Do Better Training

01/09/2026

Black dogs have our whole hearts 🖤✨
Dr. Andy’s Scoop is living proof that black pups are pure magic—and that sometimes solo-dog magic just needs the right space to shine. 🌟🐾 Ariel is cut from that same cloth and deserves her chance to be someone’s everything.

👉 Check out Ariel at DuPage County Animal Services and learn more about her on their website.
Not ready to adopt? Fostering saves lives 🤍—and sharing her post helps her reach the person who’s been waiting for her all along.

This is Ariel, or as our volunteers call her, Sweet Pea. Ariel is our longest shelter resident. She has spent Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years living at the shelter.

Why is it taking this beautiful girl so long to find a home? Simple - she is a black bully who needs to be an only dog. That is truly the reason she gets so little interest. But, should that stop her from getting a forever family? We think not!

So here are some reasons why adopting Ariel – a black bully, is an absolute win:

🖤 Timelessly beautiful – Sleek, elegant, and always in style. Black goes with everything.
📸 Photogenic – Their soulful eyes and shiny coats look amazing in real life (and yes, with the right lighting, in photos too).
🏡 Great family dogs – Loyal, affectionate, and deeply bonded to their people.
🐾 Less visible dirt & shedding – Practical perk: they stay looking cleaner longer.
🖤 You’re saving a life – Black dogs are often overlooked, so adopting one truly makes a huge impact.

Now, please help us find Ariel's people. We know they are out there. We know she deserves a loving home and family to call her own. And with your help, we will find them!

Adoptables: bit.ly/DCASadoptions
Foster for DCAS: bit.ly/DCASFosterPlea

01/09/2026

Solo dogs are absolutely welcome here 🐾💙

Not every dog wants or needs dog friends—and that is more than okay. Some dogs thrive as **solo dogs**, and we’re happy to meet them right where they are and keep them engaged, fulfilled, and having a great time while they’re with us ✨🐶

Ellie is a perfect example. She’s a Border Collie who boards with us and prefers doing her own thing. Instead of playgroups, we focus on what *she* loves most—games that tap into her natural herding instincts 🐑🎾. Thoughtful training, movement, enrichment, and problem-solving help keep her brain busy and her body satisfied.

Solo dogs still deserve fun, fulfillment, and connection. With the right setup, training, and enrichment, they can absolutely thrive 🌱🧠💛













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01/08/2026

Safety first—always 🧼🐾

Robin absolutely loves helping Rick whenever he’s in the building and is often his little shadow. But part of caring for our dogs means knowing when **management** matters most.

While Rick was mixing cleaning products, Robin stayed safely on the opposite side of the gate—still close by, still involved, but protected from getting into things he shouldn’t 🚧💙.

Good management isn’t about restriction—it’s about **setting everyone up for safety and success**. Thoughtful setups and clear boundaries help keep our dogs safe while allowing us to do what we need to do without stress 🌱✨.

When the environment supports good choices, everyone wins—dogs and humans alike.

01/07/2026

✨🐶 Meet Daisy 🐶✨

She’s joining us for a 3-week Behavior Boost Board & Train**, and we are already completely smitten. 🥹💛
Those eyes 👀. That curiosity ✨. That "I’m ready to learn” energy.

During her stay, Daisy will be building confidence, life skills, and emotional regulation through enrichment-based training rooted in fun, play, and connection 🎾🧠💙. Learning should feel good, and we focus on helping dogs succeed through thoughtful setups, joyful experiences, and lots of celebrating the try 🌱🐾.

We’ll be sharing updates and cheering on Daisy’s progress as her journey unfolds—stay tuned for wins big and small 📸✨.

Thinking a **Board & Train** might be a good fit for your dog? 🐕💭
At Do Better Training, we offer multiple Board & Train options designed to support a variety of needs, always with kindness, thoughtful guidance, and fun at the heart of what we do 🧩💛.

👉 Learn more at **dobettertraining.com**

📅 We’re currently booked through January, but we have space for TWO dogs in February!

Welcome to the Do Better family, Daisy—we’re so happy you’re here 💙🐶





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01/06/2026

Big feelings, busy brains, and intentional downtime—all at once 🐕✨

This is what real-life enrichment and training can look like in a full, high-energy household. Everyone is practicing their **“spot” behavior**—relaxing on their own beds and mats—while taking turns working through a simple cavaletti setup 🛏️➡️🐾. Calm bodies and engaged minds, sharing space successfully.

Dr. Andy lives with a chronic condition that can limit mobility on some days, so instead of pushing harder, she works smarter. Easy, adaptable obstacles allow her to guide movement, build body awareness, and meet her animals’ needs—from the comfort of her chair ♿💡.

Training doesn’t have to be complicated or exhausting to be effective. A little creativity, thoughtful setup, and listening to what everyone needs (humans included) goes a long way 💙.

Because enrichment should support the whole household—not drain it.

01/06/2026

Our besties at ADOPT Training for A Sound Beginning have amazing classes with openings starting soon! Dr. Andy participated in a class with Scoop and will be heading back for more soon. 10/10 definitely recommend 💕

✨Start the new year off on the right paw!🐾

We have classes for every dog and every need! Only a few spots left in the upcoming classes this week, grab yours now!

