Happy Hound Training

24/06/2024

My work focuses heavily on stress signals so it’s wonderful to see videos of dogs with so much happy body language.

Let’s see some videos of your dog’s happy moments!

15/06/2024

A recent client success story -

"Before contacting you, I felt helpless and hopeless about how to manage the girls' frequent fights. I didn’t know how to help them. Your advice really helped me understand them better and learn how to address their behavior and individual personalities. You made me see them in a new light, which has been eye-opening and incredibly helpful.

Thanks to you, I now feel much more confident in our ability to continue working with Anya and Maki, and I think we can make more progress with them. Your guidance has made a big difference in all of our lives, and I truly appreciate it."

04/05/2024

We're proud to be dental therapy dogs Johnny Cash and June Carter's trainer! Here's June doing what she loves - comforting a patient in the chair.

If you'd like a floof in your lap at the dentist, check out Tuscarora Dental in Martinsburg: https://www.tuscaroradental.com/

04/05/2024

The only way…

23/03/2023

Join me and Connie to talk about anything dog-related!

Questions about your dog or training? Join us this Monday!

10/02/2023

EDITED TO ADD: We're overwhelmed by the response to our first Pop-Up Workshop and need to pause registrations while we catch up! Please comment on this post if you're interested in registering and we'll get in touch with you.

Thank you! We're unbelievably grateful for your support!

POP-UP WORKSHOP!
Join Jill and Connie for a pop-up mini-workshop to work on improving your dog’s focus with distractions. We’ll introduce exercises to increase attention during walks and regain focus when out and about.

You’ll learn foundation skills to help your dog handle distractions, as well as how to progress through increasingly challenging environments.​

Special pricing for our first workshop together, $35! It's a one day only workshop, and it's something fun to do with your dog. Click here to register! Don't forget to use the link at the end to make your payment. Your payment is what will hold your spot! https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeO81_EN4WAFWe8bFyJ_eUsYhsX_AP-23MhJ51SJKdDh14jiw/viewform?usp=share_link

10/02/2023

27/01/2023

Is your dog walking you properly?

LOL!

Lol!

16/01/2023

I can't wait to get R+K9 up and running! For those of you who missed it, R+K9 will be Wi******er, Virginia's largest force-free training facility. We'll offer behavior modification, group classes, day training, play groups, apprenticeships, and more! Check out our website or page for more info.: www.RplusK9.com.

Construction has put us behind a month, which means I have some unexpected time available for new client evaluations in the next month. PM or email me ([email protected]) if you'd like to schedule an appointment!

R+K9 Positive reinforcement sports and behavior classes, dog and puppy day training, behavior modification, and apprenticeships in Wi******er, VA.

12/01/2023

Curious about my new business, R+K9? Join me and co-owner Connie Moss for a Live chat on R+K9’s FB page tomorrow at 7:00pm. We’ll talk about our training backgrounds and answer questions about R+K9 services.

Please stop by and say hi! We will be chatting about our background and all the services at R+K9!

03/01/2023

Happy New Year Happy Hounders! I’m sorry I haven’t been posting very much lately. I’ve been a little busy earning my Certified Behavior Consultant Canine certification and getting my new business R+K9 ready to open in Wi******er in February.

If you haven’t already, please head over and like the new business page!

I’ll continue to offer behavior modification once R+K9 opens. In the meantime, Happy Hound Training is still going strong!

24/10/2022

So exciting!!!

20/10/2022

BIG NEWS!

Connie Moss of Strategic Paws and Happy Hound Training have joined forces to create R+K9, the largest force-free training center in the greater Wi******er area. We're combining our skills and experience to offer a variety of services, including sports classes, day training, behavior consulting, and an apprenticeship program!

We'll be opening our facility in January 2023. Stay tuned for more details, including our grand opening party!

28/09/2022

Behavioral euthanasia is a sensitive topic and this post is perfectly on point.

We talk so much about giving our dogs a good life; a life that is enriched, and safe and full of love, I feel sometimes we need to talk more about giving our dogs a good death.

Death, for all of us, is inevitable. We can tip toe around that fact, or we can face it and discuss it, which I prefer to do, especially when it comes to dogs. My own, or yours.

As much as dogs deserve a good life, they deserve a good death even more so. But what is a good death? Well, here are my thoughts and experiences.

A good death is humane, and soft. It is like slipping into a warm bath, or taking an afternoon nap. It is calm and welcoming.

A good death is with familiar people. Not alone, not worried or confused. It is beside someone trusted who is guiding the way.

A good death is not in fear or pain. It is not on the worst day, or the hardest one. It is as merciful as it can be to that.

A good death is when there is recognition. When the dog is not so far gone in fear, pain, distress or cognition that they do not know who is with them or how they got there.

These standards to me are what I uphold with all my dogs and I believe all dogs to be deserving of. The cause of death, whether age, illness, behavior, or a combination, are important of course, but their final moments on this earth are totally beyond their control, and I view it as one of the greatest things we can do for them to make them feel valued, cared for and loved in that time.

