In Good Paws Dog Training

08/15/2024

My dog and I are heading to the mountains for some R & R- we'll be back on 8/31.

Have a great couple weeks and happy training!

04/14/2024

NW1 and NW2 trial volunteers needed for April 27th and 28th at Jack Nicol Cub Scout Camp in Red Feather Lakes, CO. NW1 is on Saturday 4/27, and NW2 is on Sunday 4/28.

If you are not registered for these trials, but want to help or get experience with a trial (great before you ever go to one), I highly recommend signing up to help with either date. The trial is being hosted by Beyond Elevation Dog Sports and Training.

You can sign up for NW1 volunteering here: https://forms.wix.com/f/7143652636732948489
You can sign up for NW2 volunteering here: https://forms.wix.com/f/7143652736641270209

04/01/2024

Do you have a dog that barks and lunges at others on leash? Or do they forget you exist the moment you walk out the door? We have the class for you!

Control Unleashed: Basics is a 4 week small group class that gives your dog focus and control even in the face of distractions. Get ready to feel confident and happy taking your dog out into the world!

We have a new class starting in person on April 14th at 10:00am at Team Spirit Agility in Arvada.

To make sure the class is a good fit for your dog, we require a 30-minute instructor evaluation prior to registration. Schedule your evaluation by filling out the form below, so you can sign up for the next CU:Basics class. (Evaluations last 30 minutes and cost $75; you come away with great management tools as well as two exercises to practice with your dog to work on their challenges right away).

Schedule an evaluation: https://portal.busypaws.app/customers/in-good-paws-dog-training/forms_and_contracts/new?id=788
For more information about our Control Unleashed offerings in general, check out our website: https://www.ingoodpawsdt.com/control-unleashed/

Don't wait! Get scheduled for your CU eval today!

02/05/2024

Some cool offerings are coming to The Veterinary Behavior Center. If you join, let them know we sent you 🙂 https://www.vetbehaviorcenter.com/classes

Relaxation: the 6 D’s
In this virtual group class, you will learn our 6 D’s relaxation protocol designed by Dr. Ariel Fagen, DVM, DACVB. Whether you are hoping for a relaxed athlete on the sideline at a sporting event, a consistent signal to inform your enthusiastic dog that it’s time to chill, or a reliable way to help your dog decompress, this class is for you!
Instructor: Danielle Winkelman, KPA-CTP, ACDBC
Sundays 4:00pm - 5:00pm MST
Virtual zoom link provided upon registration
Starting February 25th for 6 weeks

Rattlesnake Avoidance
Warm weather is right around the corner, and you’ll be out and about with your pup! Don’t let the fear of a snake encounter keep you off the trails! Join us for this 2-part class where you will learn about snake behavior and safety, in addition to skills that you and your dog will develop together such as pairing the scent, sight, and/or sound of a snake with a learned signal to come back to you. The goal is for your dog to reflexively move away from snakes- we’ll help you accomplish this in a fear-free, reward-based way!
April 24th & May 19th
1) Virtual Foundations Session: April 24th, 6pm-7pm MST- important background information and foundational skills that will set you and your canine companion up for success
2) In-Person Workshop: May 19th, 9:30am-11:30am MST, at our clinic in Boulder- a live session with snake skins used as decoys to teach your dog to keep their distance and come back to you
Instructor: Amy Creaven, KPA-CTP
*No snakes or dogs were harmed or will be harmed in the production of this workshop.

Veterinary behaviorists are trained in all species, not just dogs and cats. Nothing gets us more thrilled than the chance to use our unique skills to help animals in human care from all sorts of backgrounds. See what our expertise can bring to your animal care program.

01/13/2024

Brrrr! It's cold outside! Too cold to safely go for a walk :(

Looking for ideas to keep your energetic or bored dog (and yourself) sane during these cold winter days? Look no further than our Intro to Nose Work on demand, self-paced online course! Give your dog a new activity from the comfort of your own home using only cardboard boxes and treats.

Learn more about this course (which includes the ability to ask questions throughout and provides you access to an exclusive Facebook community) or sign up today using this link: https://www.ingoodpawsdt.com/online-course-intro-to-nose-work/

12/06/2023

Happy holidays from the In Good Paws Dog Training Team.

