TLC Dog Training

05/15/2024

🥳 EXCITING NEWS!
We are excited to be attending the Whiskers & Wags Pet Expo Event in O'Fallon this Sunday at Civic Park from 10 AM - 2 PM!

Desiree will be available to answer questions about the services we offer.
We will be having an exclusive deal for those who stop by the booth and a special prize drawing too, so come check us out and support other local small business owners! It is a FREE pet-friendly event.

See you there!

Civic Park
308 Civic Park Drive, O'Fallon, MO
Sunday May 19th
10:00 AM - 2:00 PM

Balanced, affordable, in-home training for families in St. Charles County, MO.

04/03/2024

Ever wondered what some dog trainers do when they aren't helping clients? A lot of them are doing fun things with their own dogs!

Some dogs naturally excel at dock diving or Fast CAT, but other activities like agility or rally take lots of practice. Training behaviors for fun (recreation) and/or competition can enrich the connection with your canine partner. Competing involves a complex set of skills and mental attitude for both members of the team.

Last weekend, my friend and I attended a scentwork competition 3 hours away. Our senior dogs had a fun time sniffing various arrangements of containers and did their best to find the one box in each search that contained a small trace of odor. Louie earned a L1C (Level 1 Container) title with NACSW. It was such a fun trip!

Is there a new activity that you would want to try with your dog, or something you think your dog would enjoy?

02/15/2024

This is Chloe.

She came into Trainer Desiree's life 8 years ago, when she was about a year old, with the intention of being a duck hunting partner, but they got into dog sports instead. It started with trick training, then Canine Good Citizen testing, AKC Rally, Obedience, disc/freestyling, Fast CAT, and now is getting into Scentwork. Although she hasn't done any official dock diving for points (yet), she has a blast jumping off the dock at the lake for fun.

Her registered name was based on a quote by Diane von Furstenberg: "The little black dress is the true friend...she travels with you...is patient and constant...you go to her when you don't know where else to go and she is ALWAYS reliable and timeless."

This is very true for Chloe. She's Desiree's heart dog, traveling partner, snuggle buddy, up-for-anything loyal companion who doesn't seem to age over the years.

We can't imagine TLC becoming the business it is without Chloe.

Drake's Little Black Dress BN RA BCAT CGCA CGCU TKP VHMA

Today is her 9th Birthday 🥳 What do you do to celebrate your dog's birthdays?

02/06/2024

Pick a breed that is best suited for you, not just because they are pretty. Let us help you decide on a breed that is the best fit!

12/04/2023

Percy wants to let everyone know that we'll be unavailable for lessons next weekend (Dec 9th/10th). 🐾

Trainer Desiree will be attending two nosework trials that weekend with her 9.5 year old Basset Hound, Louie. They are entered in a NW2 trial with NACSW on Saturday and Novice Container & Novice Exterior trials with AKC on Sunday. It'll be a busy weekend for them. Stay tuned to see how they did!

Nosework (also known as scentwork) is a fun activity to do with your dog, especially if they are food-driven.

What fun things do you do with your dog? Tell us in the comments!

11/24/2023

Happy Thanksgiving! We have so much to be thankful for but most importantly, that these three goobers are here with us, enhancing our lives day after day. We are thankful they are all healthy and happy.

🍂 🍁 'Leaf Day', our yearly enrichment tradition, was a hit as usual. The dogs loved climbing into the massive pile of leaves and retrieving various toys. They thoroughly enjoyed playig outside in the leaves.

I'm thankful to cherish these special memories with these special pups.

🐾What special traditions do you do with your dogs during the holidays?

11/17/2023

And reinforcing behaviors in your lifestyle so they become habitual

Don’t forget! ◡̈

Score a 20% discount on any of our dog sport decals + tees at ShopCanineAesthete.com 🛒👕

10/04/2023

This is Remi again and she is learning more things this week.
I wanted to take this moment and remind the dog owners out there that training a dog is a long journey, not a destination. The training never should end but be part of the lifestyle.
If that sounds daunting, think of it this way:

Most of us learned how to ride a bike when we were younger. But, if we don't ride our bike for 10 years, we may seem a bit unsteady at first before we find our groove. If we ride every day, it is natural and we excel at it.
Training sets the foundation for your dog to learn self-control, patience, complex commands, and more. If we incorporate that training into our everyday routine, the dogs get better and better at those behaviors and the training eventually become habitual (plus you lives might seem more manageable too!).
The dogs begin to understand the routine and what's expected of them. They want to please us and try really hard too. It just takes a bit of practice, little by little.
Repetition, repetition, repetition.
Use it or loose it.

