American Dog Obedience Center

12/28/2025

During 2025 we witnessed so many proud moments — for both dogs and their humans. With effective training and clear communication, it’s totally possible..

The “win” belongs to each family for committing to the process we introduced to your dogs..

If we missed your dog this photostory, let us know. We do not post without permission and sometimes err on the side of caution.

Our special brand of vacation boarding school will be available during 2026 on the same limited basis as was offered this year. We will take a summer break during July and August and a winter break from December – March. There's plenty of opportunity to give your dog the gift of freedom to be the dog s/he was designed to be.

12/25/2025

We know that most families here include your dogs in family celebrations. That’s the goal of our training program. We appreciate the opportunities and challenges you’ve presented us with this year and we look forward to an equally feisty 2026 .

12/19/2025

An early Christmas present from Lab Gabby and her family. Thank you!

This is like Tinker Toys for canine fitness advocates - fun as much as functional. Buzz, shown here, was challenged to manage his excitement as we experimented with different creations yesterday in the Fitroom. He is too young for repetitive concussive exercise but he is well on the way to mastering foundation fitness training behaviors. Fitness is an integral part of sports training here and when we make it FUNctional, we can reasonably expect more enthusiastic participation - handlers as well as our dogs. Rock on feisty Buzzaroo!

12/15/2025

Really good dogs offer companionship and support during their humans’ dreaded paperwork tasks. Beyond acquiring pretty good foundation skills, our Buzz has become an interesting, quirky, family member, willing to chill in the office with me too. Good boy!

11/25/2025

Traveling? Where’s the family dog?
When we showed in KS and TX recently, athletes Rave On and Gabby joined us in the hotel social/dining areas each evening as we celebrated, strategized, and enjoyed dinner delivered by Door Dash - together.
Hotel staff and guests often come into our space, with stories of dogs they have loved. When they ask “Can I pet your dog?” Lab Gabby seems happy to accommodate. Border collie Rave On is less appreciative of attention from people she does not know. She has learned that acting like she recently died under that table deters advances quite effectively. With the same training foundations, each dog manages her needs politely. Good girls!

11/24/2025

It’s Monday but it doesn’t feel like a typical workweek. We are on a downhill slide to a long Thanksgiving weekend with different activities and schedules that must seem odd to our young dogs. Whether holiday changes seem scary or fun to our dogs depends a lot on how we advocate for them.
The beautiful young dog in this photo is Lux from our October class, practicing his Magic Carpet behaviors. A dog’s trained Magic Carpet provides a safe island in the midst of what surely can seem stressful to them during human celebrations. Although their carpets anchor them, dogs understand that on those rugs, they are free from expectations and the effects of the changes around them. It’s another of training’s “freedoms” that benefit dogs as much as their human family members. We are thankful for every opportunity to have shared the gifts of freedom with families here.

11/17/2025

This is what a double retrieve looks like in AKC Fetch. It isn’t the entire test because our videographer Becky was managing a lot more than her iPhone as her Lab Gabby waited with her to run next. Professional photographer Mark Fletcher, on the ground aiming that big lens, caught the still shots for us. Wylie Texas November 9 2025. Border collie Rave On and Kris Butler, first Advanced class qualifying score. Photos & video are a much appreciated bonus.

Thanks Becky H for the video clip. Mark Fletcher Photography for the stills Fresh Music for their royalty-free “New American Classic”

11/10/2025

Good Monday morning! It’s a new work week for most families - and a new work month for us at American Dog Obedience Center. Our November class is beginning, with 2 new student dogs arriving tomorrow.

But first, Rave On and I ran away to Wylie Texas over the weekend for an AKC Fetch test. This photo is my little dragon on her hotel room’s purple throne, waiting to leave for the event. She totally rocked her first Advanced class which included single and double retrieves thrown by helpers in the field, behind 3 blinds. She was sooo excited, so focused on the field, the notion that she might break her stays occurred for the first time since we began practicing for this game. But she held steady, marked, and flew out to exactly the right spots and delivered her bumpers promptly to my hands. Perfect! It was a great “Q” for this former field retriever trainer and a talented border collie who will turn 11 years old in 3 days.

11/04/2025

Former student Alfie stayed with us during October. Because of his training a few years ago, he enjoyed running and exploring each of several outings per day. We think he enjoyed his vacation here as much as we appreciated his enduring energy and s***k. Boarding benefits families we’ve trained for - and allows us to visit with those babies again. Until next time, stay feisty little buddy!

10/31/2025

Happy Halloween to all the inner children we work for. This video is an oldie but still a goodie from 9 years ago. Border collie Rave On still loves playing/working in her Fitroom today. Me too! We have new and changed equipment but the enjoyment of a challenge and our strong connection is still at the foundation. Rave On, little dragon.

Rave On shows us uses for pumpkins that go way beyond their seasonal decorative value. This talented Oklahoma border collie demonstrates fundamental behaviors necessary…