The Trekking Vet Tech & Professional Behavioral Consultant

02/19/2025

Something I enjoy the most about what I do is watching the teams develop confidence with their furry battle buddies in order to do what they want to do in everyday life more comfortably! Warms my heart to see the teams advance to higher levels in real-world training outings like this.

Go Liz and Freyja! Cannot wait to see all of the fun adventures that lay ahead!

The SBF training program aims to enable handlers to engage in everyday life activities with the assistance of a service dog.

Pictured here, Liz and her service dog in training, Freyja, can be seen at the gym, with a spotter present in one of the pictures. According to their SBF trainer, Jule W., Freyja was a rock star in being attentive, scanning her surroundings, settling calmly, and even practicing her tasks in between exercises. Freyja's AWESOME behavior will allow Liz to work out more frequently, which is a win all around!

02/12/2025

If you do not know the most basic emergency care for your pet, I highly recommend you research and learn...and create a HABIT that you can rely on DURING the emergency. I will never forget this day nor what Dad, as a member of emergency personnel for humans, said to me: "I've helped saved thousands...but when my own dog is choking, I didn't recognize it or react to you like you did and she is absolutely fine now because of your quick intervention. This could have been so much worse..."

I was eating dinner in between classes and these were students of mine, who came in for a mere cookie training session on their own for helping proof under distractions at the dog daycare I taught classes at. Their beautiful dog started choking on a treat...and, well, you can watch and see what happens next.

I've been in animal care, behavior, general practice and emergency medicine in the veterinary field for over two decades. Sadly, it's not my first rodeo with choking and it likely won't be my last, however, the basic instinct and habit is there when I need.

So I IMPLORE pet owners to educate themselves on basic emergency care...so that you can buy time and get to a professional and further the care if needed.
One of the moments of memory, caught on video: (and shared with permission from owner).

Video shared with all parties' permission. This video was captured one of the internal camera systems at The Woof, where Julie was grabbing a quick meal befo...

12/23/2024

Wishing everyone Happy Howlidays!

11/26/2024

Reminders for Thanksgiving! Avoid expensive vet visits for tummy issues!

Thanksgiving is days away so we wanted to share these do's and don'ts for your dog during the big meal. If Rex gets into something he's not supposed to, here's the number for the Animal Poison Control Center: 855-764-7661.

10/29/2024

Don't have a lot of time to dedicate to an in-person class or lesson right now? Have we got a Howl-o-ween special for you!

Want your pup to start learning right away in your home environment and while going on your normal neighborhood walk routine?

We can help! We offer an online instructional video program that can help you cover all of the basics - and so much more - to help your dog get started on critical Life Skills, learn useful tricks, and show off the manners you've always wanted!

To learn more, visit:
https://trekkingdogtrainer.weebly.com/virtual-learning-programs-online.html

(Option 1 is our most popular program right now and on special!)

Enroll today and get your pup started on the Right Paw!

No special equipment required either...

10/16/2024

Alright, I have finished it! Who wants to enroll?!

Life Skills, Therapy Dog & Service Dog Starter Course
*** This program is offering more than ever before! ***
This program will help you develop a daily regimen of fun activities that also act as an educational program for critical Life Skills in order to get your dog started for Therapy or Service Dog work!
Some of the lesson included are:

Critical Life Skills, like: Come When Called, Loose Leash Skills, Quiet(no barking), Off(no jumping), even getting your dog to Cement their Stays! In addition, how to put all of these things together in real-world (not classroom) applications.

Enrichment Skills, like: Nose Work Challenges and even Rainy Day Games to play to get that energy out with great enrichment games to wear your pup out on those need-more-coffee days!

Tricks and Other Useful Behaviors, like: Having them wipe their paws while circling, Jumping for Joy, and even a Yappy Hour lesson!

Beginning some Service Dog Tasks, by choosing your desired: Alert behavior (Nudge, Chin, etc); Pressure Therapy (LPT(like Lap pressure), DPT (like Paws Up or Cover your body while laying down), Leaning Pressure while standing, etc); Interruption behavior (like for: anger, finger tapping, finger picking/chewing on nails, anxiety, self-harm, restlessness, night terrors, etc); crowd control/creating space in public behavior; and Mobility Assist behavior (like: brace, counter-balance, press, push, retrieve, and others); and a few others!

Explanatory Videos, like: Orientation video about our amazing 4-step program, how dogs learn, and the tips and tricks for SUCCESS! You will also learn about What are Markers, Continuers, NRMs, Verbal Corrections are...as well as Husbandry Tips for Petting without conflict, and so much more!

This program will help teach you how to get the best out of your dog while keeping it fun and rewarding for all species involved!