We wanted to share our most recent handout about Holiday Dog Prep Tips. Check out the pictures below for some helpful tips to keep your dogs safe and happy this holiday season!

11/06/2023

New Intro to Nose Work class starts tomorrow 11/7 at 7:00pm! Our 6 week Intro to Nose Work class introduces your dog to this fun sport using treats and boxes to build drive, independent searching skills, and confidence while teaching you important observation skills as their handler. Your instructor is our wonderful trainer, Kara!

Class is held from 7-8pm at Rocky Mountain Dog Training's facility in Broomfield on the following dates: 11/7, 11/14, 11/21, 11/28, 12/12, and 12/19. We only have 2 spots left (small group class limited to 5 dogs; cost $195). Sign up today using this link: https://portal.busypaws.app/customers/in-good-paws-dog-training/online_bookings/select_time?booking_attempt_id=727394&selected_location_id=486&selected_series_id=388

We normally have a long waitlist, so don't miss out on the fun!

11/01/2023

I wanted to announce that I have finished all the submissions and education pieces for NACSW's (National Association of Canine Scent Work) K9 Nose Work instructor program and I am officially a CNWI (Certified Nose Work Instructor).

I am so happy to continue my education and improve my skills so I can give my students the best instruction possible. Excited to start working on some online courses for 2024!

10/30/2023

New Control Unleashed class starts November 12th-- last class before the new year!

Do you have a dog that barks and lunges at others on leash? Or do they forget you exist the moment you walk out the door? We have the class for you!

Control Unleashed: Basics is a 4 week small group class that gives your dog focus and control even in the face of distractions. Get ready to feel confident and happy taking your dog out into the world!

We have a new class starting in person on November 12th at 10:00am at Team Spirit Agility in Arvada.

To make sure the class is a good fit for your dog, we require a 30 minute instructor evaluation prior to registration. Schedule your evaluation by filling out the form below, so you can sign up for the next CU:Basics class. (Evaluations last 30 minutes and cost $75; you come away with great management tools as well as two exercises to practice with your dog to work on their challenges right away).

Schedule an evaluation: https://portal.busypaws.app/customers/in-good-paws-dog-training/forms_and_contracts/new?id=788
For more information about our Control Unleashed offerings in general, check out our website: https://www.ingoodpawsdt.com/control-unleashed/
Don't wait! Get scheduled for your CU eval today!

10/25/2023

We had a blast at the event at Coda Brewing this weekend! The dogs really loved our Trick r’ Treat station and getting to do our confidence building course. Everyone looked great in their Halloween costumes too 🎃Thanks to for putting on such a fine time for humans and dogs alike!

10/02/2023

Do you like beer and dog activities? Then join us at the Howl-o-ween event by Dogs Colorado held at Coda Brewing on Sunday 10/22 from 1pm-6pm.

There will be a dog costume contest, doggy treat trunk, pet photography and adoptable dogs. We'll be there hosting a confidence building obstacle course and a Trick r' Treat taste test for your dogs. A percentage of the sales from the beer of the day will be donated to the rescue POSO Dog Rescue.

It's a great time of year to enjoy fall with your doggo, we hope to see you and your event friendly dogs there. If your dog is the type that prefers to stay home, we hope to at least see you there :)

07/24/2023

TLDR: Come to Nibbles and Yips awesome launch party on Saturday August 19th from 10am-3pm at Carpenter Park (West Pavilion) in Thornton for some fun, food, prizes, free nail trims and more! In Good Paws will also be there offering some trainer Q & As!

I am excited to let you all know that I met a wonderful pet sitter in the Thornton area. Amanda owns and runs Nibbles and Yips, a concierge pet care company that operates in Thornton. For many of you living here, you know pet sitters can be hard to find in this area. Well look no further than Amanda, who sees your pups as a part of her family too!

It was really refreshing to get to connect with her over coffee and find out how passionate she is about providing the best care for your furry family member while you are away (whether for your work day or on a trip).

