Great Starts Dog Training

08/13/2024

This picture is a testament to putting in the work, and never giving up on your dogs!

The last time all three dogs were this close to each other, and NOT fighting, was a long time ago. This isn’t just because there are treats in the picture either.

Changing the psychological behavior of our dogs takes time. Especially when they have become accustomed to a certain way. But it is NEVER a hopeless cause.

I have helped many families over the years with their dogs to change the negative behavior that was leaving the families feeling like they only had one option… to get rid of the dog they loved.

Dealing with aggressive reactive dogs is no easy task, but it is something I love doing because that means it’s one more dog kept with their family and out of the shelter, or worse.

08/08/2024

Hey there! 👋🏼

We’ve been a little MIA on here for the last bit! 🕵🏼‍♀️

It’s important to take a break every once in a while and spend time with family, unplugged! 🏡

The training goes on though! Don’t skip leg day in the gym, and don’t skip training with your dog either! 💪🏻🏋️🐶

07/28/2024

We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again (and again and again and again and again, and probably a few more times after that) 👏🏼 MICROCHIP 👏🏼YOUR 👏🏼 PETS! 👏🏼 And once you’ve microchipped them, register the chip! And then update that chip every time you have a change in contact info!

Tonight driving down a busy road we found a very scared lost dog, thankfully we were able to coax her in before anything bad happened. She had on a collar but no tags so we had no immediate contact info for her family. Thankfully she had been chipped and after a quick scan at our local vet we were able to contact the microchip company with her information where they could then positively identify her family. All in all we had her for maybe an hour before she was safely returned home.

Microchips are not a substitution for ID tags, but they do offer a failsafe should something happen to the tag. They also give the finder the comfort of knowing that they are bringing the pet back to their rightful owner. As long as the chip stays updated with current information that chip links you to your pet for their entire life, and who wouldn’t want that peace of mind?

07/26/2024

But wait there’s more!

Ms. Rory also graduated today! She has come a long way with her training ❤️ Bringing smiles to everyone who sees her, this girl is going places!

So proud of the hard work her family put into training! It’s not always the most exciting stuff in the world, but if you’re consistent and you practice, great things will happen!

07/26/2024

Such an incredible day! Ms. Winnie has officially graduated as a Great Starts Graduate! I am so proud of the hard work her and her parents put into training. ❤️

07/24/2024

Empower your pup to be their best self with our proven dog training methods! From building confidence to mastering commands, our skilled trainers create a supportive environment where every dog can flourish.

Join our community of happy dogs, like Winnie pictured here, and even happier owners today! 🧡🐾

07/23/2024

The air quality is horrible right now! Please be cautious with yourself and your pups with how much time you spend outside in it.

07/20/2024

Winnie loves taking a nice break in the shade after a good workout training!

She is doing fantastic ❤️

07/19/2024

I love taking the dogs I work with to new places! 👍🏼

Rory is just doing fantastic with her training and rocks posing for the camera 💯✨

Want your dog to be this amazing too? We can help with that! 🐶

07/14/2024

Rory is a star everywhere she goes ✨

Teaching our dogs how to be well balanced in any environment is very important!

It takes time, patience, and a lot of practice but it is worth it!

07/13/2024

Have anything fun to do today? Come stop by Puptricks in Nampa!

9am-12pm at the Nampa Civic Center!

07/12/2024

Hip Hip Hooray for day trains! ☀️

Winnie and I beat the heat today working at nice shady parks and then practicing her public etiquette for lunch in a nice shaded patio.

One of the things I love with training is getting to spend these one on one moments with the dogs. They love it, and I love showing their parents how good they are!

07/12/2024

Bella here has something to say about the heat: Keep your pets indoors and if you can, take them to stores for training and exercise! 🔥🔥💯

We couldn’t agree more!

If you aren’t able to take your dog to a store because you’re too embarrassed of their behavior or you are worried about running into another dog, we can help with that! 👍🏼🙂

07/09/2024

🐾Understanding the Importance of Mental Stimulation and Dog Training 🧠🐶

Did you know that mental stimulation, such as training, is just as crucial for your dog's well-being as physical exercise? Here's why:

1️⃣**Enhanced Cognitive Abilities**: Regular mental challenges help sharpen your dog's cognitive skills and keep their mind active and alert.

2️⃣ **Behavioral Benefits**: Training sessions provide structure and guidance, reducing anxiety and preventing boredom-induced behaviors like chewing or excessive barking.

3️⃣**Bond Strengthening**: Training builds trust and strengthens the bond between you and your furry friend, fostering a happier and healthier relationship.

4️⃣**Problem Solving**: Dogs thrive on problem-solving activities. Engaging their minds with puzzles or training exercises satisfies their natural curiosity.

5️⃣**Overall Well-being**: A mentally stimulated dog is a contented dog. It promotes emotional stability and reduces stress levels.

At Great Starts Dog Training, we specialize in creating personalized training programs that not only teach obedience but also provide enriching mental challenges.
Whether you're starting with basic commands or exploring advanced tricks, our expert trainers are here to support you every step of the way! 🧡

Give your dog the gift of mental stimulation and watch them flourish! 🌟

Learn more about our training programs at greatstartsdogtraining.com

Sign Up Today and Invest in Your Dog's Well-being!

Let's embark on this journey towards a happier, healthier dog! 🐾

07/08/2024

It is going to be INSANELY HOT this week. Please for all that is good in the world take care of YOURSELVES and your PETS! 🔥

Heat is no joke, having had a heat stroke myself I can say wholeheartedly it’s not something you want to play with! 🥵

Have lots of water for yourself and your pup available at all times. And don’t spend too much time in the heat!

