say, the original post will be shared. It will be shared a lot because it sounds real, because it’s clickbaity because it makes people feel like they might be harming their dog. And, as a result, well-meaning people are going to stop playing with their dog.

The last line, “He deserves you—not just the ball”, is what REALLY makes me mad. This gaslighty concept that guardians using fetch are somehow not giving their dogs a relationship, love or connection.

If you don’t want to play fetch with your dog, don’t. If you’re worried about joints or arthritis, I’m not going to tell you to do something that doesn’t feel right. But if you’re like me, and your dogs love games, play and fun, don’t let some post stop you from having fun with your dog.

Update: thank you to everyone who has interacted with and shared this post!

To find out more about your working dog, read my book, Urban Sheepdog: https://amzn.to/4g0o6VT

03/28/2025

👇👇

Letter from a dog. 🐕
Be cool, always. 🙏😊

“Dear Human,
I see you.
Not just with my eyes but with my whole being. You may not realise it, but every time your heart beats a little faster, I feel it. When your hands tighten ever so slightly on my lead, I sense it. When you breathe differently, I know.
You may smile and say, “It’s fine,” but your scent tells me otherwise. Your muscles betray you. I can feel your energy shifting, and I carry it with me.

You see, I live in a world of sensation. Your voice is only part of what I hear.
I hear the tension beneath it. Your body language speaks louder than words. I watch your posture, your eyes, and the way you hold yourself. I even catch the subtle chemical changes in your scent when you are nervous or afraid. My nose is built for this—I can detect fear and stress hormones in your sweat and skin. And when I do, it shapes how I feel.

When you are anxious, I become uncertain. When you are afraid, I may feel the need to protect or flee. And when you are tense, I wonder if there is danger nearby. Your feelings change the way I experience the world. I’m not trying to be difficult when I pull on the lead or bark at something you can’t see. I’m just reacting to what I feel through you.

I know there have been times when I embarrassed you. Maybe I lunged at another dog, jumped up on a stranger, or barked too much. You held your breath and worried about what others thought. I felt that too. And because I love you, I tried to match your energy—I either got big and bold or small and unsure. Either way, it wasn’t helpful.

But here’s the thing, dear human: I don’t need you to be perfect. I just need you to be calm. When you breathe slower, so do I. When your shoulders relax, I trust that we are safe. When you move with quiet confidence, I follow.

Please, when you are nervous, remember that I don’t need you to control me with strength—I need you to lead me with clarity. When you feel unsure, help me by being steady. I look to you for reassurance, not through words but through the energy you carry.

If you are feeling uncertain, that’s okay. I understand. Just take a moment. Breathe. Stand tall. Move deliberately. Let me see that you are okay, even if you have to fake it at first. With time, I will learn that I don’t need to carry the weight of your worry. You will be my calm. And I will be your calm in return.

With love and loyalty,
Your Dog”

I hope this helps some folks understand a little more about our dogs’ world.
Best wishes,
Allan Ritchie MGoDT ( MPDTI)

03/28/2025

Congratulations Team LocoMotion, Team Bella, and Team Phoenix!
These teams graduated from SAMS Shamrock Workshop!
Congratulations and Thank You for choosing SAMS!

03/27/2025

SAMS
S.P.L.A.S.H.
Starts Wednesday, May 21, 7:30-8:30pm and meets one hour a week for six weeks.
Location: 13857 North Wayland Rd, Meadville

Program Overview: Week 1 Strength: Learn the proper way to stretch and strengthen your dog to prevent injury. Stretching and strengthening your dog’s muscles are crucial for their overall health and well-being. Strengthening exercises promote better muscle tone, support proper posture, and improve their stability and coordination. Just like with humans, a healthy, strong body enables your dog to move with ease and enjoy life to the fullest!

Week 2 Proprioception: Proprioception refers to your dog’s ability to sense the position and movement of their body in space. This skill is essential for balance, coordination, and confidence during activities and training. A dog with strong proprioception can adjust their movements more efficiently, navigate obstacles with better control, and reduce the risk of injury.