And if you think your dog has learned everything there is to know, think again! Old dogs CAN learn new tricks, if we have the patience and persistence to help them.

10/02/2023

Have you had a great experience during a training lesson? If you'd please take a moment to share your thoughts and leave us a review, we appreciate your feedback! Your words help this small business grow and improve, one dog at a time. 🐾

💜For Facebook, go to TLC Dog Training, LLC. select "Reviews" in the details section.

💜Or, if you prefer Google, go to https://g.page/r/CQDMmycdY1vKEBM/review .

09/27/2023

This is Remi Mae. She had her first training lesson today and was a little rockstar! Her food drive and eagerness to learn helped her pay attention and she made great progress. This little beagle's training journey is just getting started. Stay tuned for more!

Do you have a puppy and you want to set them up for success? Message us to get started!
💜🐾🐶

08/27/2023

Enjoy this nice weather! We finally got a break from the summer swelter. Can't use the extreme heat excuse today.

Whoever needs to hear this: now is a great time to train your dog.

Dogs need us to show them what is right. If we don't reinforce what we want, they'll assume what they want is the correct choice. Training takes repetition and consistency. Take the time to work with your dog. 5-10 minutes a day can really make a big difference.

08/17/2023

This is Tiger! 🐅
As you can see, he was super tired after our lesson! We didn't take him for a long walk or watch him run in the backyard. All we did was show him how to act appropriately when guests come over.
Tiger was put in situations where he could control the outcome. His good behavior unlocked good rewards, so he had to think really hard about his actions.

But why is he so tired?
🧠🤯Mental stimulation can actually have a greater affect than physical exertion. 🏋️

We use a lot of shapig with Tiger. Shaping can be a great way of capturing little moments that we like and it lets the dog know they're on the right track. The dog thinks the behavior was his idea, thus more likely to repeat the behavior.

Do you wish your dog could behave better when guests come over or when the doorbell rings? We can help! 😊

08/11/2023

It's that time of year again -
🎒 🐾 BACK TO SCHOOL SALE! 🐾🎒

School is not only for the kids, but also for your canine companions.
Did your dog loose any manners over the summer break? Maybe this is your puppy's first year and you want to know where to start. We are here to help!

For the months of August and September, we are doing a special sale:
✨BUY 2 LESSONS, GET THIRD 1/2 OFF!! ✨

Each lesson is limited to 1 hour long and generally covers 1-2 topics, depending on time.

To get the 3rd lesson at half off, all 3 lessons must occur on or before September 30th, 2023.
We recommend a weekly or bi-weekly frequency for best retention and success.

Enroll your pooch in school today! Call, Text, or Message us to get started ✨

*Must mention Back to School Sale*

04/02/2023

Toby had some big feelings about other dogs today at our lesson in the park.

With some time and yummy treats, he made great strides in his journey of dog neutrality. His family now has a few things they can work on with Toby to help him feel better around other dogs. Remember, a few short training sessions a day can be more productive than even a whole day of training.

Stay tuned for more updates on Toby's progress !
🐕 🐾 😊

03/15/2023

Let's talk about grooming! 🐩 ✂️ 🫧 🛁 🐾

Grooming is such an important aspect of dog ownership, especially for any dog that gets haircuts or has a fluffy coat.

Dogs do not inherently know how to behave at the groomers, so it is your job as an owner (and my job as a trainer) to help the dog get accustomed to the process.

Percy (shown below) is a young mini golden doodle. The coat of a doodle can vary a lot and usually has tighter poodle-like curls with some softer waves mixed in. The coat can also change as the puppy gets older. Some of the waves might get curlier or vice versa. Having so much inconsistency in coat pattern, makes it the perfect situation for tangles. If those tangles aren't taken care of, they can evolve into tight and painful mats. Groomers try their best to get these mats out, but it can be very unpleasant for the dog, so the humane thing to do is to shave the mats out using the clippers. Sometimes the mats are quite large and the whole dog needs to be shaved. It can be a big transformation and sometimes shocking for the owner, even though the dog feels fine. Groomers care so much about their doggy clients and only do what is in the dog's best interest.

