Do Better Training

04/25/2025

🎉 Way to go, Remy! 🐾 This young Aussie joined us for a Behavior Boost board & train to work on loose leash walking, reactivity, and confidence building — and wow, did he shine! 🌟

Progress takes time, and Remy is well on his way 💫 He made HUGE strides during his stay—from peaceful forest preserve walks 🌳 to neighborhood strolls 🏡 and even exploring the Geneva Commons 🛍️ — this brave boy handled it all like a champ 💪🐕

We’re so proud of Remy and excited to continue supporting his progress as he takes his new skills home 🐶💛

04/24/2025

Our amazing clients are truly the best 🥹💛 We’re so grateful to everyone who donates gently used beds, toys, blankets, and more for the pups here at the center and for our rescue partners 🐾

Willow, one of our regular stars 🌟, stopped by with her parents to drop off some goodies—and Groot (Dr. Andy’s right-hand pup 🐶) immediately claimed a cozy bed for himself 😴 This hardworking boy needs a comfy spot to rest his old bones during breaks, and it looks like he found his favorite place 🥰

Thank you to the whole Do Better family for always supporting us and the wider rescue community 💕

04/17/2025

These past few weeks have brought both heartbreak and new beginnings. After saying goodbye to Dr. Andy’s beloved dog Carmen—affectionately known as 🤎 Brown 🤎—we’re holding space for both grief and love.

This week, we’re also welcoming someone very special: Sparrow 🪶.

Sparrow has been Rios’s pasturemate for five years, and during that time, Dr. Andy quietly fell in love 💕 with her. When Sparrow’s family needed to rehome her, it felt like fate.

She’s never been ridden and has a history of being unsure with handling, but she’s officially beginning her positive reinforcement journey—with patience, curiosity, and kindness leading the way.

Sparrow will be a part of the Do Better Training family now, and we’re excited to share updates as she settles in and starts her training.

While there will never be another like Brown, loving Sparrow is one of the ways Dr. Andy is honoring her—by continuing to stay open, present, and full of love.

Welcome home, Sparrow. We’re so glad you’re here.

04/16/2025

Pepper’s a ⭐️ Puppy Primer Graduate! 🎓

This spunky little pup just wrapped up her Puppy Primer Board and Train program—and WOW did she shine!

While she was with us, Pepper focused on:
✨ Loose leash walking like a pro
✨ Keeping those adorable paws to herself
✨ Showing off all her brand new good girl skills with SO much enthusiasm!

She worked hard, had fun, and charmed absolutely everyone she met. We’re so proud of how far she’s come and can’t wait to see her continue growing into a confident, curious, and engaged adult dog!

Way to go, Pepper! We’ll miss you, sweet girl!

04/15/2025

👑Confident King 👑

Remy is an athletic 👟 Aussie is staying with us for our Behavior Boost Board and Train program, where he’s working on reducing leash 🐕‍🦺 reactivity, building confidence with new people, and finding positive, productive ways to burn off that classic high-energy Aussie buzz🤪!

One of our favorite confidence-building games?
Puppy Parkour!

So what is Puppy Parkour?

It’s like doggy gymnastics—encouraging pups to jump up, balance, crawl under, or weave through everyday obstacles like logs 🪵, benches 🪑, and playground 🛝 equipment.

Why do we love it?

Because it helps dogs like Remy:

🧠 Build confidence in new environments
⚡ Use their energy in focused, enriching ways
🐾 Engage with their surroundings thoughtfully
❤️ Strengthen their relationship with their humans

Remy crushed his first session—navigating platforms, pausing on cue, and showing off just how smart and capable he really is. Go, Remy, go!

04/15/2025

Scoop got SWABBED!

Our favorite mystery mutt, Mr. Scoop Scooperson, just took the plunge into the world of doggy DNA 🧬 testing!

Scoop was abandoned at a local doggie daycare before finding his forever home 🏡 with Dr. Andy, and to this day—we have no idea what kind of pup he really is… or how old he might be!

But that’s about to change! The swabs are in the mail 📬and now we wait ⏲️… impatiently

So let’s have some fun while we wait!

What’s your best guess for Scoop’s breed(s) and age?🤷

Is he part lab? Part marshmallow 🍧? Full-time sweetie?

Drop your guesses in the comments!

Let the Scoop Speculation 🤔 begin!


Stay tuned for the big reveal!

04/01/2025

Goodbye, Brown Dog💛🐾

Two weeks ago, we thought it was time to say goodbye to Carmen, but in true Carmen fashion, she rallied, giving Dr. Andy and her family a little more time to cherish her. Yesterday, they said their final goodbye, grateful for every extra moment they had.

A heartfelt thank you to Dr. Oriold and Nora from Loyal Companions for their kindness and care in Carmen’s final moments.

Run free, sweet girl. You were so loved. 🌈🐶💖

♥️

03/21/2025

🎉 MOUSE GOT ADOPTED!! 🎉

After 8 months of love, training, and cuddles, our sweet foster Mouse 🐁 has found his forever home! 🏡❤️ This little guy came to us from City of Aurora IL Animal Care and Control last July, and today, he’s starting his next big adventure with his new family! 🐶✨

Mouse stole our hearts with his big personality, love for learning, and adorable snuggles. 💕 We’re beyond thrilled that he’s found a home where he’ll be loved just as much as we love him! 🥹

Thank you to everyone who followed Mouse’s journey, cheered him on, and helped him along the way. Fostering saves lives, and this is why we do what we do! 💙

