Waggin' Train

04/12/2024

Please visit my newly revised and updated website! Appointments available starting May 1.

Adding a dog to your family is a long-term commitment that can be challenging at times. Training can help you and your pet live happily together.

04/11/2024

I am happy to report that I will be booking appointments for dates after May 1, 2024;
If you were a prior client of mine, It would really be appreciated if you could leave a positive Google review or post pictures of your dogs that I’ve worked with. Your reviews help me help more dogs. Thank you!
The link is: https://g.page/r/CbdLdqJ4gLC-EAI/review

Post a review to our profile on Google

04/02/2024

If you've had me as a trainer, you may remember my advice to "remove the word NO from your vocabulary".

We get frustrated when we tell our puppies “no” and they don’t listen. 🤦🏼‍♀️🐶

⚠️ Here’s the problem… our puppies don’t understand what the word means.

👉🏻 They don’t have a Merriam Webster dictionary.

👉🏻 They don’t understand that we don’t want to do “this” now… or ever.

👉🏻 In order to get our puppies to not do the things us humans don’t want them to do, we have to take the time to teach them what we do want them to do.

‼️ It’s not up to them to try to guess or figure it out.

Our homes are set up for humans, not dogs. 🏡 It’s up to us to teach them how to live our home and world that we are asking them to live in. 💕 🐕

12/31/2023

Wishing all my past and future clients a very happy, safe, prosperous, and healthy New Year!

11/22/2023

Happy Thanksgiving to one and all! I hope to be back real soon.

10/26/2023

I am pleased to announce that while I have been out on my medical leave, I used the time to achieve certification as a Certified Professional Dog Trainer – Knowledge Assessed (CPDT-KA) by the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers (CCPDT).

CPDT-KA certification recognizes the knowledge and experience of professional dog trainers. Certificants must provide references that attest to their work and pass a rigorous written exam that focuses on the science behind dog behavior and the application of training techniques. CPDT-KA certification provides an independent, scientifically valid measure of an individua’s understanding of the field of dog training, including instruction skills, learning theory, ethology, equipment, and animal husbandry.

CCPDT requires its certificants to adhere to its Standards of Practice and Code of Ethics and Least Intrusive, Minimally Aversive (LIMA) Effective Behavior Intervention policies. Certificants must engage in on-going continuing education to maintain the credential. These rigorous standards ensure that CPDT-KA certificants are actively engaged in professional development and applying the most current science and techniques with their clients.

I am very proud of this achievement and will continue my high standards in humane, force free, dog training.

10/25/2023

Checking in with an update as to my medical condition. I seem to have fully recovered from the Lumbar Fusion I had in February. However, I was in Physical Therapy for 10 weeks and found that it started to eventually aggravate other problems in my spine. I have arthritis in the facet joints of the spine along with some bulging of the discs - neither of which the surgery could have helped. These conditions are still causing me a lot of pain in the lower back prohibiting me from working in such an active and physically demanding position. So - I am now entering a pain management program where I will receive a few injections to pinpoint the area of trouble and hopefully end up with some more permanent relief. It's always something, right??? I have not started the injections as I must wait for insurance approval.

Bottom line - I still cannot give a date as to my return to work. 🙁, I surely miss it so I hope to get back there soon!!!!!

06/30/2023

Would anyone like to help with this dire situation and foster a shih tzu mix puppy or adult? Our friends at New Life Animal Rescue would love to help but they can’t do it without fosters! If you have any questions about fostering, Kim would be glad to answer you. Fostering is such a rewarding job and a great thing to do with all your spare time this summer!

06/26/2023

Checking back in with an update as to my progress. Unfortunately, I still cannot give a definite or even close return date. I am in Physical Therapy right now and it's going OK, except I still don't have the physicality needed to perform my job properly. Originally, the surgeon told me it would take about a year before I felt "right". I didn't believe him, but now I am starting to. I am trying my hardest and hope to be back sooner rather than later, but I need to listen to my body and heal correctly.

Happy News! There has been a new addition to the family: Peetie, the nine year old Pit/Boxer mix adopted from the shelter on May 28! (Picture below). While doing some training with him, I realize there is no way I could do training all day, every day. I have to stop after just ten minutes with him. IT HURTS!!!!

Hopefully I can be back with lots of good news soon. Thanks to all who have checked in with me! I STILL love seeing pics of your dogs. I miss them all!

04/10/2023

Hello everybody! I’m here with a short update on what’s going on with me. I had a Lumbar Fusion on Feb 6 and just had my eight week follow up visit with my surgeon. The good news is that my progress is going very well and as expected. The bad news is that I still have a long way to go before I can attempt getting back to work. I’m still wearing a back brace and am slowly starting to wean off of it now. I haven’t started physical therapy yet, that won’t be for another month. The radicular pain I was experiencing prior to the surgery is completely gone (it truly is a miracle!!), but I am now contending with the effects of the surgery on my body. Specifically, the muscles in my back that were cut and sewn back and getting strength back to all the muscles I haven’t been using for over two years.

