Dog Savvy

04/15/2025

𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐝𝐨𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐥 𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐥

We’re out of town celebrating my grandmother’s 92nd birthday, and like always—we’ve brought our dogs along bc theyre part of our family and this way and we enjoy it. Elton, our 7 month old Great Dane, is still learning how to travel well.

He’s still “in training”, which means we’re extra thoughtful about how we travel with him. Here are a few things we always do to make it easier on him (and us):

𝟏. 𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐭-𝐢𝐧 𝐝𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞.

After a road trip, we don’t expect him to jump out of the car and instantly be ready to meet people, go on walks, or explore a new place.

We give him a few hours (or ideally, the whole day) to just land. No pressure. No expectations. Just time to acclimate, rest and take it all in.

𝟐. 𝐌𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐥 𝐟𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐫.

Even the most confident dogs can feel off in a brand-new environment. New smells, new sounds, new layout. It’s a lot.

So before he even sets foot inside the Airbnb, we set up a little search game with food inside and in the yard.

(We use our original Dog Reset for this and you can grab the free training here 👉 https://library.dogsavvytraining.com/offers/iTKE82Ub/checkout)

It gives him something familiar and positive to focus on right away—and helps him feel safe and settled faster. (You can do this in a hotel room too!)

𝟑. 𝐀𝐝𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬.

Travel is a skill, and like any skill—it takes energy, practice and time to get good at.

Because of that, we lower the bar in other areas: less social time, fewer interactions with other dogs or people, and way more selectivity about what we say yes to.

If something’s not helpful for learning—or if we can’t support him through it—we skip it.

𝟒. 𝐂𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐦 𝐨𝐧 𝐩𝐮𝐫𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐞.

Even on vacation, we still make time for calm, grounding exercises. Not because it’s convenient… but because it’s what sets him up to handle the excitement and unpredictability of travel without spiraling.

We use a technique called a Behavioral Down. It’s one of the most powerful ways we help him stay balanced in new environments—and it only takes a few minutes.

—

We road trip as a family frequently, and our long-term goal is to have a dog who feels easy to bring along.

But that doesn’t happen just by including him in the trip.

It takes intentional effort to shape the way he experiences the world when he’s still learning. And that effort now is what will make him emotionally mature, flexible, and easy to live and travel with later.

Because just bringing your dog along doesnt guarantee theyll be a good traveller - you’ll need to help them grow into the kind of dog you can bring and enjoy anywhere.

01/30/2025

Elton’s 3rd show practice class🎉

(He’s 5 months old and super wiggly🤣)

The first was just sitting on the side and watching - and lots of food!

The second was walking on the new show leash around other dogs and saying hi to the judge - he loved her☺️

This time we were practicing walking a little better on the show leash and giving us small moments of “standing still” - he gets excited and starts his “happy feet”🤦‍♂️🤣

What about Everything else he needs to know?

We’ll work on one to two elements at a time - and only at a pace for him that he can keep a fun, enjoyable and optimistic attitude.

Doesn’t matter to us “how long” that takes.

In the end, this is the best pace to ensure the highest level of performance becuase we focus on core attitude and clarity over too many “asks” too fast.

Go slow in the beginning to go fast in the end!

12/19/2024

Thank you Animal Hospital of Georgetown for always taking such good care of our animals!

Wonderful to see you today Dr. Ory✨

12/17/2024

12/09/2024

“𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗗𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝗠𝘆 𝗣𝘂𝗽𝗽𝘆 𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝗛𝗶𝗰𝗰𝘂𝗽𝘀 𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘆’𝗿𝗲 𝗘𝘅𝗰𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝗿 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗱?”

If you’ve ever noticed your puppy suddenly getting hiccups after a burst of excitement or a moment of stress, you’re not alone!

Hiccups in puppies are incredibly common and often nothing to worry about.

𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲’𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴:

Just like in humans, hiccups are caused by involuntary contractions of the diaphragm—the muscle that helps your puppy breathe.

When your pup gets excited or stressed, their breathing can speed up or become shallow, sometimes causing these little spasms.

It’s their body’s quirky way of responding to heightened emotions.

𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗔𝗿𝗲 𝗛𝗶𝗰𝗰𝘂𝗽𝘀 𝗡𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗹?

