Professional Dog Trainer based in central Maine, U.S. Virtual sessions available. Central Maine and virtual sessions.
Training for shelters, rescues, foster groups and vet staff in person and on line. KPA CTP certification #67518
Anthrozoology MSc
Wag It Games Instructor, Certified Trick Dog Instructor, Puppy Start Right Instructor
Offering workshops to Vet Staff, Shelter Staff, Rescue Groups and Student Groups. Building positive relationships and problem solving with dogs through tricks, games, play and cooperative care.
12/31/2025
Thinking about using food toys?
🧡Peanut butter in a Kong on occasion may be a perfect treat but let's go beyond that.
💚If your dog really likes food toys, like Kongs try putting their food in the Kong or adding safe treats. As long as you know how much food is in it you may use the toy like a bowl.
💙If you hate washing Kongs, try lick mats, Toppls or other shapes that are easier to clean.
These really need to be cleaned between use. I have known dogs to get really sick from eating out of moldy food toys.
💛If you want to use the food toy to keep your dog busy when guests come over you will need to feed out of food toys at other times too, otherwise your food toy may work as an alarm to tell them that a guest is arriving soon. Depending on your dog this predictor may come with big feelings.
❤️Personally I would never use food toys if I had to fill them individually. If you can, collect them.
12/29/2025
We ask questions here.
Quote: And notice I said "question." I didn't say "command." I didn't say tell your dog to focus on you and breathe before doing anything else. I said to ask if he can. If the answer is no, your dog is not wrong about anything. You asked a yes/no question, and you got an answer. That answer helps you tweak your training plan until you get a different answer-that's conversational training!
If the answer is no change the environment.
Control Unleashed: Reactive To Relaxed
Leslie McDevitt
12/28/2025
We had a guest dog visit last week. She was a puppy client and I haven't seen her in a few years.
Five dogs in the house and we had no issues.
Here's somethings that we did to keep a 5 dog house problem free:
💙When she got here I took her for a sniffy walk.
by herself.
🤍She met one dog at a time outside and then slowly met as a group.
💚After the initial greeting we separated the dogs with gates for a nap time.
❤️Dogs were separated as food was prepared and when they ate.
💜We provided extra beds and comfy spots.
🧡If not monitored they were separated.
💛Always monitored while in the fenced in yard.
🩵Always separated when they had high value treats.
12/27/2025
Meeting a young dog's needs can be challenging for a variety of reasons. Some of our students possess rose-tinted memories of a former beloved dog and conveniently forget those early months when that dog was a puppy or exuberant adolescent. Some owners simply lack understanding of a dog's complete needs and mistake over-activity and a lack of manners for deliberate disobedience (neighbor Joe is guilty of this one). Unfortunately, in this day and age, a considerable number of people lack sufficient time or resources for a dog and have failed to account for the changes in their lifestyle and routines that a dog naturally requires.
Dog Smart
Linda Case
12/26/2025
Between Christmas and New Year's is one of the times of the year that dog trainers get calls about dog bites.
Why?
Dogs may be stressed by being in unfamiliar houses, having unfamiliar guests over, like other dogs or kids.
There may be lots of food smells in the air, spaces may feel crowded. Dogs may be getting treats either from the floor or from people. Dogs that don't typically live together may be asked to eat in the same area which may cause conflict.
How can you avoid possible issues?
Feed dogs in separate areas, like in crates, behind gates or different rooms.
For some dogs it is best to prep food with dogs out of the kitchen and away from the yummy smells.
If unfamiliar dogs are suddenly staying together, be sure to allow some rest and quiet time. This may be sleeping in separate areas, taking separate walks, naps and eating in separate areas.
For some dogs it will be best to have a designated spot for them during gatherings, especially where food is involved.
Personally I hope to never receive another call about dog bites or dog fights that occurred around or under the table.
Oftentimes people will say the dog bit or fought "out of the blue" but here are a few situations that I have been told about:
Dogs that don't normally live together near a table, food fell on the floor.
Dog napping and kids playing on the dog bed.
Dog napping and other dogs begin wrestling nearby.
Dog food is being put in the bowls.
Dogs getting high value treats next to each other.
Dogs waiting at the dog bowl for food and people try petting the dog while they wait at the bowl.
I recommend avoiding dog day cares or boarding facilities that feed all the dogs in an open area and allow the dogs to "work it out" or rely on yelling at the dogs to try to keep them out of each other's food bowls or treats.
If they don't know to separate them they should not be in the care of your dog.
Experienced a dog fight or bite?
First, make sure everyone is OK. Dog bites can be very serious and should be seen by a professional.
Calm down. Now is not the time to try to get your dog to a boot camp. There are people waiting to grab your money when you are feeling your lowest.
12/24/2025
Ever taken your dog on a large ferry?
You may need to prepare them in advance and make a plan.
Some, like the overnight ferry to Newfoundland will require the dog to stay in the car for the duration of the trip or they must go to a kennel room. If you opt to leave them in the car, you cannot stay with them or visit them until the trip is complete.