Nibbles and Yips is holding their official launch party on Saturday August 19th from 10am-3pm at Carpenter Park (West Pavilion) in Thornton. See flyer for details! Please come support two local small businesses at 1 fun event :)

05/01/2023

Do you have a dog that barks and lunges at others on leash? Or do they forget you exist the moment you walk out the door? We have the class for you!

Control Unleashed: Basics is a 4 week small group class that gives your dog focus and control even in the face of distractions. Get ready to feel confident and happy taking your dog out into the world!

We have a new classes starting regularly in person (held on Sunday mornings) at Team Spirit Agility in Arvada.

To make sure the class is a good fit for your dog, we require a 30 minute instructor evaluation prior to registration. Schedule your evaluation by filling out the form below, so you can sign up for the next CU:Basics class. (Evaluations last 30 minutes and cost $75; you come away with great management tools as well as two exercises to practice with your dog to work on their challenges right away).

Schedule an evaluation: https://portal.busypaws.app/customers/in-good-paws-dog-training/forms_and_contracts/new?id=788

For more information about our Control Unleashed offerings in general, check out our website: https://www.ingoodpawsdt.com/control-unleashed/
Don't wait! Get scheduled for your CU eval today!

03/17/2023

I get this question a lot, "What do I do if a loose dog charges up to my dog while out on a walk?". This Whole Dog Journal article has some great options- I suggest reading it and coming up with a plan ahead of time so you know what to do if this happens to you.
*One suggestion I don't care for in this article is to find a fenced yard with an unlocked gate to quickly escape into. Though the article does recommend making sure there are no dogs in there first, this one seems quite risky to me. Lots of people have dog doors and while there might not be a dog in the yard in when you first go in, if you sneak in the yard the dog in the house might hear and come charging out-- creating another dangerous situation. Also, understandably many people would not be very comfortable with a stranger just coming into their yard and it could create another type of conflict.
I'd personally avoid using this strategy and plan on the other quality suggestions in the article. Tip: training your dog to be comfortable with whatever strategy you use ahead of time is super important!
https://www.whole-dog-journal.com/behavior/what-to-do-if-loose-dog-is-coming-at-you-and-your-dog/?utm_content=buffer8c4fa&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer&fbclid=IwAR3cMriIOuav8LQoZLTCBlnJh-hsCxK71lW0NcM9ws3TC8vFSVjm8mHfSTs

What do you do if an off-leash dog approaches you while you are walking a dog? Make a plan today, learn more.

03/03/2023

New dates/times! Do you have a dog that barks and lunges at others on leash? Or do they forget you exist the moment you walk out the door? We have the class for you!

Control Unleashed: Basics is a 4 week small group class that gives your dog focus and control even in the face of distractions. Get ready to feel confident and happy taking your dog out into the world!

We have a new class starting in person on March 12th running Sundays at 10:00am at Team Spirit Agility in Arvada.

To make sure the class is a good fit for your dog, we require a 30 minute instructor evaluation prior to registration. Schedule your evaluation by filling out the form below, so you can sign up for the next CU:Basics class. (Evaluations last 30 minutes and cost $75; you come away with great management tools as well as two exercises to practice with your dog to work on their challenges right away).

Schedule an evaluation: https://portal.busypaws.app/customers/in-good-paws-dog-training/forms_and_contracts/new?id=788

For more information about our Control Unleashed offerings in general, check out our website: https://www.ingoodpawsdt.com/control-unleashed/
Don't wait! Get scheduled for your CU eval today!

02/17/2023

Such a good reminder! I meet so many puppy parents who just want to do the best for their puppies and keep them safe. But I frequently find this obsessive desire of humans to sn**ch things from their pups creates WAY more issues. Read on and don't be afraid to let your puppy explore the world!

Please. For the love of dogs everywhere, stop taking everything out of your puppies mouth. You’re often creating more problems than you’re solving.

Puppies put everything in their mouths the way newly crawling or walking babies do. It’s the age of exploration and discovery and inquisitive little minds with teething little mouths means everything must be tasted. This is 100% normal developmental behavior. It shouldn’t be punished or discouraged.

