Training Your Best Friend LLC

01/23/2025

I cannot tell you how much I appreciate the kind words and support I have received. This morning I am weak as water. I have completed nearly all the details for the funeral. Today I am taking his suit that I purchased to Roxboro . My heart is heavy and the pain is overwhelming. I am missing a part of me. I love my brother so very much.

I want to thank everyone for your kindness, love and support. A special thank you to family, friends that stepped to be pallbearers, for the phone calls, the gifts, food. I am truly humbled and beyond grateful! Your love means the world to me.

I look forward to seeing those of you that can make to the funeral. I

A photo of the past when Glenn was staying with me at my apartment in Raleigh.

01/22/2025

My sweet precious brother. I would like to invite anyone interested in joining the family for dinner at the Homestead Restaurant immediately following burial services.

I love you forever Glenn! My Angel.

Share memories & support the family

01/21/2025

I want to thank everyone for your kind words and support. I am currently working on detsiks for my brothe”s funeral . This is so hard but God is with me. I have a prayerful but unusual request. I don”t have immediate family. I am need three pall bearers. I am looking at Saturday for date of service at Stricklands & Jones funeral home in Roxboro. If any of my friends on Facebook, school mates and clients can step in. I would greatly appreciate your kindness

01/20/2025

This is so difficult to write. Bear with me. My precious brother & Angel on earth went to Heaven last night. He is now in the arms of Jesus and celebrating with Mama, Daddy & Grandma. The best brother in the world! My heart is forever broken. I will be bringing Glenn back home to Roxboro. Funeral arrangement to be announced.

01/16/2025

A photo from years ago when I lived in an apartment in Raleigh. This may have been from 2003 - the year we lost Daddy. I used to bring my brother home for Thanksgivings & Christmas to spend several weeks with me. We had a blast. I enjoyed taking care of him as well as spoiling him. I believe at this time he shared an apartment with another man. He was still under a group home foundation, but he qualified to live independently and worked part time at Hardees as well at a workshop making things for a factor. I was very proud and happy that he had the opportunity to live independently.

Glenn's childlike pureness of joy and perception of life makes it warm, sweet, fun experience to be with him. I loved seeing him get excited over various things. It could be anything from receiving a small gift, getting a special drink from Starbucks to going out to dinner with my friends and to a movie. I took him everywhere. He even helped me cleaned homes when I had a cleaning business. He absolutely loved watching me train dogs& got a kick out of going with me to pet sit for my clients. My clients loved him. I remember one specific year -I had a Christmas party and invited a few clients & friends over. Glenn was so over the moon excited. He could hardly sleep the night before. When guests arrived- he would greet them at the door, take their coats and carry them to the bedroom. There he would lay them in order.

Later when my guests were leaving, he would get their coats and assist them with putting them on. He got lots of hugs and compliments for his upscale manners. During the party, I prepared the drinks, Glenn couldn't wait to carry their drinks to each guest. I love him so much!! I remember thinking I wished everyone could be as kind, giving and innocent at times as he is. I have learned so much from having a brother like him.

Tonight, I drove home crying my eyes out. I hated to leave him. It is so hard telling goodbye. I have a doctor's appointment in the morning. I am going back tomorrow. I have not been on face book. I am busy with caring for him as well as trying to take care of myself, John and my precious babies.

Our time together on this earth is drawing near. I had a long discussion with the Doctor night before last. It is breaking my heart to see him so weak and this sick. I am grateful that I do have this opportunity to be with him. Although he can no longer speak to me - He knows I am there. He can hear me and feel my touch. I love on him, sing to him, and tell him how much I love him; what he means to me that I am so happy he is my brother. I talk about the great times we've had together- how much he was loved by my parents and My Grandmother. He definitely was her favorite.

I have always been protective of my brother. He is special to me. These are the final days that I have left to spend with him. I plan to spend the night with him tomorrow & every night thereafter. I will be with Glenn until God brings him home. Even equally important- I want my brother to know how much he means to me, that his life matters and has mattered from the time he entered this world. I am honored and privileged to his little sister. We may not have anyone left in our immediate family, but we have each other.

Thank you everyone for your kind words and support. It means a lot. Please continue to pray for us.

01/10/2025

This needs to be recognised for what it is....a very BIG issue, but it isn't addressed as much as other forms of reactivity (or even viewed by some as a reactive behaviour)‼️
Of course it is ok for a dog to be excited at meeting another ✅ but it pays to be aware of the habit that is being created here.
This can 💯% be the start of a very big issue called reactivity and continually allowing a dog to drag you towards another dog or having a dog bark, yelp, spin, screech and dig in... dragging you to meet another dog, can be a VERY damaging behavioural issue, even if many people view this as a dog just being happy.
This habit will continue.
It can get a whole lot worse.
If you are new to a reactive dog or have this issue, you may find the videos in the comments helpful, there will be one there about lowering excitement before a walk even begins which is crucial for dogs that have over excited reactivity.
This dog training handout is available abcdogsnz.com

01/08/2025

One of my favorite and sentinel photos of my brother Glenn and me. I am asking for your prayers.our time together on this earth is drawing near. My heart is breaking into a millions of pieces. My angel and hero - I love brother

01/08/2025

What isn't talked about often enough is timing and how we can inadvertently cause some very real issues with rewarding.
Training ❓
Have rewards with you ? Great ✅
How you use them is KEY.
Common issues are rewarding a behaviour you may like but they are jumping or pawing for the reward.
You could have rewarded the jumping and pawing...and that can be repeated.
Rewarding walking beside you but from the opposite hand which causes a dog to cross over in front of you.
You could have rewarded crossing or walking in front of you....and that can be repeated.
Only reward the behaviour you want (or the smaller steps towards that behaviour).

