Hart 4 Paws Dog Training

12/02/2025

Obedience & “Polite Pup” Class Starting Just in Time for the Holidays 🎄🐶

If you’d love a more polite pup before the holiday chaos begins, I’ve got a fun option for you.

I’m offering a small-group Obedience & Polite Pup class starting right before the holidays here.
We’ll focus on:
• Calm greetings instead of jumping on guests
• Walking nicely on leash (even with distractions)
• “Leave it” around dropped food, décor, and gifts
• Settling on a mat while you cook, eat, or visit with family
• Basic manners like sit, down, stay, and coming when called

Classes are positive, reward-based, and family-friendly—perfect for dogs who need a refresher or pups learning their manners for the first time.

📍 Local indoor space (no worrying about weather)
👥 Small class size for personal attention
🗓 Saturday, Dec. 6th at 10:00 am
Connection Center

Let’s help your dog be the polite pup everyone loves having around this season. ❤️🐾

11/28/2025

Thanksgiving checklist:
✔️ 4 dogs—wrangled
✔️ 6 kids—semi-contained
✔️ Tolerated 1 cat
✔️ Adults—too many to keep track of
✔️ Nicki and Sterling —COMPLETELY DONE Thanksgiving is a lot of work. 😆🧡🦃
Nicki thinks she deserves a comfy chair.

10/22/2025

Looking for Spanish Springs Puppy Classes? Want to help your pesky puppy become a perfect citizen? Join our puppy classes where we focus on socialization through group play and building confidence. We'll also teach you all about manners and obedience. Plus, we'll share some valuable tips for potty training, puppy nipping, and chewing. Don't miss out on this opportunity to give your furry friend the best start in life! Sign-up at https://canineconnectioncenter.com
or email me with questions at [email protected]

Canine Connection Center is a place where trainers and owners meet for training dogs and educating their people. Located in Sparks, Spanish Springs, Nevada.

10/09/2025

🐾 Why do trainers offer different classes for each stage?
Because dogs learn best when we meet them where they are — not just by age, but by development. 💛

It’s not just about “Puppy 1, 2, and 3.”
Each class is designed around where your dog is developmentally — socially, emotionally, and behaviorally.

Just like children, dogs go through phases that shape how they learn and respond to the world. A 10-week-old puppy’s brain is soaking in early experiences, while a 10-month-old adolescent is testing boundaries and building confidence.
Each stage deserves its own kind of guidance and support.
Think of puppy development like building a house:
8-16 weeks: Laying the foundation. Everything they experience now becomes the blueprint for how they see the world. That’s why one bad experience can have lasting effects.

4-6 months: Building the frame. They’re figuring out basic structures — what’s safe, what’s scary, how their world works. Expect some wobbles as they test boundaries.

6-12 months: The teenage renovation. Just when you thought the structure was solid, they start knocking down walls and questioning everything. Hormones are rewiring their brain.

12-18 months: Final touches. Most dogs are settling into their adult personality, though some take until 2-3 years to fully mature.

This season’s puppies face unique challenges: holiday stress, weather changes, less daylight for socialization.
I offer classes for each of these stages.

But here’s something important to remember…
It’s never too late to start training.
If you’ve adopted an older dog or missed those early foundation stages, you haven’t missed your chance.
Every dog is an individual — they learn, adapt, and grow at their own pace. Not all dogs follow the “book,” and that’s what makes every training journey unique and special. 🐶

10/09/2025

🐾 Why do trainers offer different classes for each stage?
Because dogs learn best when we meet them where they are — not just by age, but by development. 💛

It’s not just about “Puppy 1, 2, and 3.”
Each class is designed around where your dog is developmentally — socially, emotionally, and behaviorally.

Just like children, dogs go through phases that shape how they learn and respond to the world. A 10-week-old puppy’s brain is soaking in early experiences, while a 10-month-old adolescent is testing boundaries and building confidence.
Each stage deserves its own kind of guidance and support.
Think of puppy development like building a house:
8-16 weeks: Laying the foundation. Everything they experience now becomes the blueprint for how they see the world. That's why one bad experience can have lasting effects.

