The Cooperative Dog

07/01/2024

Heads Up: All of my Sunday School For Dogs classes are canceled tomorrow due to Winter Storm ❄️ Ember. I’d love to see your pictures and videos of your puppy or dog’s first snow ever or this season reaction! This was my Georgia born dog girl Hawk’s first winter and the snow still makes her extra perky at 12+. Happy Snow! Be safe.

03/01/2024

It’s 2024 and time is already flying by! My Wellesley puppy kindergarten and dog obedience classes are almost full. To grab one of the few remaining spots in either class that starts on Monday, January 22nd, visit the Wellesley Recreation webpage in Wellesley Massachusetts. Got questions? Text me at 617-803-4086 to schedule a call.

03/01/2024

Looking for a puppy class? Join me for what I’ve called Sunday School For Dogs since 2001. I have a few spots left in my puppy foundation one at 10:00-10:55 AM and puppy foundation two at 9:00-9:55 AM classes starting this coming Sunday, January 7 at No Bones About It at 1786 Beacon St. in Brookline, MA 02445. FMI, feel free to text me at 617-803-4086 to schedule a free call!

18/10/2023

Looking for a puppy kindergarten or beginner dog obedience class? We’re squeezing in one more six week session on Monday evenings in Wellesley this year. Puppies start at 6:30 and dogs at 7:30 at 90 Washington St. in Wellesley on Monday, November 6 through December 18 and skipping November 21. Visit Wellesley Recreation online to register or call 781-235-2370 for more information. See you soon!!!

05/09/2023

Is your dog over six months of age and you’re looking for a beginning training class? Check out my dog obedience class starting this coming Monday evening, September 11 at 7:30 PM in Wellesley. Registration takes place online through the Wellesley Recreation Department. The class takes place in the gymnasium on the second floor of the Warren Building at 90 Washington St., Wellesley. Hope to see you there!

28/08/2023

Back to school means back to with my Opportunity Walks Class on Saturdays starting in mid September and this ongoing CGC Prep Class on Sundays which has kept this crew working through the summer continuing their education in spite of the summer heat. Looking to join the A&E Crew — Alfie, Artemis, Arwen, Ava (not pictured here) and Evie? Contact The Cooperative Dog!

10/06/2023

Last dog of the day - a fabulous Weimaraner dog girl. I couldn’t resist getting this shot of her ear to illustrate why a dog’s ear bleeds so much when bitten and why hematomas develop so quickly!

04/05/2023

Judy, a purebred pointer, was the mascot of several ships in the Pacific, and was captured by the Japanese in 1942 and taken to a prison camp. There she met Aircraftsman Frank Williams, who shared his small portion of rice with her.
Judy raised morale in the POW camp, and also barked when poisonous snakes, crocodiles or even tigers approached the prisoners. When the prisoners were shipped back to Singapore, she was smuggled out in a rice sack, never whimpering or betraying her presence to the guards.
The next day, that ship was torpedoed. Williams pushed Judy out of a porthole in an attempt to save her life, even though there was a 15-foot drop to the sea. He made his own escape from the ship, but was then recaptured and sent to a new POW camp.
He didn't know if Judy had survived, but soon he began hearing stories about a dog helping drowning men reach pieces of debris after the shipwreck. And when Williams arrived at the new camp, he said: "I couldn’t believe my eyes! As I walked through the gate, a scraggly dog hit me square between the shoulders and knocked me over. I’d never been so glad to see the old girl!"
They spent a year together at that camp in Sumatra. "Judy saved my life in so many ways," said Williams. "But the greatest of all was giving me a reason to live. All I had to do was look into those weary, bloodshot eyes and ask myself: 'What would happen to her if I died?' I had to keep going."
Once hostilities ceased, Judy was then smuggled aboard a troopship heading back to Liverpool. In England, she was awarded the Dickin Medal (the "Victoria Cross" for animals) in May 1946. Her citation reads: "For magnificent courage and endurance in Japanese prison camps, which helped to maintain morale among her fellow prisoners, and also for saving many lives through her intelligence and watchfulness".
At the same time, Frank Williams was awarded the PDSA's White Cross of St. Giles for his devotion to Judy. Frank and Judy spent a year after the war visiting the relatives of English POWs who had not survived, and Frank said that Judy "always provided a comforting presence to the families."
When Judy finally died at the age of 13, Frank spent two months building a granite and marble memorial in her memory, which included a plaque describing her life story.❤️❤️❤️

24/03/2023

Looking for a puppy or dog training class and live in Belmont, Watertown, Arlington, Waltham, West Newton or other nearby town? My spring session with the Belmont Recreation department begins next Thursday evening, March 30th with puppies at 6:00 and dogs at 7:00 at 266 Beech Street in Belmont. Register at the link below.

Program details and list of activities for online registration.

05/03/2023

We worked indoors due to icky weather. Indoors was where we needed to work though as the retraining process involves a handful of steps so to start anew. Leash walking a dog is like walking holding hands with your child or partner. Your dog should walk with you at your side on a loose leash - NOT held in position on a taut line or straining against you way out front. Wherever you go, you go together. Need a leash handling tuneup? Reach out to me for .

