Star Dog Training

25/04/2025

09/04/2025

These two girls, Ritz and Ruby, were both at Stray Hearts Animal Shelter - Taos, NM for a long time. Ruby has been there for over 2.5 years, Ritz for over 1.5 years. Both came in as feral stays. I have been working with these girls with MASSIVE support and time from Becky Boss Behavior and Enrichment Coordinator at Stray Hearts, and the AMAZING volunteers to help them learn that humans are safe, walking on a leash and wearing a collar is safe and so much more. The girls have made leaps and bounds but shelter life has its limits in what in can provide a severely fearful animal. Yesterday these two girls, and best friends, were transferred to an incredible foster to adopt home. They are feeling grass in their toes, taking deep breaths, decompressing and learning quickly that this world is safe. Seeing them relaxed and sleeping in the grass and shade brings so many tears of joy and happiness. This is what rescue is about. It’s why we do what we do. People ask, how can you do that? This….this right here. It makes all the sadness and pain that comes with shelter and rescue work worth it.

Congratulations my sweet girls. Enjoy your new, safe, supportive life. You deserve it. I will miss you but will always love you.

08/03/2025

🐾✨ ADOPTION EVENT TODAY ✨🐾

Don’t miss out! Our adoption event is taking place today at Taos Lifestyle from 12 to 2pm. Stop by to say hello to the animals and to meet with our dedicated staff and volunteers.

28/02/2025

Check out my latest article in the taosnews Taos News! Teaching a solid recall is important for both safety and freedom. It’s a pretty simple process, read more below.

https://www.taosnews.com/opinion/columns/mastering-recall-teaching-your-dog-to-come-when-called/article_0e258a61-0a41-5970-bbcd-3552d4011fbe.html

26/01/2025

Check out my latest article in the Taos News this week. It co er a the basics of how animals learn. The better we can understand how our companion animal’s learn and process the world, the better guardians we can be.

https://www.taosnews.com/opinion/columns/the-google-translate-for-communicating-with-your-pet/article_01037ea5-7f97-5fac-b2ec-4ab736ab4a57.html

02/12/2024

Tomorrow is GivingTuesday and all donations to Stray Hearts are being matched by a generous donor! Help us take care of and find loving forever homes for our furbabies! donations(at)strayhearts.org

01/12/2024

Check out my newest column in Taos News!

https://www.taosnews.com/opinion/columns/making-the-holidays-bright-for-pets-and-people/article_ca6c1f0c-749c-57e8-967b-12ae044dfe8e.html

taosnewsTaos News

02/11/2024

Fostering has been proven to lower cortisol (stress hormone) levels in dogs significantly. Even if you can’t take in a dog permanently, doing a day or overnight foster allows the animal the opportunity to relax, lower stress, and take a well deserved breather.

01/11/2024

Such a feel good adoption! Madelyn is going to thrive in their care and love ❤️ People often ask me how I can I can work in shelters and rescue. It is hard and heartbreaking a lot of the time, but this is why. Adoptions like this make it all worth it.

HAPPY TAILS!

Our sweet girl Madelyn has been a staff and volunteer favorite for her entire 1.5 year stay at the shelter while she patiently awaited her forever home. She struggled to stand out due to her sensitive and shy nature, but we poured all the love we had into her to help Madelyn gain confidence and make friends.

Today her angels came to the shelter and took her home! Even better, her new Mom and Dad have signed up to become volunteers to keep helping all of her friends here at the shelter find their happy ending ❤️🐾❤️

Congratulations Madelyn, we will miss kissing your velvety soft nose but couldn’t be more proud of you!

30/10/2024

Meet Solo! Solo is a sweet Boxer/Husky/Heeler mix that was adopted from Stray Hearts Animal Shelter - Taos, NM almost a year ago. We are working on leash manners, general enrichment and basic manners. Always so good to see the pups from the shelter thriving in their home.

I think he looks like Falkor from the Never Ending Story. Did I just age myself? 😜

30/10/2024

Such a well written way to think about Behavior Modification, helping dogs through anxiety and fear.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/HvojZRURLg1eHE6W/?mibextid=WC7FNe

Happy Tuesday to everyone except trainers who prioritize their impatience over the dog's emotional experience as a business model.