Creature Good Dog Training

02/09/2025

Tiny tongues out Tuesday courtesy of a sleeping Archie.👅🐶❤️

How adorable is my little man!?!

01/09/2025

UPDATE: Here's the 🧬reveal!

42% American Pitbull Terrier
27.4% Supermutt
15.6% American Foxhound
8.2% Chow Chow
6.8% German Shepherd

Whatever DNA that gives him his double back dew claws must be mixed up in his supermutt.

https://app.embarkvet.com/pet/834f1b02-9779-43a9-8cd7-b4f9ccf8491f/breed-reveal?source=share

Archie's DNA results are in!🧬

What breed/s do you think he is?

HINT: He's 15 weeks & 28lbs

The rescue had him listed as a Treeing Walker Coonhound🐶

Take a guess in the comments and then I'll share his results!

01/09/2025

You can also follow on Instagram to see more.

18/08/2025

Mondays can be hectic. Hey, lots of days in our modern era are hectic. That's why some people try to rush changing the behavior of their reactive dog.

It doesn't work!

You have to slow down and meet your dog where they are emotionally and start from there even if you wish they were further down the road to recovery.

What's the hardest part for you of working with your reactive dog?

17/08/2025

Work on building trust with your dog by being someone they can rely on. That way they don't feel like they have to make decisions in difficult situations.

For example, if your dog doesn't want to walk past something they see as scary, don't make them.

Trust building in any relationship is an important element of success.

How have you build trust with your dog?

16/08/2025

Just some cute pics of my baby who's been with me two weeks as of yesterday.❤️

16/08/2025

Some trainers poo-poo the use of distraction when training reactive dogs but it plays an important role in setting your dog up for success. I teach all my clients how to quickly and safely distract their dog when the situation calls for it.

Read more about it in my newest blog post:

If you’ve spent any time researching how to help a reactive dog, you’ve probably seen trainers say “don’t distract your dog.” They insist that you should only teach your dog the new behavior you want, not redirect them away from the trigger.I strongly disagree.Here’s why: even though dis...

15/08/2025

Slow progress is still progress. 💛

When you’re working with a reactive dog, it’s tempting to want big, fast results. But the truth is, the best, most lasting changes happen when you honor your dog’s pace.

Every tiny win—a calm glance, a quicker recovery, a shorter bark—adds up over time. Your dog isn’t “behind,” they’re just learning in the way that works for them. 🐾

Progress isn’t a race. It’s a journey you take together, one step, one rep, one quiet breath at a time. And that slow, steady work? It’s where the real magic happens. ✨

Today, try slowing down how you interact with your dog and see what happens. Then, come back and let me know how it went!

14/08/2025

Your dog counts on you to be their voice in the world. 💛
Never let anyone tell you different.

Whether it’s asking for space on a walk, saying “no” to an interaction that doesn't feel right or advocating for their comfort in everyday life—you are the bridge between your dog and the world around them.

Your dog’s agency comes through you. You know them best. You understand their needs, fears & boundaries better than anyone else. And it’s not just okay to speak up for them—it’s part of your job as their person. 🐾

Advocating isn’t overprotective or rude. It’s love in action. ❤️💪🐶

What's 1 way you can advocate for your dog today? Share in the comments!

13/08/2025

At first, most clients want to get right to stopping their dog's barking/lunging on leash thinking we can teach them to just not do that anymore.

Truth is, you can't start there! To make those behaviors stop, you have to give your dog time and space to feel safe first.

Then you get to teach them alternative ways to let you know they're uncomfortable PLUS how to feel comfortable in situations where they didn't used to.

Download my free guide on how to do this at my link in Bio.

12/08/2025

If you have a reactive dog, having a few go-to cues in your toolbox can make all the difference when things get a little “too exciting” out in the world. 🐾

Here are 3 of my favorites:

🐾 Leave it – From chicken bones on the sidewalk to squirrels in the park, this cue says “nope, we’re skipping that!”

🐾 Touch – My favorite way to pull focus back to me. Great for redirecting, and yes, you can even use it for recall.

🐾 Look – A quick “eyes on me” that helps your dog check in instead of spiraling into bark/lunge mode.

I teach these to every reactive dog team I work with because they’re simple, versatile, and super practical in real life.

Drop a 🐶 in the comments if you want me to share my step-by-step for each one!

11/08/2025

I loved working with Gigi and her people and I love this Google review because it mentions what's at the heart of the work I do!

"Ruth emphasized distraction as a tactic, but confidence building as a cure. It's something I hadn't seen in many online resources and it was pivotal."

You see a lot of trainers say not to distract your reactive dog. I strongly disagree! Sure, distracting isn't teaching. So, what? You can't teach an overwhelmed mind anyway. Distracting your dog when they won't be successful helps reduce overwhelm.

Don't go straight to changing the barking & lunging. Reactivity training won't work like that. Start by getting your dog's stress levels down. Then teach and see how quickly your pup picks up the new behaviors.

Ruth helped tremendously with our 2 year old pup Gigi. She was a reactive rescue who would bark and lunge and none of the online puppy training I found was helping. Ruth emphasized distraction as a tactic, but confidence building as a cure. It's something I hadn't seen in many online resources and it was pivotal. Gigi's reactivity stemmed from anxiety and understanding her helped us to help her. Thank you Ruth!