When we sn**ch things out of their mouths, or chase them or grab it away from them, we run the risk of several issues, the top two being -

1. We teach our puppy that anything they have could be lost the second a human comes near, and that can very quickly snowball into resource guarding - which is already a natural behavior - but we are actually just encouraging it by validating to our puppy that they lose things when we are around. This is especially true in homes with children and toys out all the time. Then this spirals into all kinds of relationship issues down the road.

2. We can teach our puppy the best thing they can do is INHALE the item so they don’t lose it. This gets dangerous and ugly very quickly. It can also create puppies and dogs to then not even think but just grab consume.

Leaves, sticks, grass, mud, dust bunnies, socks (depending on your puppies size), shoes, all the things within reach are fair game for mouthing and chewing on. And yes, I let my puppies explore them all. Their teeth and jaws at this infantile stage aren’t going to do extreme harm to an item right now, so go head and feel what a shoe sole feels like, get it out of your system. If I don’t want certain things explored, I keep those things out of reach, end of story. Management and supervision is key to safety at this age. Baby gates, playpens, even only pottying in areas of the yard where there’s no gravel. The ONLY things I will readily tackle my puppy over is medicine and/or broken glass. Everything else, even if it’s something I truly don’t want them to have, like a pair of underwear or a doll, I take my time in retrieving it, but more often than not, the puppy will spit it out anyway and move on to graze on the next thing they can find, especially if I toss something more interesting nearby. (Drop that stick to come chase this leaf on the ground)

The majority of puppies will explore the item with their mouth, shred it if they can, then move on to something else to repeat this process with. IF they consume any of it, it’s usually very minor and they will p**p it out later. We have to remember dogs have been existing for 18,000 years, 80% of them still living the way they always have, and going through this stage just fine, our human interventions are not always needed, even though we mean well and are trying to help.

Of course there are exceptions to this, and in those cases we have other solutions, but the majority of puppies I see exploring with their mouths DONT a need hands constantly grabbing them and removing it out of their jaws. If you find yourself doing that all the time, it may be on YOU to manage the environment better!

This process combines with the work we teach in all our puppy classes of having a puppy HAPPY to have you approach them when they are enjoying something in their mouth. We call it the “exchange game” where we teach how to trade. But we also teach the puppy we don’t always take it away either. This helps puppies feel safe in letting you take something from them by learning they won’t ALWAYS lose it.

So, long story short, let your puppy - puppy. Grab a leaf, lay in the grass and shred it. Then find a stick to chew on. We have to get better at picking our battles with dogs if we are both as a species going to enjoy our time together.

Editing this post to add - I’d hope it would be obvious but apparently it’s not, so please know in no way shape or form am I encouraging or saying it’s okay to let your puppy chew or mouth dangerous objects or to leave them unsupervised in places that may have serious objects in them. Environments have to be managed just the same way they are for babies, as I mentioned above, and puppies/dogs need to be supervised. I am however, stating that we have to stop helicoptering around puppies that are just being puppies in order to help alieviate some of the behavior problems that develop from not the managing itself; but the micro managing.

02/13/2023

Do your arms hurt from hanging on for dear life while walking your dog? Or do they bark and lunge on leash as others pass by? Or maybe your dog just lacks in manners across the board? Dog training can be hard—we make it easy!

With our new Done-For-You Day Training packages, you leave the tough stuff to us so you can skip to the good part: a well-behaved dog you love to spend time with. We come to your home and work directly with your dog 3 day a week. At the end of each week, you’ll join a transfer session to build your skills so you can keep those newly-learned behaviors going after your package is done.

We’d never leave you hanging! At the end of each package, we have two follow-up sessions to check in on progress and further refine your dog’s skills so they last a lifetime.

We offer day training for basic manners, puppies, loose leash walking, polite greetings, crate training, leash reactivity and more!

