The Well Mannered Dog - NJ

08/04/2024

Happy solar eclipse!! And hopefully an end to all the crazy rain 🤞🤞

All I want to do is go enjoy the sun and warm weather in the woods!

It's tough to find the time to get our dogs out for a nice long walk and especially if you include a drive to interesting locations and teaching them new skills while you're out. I get it.

And doggie daycare isn't always a great fit.

Let me take some of the pressure off of you! Sending your dog for hikes are a great, feel-good option to help your dog burn off some energy, come home relaxed, and learn some useful skills for at home and on the road!

05/04/2024

I don't know about you but I'm kinda over the cozy season and going a little stir crazy. And the dogs definitely are, too.

Hopefully they aren't driving you too nuts but I know how it is. The rough housing, not settling down, in and out and in and out and in and out... And the mud 🫠 ooohhh the mud....

We're working on something special over here to help your pups burn off some of that energy, practice training, and get out in nature!

Think daycare but, like....way better 💅

🐾🌲🐾🌲🐾

15/03/2024

Running into hike season like...

14/03/2024

I feel the will to live returning to my body with every drop of sunlight I can suck up today.

21/02/2024

It's been a little quiet around here for half a dozen reasons, but here's the most recent!

The puppies are getting a human 😳👣🐾

27/10/2023

...it's nearly here! 🍂🎃👻🦇🐾

🎶 I ain't afraid of no ghost 🎶

20/09/2023

15/09/2023

Something my training journey has taught me... is that dogs are not that different from us.

They suffer from anxious minds, nervousness, they're socially awkward.

"Fur mom" is a little beyond me, but maybe...the sentiment isn't so far off.

Maybe, just maybe, we ARE able to nurture healthy mindsets and emotional resiliency in our dogs, not just obedient behaviors.

It is possible and it is our responsibility, as their caregivers, to encourage as much emotional growth in them as well as ourselves.

14/09/2023

Meet Ella! 🐾

She is a young, large mixed breed with a zest for life!

Unfortunately for her mom, that enthusiasm means she is a wild child to walk on-leash.

She's very strong and as a result, walks haven't been as relaxing and enjoyable as they could be, and sometimes less frequent.

She's a fast learner though and with some consistency Ella is learning some patience and her mom is learning a few activities to use out and about to bring Ella's attention back!

Walks should be fun, relaxing, and enjoyable for everyone!

12/09/2023

Since it's been so long since I've been active in any meaningful way on here, I'd like to do a quick re-introduction before I spam your feed with dog pictures. 

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I'm Sharon, your friendly neighborhood dog witch (trainer). I built The Well Mannered Dog to help pet parents see the potential in their dog and achieve the relationship they know is possible. We do this with empathetic training techniques and a holistic look at the whole picture; of which training, nutrition, exercise, and enrichment are all just pieces of.

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I want to share my opinions, training and wellness tips, random thoughts that pop into my head, photos of all the critters I get to be in the company of each day, and everything in between! 

09/09/2023

Just saying hi!

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It's been a hot minute since I've posted much of anything here. Life has been anything but calm. I'll be ramping up to share pictures, stories, and my thoughts a little more regularly throughout the fall!

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That being said, it hasn't been due to a shortage of puppies to play with. Quite the opposite!

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Look forward to some fun pictures from the last few months!

25/02/2023

Missing warm weather and these two puppies!

02/02/2023

2023 vibes.... 🐾🥂🖤

08/07/2022

02/07/2022

Our pups need exercise and games and all the things, it's true.

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But sometimes we are not always up to meet them in those needs.

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Sniffing and foraging behaviors are incredible to foster feelings of safety and security while being a productive outlet for excess energy and tension.

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Try to experiment with some games that you can set and forget like a puzzle feeder or kibble in the grass.

01/07/2022

It's right around the corner and I'm excited! 🤩 😎👙🍔

Do you have any plans?

Here are some tips from our local pet store, EarthWise Pet Voorhees to keep your critters safe and sound so you can enjoy your weekend without stressin'.

22/04/2022

'Nuff said 🤷 Has it happened to you?

Happy Friday!!!

08/04/2022

"Dear past self,

First things first, go give our pup a hug. He doesn't mean to terrorize the house. He's just having fun. He loves you and wants to play with you.

I just wanted to write to you to tell you it's all going to be okay. I know you're worried. He's off to school soon for a few weeks. It will be over in no time and he'll be back home playing with you before you know it.

You're worried that your bond will be hurt, that he'll feel confused and upset that you've left him with a stranger. He's been through it before after all, being a rescue. You're worried he will come home and need to warm up again. You remember those first few difficult days where he slumped around, not really trusting anyone. You're worried you'll have to go through it again and you wonder if it'll be worth it.

I'm here to tell you it ended up alright. Better than alright. Your first few days were hard. You worried and missed him. But you saw how much fun he was having and how much he was learning. You were even kind of jealous! You thought back to your days as a kid enjoying summer camp with your friends. You learned so much too! He had an absolute blast!

And then he came home. Your nerves got the best of you again but that's okay, it happens to the best of us. But it was even better than you could have imagined.

He didn't miss a beat coming home and was so excited to see you! You played with him and his new skills to see what he'd learned. It was like a wall had come down! You had a good relationship before but this was unlike anything you'd experienced! It was like you spoke the same language now! It was so worth it.

It's time now, you both have so many lessons to learn and even more adventures and memories to make! The best is yet to come 🤎

- Future you"