• If your puppy gets hiccups occasionally after playtime or a new situation, it’s usually just their immature body figuring things out. Puppies are still growing, and their diaphragm might overreact to emotional spikes like excitement or anxiety.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗪𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝗙𝗼𝗿?

Hiccups are normal unless you notice:

• Patterns: If they happen frequently or always in specific situations, like during car rides or loud environments.

• Prolonged Episodes: Hiccups lasting longer than a few minutes at a time.

• Other Symptoms: Coughing, wheezing, or signs of discomfort could mean something else is going on.

𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗛𝗲𝗹𝗽

If you suspect stress or excitement is the trigger, create a calm environment for your puppy and go slower with the things you’re doing with them - It may be a signal of too much too fast.

Offer a quiet break after playtime or gently redirect them during moments of stress.

Most importantly, remember that occasional hiccups are a normal part of puppyhood—just another adorable quirk to add to the list!

But if you’re ever unsure, it’s always a good idea to check with your vet.

Does your puppy get hiccups when they’re excited? Let us know in the comments! 🐾

📸: our new 15 week old Great Dane puppy “Elton” - look at the size of those FEET!🤯

12/06/2024

To all my Border Collie people😉🤣

11/22/2024

I talk to a lot of people in the dog world—dog owners, trainers, you name it—and one thing I hear all the time is:

“I need to work on my dog’s confidence.”
Or,
“I just want my dog to feel more confident around [insert situation here].”

I mean, who doesn’t want a confident dog?!

But here’s where it gets interesting.

When I ask, “What do you mean by confidence?” just to get a clearer picture of what they’re aiming for, I usually get… a little bit of everything.

A vague mix of ideas. Sometimes they pause, think for a second, and say, “Huh, I’m not sure!”

And honestly? That’s completely okay!

Most people don’t spend their day pondering what confidence really means—especially when it comes to dogs.

Let’s be real, it’s not exactly a question that pops into your head when you’re sipping your morning coffee, right?

(But you know what? It is the kind of thing I think about all the time—because, well, this is how my nerd brain works 🧐.)

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐧𝐞𝐰𝐬?

𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐝𝐨𝐠 𝐢𝐬𝐧’𝐭 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐚𝐛𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭, 𝐞𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐩𝐭. It’s also not magic. It’s like following a recipe—if you know the ingredients, you can make it happen.

𝐒𝐨, 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭’𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐩𝐞?

Confidence boils down to two key ingredients: Optimism and Curiosity.

And here’s the kicker—these two ingredients aren’t just what make up confidence. They’re also the silver-bullet antidote to fear, nervousness, and anxiety in dogs.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐓𝐫𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐀𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞

Confidence doesn’t come from teaching your dog to follow commands. It doesn’t magically appear just because you’ve exposed them to enough situations over time.

Confidence is rooted in their sense of curiosity and optimism—and here’s the exciting part:

Both of these traits are easily trainable!

When a dog feels curious, it’s like they’re saying, “I feel safe enough here to explore, investigate, and see what this is all about.” That’s a confident dog.

Think about it

A dog that’s fearful, unsure, or pessimistic (basically expecting something bad might happen) will retreat, shut down, or act defensively.

But a dog that’s optimistic and curious is open, engaged, and ready to see what the world has to offer.

And that openness? That’s where confidence starts.

𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐃𝐨 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐓𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐈𝐭?

Here’s the secret: You don’t!

Instead, you teach curiosity and optimism, and confidence is the outcome.

This happens when you create an environment where your dog feels safe enough to ask, “What’s this all about?” and then you reward the heck out of that curiosity when it happens.

Reward curiosity and you'll see more optimism. When you see more optimism, reward that too - and presto - you'll have confidence!

When you do this, your dog starts to see new situations as opportunities to learn rather than threats to avoid.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐍𝐎𝐓 𝐭𝐨 𝐃𝐨:

Here’s what kills curiosity and optimism faster than anything:

🚫Forcing your dog into overwhelming situations.
🚫Pushing them to “just get over it.”
🚫Those tactics don’t build confidence—they crush it.

𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐝, 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐞’𝐬 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐬:

🎯Create safe, supportive environments for your dog to explore.
🎯Encourage and reward their curious moments, no matter how small.
🎯When you reward curiosity, your dog starts to approach the world with a sense of wonder rather than fear.

