Training with Heart & Cookies

11/06/2025

The day may be almost done, but the love we shared with our pets who have gone to the bridge never ends. Share a pic of your loved ones who have gone so we can celebrate the gift of them !

11/06/2025

Today was a great day for Tadsaw training!

Congratulations to Team Rocky and Team Christa for earning their AKC Community Canine ( CGCA) certification today!

Team Tofu completed a mock test for her Canine Good citizen certification and did great! Tofu is a graduate of the Pups in Pen program and has just started her journey to become a service dog! She got a great foundation at the prison and now is progressing well under the guidance of her handler

And finally, Team Atlas has joined the Tadsaw family and is training to be a medical alert dog. This gorgeous collie is still a youngster but is already showing off some excellent skills and focus!

29/05/2025

Check this out! Tofu ( formerly Sally) is a graduate of our Pups in the Pen program, and now she is starting her journey to be trained as a service dog with Tadsaw...
From shelter dog to a goal achieved by her inmate handler - to service dog...second chances change lives!

Dog and Cat Networking Agents
Heart of Copper Dog Training

26/05/2025

All proceeds from these will support the Pups in the Pen program... And our current pups definitely look regal!

19/05/2025

I've been a little slack with social media lately- mainly just because I've been having too much fun with my clients. I'm out of town this week, but wanted to show an update for this little cutie. A rescue with unknown history, this little lady barked at me for an entire session when we first met....people, cars, trash cans, anything moving, dogs- all terrifying. Her family made the commitment to do the work required to help her get more comfortable in the big world around her...and they hit it out of the park! This video is from our most recent session. We had decided to go to the Evans Market and just stay on the outskirts to see how her thresholds held up! She was ready to explore, say hello to some new people and even walk with my Cinnamon next to her and behind her! So so proud of this little family!
Behavior Modification isn't about obedience, or suppressing a behavior we don't like, it's about helping a dog handle their emotions, teaching them that they are safe, and giving them time to process the environment. I can't wait for our next adventure to see her progress!

13/05/2025

The other day in training we talked about Hope, and finding our purpose...this inmate and his tiny partner are the perfect illustration of hope and purpose.

Pups in the Pen

The Little Dog with the Mighty Heart

Charlie B isn’t just a dog. She’s a long-haired black and white Chihuahua with the soul of a guardian angel and the heart of a lion. And though she weighs barely five pounds, she carries with her the strength to heal, to comfort, and to bring peace—especially to one man whose life she forever changed.

JD has been incarcerated for nearly four decades. Yet ask anyone who knows him, and they’ll tell you: he is a light in that place. A man of deep faith with a heart anchored in grace. He’s a problem solver, a peacemaker, and someone who believes in the good in others—even when life hasn’t been kind. He encourages those around him to be their best selves, no matter their past or the size of their mistakes.

But even the strongest souls can grow weary. Even the most faithful hearts can lose direction. JD was approaching one of those moments when Charlie B entered his life—a tiny rescue dog in need of healing. Neither of them knew it at the time, but they were about to save each other.

Placed together through the prison’s dog foster program, their bond was instant. JD didn’t just care for Charlie—he understood her. Her past fears, her need for gentleness, her quiet loyalty. And Charlie didn’t just follow JD—she chose him. Every day since, she has remained faithfully at his side, whether curled beneath his desk at the library or curled against his chest during the quiet moments of prayer.

Charlie has her own little sofa in the library where she welcomes visitors with her soft eyes and tiny wagging tail. Sometimes she’s under JD’s desk, and sometimes she steals Mr. Red’s chair and waits for love. She’s become a staff favorite, often spending time in the counselors’ office, spreading calm wherever she goes.

But her true magic lives in her bond with JD. Together, they’ve brought peace to others—offering comfort to fellow inmates going through dark seasons, showing what kindness looks like even in a place often filled with pain. JD may be the one officially behind bars, but Charlie B is the one who truly set him free. Free to feel purpose again. Free to give and receive love. Free to keep believing that his life still matters.

