Fostering healthy human-animal relationships through certified professional behavioral services
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If you have Netflix, I highly recommend checking out “Inside the Mind of a Dog”!
Great way to learn about what goes on in a dog’s brain, how they learn and how to recognize your dog’s personality, needs and limitations.
Have to admit it made me a little emotional. I SO wish I had followed a more “behavioral research” path, behavior is so cool!
This past weekend, these wonderful teams of pups and their humans completed Level 1 Skills. 🏅
Congratulations to Henry, Archer, Luna and Patch on graduation! 🎓
Not only did they graduate from Level 1 but they were all interested in continuing their learning in Level 2 Skills and we will be starting that class in September!
Huge shout out to Pamela Kneass at The Animal Resource Cooperation for allowing us to use the space and being open to more classes!
We are ALSO trying to put together another Level 1 class for anyone interested. Classes would be held on Sundays beginning 9/8 in Hamburg, PA.
Contact me at [email protected] if you’re interested in joining Level 1 in September.
Thank you— truly, thank you to each and every one of you who has supported Ashley’s Animal Academy over the past 8 years. Whether it was sharing my info with family and friends, sharing a social media post, following my page, writing a good review or using my services, the support did not go unnoticed.
This hasn’t been easy, but if I’ve learned anything as an adult it’s that it’s OK to walk away from things that no longer benefit you.
Ashley’s Animal Academy had a good run. It kept me employed for my 20s and led me to so many amazing people and pets and many lifelong friends. I do not take that for granted. I truly had the ability to live my dream for the past 8 years.
But it’s time to focus on a new dream and figure out who I am outside of being a “business owner” or a “dog trainer”.
There is so much more that I want to say, but I’m not sure I have the words.
But truly, thank you. ❤️
I hope to see updates of your pups and keep in touch and who knows, maybe one day I’ll be back ❤️
Wednesday on a Wednesday— how perfect! ❤️
Happy boy Pippin!
Happy Memorial Day! 🇺🇸
Don’t forget to practice safety during your Memorial Day festivities today.
Keep food out of reach of doggie noses, keep an eye on temperatures and keep gates locked and leashes on during fireworks!
Have a wonderful and safe holiday 🇺🇸
Negan celebrated Memorial Day a day early with a dip in the lake! 🇺🇸
Have I mentioned how proud I am of Sully?
A little over a year ago, he was intensely reactive and overstimulated on our walks more often than not.
Over the last year, we prioritized his mental health by keeping him under threshold during walks and also practicing calm behaviors around triggers and LOOK AT HIM NOW! A year ago, we would have avoided a busy park because it would have sent him into a reactive headspace.
Reactivity is a journey and it is not a linear one.
You will have good days and not so good days.
But it’s these little moments that make the journey worth it! ❤️
I LOVE this!
What color is your cat?
5/31 AVAILABLE NOW! :)
Coming soon - a new 18x24"poster of cat coat colors and patterns! What colors are your kitties? We have a longhaired black cat with a white locket, and a gray and white tuxedo cat.
Sniffs with Shelby Sue ❤️
Brownie practiced some informal “place” exercises during her last enrichment hike.
Brownie is very excitable pup and has a tendency to get overstimulated easily, so practicing place is a good way to focus her energy and get her brain working!
Such a good girl!
Miss Juno got to go on an enrichment hike with me yesterday!
Juno is 6 months old and has reached her “second fear period” so we spent a ton of time investigating new things and working through uncertainty.
She was such a good girl! ❤️
Have you heard?
I am now taking registrations for group classes beginning 6/23 at The Animal Resource Cooperation in Hamburg, PA.
4 week classes= $100
6 week classes = $150
I need AT LEAST 7 more registrations to run this upcoming session— let’s get the word out!
Register here: https://AshleysAnimalAcademyLLC.as.me/?template=class
Sully here, to remind you that sniffing and exploring can really build confidence and help with your dog’s mental health!
Sully has really come such a long way with his walks. His family has done an excellent job working through his reactivity, keeping his brain busy with fun training and helping him find his calm!
Pippin was such a good boy during his last enrichment hike!