If you love your dog, but are feeling frustrated by a few of his less-than-cute behaviors, we’ve got your covered. To learn more about our Done-For-You Day Training packages or to get scheduled for your initial consult, visit us at www.ingoodpawsdt.com/private-dog-training

02/13/2023

It's really cool to see massive organizations like Guide Dogs for the Blind make the shift to positive training and see how powerful it is for both humans and dogs! My favorite stat is that using old school methods, only 45-50% of dogs would make it to guide dog status, while using positive reinforcement methods, 60-85% made it to guide dog status! Those are numbers you can take to the bank :)

Check out the full article and the amazing transformation Guide Dogs for the Blind made here:

https://thebark.com/content/guide-dogs-blind?mibextid=S66gvF&fbclid=IwAR00tpVmh0WWO_GEjgrv7X7LaeC4dKWIGyupxuvS1Jvg2Ccc7qpm5fyzojM

In the dog-training world, “crossing over” refers to switching from using old-school traditional training methods (catching the dog making a mistake and correcting that mistake) to modern positive- reinforcement methods (catching the dog doing something right and rewarding those good choices).

02/13/2023

This is a great reminder for us all! When you are out and about (even at a dog park), remember that not all dogs want to say hi to new people and get pets. Those who do will be very obvious about it.

Respect that decision- dogs deserve the right to say no too :)

02/02/2023

This is really important to understand. So many dogs are put into situations they are uncomfortable with. It's not only unfair to the dogs, but can lead to bites that don't need to happen. Love the phrase "Hands off hello"!

01/13/2023

There is a canine first aid/CPR class on February 18th at Bee a Good Dog's training facility in Broomfield. If you haven't ever taken a canine first aid/CPR class before or you need a refresher, I highly recommend this one (and quick tip, sign up for lifetime access-- I myself am going to repeat it for free because I purchased lifetime access and am so happy I did).

For more info or to sign up:

Into: Join us at Bee a Good Dog training facility for a full day of getting K9 First-aid and CPR certified! Maureen offers a wide range of training through game-based training, tricks, canine condi…

09/08/2022

Do you have a dog that barks and lunges at others on leash? Are you embarrassed by their antics and wish you could just enjoy being out and about with them? We have the class for you!

Control Unleashed: Basics is a 4 week small group class that gives your dog focus and control even in the face of distractions. Get ready to feel confident and happy taking your dog out into the world!

We have a new class starting in person on October 2nd running Sundays at 11:30am at Team Spirit Agility in Arvada.

To make sure the class is a good fit for your dog, we require a 30 minute instructor evaluation prior to registration. Schedule your evaluation by filling out the form below, so you can sign up for the next CU:Basics class. (Evaluations last 30 minutes and cost $75; you come away with great management tools as well as two exercises to practice with your dog to work on their challenges right away).

Schedule an evaluation:
https://portal.busypaws.app/customers/in-good-paws-dog-training/forms_and_contracts/new?id=788

For more information about our Control Unleashed offerings in general, check out our website: https://www.ingoodpawsdt.com/control-unleashed/

Don't wait! We take a holiday hiatus during November and December- get started on your dog's skills today!

06/27/2022

Do you have a dog that barks and lunges at others on leash? Are you embarrassed by their antics and wish you could just enjoy being out and about with them? We have the class for you!
Control Unleashed: Basics is a small group class that gives your dog focus and control even in the face of distractions. This 4 week class includes an on-demand, self-paced virtual orientation prior to the start of class so you can come prepared and confident on week 1. We have a new class starting in person on July 17th running Sundays at 11:30am at Team Spirit Agility in Arvada.

To make sure the class is a good fit for your dog, we require a 30 minute instructor evaluation prior to registration. Schedule your evaluation by filling out the form below, so you can sign up for the next CU:Basics class. (Evaluations last 30 minutes and cost $75; you come away with great management tools as well as two exercises to practice with your dog to work on their challenges right away).

Schedule an evaluation: https://portal.busypaws.app/customers/in-good-paws-dog-training/forms_and_contracts/new?id=788

For more information about our Control Unleashed offerings in general, check out our website: https://www.ingoodpawsdt.com/control-unleashed/

06/18/2022

Do you have a dog that barks and lunges at others on leash? Are you embarrassed by their antics and wish you could just enjoy being out and about with them? We have the class for you!