Be smart, and be safe! ☀️💯

07/06/2024

Don’t forget! Boise Corgi Festival is TODAY! 10am-2pm at Expo Idaho Boise!

07/05/2024

Fireworks have already been going! If you haven’t already, PLEASE ensure your pets are secured. Not just in the backyard, a frightened dog will go through great lengths to run out of fear.

Don’t let your pet(s) become part of the statistic for missing pets tonight!

07/04/2024

I’m already seeing the posts… missing dogs and cats!

Be smart, people! Keep your animals secured and inside as much as possible tonight and tomorrow.

07/03/2024

Happy 134th birthday to the great State of Idaho! 🥔🍟🐎🤠🐄🏔️❄️☀️🌇🐟

There are so many things that make this State one of the best!

We are proud to call Idaho home!

07/03/2024

Okay we are now the day before the 4th, there WILL be fireworks tonight… just bet on it…

We can’t control what other people do, so take the precautions for yourself and your pet!

Don’t assume your dog would never run off, it happens to more people than you think. So take precautions and don’t be a dumb dumb! 😉😁🇺🇸

07/01/2024

Ppsssssssst……

Take a look at the weather for the rest of this week and the weekend….

Take advantage of the cooler day today and get some hard work training done!!

06/27/2024

There’s still time!

It doesn’t matter how long you’ve had your pup, the best time to start training is right now!

We can help any dog. And we can help you be the leader your dog needs to thrive 💯

06/27/2024

West Valley Humane Society, like many of the amazing rescues in our area is facing a tremendous challenge right now.

It will always seem like a never ending ask to support and donate to shelters and rescues, because it will always be a never ending need!

Organizations such as this are not able to function and provide the level of support to the community that they do, without the help of the community members.

Please consider donating, volunteering, or simply sharing their posts to help get the animals in their care adopted.

If there was ever a time to step in and help, now is that time.

We appreciate everyone’s patience and concerns with yesterday’s unexpected closure.

The truth is, the community responded to opening the kennels for the general public in a big way — the love and support you showed was incredible, and we were able to adopt out 23 animals in just 2.5 hours.

Unfortunately, we also identified that we currently do not have the staff and volunteer coverage to accommodate that level of service while still being able to provide the best care to the animals.

We ask that the community be patient with us as we restructure and provide vital training to current staff and the influx of new volunteers so that we can better support the patrons coming in. Over the next few weeks, West Valley will be implementing the following changes to services and hours to ensure we are meeting our contractual obligations while being mindful of our current budget and staffing restraints:

Stray dog services -- Intake of stray dogs from City of Nampa, City of Caldwell, City of Marsing, and unincorporated Canyon County. Intake is open Monday - Saturday from 10am - 6pm; appointments are strongly encouraged.

Stray cat services -- We will only be able to accept sick and injured cats brought in either through Animal Control or the police department. Intake is open Monday - Saturday from 10am - 6pm; appointments are strongly encouraged.

Owner surrender services -- We will not be able to provide owner surrender services for the time being. We may be able to offer our Adopt-From-Home program on a case-by-case basis for both dogs and cats. Appointments will be required for this service.

Adoption services -- We will allow the public to walk through our adoption kennels accompanied by staff from 12pm - 4pm Tuesday - Friday BY APPOINTMENT for now. We are hoping to reopen Saturdays ASAP depending on staff availability.

We currently are unable to accommodate additional services including low-cost spay/neuter, Spay-the-Mama, Community Cat Program surgeries, vaccines, microchips, and end-of-life care for pet owners. We hope to be able to re-open these services to the public as soon as our budget and staffing allows, and will keep you all updated on that progress.

Thank you!

06/26/2024

✨Maybe she’s born with it?….

Yes… yes she was! ✨

Ms. Rory is the sweetest little girl ❤️ She has been doing fantastic with her training!

And the best part? The WHOLE family has been not only involved, but engaged and committed this whole time 💯

06/25/2024

Plan ahead!

The 4th of July is my favorite holiday (just behind Christmas 😉) 🇺🇸🇺🇸

But, just because I love it, doesn’t mean my dogs do. It is also fast approaching, so if you have dogs who aren’t fans of any kind of firework, reach out to your vet TODAY.

06/25/2024

Take advantage of the cooler temps! ‼️‼️

Even if that means postponing your bedtime by a bit… 😴💤

Burning your dog’s energy will help set you up for success! 💯

06/24/2024

Who else doesn’t thrive in the heat 🙋‍♀️😂

It’s incredibly important that we take our dogs health and safety extra seriously when temps get this high, especially when they stay this high! 🔥🥵

There are multiple resources for some of the below tips we mention!

Here’s one for knowing heat exhaustion in dogs: https://www.akcchf.org/canine-health/your-dogs-health/caring-for-your-dog/heat-stroke-and-heat-exhaustion.html

06/22/2024

Very exciting!!

Exciting News!

❤️🐶🐱 Stay tuned for our Ribbon Cutting event on Tuesday, June 25th at 10:15am. We are excited to announce that West Valley Humane Society will finally be opening our dog and cat adoption kennels for the public to walk through.

Come see the incredible new roofs that Canyon County has provided, ensuring our canine companions have a more comfortable stay while at our facility. The new roofs offer better climate control and noise reduction.

Adoption appointments will no longer be required, and all adoptions will be processed on a first come, first serve basis.

There has never been a better time to come and adopt a new furry friend. We’ll see you on Tuesday! 🐶🐱❤️

06/20/2024

Before, walking both dogs together was near impossible.

Now look at them!

Achieving your goals with training is possible!