Although he can be reactive to other dogs on walks, we saw THREE and he stayed calm and didn’t react to any of them! He also got several compliments from passerby’s on his good behavior 👏🏻
Sometimes cloudy/rainy days are the best days to go for a hike!
Less distractions, less people, cooler temps and more smells!
Jenna here agrees!
Shelby wants to remind you that sometimes the path “most travelled” is also the path “most boring”.
Don’t be afraid to let your dog’s nose lead the way occasionally and take you off the beaten path (if it’s safe to do so!)
Your dog will thank you! ⭐️
Got to spend a few evenings walking this pretty lady (and I’ll see her again next week!).
Sky is such a sweetie and was so well behaved on her walks ❤️
Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms out there— human or animal babies, you make the world go round! ❤️
May 8th is
Do you have a plan for your pet if a disaster struck? If not, now may be a good time to consider one!
Here are some things you may want to consider adding to your “disaster kit”!
‼️ Availability Alert ‼️
I am opening up 2 more days of availability in May for enrichment walks and nail trims:
5/19 10am-6pm
5/25 10am-6pm
Message me to schedule!
Happy Cinco de Mayo! 🪇
Cinco de Mayo has been a celebration of Mexican-American culture since 1862. To celebrate today, let’s highlight some animals hailing from Mexico!
Can you guess them all?
Put your guesses in the comments!
Hope everyone had a great “Star Wars Day”!
Darth Pippin and General Negan both enjoyed an enrichment walk today 🚀
Would you consider your pet a Jedi or a Sith? ⬇️
Brownie had a blast on her first enrichment walk today!
She got tons of sniffs in, but also worked on some neutral socialization around people and loud noises.
What’s that? ❓
Neutral socialization is all about teaching pups how to be calm and “neutral” to the stimuli around them. Practicing neutral socialization helps dogs disengage from triggers and enjoy “being a dog” without being overstimulated or reactive.
☀️Last chance to get on my schedule for May☀️
The following dates are STILL OPEN for enrichment walks and nail trims (or both!)
5/1: 11:30, 1:00
5/4: 2:30, 4:00
5/13: 3:30
5/20: 2:30
5/22: 10:00 OR 11:00
First day of “swim season”!
Negan loves the water 💦
Due to limited spots remaining, I’m no longer accepting new clients for private in-home appointments as I am uncertain of availability after May and would be unable to commit to long term support.
However, if I’ve worked with you before and you need a follow up OR if you want your dog to get out for some physical activity/sniff time, those opportunities are still open!
Only about 14 appointment spots left!
Grab one before they fill up!
Reading, PA
19601
| Monday | 9am - 5pm |
| Tuesday | 9am - 5pm |
| Wednesday | 9am - 5pm |
| Thursday | 9am - 5pm |
| Friday | 9am - 5pm |
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Have I mentioned how proud I am of Sully? A little over a year ago, he was intensely reactive and overstimulated on our walks more often than not. Over the last year, we prioritized his mental health by keeping him under threshold during walks and also practicing calm behaviors around triggers and LOOK AT HIM NOW! A year ago, we would have avoided a busy park because it would have sent him into a reactive headspace. Reactivity is a journey and it is not a linear one. You will have good days and not so good days. But it’s these little moments that make the journey worth it! ❤️
Group classes begin in just NINE days! 🎉 Today I am highlighting all of the enrichment classes that will be offered as a fun outlet for you and your dog. To pre-register for any upcoming class, click here: https://AshleysAnimalAcademyLLC.as.me/?appointmentType=category:Group%20Sessions
Today’s featured class is: Level 2! Is this the right class for you? Watch to find out! Pre-register for ANY of the upcoming group classes here: https://AshleysAnimalAcademyLLC.as.me/?appointmentType=category:Group%20Sessions
Today’s class highlight is: Level 1! Is this the right class for you? Watch to find out. Pre-register for ANY of the upcoming group classes here: https://AshleysAnimalAcademyLLC.as.me/?appointmentType=category:Group%20Sessions
Group classes start in just a few weeks! For the last days of February, I will be highlighting one class each day to hopefully answer any questions and help you decide which class is best for you and your pup! To pre-register for ANY of the upcoming classes click here: https://AshleysAnimalAcademyLLC.as.me/?appointmentType=category:Group%20Sessions
This is a bit long, but I am passionate! In this video I talk a bit about my growth as a dog trainer and how I went from Traditional to Balanced to Science Based training (remember the differences?). Please keep in mind that I am not judging anyone who chooses to use a different method or has previously used a different method— remember I did too! I’d be happy to answer questions in the comments! ⬇️
If you’ve trained with me, you will be familiar with the concept of “doing nothing”. This is a great, low stress way to desensitize and habituate your dog to new environments as well as help them self-regulate, focus and engage with you. Have you practiced this with your pet? ⬇️
So long 2023! I don’t know about you guys, but I am SO ready to say goodbye to 2023. If you’ve been following for a while, you know this year was pretty tough. We had to say goodbye to some wonderful people and completely change our service offerings. It wasn’t ALL bad though, and I found some highlights for the yearly recap! Is your pet featured? Have a safe and happy celebration tonight everyone!!
