Elkhorn Dog Services

01/05/2025

Snow day! Share your snow puppies

01/02/2025

Any wins deserve to be celebrated - no matter how small! It's easy to expect perfection, but the reality is your dog isn't a robot. Your dog will mistakes just like you and that's ok!

12/31/2024

It’s OK to re-home your dog for no other reason than you don’t like them very much or they didn’t turn out how you wanted them to. Dogs are only “for life” if both ends of the leash are enjoying that relationship. Finding a dog another home where they are loved and cared for is an act of strength and advocacy for the dog, not weakness, laziness, or cowardice. It is freaking hard to make that choice and harder still to see a dog that you really wanted to work out ride away in someone else’s car bound for a life that you couldn’t provide them (for whatever reason). Loving a dog sometimes means understanding that their needs, and your needs, simply aren’t compatible.

12/29/2024

It's OK to re-home your dog for no other reason than you don't like them very much or they didn't turn out how you wanted them to. Dogs are only "for life" if both ends of the leash are enjoying that relationship. Finding a dog another home where they are loved and cared for is an act of strength and advocacy for the dog, not weakness, laziness, or cowardice. It is freaking hard to make that choice and harder still to see a dog that you really wanted to work out ride away in someone else's car bound for a life that you couldn't provide them (for whatever reason). Loving a dog sometimes means understanding that their needs, and your needs, simply aren't compatible.

12/27/2024

It's ok to slow down. Ironically, training at a slower pace can actually provide faster results. Giving both you and your dog time to rest and process between sessions helps reinforce learning and keeps you both refreshed for the next step!

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Please keep in mind that every dog responds differently to different tools and a good trainer will adapt their training to best fit your dog. If you need assistance, it’s always best to consult a professional dog trainer. Please message us at to schedule your virtual or in person consult today!

12/18/2024

While this is not meant to be an all-inclusive list for every dog, the main purpose is to show that dogs don't NEED a lot of materialistic items - what they need is YOU! Quality is more important than quantity when it comes to spending time with your dog - that’s the best way to build/maintain a relationship with your dog!

12/11/2024

Nothing makes us happier than hearing how our training has made a positive impact! 🌟🐾 Check out this amazing review from Ansley! We’re so grateful for the opportunity to work with such dedicated pet parents and their wonderful pups. 🐶💖 It’s moments like these that remind us why we do what we do! 🙌

11/14/2024

Teaching your dog leash pressure isn't something that comes naturally to them. The leash is more than a tool, as it can help you effectively communicate with your dog.

Instinctually, dogs learn to pull even more when they feel pressure from the leash, so it's critical for dog's to learn effective communicate and teach them your expectations. The longterm goal should be for them to learn that good things happen with a loose leash and they should give into leash pressure. THEN, we can start to teach your dog how to heel or walk nicely with real world distractions.

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Please keep in mind that every dog responds differently to different tools and a good trainer will adapt their training to best fit your dog. If you need assistance, it’s always best to consult a professional dog trainer. Please message us at to schedule your virtual or in person consult today!

10/25/2024

When utilizing the four types of operant conditioning, negative and positive punishment can be frowned upon. While excessive force can absolutely cause more harm than good, a balanced approach can allow for an effective way to communicate with your dog.

Punishment doesn't always mean a correction, it can also involve removing something to decrease the frequency of your dog's behavior. For example, there is nothing wrong with ending a training session early if your dog isn't listening. They'll likely be hungry the next time and more willing to listen!

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Please keep in mind that our videos only show short clips from longer training sessions. Every dog responds differently to different tools and a good trainer will adapt their training to best fit your dog. If you need assistance, it’s always best to consult a professional dog trainer. Please message us at to schedule your virtual or in person consult today!

10/07/2024

🙌🏻 Just because a dog is calm, relaxed, and content, does not mean they are depressed or shut down. 🙌🏻 We are so used to seeing crazy, energetic dogs that it's easy for the public to make these assumptions.

Whether you utilize the place command, have your dog relax in a crate, or teaching them to settle in the house, you're teaching them to dissolve the feelings of over-arousal, stress, anxiety, etc. Think of it as an opportunity for your dog to meditate in a quiet, peaceful setting!

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Please keep in mind that every dog responds differently to different tools and a good trainer will adapt their training to best fit your dog. If you need assistance, it’s always best to consult a professional dog trainer. Please message us at to schedule your virtual or in person consult today!

09/11/2024

Percy working hard with his favorite people

08/25/2024

Giving your dog a solid foundation allow them to enjoy additional freedom during adventures. Providing them with physical and mental exercise allows them to live a fulfilling life with purpose. Dogs needs enrichment too - they deserve more than just a neighborhood walk!

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Please keep in mind that our videos only show short clips from longer training sessions. Every dog responds differently to different tools and a good trainer will adapt their training to best fit your dog. If you need assistance, it’s always best to consult a professional dog trainer. Please message us at to schedule your virtual or in person consult today!