It is still going to take some time. My best guess right now is a return-to-work late summer or early fall. I will certainly keep you updated on this page and will update my website when I have a firm date. I really miss working with all of the dogs and I strive to get back sooner rather than later.

If you feel like dropping me a pic of your dog – I’d love to see them!

04/08/2023

If you’re still thinking in terms of being “alpha” or being dominant over your dog, step back and take a look at this. It’s been a few years now, but the man responsible for this study says now that he realizes he was wrong. Never choose a trainer who uses words like “alpha”, “dominant”, or “pack leader” especially if they are referring to YOU, the human.

David Mech’s best-selling book “The Wolf,” first published in 1970, laid out a hierarchy of pack order using the terms “alpha” and “beta.” But, in the years since, Mech has requested his publisher stop printing the book. “It turned out all that stuff was mostly wrong,” he says. Read the full story of the alpha myth: http://nyer.cm/o30BGQL

04/04/2023

WHAT DOGS WOULD WANT US TO KNOW

Dogs are held captive in our human world but and are not born to understand our human ways. We expect so much of them.

We expect them to conform and behave in ways that are “acceptable” to us.

So many dogs are subjected to force, punishment, intimidation, aversive tools or outdated training methods as humans attempt to change and control them.

“Humans are afraid of aliens because we think they will treat us the same way we treat other animals on earth” – I don’t know where this quote originates from, but it makes sense.

Dogs have feelings, emotions and are sentient beings. They need our understanding, patience and kindness.

They long for us to understand them and although they do not speak our language, their body language speaks for them, if we would just take the time to notice and learn to interpret it.

We have a responsibility to learn about how they learn, to help them feel safe and secure and provide for not just their basic needs.

These are some of the things I believe dogs would want us to know.

03/23/2023

Even when used correctly, it’s incorrect. It’s not an ecollar, it’s a shock collar. It’s not a stim, it’s a shock.

01/24/2023

Here’s a video on how to start training “Leave it”. ”Leave it” could save your dog’s life one day. If they are going for something dangerous or you drop medication on the floor, a solid “Leave it” will prevent it from going in their mouths. A couple of things I’d like to point out about the training: notice I do not raise my voice. In fact, towards the end I’m even whispering. Also see how Mikey’s tail never stops wagging. You want training to be fun and enjoyable for your dog - and you!!

My trainee was Michael from New Life Animal Rescue. I volunteer train for them and I am absolutely head over heels in love with this guy! He’s a 10 month old Staffordshire Terrier/Bulldog mix. You can read about him on the New Life Animal Rescue page.

01/23/2023

I am now officially on medical leave. I won't be taking on any new clients in the foreseeable future. I will check in from time to time and post something relevant or fun. In the meantime, I wanted to share two of my last dogs. One being the "most exuberant" - (Chase) and one being the BIGGEST! (Louis a Great Pyrenees) of 2022.

01/19/2023

Viva la France!! Now USA - it's YOUR turn!!!

MPs voted to outlaw collars with spikes, electricity or which tighten without a means of restricting this

01/18/2023

When last I met Bert (a four year old Bouvier des Flandres) he had just been adopted a few short weeks before and was not fully acclimated to his new home. Therefore the picture I took of him back then did not show his true awesomeness. I got to see him again today as we finished up our lessons - and I got a better pic of him. Shown below are Bert and his little sister Sophie, the Havanese. They play together very well despite the size difference.

01/12/2023

As my appointments dwindle down to an end, I am finishing up last sessions with a lot of dogs. Yesterday, I had my last session with Rascal. This is Rascal learning to STAY on the step while his guardians let people in to their home. It's a wonderful skill to have and practice as usually doorbells ring and chaos ensues! Rascal is both handsome and intelligent and I will sure miss him!

01/11/2023

Start your day with a laugh and a strong cup of coffee.

01/09/2023

In case you haven't heard, I am always thrilled when a fearful dog finally accepts me and works with me. Such is the case with Mattie who I just finished up a fourth session with. Mattie still has a long way to go, but to see her progress from barking at me and not coming to within an inch of me is heartwarming. She actually worked with me on LEAVE IT!! (And she was REALLY good!). Her pet parents are committed to her and are working really hard with her on all the suggestions I've made.

12/31/2022

Bark out the old and bark in the new!! Happy New Year to all of my doggie students and their families!!

12/27/2022

You just may save the life of your own dog or another's by learning the Heimlich Maneuver for dogs.

12/24/2022

Another good girl waiting for Santa Paws!! Gigi!!!

12/24/2022

It's always nice to see my client's Christmas decorations when I'm at their home with their dogs. Sometimes some dogs pose nicely for me by the tree! Bella!! In her Christmas sweater by the tree. She IS a good girl, Santa!