Do you have any unpopular dog training (or dog owning) opinions? Share them below ⬇️
The holidays are coming up and many people may be considering a puppy for the family. Be responsible when looking for puppies and do NOT purchase from a store or “backyard breeder”. Adopt OR shop responsibly! ❤️ All video credit to @adoptingdogs on TikTok
I LOVE enrichment walks! ❤️ Enrichment walks are a great way for dogs to: 🐾Get a little physical activity 🐾Calmly socialize to new environments 🐾 Sniff until their heart’s content 🐾Practice good leash manners 🐾Use their brain 🐾Reduce anxiety & stress 🐾and more!! Could your dog benefit from an enrichment walk with a certified trainer? Let me know, or book below! https://AshleysAnimalAcademyLLC.as.me/?appointmentType=52121433
Halloween is just around the corner… are your pets ready for the spooky holiday? Read on for 3 Safety Tips for a safe Halloween! 🎃👻 Is your pet “spooked” on non-spooky days too? Call us to work on their socialization and desensitization.
Look at Raiden after ONE session working through his crate anxiety! He’s already spending more time in there in a relaxed state, when only yesterday he struggled to go in on his own. What a good boy! ❤️
October 1-7 is National Walk Your Dog Week! Is your dog reactive on walks? Keep in mind that reactivity is ALWAYS a symptom of big emotions. It does not mean your dog is “broken” or that they shouldn’t go out on walks. To truly solve reactivity, you must first solve the emotional response to the trigger! If your dog is reactive and you need assistance, reach out to schedule training today.
October 1-7 is National Walk Your Dog Week! Have you heard of a “sniffari”? Sniffaris are a great way to enrich your dog’s brain and allow them to practice normal dog behavior! They are low stress and a lot of fun for you and your dog!
October 1-7 is National Walk Your Dog Month! Walking your dog has SO many physical and mental benefits! From a behavioral perspective, walking can: 🐾Reduce stress 🐾Encourage healthy socialization 🐾Enrich the brain 🐾Reduce naughty behaviors If dog walking is stressful for YOU, reach out today to learn how to make them more fun!
Happy International Rabbit Day! 🐰 Rabbits can make great pets for committed and educated individuals! Did you know Ashley’s Animal Academy, LLC provides training services for rabbits? We can help socialize, bond or enrich your bunny’s life! Schedule with us today!
We have reached our quota for in person training, but our virtual books are open. If you have any questions on how virtual training works, and what dogs benefit from virtual training this is the podcast for you! #VirtualTraining #Training #Podcast #VirtualTrainingPodcast #DogTrainer #Trainer
Want to play a game of frisbee!? 🐶🐾👍 #Frisbee #Dog #Doggo #Doggy #FrisbeeGame #Fetch #DogLife
"You can't train a cat!" 🐱🧐 #CatTraining #AnimalTraining #Training #Trainer #AnimalTrainer #Cat #Caturday #ItsCaturday #TrainingACat #GinzoTheCat #Tiktok #TiktokCat #tiktokcatvideo Check out our TikTok page: www.tiktok.com/@ashleysanimalacademy