Week 3 Locomotion: Training better locomotion with your dog is essential for their overall physical health, performance and minimizes the risk of injury. By teaching your dog to move with correct posture, gait, and coordination, you’re helping them develop stronger muscles, improve their agility, and enhance their overall stamina. Better locomotion allows your dog to move smoothly, comfortably, and with confidence.

Week 4 Ambition: Building ambition in your dog is crucial because it helps to create a confident, motivated, and mentally engaged pet. When you encourage your dog to work towards goals, whether it's through training, play, or problem-solving tasks, it stimulates their mind and strengthens their bond with you. Ambitious dogs are more eager to learn, follow commands, and be active participants in their environment.

Week 5 Speed: Building speed in your dog is essential because it can enhance their overall performance and confidence. Speed allows your dog to build momentum as they approach the dock, giving them the power to launch off with greater force and distance. The faster they run, the higher and further they can dive, making them more competitive and improving their success in the water. Speed also boosts your dog’s excitement and drive, keeping them engaged and motivated to train and perform.

Week 6 Harmonize: When you’re in tune with your dog, you can better time your cues, ensure they’re focused, and anticipate their movements. This creates a calm, consistent atmosphere where your dog feels confident, reducing distractions and anxiety. Harmonizing allows you to build trust, making your dog more willing to give their best effort, while also strengthening the bond between you.

Meeting location will change during the program to introduce your dog safely to the water and learn muscle strengthening, water edge stays, water safety, dock diving, water retrieve games, water recalls, water-leash safety, impulse control and Lots Of Fun! You and your dog are going to get wet. Please dress appropriately.

ALL Dogs MUST have a life jacket and be on a 20-30 ft long line while outside of the training center or at the dock location.
Call to enroll 814-724-7391

03/25/2025

Team Belle demo distance Sit. Good Job!

TikTok | Make Your Day

03/25/2025

Refresher Workshop for those dogs who have been in a group class with us, OR somewhere else. We Welcome You and Your Dog To SAMS!
This group workshop will meet Saturday, April 12, 3:30-4:30pm.
Join us as we refresh the basics of stand, sit, down, stay, come, loose leash walking and more with a fun and exciting atmosphere. This group workshop will be held inside and outside-weather permitting.
Price: $20.
Location: 13857 North Wayland Rd, Meadville Pa.
Call To Enroll: 814-724-7391

ALL DOGS MUST BE HUMAN AND CANINE FRIENDLY.

03/20/2025

SAMS ⭐️SATURDAY⭐️Puppy Hop Workshop
For Puppies 8 weeks- 6 months old
Location: 13857 North Wayland Rd, Meadville
Dates: Saturday, April 5,12,19, 26
Time: 2pm-3pm
SAMS Puppy Hop Workshop will cover basic obedience, socialization, house training, and more! The total cost of this workshop is $70.
Call to enroll:814-724-7391

03/19/2025

SAMS Walk About Workshop
Call to enroll: 814-724-7391
Dates: Wednesday, April 23, 30 May 7
Time: 6pm-7pm
Location: 13857 North Wayland Rd, Meadville
Lessons: Loose Leash, Attention, Target, Come Front, and Stay.
We'll teach you how to keep your dog's attention during distractions with a loose leash! This Walk About Workshop meets one hour a week for three weeks. The total is $55 for this workshop.

03/11/2025

What lies behind their exceptional gift of sniff?

03/07/2025

PUPPY PROGRAM: (AKC STAR PUPPY) Start your puppy on the right paw! This program meets once a week for six weeks. Along with teaching 40 basic behaviors that build a solid foundation for your puppy, we also address chewing, housebreaking, crates, puppy stages, meet and greets, behavior, and much more! Your puppy can earn their AKC STAR Puppy Award through this program. The total is $110. Call to enroll 814-724-7391

03/06/2025

Here’s some of our recent graduates.
Congratulations Team Mathias, Team Tori, Team Ylva, Team Bluey, Team Remi, Team Nyia, Team Opie, Team Rex, and Team Emmett!
Congratulations and Thank You for choosing Sams!

03/05/2025

Locomotion is enrolled in SAMS Shamrock Workshop. We welcome him back to group class after 5 years.
Loco, you look handsome wearing a hat! 😘
Hats off to his handler, Kelly, for continuing to train and work with Loco over the years.
Good boy Locomotion!