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Monday 8am - 8pm Tuesday 8am - 8pm Wednesday 8am - 8pm Thursday 8am - 8pm Friday 8am - 8pm Saturday 8am - 8pm Sunday 8am - 8pm

Take the Lead MA

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United States
South Hadley, MA
Take the Lead MA

Take the Lead uses positive training techniques to help build the bond between owners and their pets.
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Take the Lead's goal is to improve the bond between owners and their pets. Take the Lead will help you will all of the components to help you achieve the goals you and your dog are reaching for. Not only do we offer private in home lessons for obedience work and behavior modification programs for behaviors like dog on dog aggression, resource guarding, handling issues and more, but we also offer pet sitting and dog walking services.

05/30/2024

Didn't have a chance to post yesterday but wanted to wish my boy, Lincoln, a very special happy birthday. I can't believe you are 8 💙🤧

03/31/2024

Happy Easter Everyone! 🐣 🐰🥕🥕🥕

03/23/2024

Happy National Puppy Day!

02/11/2024

Hope you all enjoyed the beautiful day yesterday as much as we did! ☀️

Reach out if you need help with your dogs leash manners so you're ready before spring really gets here! 🐕🚶‍♂️

01/12/2024

Does your dog also participate in the town choir? 😅

Let's get their recall in check so your neighbors don't file complaints! 🔊🐕

01/07/2024

Show me your snow puppies! 🐶❄️❄️❄️❄️

12/25/2023

Merry Christmas! 🎁🎅🎄

12/06/2023

What if I told you that all dogs have made the nice list this year?

If you think about it, "bad" behavior is perspective. Some people allow their dogs up on furniture while other households do not. Some dogs are allowed to jump for greetings while others are not. Some dogs are allowed to chew boxes while others are labeled destructive. 📦

Dogs are not "bad" or doing things to challenge "dominance" 🙄 Maybe your "naughty" dog keeps jumping on the couch because he perfers that over the dog bed that's provided, or maybe it allows him a better view for outside critters 🐿

My job as a dog trainer is to help you achieve your dog training goals by aligning both you and your dog. We work on unwanted behaviors by looking at your dogs perspective and giving them more appropriate outlets and treating all underlying issues like anxiety, stress, frustration, etc.

So take your dogs off the naughty list this year and instead view their challenging behaviors as just simply behaviors that need guidance.

12/03/2023

Daisy's loose leash walking skills are really coming together! 🥳 I'm so proud of her 👏👏👏

If you're short on time this holiday season, let's chat about my Focused Programs 🐕 Allow me to do all the training for you so that when you get home at the end of your day you can actually relax knowing at least one thing on your "to do list" is done ✔️

I have room for 1 more client this month and 2 clients in January.

12/01/2023

Welcome December! ❄️☃️🌲

11/25/2023

Happy Small Business Saturday!

I just wanted to say thank you to all of you for supporting my business for the past 10 years. It's been nothing short of amazing to be able to follow my passion for helping owners train their dogs.

If you know of any other small business, please feel free to share the names below to help spread the word.

11/23/2023

Hope everyone is having a wonderful Thanksgiving! 🍗🥧

11/20/2023

While you are finalizing all your Thanksgiving plans, I just wanted to send a reminder to have a plan for your dog to ensure their safety and training success.

Here are a few tips to help your day run more smoothly:

🦃Exercise them well before the guests arrive
🦃If your dog escapes the front door, have them placed behind a baby gate or in another room until all guests have arrived
🦃Jumping greeters can say hi from behind a gate or on leash until they are able to keep four feet on the floor.
🦃A prepped long-lasting feeder toy or bone can be helpful to keep them entertained while you are enjoying your meal
🦃For some dogs, the day can be stressful with the extra company, so establish a safe and calming place away from the excitement
🦃Lastly, be mindful that not all Thanksgiving foods are safe for dogs. If you plan on sharing some leftovers with them, stick with turkey meat and plain cooked veggies without all the fixings
🦃Big reminder that dogs can not have cooked bones. Save the bones to make them a nice broth instead.

11/02/2023

Happy November Everyone!!

With daylight savings just around the corner, I've opened up a few more weekend times slots for lessons. 🤗
Don't wait to book before they all fill up! There is still time to get your training in before the holidays 🦃

10/01/2023

Happy October!

07/04/2023

Happy 4th of July everyone!

06/01/2023

Nothing makes me happier than receiving updates from my clients as they work towards their training goals🥰

Just received this text from Bella's mom regarding her successfully conquering her anxieties around her crate. 🥳

05/29/2023

Happy Memorial Day 🇺🇸 AND Happy 7th Birthday to Lincoln!!! You are truly one of a kind 🥹🐾💚💚💚

I hope you enjoyed your hike and your annual doggie delight🍦😘

05/25/2023

Guys, you know I'm a sucker for a wirey-beard Eeyore face 😍😍😍

This is Olivia, she is a 2 year old Spinone. We did a training package to get her through some adolescent behaviors 1 1/2 years ago. Mom was at her tipping point (we've all been there with our unruly dogs right? 😵‍💫) Mom has happily reported that all of those issues have been resolved and she is really enjoying Olivia now 🥰🥰

We met up recently to develop a training plan to work through her newest behavior of barking at men when out on her walks. I have no doubt that mom and Olivia will be able to work through this as a team successfully as well 🙌

05/21/2023

Attention all reactive dog owners 📣 Group semi privates are back on the schedule🙌🙌

If you have worked with me privately or completed the Social Strugglers Class at Sandy Meadow Farm, let's continue practicing those skills in a predictable, safe environment. Reach out so I can be sure to add you to the emailing list for sign ups! 📨

For those of you who haven't started your training yet, if your dog is barking and lunging at other dogs/people when out on your walks, there is hope.