Control Unleashed: Basics is a small group class that gives your dog focus and control even in the face of distractions. This 4 week class includes a virtual orientation prior to the start of class so you can come prepared and confident on week 1. We have a new class starting on July 10th running Sundays at 10am at Team Spirit Agility in Arvada.

To make sure the class is a good fit for your dog, we require a 30 minute instructor evaluation prior to registration. Schedule your evaluation by emailing [email protected] so you can sign up for the next CU:Basics class. (Evaluations last 30 minutes and cost $75; you come away with great management tools as well as two exercises to practice with your dog to work on their challenges right away).

For more information about our Control Unleashed offerings in general, check out our website: https://www.ingoodpawsdt.com/control-unleashed/

02/21/2022

Have you taken an Intro to Nose Work class (teaching your dog the game using food or toys)? Ready for the next step?

A new Intro to Odor class is starting on Monday 2/28 at 5pm. Held at Rocky Mountain Dog Training in Broomfield, classes are limited to 5 dogs and run for 6 consecutive weeks for $195.

For more info or to get started, check out: https://www.ingoodpawsdt.com/nose-work/ -intro

01/05/2022

Ready to tackle your dog's reactivity and distractability? Do you want to help your dog feel more comfortable in social situations? Give them tools to focus and relax on their own?

Our newly designed Control Unleashed classes might be right for you! Schedule an instructor evaluation today to see if Control Unleashed: Basics is a good first step on your training journey. In these small group classes, you get 2 instructors for more support and step by step training guidance to help you and your dog see tangible improvement. Check out all the details on our website at: https://www.ingoodpawsdt.com/control-unleashed/

12/26/2021

As we get into the holiday season, let's remember that consent is a huge issue for dogs. For example, while you may know and trust your human framily and want to be close to them, your dog's boundaries may be different and they need your help. Your dog may need space and time to get acquainted or may not want to be there at all.

Dogs and people can learn to navigate consent in both directions:

- Entering a dog’s space bubble (including touch, sound, with body or devices.)

- Dog entering someone else’s space bubble (including touch, sound, etc.)

Dogs often enjoy touch and invite us to enter their space bubble for play or affection. Different dogs have a different bubble, ranging from -1 meter (“I want to crawl inside your belly and be your baby”) to hundreds of meters away (“All humans terrify me, please go away!”). The size of the space bubble is contextual, meaning that it changes based on the situation.

****
You can learn more about consent in my webinar, "Don't Just Grab the Pussycat" - school.grishastewart.com/courses/consent

As always, this webinar is included with a Diamond membership.

For Accessibility:

Image: cat rubbing top of head into the face of a Golden Retriever, who is lying down.

Text: "Consent is not a one-and-done. It’s an active flow of permission back and forth." - Grisha Stewart

12/23/2021

The In Good Paws crew wants to wish you a happy holiday season for you and your pups. Here are some quick tips to stay safe:

-Avoid giving your dogs too many table scraps. Fatty foods can lead to pancreatitis; instead stick to small amounts of healthy treats to spoil your dog.

-For those with nervous pups, allow them a space to retreat to away from guests. Give them snuffle mats or lickimats as calming enrichment activities.

-A tired dog is a good dog. Make time in your day to give your dog some exercise so they will be calmer and happier throughout the festivities.

See below for a picture of my pup last Christmas time. (Remember snow???❄️)

Happy holidays! 🎉

11/02/2021

New Intro to Odor class starts on Sunday 11/14 at 3:30pm! Class is held at Team Spirit Agility for 6 consecutive weeks ($195), run time is 60 minutes, limit is 5 dogs. This class is for dogs who have completed Intro to Nose Work (NACSW style training).

Please DM me or email if you want to join ([email protected]).

10/27/2021

There is starting to be a chill in the air as we head into fall. What a perfect time to play nose work with our dogs!

Here is a video of my advanced dog doing his nose work thing outside with our Halloween decorations (very festive 😁). *Pardon the video quality- between the leash handling, watching him search and treating there are some bumpy moments. But I felt it was fun enough to share.*

Do any of you have videos of your pups doing nose work or something fun you want to share?

Happy sniffing!