I say this because I often watch dogs suffer poor deaths, and this may be a trigger for some but it’s a trigger for me too, which is why I am writing this. I watch dogs who have severe behavior issues get rehomed and rehomed and returned, only to suffer an awful death with people they don’t know, wondering what they did wrong, scared and alone. I watch dogs with illnesses or age get left behind, only to die alone and in pain and of a broken heart. I see these deaths because the people couldn’t bring themselves to be beside their dog at the end, or kept thinking there was something or someone else who could do it instead, and the dog ends up maybe having had a great life, but a very poor end. That is not fair.

Behavioral euthanasia is talked about a lot more than it used to be nowadays. And it’s not incorrect when we say sometimes it is the most HUMANE thing you can do for your dog is to give them a good death, beside you, rather than hope someone else can take them on and then they suffer alone after their issues prove too much for anyone else.

All of my dogs are promised a good death. The moment they step into my home. I do not hold on to my dogs because I can’t let them go. I give them an amazing life, and also a good goodbye, and I support my clients when they have to make these decisions too, no matter what the reason is behind it. I have been present for more euthanasias and goodbyes than I ever care to discuss. My own, my clients, shelter dogs. I have performed them myself. For every reason you can imagine. And for that very reason I stand by that while we should talk always about giving a good life to our dogs, we should advocate and talk about good deaths. Safe, free of pain or fear, and so very very loved.

- Helen St. Pierre

15/09/2022

Everyone can relate.

14/09/2022

Very interesting article discussing punishment vs. reward-based training methods and the push for regulation in the dog training industry.

Efforts to regulate dog training have centered on studies examining the efficacy of punishment as a training tool

05/09/2022

I’m taking my Behavior Consultant certification exam in two months. 🤞

It's one thing to recognize that you might need help with your pet - it's another to know where to get that help.

First, check with your vet - explain the behavior issues you're having, and have them check for any physical issues that might be related. After that, decide if a trainer, behavior consultant, or veterinary behaviorist are the next stop for you!

03/09/2022

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1111235179769648&id=310592143167293

26/08/2022

We’re Housesitting & Training Fiona for National Dog Day. Fiona says, “Happy National Dog Day!”

04/08/2022

Informative and adorable.

03/07/2022

An excellent post on what makes working line dogs different.

Working line- what does it actually mean? Obviously with some show lines we forfeit functionality in the place of looks and appearance, but regardless of this, it’s best to go in fully informed when buying a pup.
The most common working line dog we see with issues due to under stimulation is the working cocker spaniel.

02/07/2022

Obi is learning how to peacefully coexist with his 17-year-old brother. Unfortunately, Obi's puppy exuberance quickly turns into snarly snarkiness when his older brother doesn't want to play with him. Although it's difficult for him, Obi's getting better at accepting "No" for an answer and he's learning how to chill out with big bro instead.

30/06/2022

Obi is learning to hold it together and not rush out the door when he’s excited. It’s just one of the behaviors we’re working on while I Housesit & Train while his owners are away.

Are you a current or previous Happy Hound Training client interested in Housesitting & Training? Email or call for more information!
[email protected]
(301) 660-9203

31/05/2022

A must-read for if you’re considering sending your dog to daycare, or already do.

And a few questions you should ask any prospective daycare:

What specific tools and techniques do you use to control the playgroups?

Do you have a maximum number of dogs in each group? If so, what is it?

What is your staff-to-dog ratio? (It should be no more than 4 or 5 dogs per playgroup staffer)

What will you do if my dog behaves badly/is rude/gets testy?

What is your emergency evacuation plan to get the dogs out if necessary?

What kind of training does your staff have and how often is that training reviewed/refreshed?

I could go on…

Contact us today if you’d like to learn more about your dog’s play behavior and social skills!

What you should look for in a well-run dog daycare. (Hint: It's definitely not the mere presence of a whole lot of dogs running around.)

20/05/2022

So many excellent points in this article written by a finance guy: ‘Electric-shock collars are a fast, cruel and sneaky way of getting short-term results.’

‘We were surprised and appalled. They never mentioned this to us when we signed Spencer up for her course.’

19/05/2022

What’s so special about this photo? This Husky bit several people and was uncomfortable if someone even gestured in his direction. Among other things like providing mental stimulation, learning to read his body language, and offering him choices, O’s owners diligently worked to make him comfortable being touched and having his collar grabbed. They trained him to bop a guest’s hand with his nose, and then used it to gauge his comfort level with them.

What’s so special? He doesn’t have a muzzle on anymore, isn’t tethered, is seeking contact without wanting a treat, and is genuinely comfortable with me - a visitor.

Congratulations G and I! Keep up the good work!

07/04/2022

PUDDLE!!!!

04/04/2022

"Seek" is one of Ripley's favorite games, so we're doing it outside. At first she wasn't comfortable going near the fence, but she's feeling bolder every day!

04/04/2022

Ripley is reactive to other dogs, but particularly triggered by the dog next door. We're playing lots of games in the yard to make it a fun place for her while keeping her brain engaged.

04/04/2022

We're Housesitting & Training this beauty for a week.