Enrollment is only $75 for over 45 video instructional lessons - that's less than $2/lesson - AND you'll get a myriad of handouts, extra tips and tricks, our Training Journal download, our recommended Vocabulary Term List...and more! The next course starts October 27th and if you enroll before October 25th, you will also receive an additional personalized video instructional of your choice (a $25 value)! Having trouble with one behavior in particular? This could be the best way to help problem solve and move forward!

We also offer the 5-behavior add-on package for Service Dog Tasks for $25 where you can pick 5 additional behaviors to receive instructional videos for if you want to teach your pup more Service Dog tasks.

Enroll today!

Contact / Enrollment Form at bottom of page! :-)

08/13/2024

I am so dang proud of this team! Leroy is a rescue dog evaluated and brought into the SBF program and paired with Larry with such an obvious connection from the beginning, is was easy to see they were meant for great things together!

They are one of my first teams that started when I did back in January and to have them share this real-world win with me recently (and the behind-the-scenes look into what a PTSD Service Dog can help with!) just warms my heart even more and makes me glow with pride, knowing how far they've come ...and the bright future ahead.

Life isn't a race to the finish line - it is finding the joy in the journey that matters. Dogs can help us start to heal from trauma in ways no human can sometimes.

They bring us back to the present...because that's what they really know. How to be PRESENT.

Larry & Leroy - You Got This! One more PAT test after the airport and on to Graduation!

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/dVv6GF6tHLpKRhAS/?mibextid=oFDknk

07/04/2024

Please remember all who fought, died, and those who live with the scars and memories of fighting still to maintain while you celebrate your freedom - today, tomorrow, and every day.

I wish everyone a safe and Happy 4th of July and extended weekend.

A fav memory of my Guinness...

06/26/2024

Real-world application in the link below. As a CVT, I have performed the Heimlich many times, but this one happened to be caught on the daycare CCTV camera where I was training dogs and they allowed me to record the footage to share. Right place, right time.

https://youtu.be/wr75G_0B_lM?si=hH29tlzyrZpge2tW

06/25/2024

As fireworks start for 4th of July here, I am focusing on Alleviating Fear this week and some things you can do to help your pets!

Phone Consults are only $40 to personalize your program and get you started, but here's a good info graphic to start on also.

Remember: Fear is an involuntary response and you can't "reinforce" it. You can definitely help counter condition some of the responses, but I highly suggest you throw out the notion that being there and assuring your dog is wrong.

You can't reinforce fear by comforting for pet.

My dogs still startle at some things. We had Storms AND Fireworks last night...and I had a few head lifts, but snuggles closer and back to sleep they went.

Sometimes, pups may need help via medications for higher level fears, but a healthy relationship is having your dog SEEK YOU OUT to help them.

I've seen and helped with far too many dogs who panic and run AWAY from places that should be safe. I help pet parents teach their dogs trust and the "run to me for help" behaviors that can be life-saving.

Want to learn more? Let's setup a Phone Consult!

Find our contact form at:
Www.trekkingdogtrainer.com

06/24/2024

Is your dog scared of fireworks?! NOW is the time to request helpful medications (NOT Acepromazine!!!) from your vet and start behavior modification protocols ...and I can help! Don't wait until July 3rd! Call me today and setup your Noise Phobia Phone Consultation! $40 for the entire phone consult and lots of great information and ideas to help your pup be as stress-free as possible!
*New Phone Number*
602-463-5472
[email protected]

06/23/2024

Due to the recent loss of my last phone into a pool, there has been no way to recover what was lost and they could not transfer the number, so I lost that also, with all of my contacts.

I am working on the updating contacts using my calendar (which was backed up, thank goodness!), but this is a slower process and with the daily schedule, will take some time. So, if you have been trying to reach me, please reach out via Messenger or through the website Contact form:

https://trekkingdogtrainer.weebly.com/contact.html

Thank you for your patience and we look forward to training again with you soon!

06/21/2024

I'm sorry...I HAVE to share the off-duty pictures sometimes also! :-D

And, nope, I don't change...and STILL don't act my age... I've never been this old before!:-D

06/20/2024

Earlier this week, Julie's phone went for a swim instead of staying on dry land and, sadly, fried. All data was lost (the auto-updates to Cloud were apparently not updating from internal storage for several months), so all of our Trekking Dog media and student contact information was also lost.
We are sending out an e-mail blast to our current students, but if you have sent us a text or left a voicemail without a response, please comment, message us here or send an e-mail to: [email protected]. We apologize for any delays and thank you for your understanding. Technology is wonderful...but sometimes frustrating for those of us not as technologically-inclined.