08/04/2024

Have you ever given a command multiple times or tried to correct your dog's behavior and your they ignored you? If a dog knows they can get away with bad choices with little to no consequences, they will continue to push boundaries.

When you give a command, and your dog doesn't obey, first, ensure your dog understands what you're asking them to do. If they don't understand or fully know the command, showing them the appropriate behavior will allow more accuracy in the future!

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Please keep in mind that our videos only show short clips from longer training sessions. Every dog responds differently to different tools and a good trainer will adapt their training to best fit your dog. If you need assistance, it’s always best to consult a professional dog trainer. Please message us at to schedule your virtual or in person consult today!

07/23/2024

Just because you CAN bring your dog, doesn't mean you should! While I love to advocate for enriching our dogs' lives, there is an appropriate time and place. Your dog doesn't need to go everywhere!

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Please keep in mind that our content only show short clips from longer training sessions. Every dog responds differently to different tools and a good trainer will adapt their training to best fit your dog. If you need assistance, it’s always best to consult a professional dog trainer. Please message us at to schedule your virtual or in person consult today!

07/13/2024

There are a plethora of options for boarding dogs these days. 'Gig' economy options like Wag and Rover are a cesspool of incompetence. There is no legitimate oversight, care is often negligent, and it is not uncommon for animals to get injured, lost, or even killed.

Of course, there's always the neighbor kids, a relative, or a paid pet sitter whose bonafides may or may not include insurance, some form of bond, and permits if required.

Established groomers have taken a real hit post-covid when everybody and their mother thought that handling sharp implements around nervous pets was a cakewalk. Every 16 year old that 'loves doggies' and has a driver's license is offering 5 dollar nail trims at clients' homes.

Well, ya gotta know how *that's* gonna turn out. The community groups on Facebook are overrun by posts offering low-cost, cage free, concierge care.

Which is fine...

But...

The people who are looking for these services are invariably the ones whose dog never leaves the property, has to be sedated to be handled at the vet's office, and has been kicked out of every grooming shop and boarding kennel in the county.

The post I ripped out a few days ago about how the clarion call of "My dog doesn't like..." is the reddest of red flags for dogs that need behavior remediation.

Sticking a dog like that where it can make bad choices is a good indicator that someone's going home with a few extra holes.

In an Instagram post I saw earlier this week, a groomer I respect and admire () posted a clip of a pup on a bed in a cage with the comment "When the people on the internet are arguing how cages are bad but you just chillen, waiting for mom to pick you up."

I left a comment. I had to. I always advise my clients to avoid anybody who doesn't have their dogs' safety as their #1 concern.

Cageless boarding, grooming, whatever, isn't sound business practice when it comes to animals that are unknown to each other. Have a bunch of dogs milling around while attending humans are occupied, and it's a recipe for bloodshed.

Social media is rife with these incidents. So is the news.

They happen with increasing regularity. Like the number of bulldogs that overheat at the box store and turn blue from a lack of oxygen. Doubt me? Look it up yourself. A half dozen or more in the last few years.

I'm sorry, all it would take me is twice to determine that my brachycephalic breed dog can wait to be groomed at my vet, during the cooler months, or I can plunk that animal into a tub and bathe it myself.

Why two? The first is a give. Accidents happen, and bulldogs are notoriously fragile. Sinus Nares and all. The second is less a coincidence and more an emerging pattern.

But back to "cage free."

"Cage free" isn't the badge of virtue signaling honor folks are trying to make it out to be.

In all honesty, it stinks of ignorance and indifference.

Years ago. I mean, probably close to thirty, I went on vacation and left my two dogs at a boarding kennel that I had a relationship with.

They were inappropriate with my youngest dog, Hopi, and she was implicated in a bite incident.

It was convenient for them to blame me when, in fact, it was their mismanagement.

I severed my relationship with this kennel when they failed to honor their obligation to the employee that was bitten.

I was not there, but testimony of both the victim and a witness determined that 1) they weren't even clear that my dog was the actual biter and 2) their mismanagement of multiple dogs in an open space where there should have been no loose dogs precipitated the injury.

Of course, the victim was trying to break up a fight when *my* dog was attacked by a dog of the same breed.

Because cheap labor is cheap. It's a dime a dozen. The only criterion is "must love dogs."

I don't care how good you are, how good you think you are or how good you want to be, you don't have eyes in the back of your head, and you increase the likelihood of issues when you compound variables.

Do accidents happen? Sure, they do. But as service providers, it is our JOB to at least try to ensure safety to the property of others.

So please, be smart. Think in terms of safety and not virtue signaling.

06/26/2024

06/25/2024

06/12/2024

There is nothing wrong to use your dog's kibble when training - in fact I often encourage it! By having more control of your dog's eating habits and intake. If a dog isn't willing to eat while training, I'll end the session and try again later. Your dog will quickly learn to associate training time with mealtime, which will increase their motivation and focus.

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Every dog responds differently to different tools and a good trainer will adapt their training to best fit your dog. If you need assistance, it’s always best to consult a professional dog trainer. Please message us at to schedule your virtual or in person consult today!