Have the best life, Mouse—you deserve it!!🎾🐾

03/04/2025

✨📚🐾 Join Us for a Special Book Signing Event! 🐾📚✨

🎤 What’s Happening:
📖 A cozy Book Reading of "Poppy Goes to Dance Class"!
🎨 A fun, interactive Craft to take home!
🐾 Bring a Donation for our friends at Aurora Animal Control– they need our support! 🐶❤️

Let’s come together and celebrate Poppy’s adventure in the most pawsitive way possible! 🐾💃

✨ Event Details:
📅 Date: Sunday, March 10th
⏰ Time: 1:30 PM
📍 Location: Do Better Training

Bring your little ones, furry friends, and hearts full of kindness! ❤️ Let’s make this event a success for the animals at City of Aurora IL Animal Care and Control ! 🐾🐶

03/03/2025

Important reminder from Loyal Companions

Don't learn the hard way—keep toxic treats out of reach! 🍫🐾 This Pet Poison Prevention Month, it’s important to keep harmful foods and substances out of your pet’s reach. Chocolate is just the beginning—common toxins like grapes, raisins, xylitol (found in sugar-free gum), and certain plants can all pose serious risks to your furry friends. Always be mindful of what’s accessible to them! Keep your pets safe and healthy—prevention is key. 🐶🐱💚

03/03/2025

This sweet bebe needs a soft landing

***UPDATE***
Polo is out of here! Thank you to our wonderful community for helping us get him to where he feels safe

03/02/2025

It can be hard to decide 🤔which ball 🏀 is best. Why not take them all?!?

Kirby is our newest board and train from PAWS Chicago. He is enjoying his adjustment/decompression weekend by familiarizing himself with all of the available toys!

03/02/2025

🌿 Giving Our Dogs More Agency 🐾

One of the best things we can do for our dogs is give them more control over their own experiences. Allowing dogs to make choices helps meet their needs, builds confidence, and makes life more enriching!

✨ A simple way to do this? You-Choose Sniffaris! ✨

🌿 Use a long line (10-15 ft)
🐶 Let your dog pick the direction, pace, and sniff spots
⏳ Give them time to fully explore

A sniffari isn’t about distance—it’s about engagement! Sniffing lowers stress, stimulates the brain, and allows dogs to interact with their environment on their terms.

Try it out and see how much your dog loves the freedom! Have you noticed a difference in your dog’s confidence when they get to make choices? Tell us below! 👇💬

03/02/2025

💛 Cherishing Every Moment with Carmen 💛

Our sweet Carmen gave us a scare earlier this week—she seemed tired and defeated, and we thought it was time to say goodbye. But this strong, loving girl rallied and showed us she still has some joy to share! 🐾✨

While our time with her is limited, we want to soak up every extra day we get. For now, Carmen is enjoying cuddles with her family, soaking up the sunshine, and with this warm weather, getting in some extra walks! ☀️🐕‍🦺💛

Every moment is a gift, and we’re holding onto each one. Love you, sweet brown dog. ❤️

03/01/2025

🐾 Finn LOVES to Jump! 🐾

We get it, Finn! Jumping is one of his favorite things to do—so much excitement and energy! 🐕🎉 But... while jumping is perfectly normal for dogs, it can be a bit much when they greet us with all four paws in the air. 😅

So, how do we help Finn learn better manners? Management! 🛑 We use playpens when he's off-leash to help manage his arousal levels and prevent those enthusiastic jumps from becoming overwhelming. Plus, we take every opportunity to reward those four paws on the floor! 🦴

Management is key to setting our pups up for success! When we give them structure and the right tools, they can learn to stay calm and be the polite dogs we know they can be. 😊

Remember: Positive reinforcement + management = happier, calmer pups! 🐶💚

03/01/2025

🐾 Welcome, Kirby! 🐾

Say hello to Kirby, a 6-month-old Doberman mix from PAWS Chicago who just joined us for a two-week Board & Train!🎉🐶 This handsome pup is here to work on impulse control and managing his big feels about other dogs. 💙 With lots of positive reinforcement, fun training sessions, and plenty of enrichment, we can’t wait to help Kirby build confidence and set him up for success!

Stay tuned for updates on this sweet boy’s progress! 🥰✨

02/28/2025

🐶💛 Macaroni: From Zoomies to Zen Master! 💛🐶

Our most recent Board & Train graduate from PAWS Chicago , Macaroni (aka Big Mac, Mac Attack🍔⚡) came to us with zero chill—but now? He’s an expert-level relaxer! 😎✨

After lots of training, enrichment, and learning to take life at a slower pace, this sweet, goofy boy is heading back to PAWS, then on to a foster home, and finally his forever family! 🏡💖 We couldn’t be prouder of you, Mac! Nothing but the best from here on out, buddy! 🥰

02/28/2025

These two golden boys from As Good as Gold - Golden Retriever Rescue of Illinois have made incredible progress in our Board & Train program at Do Better Training, and now they’re ready for the next step—a foster or foster-to-adopt home! 🏡💛

✨ Achilles – Once a nervous, unsure pup, this sweet boy (just over a year old) has blossomed with confidence! He’s eager to explore and would do best with a friendly dog companion to help him navigate the world. Small kids may still be a bit overwhelming for him, so an adult home or one with older children would be ideal. 🐶💕

✨ Charlie – A little over a year old, Charlie is full of personality! 🥰 He thrives in an adult-only home where his family can practice trading to help him feel comfortable sharing his things. When it comes to other dogs? He’s ALL about dog friends and would love a canine companion! 🐕🐾

Both boys must be fostered first before adoption is considered. Could you be the one to help them take the next step? Fostering saves lives! 🏡💖

📩 To foster or foster-to-adopt, contact As Good As Gold Rescue!