05/02/2023

The pups were a little wired after a day plus mostly inside during the artic blast but after a bit of walking, they were all able to focus on their people instead of trying to gain access to one another. Always good to learn how to walk on by…

29/01/2023

Our first woods walk with this crew! It always takes a bit to get them through the newness and excitement of a especially in a new place. The key is to keep doing it and commit to regularly moving together with other people and their dogs. Follow as it is primarily about minding your dog’s manners by consistently yielding to others on the trail.

27/01/2023

This is week 4 of my in . Working together is what is about — dog not pulling, human not yanking; where you go you go together. Indoor training and working on training on every walk is part of the overall process to be confident in taking your dog with you on life’s adventures. What’s next for this crew? My !

15/01/2023

Winter doesn’t stop training! If you’re hardy and want to join us in my Opportunity Walks Class, contact me using the link in my bio.

04/01/2023

Looking for a puppy or slightly older dog training class? Join me this coming Monday evening January 9th for puppy kindergarten and dog obedience classes through Wellesley Recreation in the gymnasium of the Warren Building at 90 Washington St. in Wellesley.  The puppy class starts at 6:30 and dog obedience starts at 7:30.  both classes run for six weeks. Registration will take place on the Wellesley Recreation website. Hope to see you there!

18/12/2022

We’re still working outdoors in my Opportunity Walks class which is a traveling and training class early Sunday mornings. Join us to bring out the very best in your dog through practical training for every day life!

25/10/2022

Attention puppy and adolescent dog folks: We’ve added a special four week session of both Puppy Kindergarten (6:30-7:20 pm) and Dog Obedience (7:30-8:20 pm) starting Monday, November 7th through December 5th and skipping November 28th at 90 Washington Street in Wellesley Hills. To register, visit Wellesley Ma Recreation Department.

25/10/2022

I’ve been teaching puppy and adult classes on Monday evenings in Wellesley since 2012. We’re almost done with our first fall session. Join us in the gymnasium at 90 Washington Street to finesse your puppy’s leash walking skills and more.

25/10/2022

It’s the perfect time of year here in Boston to work your dog in an outdoor class. Winter is just around the corner and the opportunity to get your dog to pay more attention to you with other dogs near is coming to an end soon with ice melt burning their feet and the cold wind blistering your face… Don’t wait until Spring. Join us in my Opportunity Walks Class!

25/09/2022

Puppy handling is definitely not something to skip! See Bailey Uri Oscar Tito Maverick Arwen

07/09/2022

Looking for a puppy or dog training class near Newton, Cambridge, Watertown, Belmont, Arlington or Waltham?

Puppy & Dog Training Classes in Belmont start Thursday, September 15th at the Beech Street Center Council on Aging at 266 Beech Street in Belmont. Puppies at 6:00 and Dogs at 7:00. To register online, visit the Belmont Recreation Department at

Register online for activities, memberships, facility reservations, and more.

07/09/2022

Looking for a weekday evening puppy or dog training class?

Puppy & Dog Training Classes in Wellesley
starting Monday, September 12th at 90 Washington Street in Wellesley. Puppies at 6:30 pm and Dogs at 7:30. To register, visit Wellesley Recreation Department online at

14/08/2022

Tuck the Chuckit! Or is it Tuckit?

18/06/2022

🐶Dog🐕 🐕‍🦺Training🐕‍🦺 🐩Tip🐩🐕‍🦺🐕🐶: Find a compatible puppy or dog guardian (or three or four!) to continue training outside of group classes. Walks with other dogs is one of the ways to satisfy your dog’s desire to be with other dogs. Doing so on a regular basis may very well decrease the frustration of you ‘holding your dog back’ when they see other dogs. This can go a long way in preventing . Find a today! Now is always the time.

18/06/2022

What side of your body does your dog walk on? It doesn’t really matter whether your dog is on your left or on your right - your dog, your choice. Ultimately it’s about walking together and being connected — not just because of the leash. With my dog at my side, I can advocate for and guide my dog for safety sake. I’ve always called it the position of cooperation hence my business name. If you need help in getting your dog to walk with you, I’m just a text or email away! Visit my website - link in the bio.

16/06/2022

All puppies and dogs, no matter how big or small, need . We started training in at home private lessons and now they’re in a class to build their confidence around other dogs and people while still addressing their individual needs. Visit my website to get started with your little or not so little dog(s) - link in the bio!

14/06/2022

We finished our Spring session last night and will be starting again on June 27th with and classes in Wellesley. All registration for these classes goes through ! Hope to see you there!

07/06/2022

Puppy Kindergarten Classes are finishing up in Wellesley and more starting soon. Questions? Visit Wellesley’s Recreation Department website to sign up…

22/05/2022

What’s better than one ? Two! Meet littermates Sadie (passed out pup) and Bella (perch pup)! Bella was born deaf and Sadie has both a playmate and a special mentoring job to do!

22/05/2022

A whisper will do… 🐶🐾🐕‍🦺🐩🦮🐕🐶🐾