Reach out so we can start your training journey so you (and your dog) can enjoy your walks again!🐕🐾

05/18/2023

Super Spence ✨️ Ready for his weekly "Trainer Focused" lesson to work on his leash manners and his reactive behaviors.

If you have gotten to the point where you are dreading walking your dog due to their,
😮‍💨 intense pulling
📣 barking at passing dogs /people
👃constant sniffing

Let's chat about setting up a plan so you can stop feeling frustrated and start enjoying your walks again.

05/14/2023

Happy Mother's Day to all you amazing mom's out there. Whether your children have 2 feet, 4 feet, or no feet (👶️🐈🐩🐍), I hope you are treated like the super human that you are. 🩵🩵🥰

'sday

01/08/2023

Everyone meet Spencer! We've been working together since he was just under 4 months old.

Spencer's mom understands the importance of starting training early and regularly to get ahead of any problem behaviors. His mom's goal is to help him be a well-adjusted, respectful adult dog who can be a part of all aspects of her life, including the possibility of having him in her therapy practice as an emotional support dog (lucky clients!)

01/05/2023

Did you know that January is national train your dog month?

Here are just a few benefits of training:
🐶 Provides both mental and physical stimulation
🐶 Reduces boredum, which could lead to destructive or obnoxious behavior
🐶 Reduces anxiety
🐶 Strengthens your relationship with your dog
🐶 and above everything, training keeps your dog safe!

What skill will you train your dog this month?

01/04/2023

I'm sure you all remember Shimshon, one of my star pupils 😍✨️
Well, he is excited to share that he is a new big brother 🤗

Everyone meet Mishka, the newest meatball in training 🥰🥰

Shimshon has done a great job so far showing Mishka the ropes. (Quite literally as their tug game is on point) 🐶🥎🐶

01/03/2023

One question I get asked frequently is, "when and how often should I train my dog?"

When you think of a training session, you want to set aside short frequent blocks of time (I'm talking 1 to 10 mins multiple times a day) to teach new skills BUT the reality is, your dog is learning during every second of the day. This means that at any given time, they are doing something to progress towards your training goals or away from them. This is why setting up your dog's environment to help them succeed is crucial because learning happens whether you are intending it to or not.

During your initial consultation, we not only discuss your training goals and start on skills to get there, but we also focus on good management protocols to give you and your dog the best chance at achieving them.

01/01/2023

✨️HAPPY NEW YEARS DAY! ✨️

How many of you made a New Years resolution goal for your pets? 🤔

My 2023 commitment to Lincoln is to pre-stuff and freeze kongs for him. This will provide him with some much needed stimulation and will make our busy evenings a little easier. We are also going to go on more walks 🐕

If "going for more walks" is also your goal, maybe it would be easier to accomplish if your dog would stop pulling on leash or lunging at every other dog they see. 😅 I have availability this month for training if you are in need of some guidance. 😜🤗

12/31/2022

As I look back on this year, I can't help but be grateful, 2022 has been simply amazing to me. To all my amazing clients, without you, my dreams would not be possible. Thank you for trusting me enough to help you reach your training goals and being supportive throughout my journey of becoming a new mom. 🥰 I feel truly blessed and can't wait to see what 2023 has in store. 🥳

Wishing you all a safe and healthy new year with much love from all of us. ❤❤

Address

52 Hillside Avenue
South Hadley, MA
01075

Opening Hours

Monday	8am - 8pm
Tuesday	8am - 8pm
Wednesday	8am - 8pm
Thursday	8am - 8pm
Friday	8am - 8pm
Saturday	8am - 8pm
Sunday	8am - 8pm

Telephone

+14138878738

Website

http://www.taketheleadma.com/

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Videos

Hope you all enjoyed the beautiful day yesterday as much as we did! ☀️ Reach out if you need help with your dogs leash manners so you're ready before spring really gets here! 🐕🚶‍♂️ #taketheleadma #privatetraining #leashskills #looseleashwalking #reactivedogs #inhomelessons #springiscoming

Does your dog also participate in the town choir? 😅 Let's get their recall in check so your neighbors don't file complaints! 🔊🐕 #taketheleadma #privatelessons #inhometraining #recall #reactivedog #yardmanners #barkingdogs

Daisy's loose leash walking skills are really coming together! 🥳 I'm so proud of her 👏👏👏 If you're short on time this holiday season, let's chat about my Focused Programs 🐕 Allow me to do all the training for you so that when you get home at the end of your day you can actually relax knowing at least one thing on your "to do list" is done ✔️ I have room for 1 more client this month and 2 clients in January. #taketheleadma #dogtraining #privatetraining #trainingprogram #dontDIYit #behaviormodification #looseleashwalking #5months #puppy #traininggoals

Here's a short clip of Bentley working her auto check in skills when around "scary" things in the environment...in this case, the landscapers next door. (Insta cut the video but you can still seem them 👀) When you are working with reactive dogs it is important to keep them at a distance where they feel comfortable enough to notice the triggers and then turn away. This method allows you to work with your dogs emotional state on helping them feel better rather than just "cleaning up the mess" after an explosion of barking/lunging. #taketheleadma #privatetraining #reactivedogs #goattheirpace #understandtheirneeds #positivereinforcement #counterconditioning #desensitization #operantconditioning

Working on some of Shimshon's chin rest skills to make ear cleaning and other husbandry skills easier for him. #taketheleadma #privatetraining #dogtraining #forcefreetraining #fearfreehandling #counterconditioning #desensitization #handlingskills #groomingskills #chinrest