🔗 https://adoptpetshelter.dogbizpro.com/Public/Registration/Index.aspx

01/04/2026

These photos show Scoop working alongside Robin from ADOPT Pet Shelter as we gently and intentionally expand Scoop’s social circle. Scoop has big feelings about other dogs, so we’re taking things slow and setting him up for success. They’ve been spending time calmly in the same room together—and they’re doing great.
You’ll also notice Scoop wearing a muzzle in one of the photos. 🧡 Scoop often wears a muzzle when meeting new dogs—not because he’s “bad,” but because we’re proactive about safety and helping him make good choices. A muzzle is just one layer of management, there to support everyone if other strategies aren’t enough in the moment.
✨ Muzzle dogs are not bad dogs.
✨ They’re loved, supported dogs with thoughtful humans and trainers.
✨ Safety and compassion can (and should) go hand in hand.
If you’d like to learn more about humane, positive muzzle use, check out The Muzzle Up! Project: https://muzzleupproject.com

12/04/2025

Scoop says snow days are pure joy… but when the temperatures drop, our winter adventures need a little extra care! ❄️🐶💙
Cold weather can sneak up on even the zippiest pups, so keeping things short, safe, and supportive is key.

🧤 Keep outings brief — cold paws happen fast.
🐾 Check those toe beans for ice, snowballs, or salt after play.
🧥 Some dogs need extra warmth (short coats, seniors, puppies, medically sensitive friends).
👀 Watch for signs they’re getting chilly: slowing down, paw lifting, shivering, or heading for the door.

Snow zoomies are wonderful — staying warm and safe is even better.
Scoop approves this message. ☃️💙

12/02/2025

🐾✨ Robin’s Big Morning Adventure! ✨🐾
Robin had a special sleepover at Dr. Andy’s house last night, and this morning we learned something very important… stairs are HARD. 😅

Dr. Andy’s house has what are lovingly (and accurately) called the “death stairs” — steep, narrow, old-house stairs that even seasoned pups side-eye. 👀😂 Robin had never navigated stairs before, so he needed a minute (or two) to size them up and gather his courage.

With a little patience, some gentle encouragement from Dr. Andy, and a few expert demonstrations from Groot and Lu, Robin took his time, figured out his footing, and made it down all on his own. 💛🐶

New experiences can be tricky, but with support, modeling, and zero pressure, even “death stairs” become doable. We’re so proud of this sweet, thoughtful boy. ❤️

12/02/2025

✨ GIVING TUESDAY✨
Today we put our money where our values are — because **setting dogs up for success starts with education, compassion, and support**. 💛📘

We made a Giving Tuesday donation to our friends at **A Sound Beginning Program**, whose work we deeply believe in. Their approach helps newly adopted dogs feel safe, understood, and supported during those first fragile days in a new home — a philosophy that aligns beautifully with everything we do at Do Better Training. 🐾💕

For just **$60**, they’ll send **TEN** copies of their “Adopting a Dog?” book to *any* shelter or rescue you choose. That’s TEN families starting off on the right paw. TEN dogs getting a softer landing. TEN chances for success. 🐶➡️🏡

If you’re able, we’d love for you to join us in supporting this incredible program today. Together we can make those first few steps into a new life a little easier, a little gentler, and a lot more successful. ✨

12/02/2025

🏡🧡 Sleepover night for Robin! 🧡🏡
Our sweet adoptable friend Robin from A.D.O.P.T. Pet Shelter is spending the night at Dr. Andy’s house! 🌙🐶

Getting the chance to relax in a home setting lets us learn how he feels and functions outside the shelter — and like any good dog, settling in takes time. 💛✨
We’re giving him space, comfort, and lots of gentle support while he gets used to the sights, sounds, and rhythms of home life.

We’re really excited to have him here and to help him take this next little step. 🧡🐾
Sleepovers are such an important way to set dogs up for long-term success, and we’re grateful to partner with ADOPT Pet Shelter to give Robin this experience.

11/27/2025

🦃✨ Happy Thanksgiving from Do Better Training! ✨🦃

Today our pups celebrated the holiday the Do Better way — with enrichment, yummy (dog-safe!) treats, and lots of fall-themed fun! 🍂🐶💛

Our four-legged friends enjoyed:
🍎 Bobbing for apples & baby carrots — splashy, silly enrichment at its finest!
🍁 Sniffing a cranberry-scented Thanksgiving tablecloth — seasonal sniffs = big happy snoots!
📸 Photos in their stylish fall bandanas — because enrichment and fashion can coexist.
🥕🧡 A festive tasting plate featuring dehydrated sweet potato, fresh carrots & green beans, freeze-dried turkey, and — for those with strong tummies — a tiny slice of dog-safe pumpkin pie with a splash of whipped cream. 🥧✨

We are so thankful for our community, our pups, and the joy they bring us every single day. 💛🐾
Wishing you a safe, cozy, and wag-filled Thanksgiving!