On others, like the one to Grand Mannan (in the video) you have two options, 1. Leave them in the car for the duration. You cannot stay with them and you cannot go back to your vehicle until the trip is complete. Or 2. You can take the dogs to a dog friendly room on the top deck. This will require traversing several flights of metal steps that have holes in the steps. Most dogs are not going to comfortably be able to walk up and down these steep steps without some work in advance.
Traveling by ferry with your dog can be fun but it is best to plan ahead and know before you go.
I have found the ferry websites are incomplete and don't tell me what I need to know to help my dog. I have found the two most helpful ways to learn what my dog will need before we leave is, ask friends and watch videos on YouTube that show the ferry.
Are you planning to travel with your dog in 2026?
Start planning now to teach them comfortable crate travel, traveling by car, stairs, glass doors, crowds, etc.
I love helping people prepare their dog for travel.
12/23/2025
You may call it a trick but in fact it may be a critical life skill.
I think it's a "trick" until we know how valuable it can truly be.
It may be what gives them comfort and information. It may help guide them, help keep them safe in a critical moment.
It's what you can call on to prevent problems. It's helpful at the vet's or for medical care.
It may look like sitting on a mat, putting paws up on a chair, stationing on a platform, lying on their side or putting their head in a cone.
Cute? Yes. Silly? Possibly. A life skill? Very likely.
But sure. call it a "trick". 💚
12/22/2025
Forgetting happens in training! For humans and dogs.
You have to practice what you want to keep.
The other day I realized that Robin and I don't use a bow on verbal cue very often and that's probably why when I said "bow" he did a rapid down, stand, spin motion (How to say, "I'm confused" in dog).
Did I repeat "BOW BOW BOW BOW!!!!"
No.
I realized that we haven't done it in a very long time. Went back to a lure, a hand signal and then the verbal cue.
It didn't take much time.
If your dog says they forgot, believe them and then go back to level 1. You can probably progress quite quickly through the basic steps when this happens.
12/21/2025
Nina is nearly 15.
She still gets FOMO and enjoys chewing on chews treats like bully sticks.
BUT some early mornings when the other dogs have their morning chew she is still a bit sleepy. I think she'd prefer to stay in bed but comes downstairs to see who is getting what.
She still seems a bit sleepy and not ready to chew. If I give her a chew treat she often opts out if it's too early.
As an alternative we swapped to a licking treat vs chew treat on some days.
This is a good alternative that works for her.
I hope at nearly 15 years old this is a nice way to slowly wake up.
We typically use Kongs but have recently been using the Woof Pupsicle which I have found she can get a good of the toy and hold it comfortably without it rolling away.
12/20/2025
A number of beloved dogs passed away this year.
Some joined us over the years in group classes, private lessons in person and online and some joined us for walks in the woods and the park.
Your love and loss is seen and felt.
Thinking of everyone struggling with the grief and loss.
Whether you lost them a week ago or a year or three ago the loss is real.
They were never "just a dog".
12/19/2025
Getting a puppy? There will be days like this.
You basically need to become a homeschool puppy kindergarten teacher. Days are filled with gentle socialization, naps, puppy age activities and training, chews, more potty breaks, naps and the requirement of slip on shoes.
Remember that days of sleep deprivation and puppy woes may happen.
It's not all cute Instagram videos and puppy snuggles.
It's really a lot of potty breaks and chewing.
Photo is from a few years ago when Robin was just a few months old and while teething he went through a bout of extra chewing and irregular sleep cycle. Therefore I went through a bout of bed head. 😂
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Group Classes, Private Lessons and Play and Train dog walks available.
Working with dogs, cats, small “pocket” pets and more.
Talks and workshops offered for vet clinics, humane societies, sanctuaries, rehab centers, pet stores (selling small animals) and more. Topics include enrichment, husbandry, animal care training and more.
KPA-CTP certified trainer.
Fear Free Certified.
Wag It Games Instructor, Certified Trick Dog Instructor, Puppy Start Right classes, Dog Parkour, Behavior consultations and modification, Games, Enrichment and more.
Offering Dog body language and Dog Bite Prevention workshops to adult and student groups.
Pet Professional Guild member and certified in Pet First Aid.
Serving the Waterville, Skowhegan, Pittsfield, Unity area.
Building positive relationships and problem solving with dogs through tricks, games, play and more.
Saturday Morning and Wednesday Evening classes held in Pittsfield.
Friday morning Classes held at Waterville Pet Quarters .
Find out more about protecting wild carnivores here: http://farmingwithcarnivoresnetwork.com/
Project Trade:
How Would You Like to Trade Your Old Dog Training Equipment for Great Discounts?
We want to swap great discounts on our most popular services FOR your choke, prong or shock collars or any other qualifying pet gear. By participating in “Project tRade” you can earn up to 15% off our most popular services simply by giving us old pet gear* you have laying around. It couldn’t be easier!
What is “Project tRade”?
Project tRade is the Pet Professional Guild's (PPG) international advocacy program that promotes the use of force-free pet training equipment by asking pet guardians to swap choke, prong and shock collars (and any other devices that are designed to change behavior through pain or fear). Because we want all pets and their guardians to experience the huge advantages and long-lasting effectiveness of force-free training and pet care, we will give you great discounts on our most popular, effective, fun and pain-free training and pet care services in exchange for your old gear.