Here is some advice:

▪️Research the breed you are wanting or recently acquired. Are they low- or high-maintenance?

▪️Understand what grooming requirements are needed for that breed. For mixed breeds, consider both parent breeds and know that you might end up with a mix of coat types.

▪️Find a groomer that you trust and someone who can give you solid advice.

▪️Find a trainer who can help with supplemental exposure and counter-conditioning or desensitization.

▪️At home, get your dog used to various elements of the grooming process, such as: introduction to water, handling of feet and face, hair dryers/fans blowing on them, loud noises, vibration of an electric tooth brush on the nails and body, getting used to being held by the chin, and brushing/combing. Make it a positive and enriching experience for them.

▪️Listen to your groomer (and trainer) with product recommendations. There's a reason we suggest investing in a good brush or comb if you want to keep your furry friend fluffy.

▪️Get on an appropriate grooming schedule and book appointments ahead, especially in the holiday season when it gets busier.

▪️Most importantly, brush your dog often and in-between grooming appointments. Make sure you are combing the coat all the way down to the skin, not just the top layer. Not only does this help your dog get used to the process but it'll reduce the chance of matting.

✨✨✨

Being a goldendoodle, Percy will require frequent grooming appointments. His coat is a wavy curly blend that can get tangled easily, so regular brushing is highly suggested. Incorporating these habits into his daily routine can be very beneficial. He is okay with having his paws messed with and even fine with the Dremel to buff his nails smooth. He gives kisses the whole time.

I can help your puppy become more cooperative and tolerant of the grooming process and set them up to become a dog who enjoys visits with their favorite groomer.

Reach out to get started!

02/13/2023

TLC's namesake was inspired by Trainer Desiree's three dogs: Tipsy, Louie, and Chloe.
They each have taught her that training isn't a one-size-fits all concept. Dogs are motivated to learn by different rewards and progress at their own speed.

Take progress over perfection and remember progress takes practice! We can't expect go to the gym for the first time and walk out a champion lifter, but we CAN get better the more we practice good form and technique.

Send a message to get started on your dog training journey today!

Pictured below are Tipsy, Louie, and Chloe. They enjoyed running Fast CAT in October 2022 at Purina Farms.

01/31/2023

Percy was an absolute rockstar today! He was so proud to show off his newly learned down command. This little cutie is so fun to work with and his family is making great progress with him.

12/02/2022

Hopefully this reindeer can deliver Bo's wishlist to Santa in time for Christmas.

Has your pup been good this year? Wish they were on the Nice list? I can help.

10/31/2022

This is Percy, a mini golden doodle. His family are learning all about the joys of puppyhood and are setting this little guy up for success.

10/16/2022

Bo worked around some animated Halloween decorations with help from new friends, Gypsy and Odin.

Are your pups ready for trick-or-treaters in different costumes? Message me for a quick lesson to help make your holiday easier.
🎃👻🧟🤖👽🤡👹🧛🦸‍♀️🧝🧙🥷

10/11/2022

Bo (right) and Tipsy (left) worked on some impulse control and distraction work while a curious 🐈 patrolled nearby.

10/08/2022

One of the earliest lessons I learned about dog training was this: Never, ever, ever train your dog when you're in a bad mood.

10/07/2022

Bo the handsome tri border collie is staying over for a few days while he's parents are away. He's having so much fun with his new friends. 🐾

10/03/2022

Training is not a 'one & done' situation; it is continuous. Just like a person's education - if you don't use it, you'll lose it. If you incorporate the training into your normal daily routine, it will become habitual.

Teddy the Bernadoodle had a lesson today. He went through several weeks of day training with me when he was a young pup, and his owner did a fantastic job keeping up with it!

We reviewed the items for AKC's Canine Good Citizen test and Teddy did great! There were just a few small things that need a little cleaning up. I have no doubt that Teddy and his owner will be ready to pass very soon.

Keep up the good work Teddy!

09/25/2022