That’s where confidence comes from.

𝐒𝐨, 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞’𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐢𝐠 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐲: 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐝𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞—𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐦, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐆𝐄𝐓 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞.

10/03/2024

Laser Pointer Syndrome (and other reflective things).

While laser pointers (or other reflections) seem like a fun game, they can actually cause some pretty serious issues that are incredibly difficult to “unwind” with training.

Here’s what happens: When dogs chase the laser, their natural prey drive kicks in, but they never get the satisfaction of actually catching it.

Over time, this creates confusion and frustration in their brains because there’s no resolution, no “mission accomplished” feeling.

Without that, they don’t get that dopamine release that says “you did it!” and instead, they’re left feeling stressed and anxious.

This can lead to obsessive behaviors, like chasing shadows or reflections, even when the laser isn’t around anymore!

Dogs with Laser Pointer Syndrome may develop:

• Obsessive-Compulsive Behaviors – like constantly chasing any light or shadow they can find; and even obsessively picking up rocks (I know, weird right?)

• Increased Anxiety – because their brain is stuck in a loop of trying to finish a chase that never ends (the behavioral term for this is actually called an anxiety loop)

• Frustration – which can sometimes lead to aggression or even hyperactivity

• Restlessness – they may struggle to relax or settle down, always looking for another “hit” of stimulation.

It’s always better to play games where your dog gets to physically catch something, so they can have that “I caught it!” moment.

Games with balls or toys let them satisfy their instincts and actually enjoy the process, instead of feeling frustrated.

Just something to keep in mind! 😊 Let’s keep our pups happy and healthy!

09/30/2024

Another FastCAT weekend in the books!

Phoebe was on fire with her consistent 8.5-second runs, and Guinness earned his BCAT! 🏅

Just a reminder—take some time out to have fun with your dogs. They’re only with us for a short while, so make every moment count. 💙

07/23/2024

✨Caption this✨

07/21/2024

One of our client families just texted this of “everyone” watching our online program videos😂

I think it’s so funny when the dog starts to recognize who is on “TV”💙

06/08/2024

💥UNPOPULAR OPINION💥

Please don’t do this with your dog.

It’s often recommended to make your dog wait for their food, put food in slow feeders, and to act like this with their mealtimes.

Its a few things like this that are the BIGGEST contributors to a dog developing food aggression and “resource guarding” (when they growl at you when they have something)

If you’ve been guilty of this, it’s totally not your fault.

This is the kind of training tips you see on TikTok and Instagram ALL the time!

Please also don’t feel judged by our post, we are the LEAST judgy people you’ll ever meet.

We just want to have better information and let you know we can definitely help you if you have a resource guarding dog who is now stressed around/with their food.

www.dogsavvytraining.com

05/28/2024

Brittany found this awesome Virtual Run organization that supports all kinds of causes…and you do them with your DOG!!

How cool is that!?

We love to give, so we signed up for the Memorial Day 5k benefitting Operation Grattitude.

The dogs also enjoy going on their ‘walkies’ so we thought it would be a great opportunity to have fun with them (even though they dont know, lol) and donate our time and money to a worthy cause who cares for our vets.

Here’s their “race medals” and smiles for Memorial Day 🇺🇸🏅

05/14/2024

Unpopular Opinion:

Don’t get another dog until your current dog is exactly where you want them behaviorally.

We see this a lot.

❌Getting a dog for another dog so they have a playmate.

❌Getting another dog to help with behavioral issues of another dog.

When adding a dog, always make sure your current one is mentally, emotionally and behaviorally stable first.

If not, you’ll be inviting compounding problems.

Whats a compounding problem?

It’s when 1 + 1 doesn’t equal 2, it equals 10.

Which means it can often be very overwhelming to face two dogs that are struggling to learn.

Get the first dog to a place where they are healthy - mentally, emotionally and behaviorally.

This way, everyone can truly enjoy the addition instead of being stressed!

04/15/2024

Dog and cats CAN get along - even if they don’t right now!!

Join one of our programs and learn “The Dog Savvy Baby Steps” that ANYONE can do.

7 simple baby steps to a happier, more enjoyable life with your dog🐶