Be clear when rewarding, because what is rewarded WILL be repeated and you may not like what you have accidentally caused your dog to repeat
This dog training graphic is available abcdogsnz.com

01/06/2025

01/06/2025

What temperature is too cold for dogs? ❄️

01/02/2025

(Graphic by JDevraney) - sniffing is such an important activity for dogs!

01/02/2025

There is a "dirty little secret" some trainers keep suggesting.....and it is entirely unfair and an underhanded tactic.
Social media is full of "5 minute fixes".
"Obedience" will cure reactivity. Great ! Let's make a dog sit in front of a trigger ❌
The reality is reactivity is hard work, and if you have a reactive dog you know this!
It doesn't mean you can't make vast improvements and for some dogs they really CAN kiss their reactive days goodbye.
BUT, it takes time.
It takes dedication.
I have always said if reactivity was as "simple" as a sit, down or stay....there would be NO reactive dogs, none.
There are NO five minute fixes for reactivity.
Are there hints and tips and ways to look at things differently to make big improvements ? ABSOLUTELY !
I love working with reactive dogs, while there is never one way to help every reactive dog (as it is uniquely individual) there are things you can do to make a huge improvement. Videos are in the comments if you feel you are banging your head against the wall trying to help your dogs reactivity.
This handout is available abcdogsnz.com

12/27/2024

ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS ….

Not just for Christmas, but every day of a dog’s life – these are some of the things I believe dogs would want -

Gifts of love, kindness, compassion, understanding and knowledge.

Gifts of helping them feel safe, secure and protected in their environment

Gifts of unconditional love, second chances and a forever home

Gifts of allowing appropriate choices

Gifts of mental and physical stimulation.

Gifts of proper nutrition and health care.

Gifts of never using punishment, force, fear, intimidation or tools that cause pain.

Gifts of acceptance for the dog that they are.

Wishing you and dog’s everywhere a very Happy Christmas filled with the gifts that really matter!

12/26/2024

I have an important announcement that I want to share. Several days ago, I posted on my face book page regarding January Classes. In case you missed it, I want to let you know why I have been absent on social media and unavailable to take phone calls. I will keep this brief.

My brother - (pictured with me from a Christmas past) is critically ill. Much of my time have been spent at the hospital over the past three weeks.

I nearly lost him but to God's Amazing Grace he is still with me and striving to recover. MY Christmas Miracle is that he woke up after weeks of being unconscious. He was given very little hope. I did not give up nor did he. The Doctors at UNC Chapel Hill Hospital and I are working very closely together. There are many decisions to made along the way.

I am taking time off from training to be with my sweet brother to care for his needs. He is my only living relative but more importantly he is my brother, my family & I love him with all my heart! I am trusting God for strength and guidance to help me. I want to glorify him for the grace he has given.

I ask for your understanding as I step away from what I love to do most! As much as I love training and helping dogs and their families - My brother needs me more.

I will make an official announcement of when I will return. Your prayers are much appreciated.

12/26/2024

There is so much happening at this time of year🍾🎄
Decompression is vital for ALL dogs at this time of year, but especially reactive dogs.💥
✅Have a plan and prepare for those unexpected visitors. They aren't really that unexpected at this time of year.
✅Prepare what you need in advance.
✅Make sure everyone in the family knows how to advocate for your dog.
✅Have a chat to visitors about how they shouldn't or should interact with your dog....be proactive and send a text before they arrive.
✅Trigger stacking is a very real possibility with all that happens during Christmas and New Year.
✅Use your dogs safe place and ensure everyone leaves your dog in peace when they are there. This is especially important when children are visiting.
❌A child or even multiple children can visit with adults during this holiday season....this is not the time to test if your reactive dog (or even non reactive dog) is ok around children.
❌Forcing dogs into social situations can be incredibly stressful and dogs may react in ways we don't expect.

Christmas can be very stressful for our dogs (and for us!), we may be so caught up in our activities and festivities that we may not realise the effect these busy times can have on our dogs.
Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a safe holiday season.
These dog training posters are available through abcdogsnz.com

12/21/2024

🎄"Out of the blue" incidents occur at this time of year and there is a lot more stress for our dogs (yes... stress can also be from positive experiences).
This holiday season dogs will be communicating with us.
We need to start to hear what they are saying.
Is that sudden "goofy" behaviour around the visitors from being happy, over excited or fear?
YOU know you are about to have many visitors, noise, children and maybe another dog visit the house....dogs do not and suddenly their quiet home is now loud, exciting and even scary for some.
Be prepared and have an action plan if you start to recognise your dog is starting to show signs they may be uncomfortable around what is happening in their own home.
They need supervision at this time of year, they need check ins from you and we need to help them when we see there is a possible emotional escalation happening.
These are certainly not all communication signals dogs give us....but this is a great start to help us recognise some new ones they may show at this time of year that we may have never seen before.
This dog training handout is available through abcdogsnz.com

12/18/2024

This is an excellent post . Hit the nail on the head. We need to think and our dogs needs and wants first.