In return, JD has never stopped showing up—for Charlie, for others, and for himself. Despite nearly four decades behind prison walls, he hasn’t given up. His strength is quiet but unshakable. His spirit is unbreakable. And his love for one little dog has become a story of healing the world needs to hear.

Together, JD and Charlie B are more than handler and therapy dog.

They are living proof that love redeems, hope restores, and second chances come in the most unexpected forms—sometimes on four tiny legs and with a heart far bigger than her size.

As writer Jack Kornfield once said:
“In the end, just three things matter: how well we have lived, how well we have loved, and how well we have learned to let go.”

JD and Charlie B are living all three—one quiet day, one healing moment, and one unbreakable bond at a time.

03/05/2025

The next pup headed to the Pen for some life changing time with the inmates- it is truly amazing to watch the dogs blossom under their care!

Mali the Pekingese is starting a brand-new chapter—and it’s going to be life-changing.

This tiny 7-lb girl spent her early years as a breeder dog. Sadly, when she could no longer produce puppies, she was discarded. But that’s where her rescue journey began—and oh, what a journey it’s been.

Thanks to a loving foster home, Mali has already started to come out of her shell. Now, she’s taking the next big step and heading into our Pups in the Pen program, where she’ll be paired with one of our most gifted handlers. Known as the “dog whisperer,” he has a true gift with fearful dogs and those needing emotional healing.

We can’t wait to watch Mali blossom under his care. From broken beginnings to a future filled with confidence and love—this little girl is on her way.

Stay tuned for updates on her transformation!

30/04/2025

Paco is the king of the yard with his adorable face and huge personality! Pic of Charlie and Paco together in the comments - they are besties and too cute for words! Will they get their happy ending soon too? Could it be you?

Meet Paco — the handsome heart-stealer with a Chihuahua-sized body and a lion-sized spirit!

This little guy didn’t have the easiest start. He tested positive for heartworms and is undergoing slow-kill treatment. Down the road, he may need knee surgery for luxating patella, but right now? Paco’s zoomies are in full effect and he’s living his best life.

Currently bunking in our Pups in the Pen prison foster program, Paco shares his cell with his best friend Charlie — the resident therapy dog and a fellow Chihuahua. These two rule the prison yard, nap like champs, and even clock in for shifts at the library. It's a romance for the ages!

But Paco’s ready to bust out and find his forever. He’d love a soft spot on your couch and a warm lap to replace Charlie’s. A female companion would be perfect for this charming boy… unless you want to keep the dream team together and adopt both Paco and Charlie?

Located in Augusta, GA
Out-of-state adoptions welcome (transport not provided)
Apply now: www.dognetworkingagents.org

Let’s get this boy home — he’s earned it.

18/02/2025

I think this is the hardest part of having a sensitive dog- understanding that walks can wait... we protect our dogs from other things , but struggle to reconcile that walks are not always beneficial... there are plenty of other ways to provide exercise and enrichment that can be enjoyable for both the human and dog!

I think this is one of the biggest realisations that can help people living with sensitive and complex dogs who struggle with things they encounter in the world around them, that the daily walk isn't absolutely mandatory.

Yes, we need to find other ways to physically and mentally stimulate them, but going out into a world they struggle with day after day so that they (and we) are never able to truly recover and return to a real sense of calm is not helping either of us.

Find a secure field somewhere they can run around and explore in safety and both of us can relax.

Do some training at home.

Try some food puzzles (pitched to a level where your dog can succeed with a little work).

Maybe a little bit of fun agility in the garden, or some doggy parkour.

Scentwork exercises around the house and garden (one of my personal favourites with all my dogs).

Anything that exercises body and mind will help to keep them contented and happy while taking a break from going out into that world they find so difficult.

Once we have both had a chance to recharge and de-stress then we can start planning a return to walking in a way that will help our dogs to feel safer in the world.