4-6 months: Building the frame. They're figuring out basic structures — what's safe, what's scary, how their world works. Expect some wobbles as they test boundaries.

6-12 months: The teenage renovation. Just when you thought the structure was solid, they start knocking down walls and questioning everything. Hormones are rewiring their brain.

12-18 months: Final touches. Most dogs are settling into their adult personality, though some take until 2-3 years to fully mature.

This season’s puppies face unique challenges: holiday stress, weather changes, less daylight for socialization.
I offer classes for each of these stages.

But here’s something important to remember…
It’s never too late to start training.
If you’ve adopted an older dog or missed those early foundation stages, you haven’t missed your chance.
Every dog is an individual — they learn, adapt, and grow at their own pace. Not all dogs follow the “book,” and that’s what makes every training journey unique and special. 🐶

/RenoDogs

09/30/2025

.The 3 PM Explosion

Every weekday at 3:00, a quiet house turns into a carnival. Kids burst through the door, backpacks fly, voices rise, and your dog launches into orbit—tail-whipping, pogo-sticking, happy-howling chaos. Joy meets mayhem in one big whoosh.

Here’s the truth: this isn’t “bad behavior.” It’s pressure leaving the system. Your dog has been counting minutes since the morning goodbyes. After a summer of constant side-by-side living, September separations hit hard. That afternoon blast? It’s pure relief—“My people came back!”

The jumping, spinning, and bark-singing are your dog’s love made visible. When we see it as emotional overflow instead of defiance, our response softens—and training gets easier. In my September newsletter I wrote about how September can be a hard month for a lot of dogs. If you did not, you did not receive and read my September newsletter I am happy to send it to you. It does not mean that we just accept it, but you may need some tips on how to help. That is what I’m here for.

09/17/2025

My September newsletter is out. You should have received in your inbox. If you are on my email list. If not shoot me a message with your email.It has the upcoming classes. It also has help adjusting your dog to slower life style after a busy summer. /tahoedogs

08/22/2025

Dog’s brains are so interesting. What is your guess why out of a the pile of rocks we went by on our walk she needed to sniff this one. -brain

07/25/2025

Pictures from Wild Blue Dog Camp🐶🐾. Here are some of my favorites. ❤️ 51 days until the next camp.

07/20/2025

🍦🎉 Happy National Ice Cream Day! 🎉🍦
Honestly, I think this should be every day—but officially, this holiday was declared by President Ronald Reagan in 1984! He designated the third Sunday in July as National Ice Cream Day to celebrate the joy, tradition, and the 90% of Americans who happily indulge in this sweet treat. ❤️🇺🇸

Whether your favorite is chocolate, vanilla, cookie dough, or something wild like lavender honey 🍯🌸, today’s the day to scoop, swirl, and savor. 🍧

🍨 What flavor are you celebrating with today?

06/28/2025

Now is the time to prepare. Many times unfortunately fireworks start before the Big Boom Day! 🎆🐾 6 Tips to Help Your Dog Through the 4th of July 🎆🐾

Fireworks may be fun for us—but they can be scary for our dogs. Here’s how to help your pup feel safe and calm this Independence Day:
1️⃣ Plan ahead – Don’t wait until the booms start! Have a game plan for your dog’s comfort and safety.
2️⃣ Create a quiet space – A cozy room with soft music or a white noise machine can help muffle the fireworks. You may even consider taking them somewhere else to visit or spending the night away from home.
3️⃣ Get them used to sound – In the days leading up, play soft firework sounds and reward calm behavior.
4️⃣ Long walk before dark – Burn off that extra energy with a solid walk or play session before the noise begins.
5️⃣ Distraction, not drama – Offer a chew, food puzzle, or stuffed Kong. Stay calm and don’t make a fuss—it helps them know there’s nothing to worry about.

6️⃣ Consult a professional – If your dog really struggles, talk to your vet or a trainer about calming strategies or support.

You’ve got this! Let’s make this a safe, low-stress holiday for your pup. ❤️🤍💙🐾