DogSquared Training and Enrichment

11/03/2022

We recently had 10 of the best dogs complete our Basic Manners class!

▪️Molly
▪️Attie
▪️Oscar
▪️Finn
▪️Blaze*
▪️Athena*
▪️Sadie*
▪️Rye*
▪️Gary*
▪️Blitzen*

Congrats to all of these pups and their committed humans!

*Due to an unfortunate reschedule (thanks Corona!) we weren’t able to get pictures of a handful of the dogs but they did so well in class.

08/17/2022

As the kids are getting ready to head back to school, it seems fitting that we had 12 incredible pups recently complete our Basic Manners group class. Look at all those sweet mugs! The humans are pretty cute too 😉

Congrats to the best pups and kudos to their humans for putting in the time and effort to help them be the best of the best!

▪️Elli
▪️Ruby
▪️Leo
▪️Waylon
▪️Rocky
▪️Hank
▪️Maverick
▪️Merlin
▪️Indie*
▪️Summer*
▪️Orla*
▪️Amorha*

*Not pictured but just as amazing!

08/14/2022

Every week I have conversations with owners who are seriously struggling with their dogs' behavior. Reactivity, anxiety, fear, hyperactivity... the list goes on. People who didn't realize they were signing up to take on a dog with behavior concerns. People who didn't know that dog ownership could ever be this hard. People who didn't know much about dog training until recently - but they are educating themselves to improve their dogs' quality of life. We often say dogs are resilient but can we talk about how resilient the humans of behaviorally challenged dogs are?!

08/09/2022

The Wyoming Department of Health recently issued a Harmful Cyanobacterial Bloom advisory for Sloans Lake in Cheyenne. The Department of Environmental Quality explains that "harmful cyanobacterial blooms (HCBs) are dense concentrations of cyanobacteria, commonly referred to as blue-green algae, that pose a health risk to people, pets, and livestock". People and pets should avoid entering bodies of water with bloom advisories.

It is also important to note that there are currently 21 bodies of water in Wyoming that have bloom advisories. Do yourself a favor and check for advisories before entering the water or allowing your dogs to enter the water!

DEQ has a wonderful site where you can easily check to determine if a bloom or toxin advisory has been issued in a specific area. You can find more information here (click on the "Advisories Map" for a quick search): www.wyohcbs.org

08/07/2022

You feel like you've been at this training thing for a while but you still aren't seeing the results you were hoping for.

Questions to consider:
▪ Is training inconsistent?
Training isn't everyone's jam and if you find that you aren't being as consistent as you'd like, that may be a large part of why you aren't seeing the training results you'd hoped for. If you're unsure if you're being consistent, a training log is a great way to see just HOW consistent you actually are. Training logs can also help us identify other patterns that we otherwise often miss.

▪ Are your expectations realistic?
Particularly when we're talking about changing behavior, it takes time to make drastic changes. If you are seeing training moving in the right direction, you're likely on the right track! Decrease your expectations and remind yourself that behavior change takes time—this may mean weeks to months of working on a skill until your dog knows it in various environments. How long would it take you to learn how to paint r to play the guitar? We tend to have really high expectations of our dogs so remind yourself that your dog is learning a new skill and we can make the process easier by being patient with them.

▪ Are you asking for difficult behaviors for very little pay?
No one likes to work for free, your dog included! Make sure that you are using appropriate rewards for the behavior you are working on. If the reward is high value and your dog is still struggling, try switching to another high value treat or simply increasing the frequency of treats. Avoid falling into the trap of getting rid of treats as soon as possible.

07/31/2022

I will be unavailable August 1 through August 6. Feel free to email me at [email protected] and I will respond to all emails when I return!

07/26/2022

If you’ve worked with me you’ve likely heard me say “puppies are crazy”. They really are—but let me just tell you about Finn.

Finn was a temporary foster in the Martin household and he was a veeeery good boy. I wouldn’t vouch for many puppies (because they are legit nuts) but this guy is the real deal. The real McCoy, ladies and gentlemen. Finn is a 5 month old lab who actually takes naps. Sure, he’s good for a swim sesh or fetch but then he’ll actually lie down and nap while you work. Need to run some errands? Perfect, Finn loves the car. Can’t take him with for your errands? No biggie, Finn kennels quietly. Have another dog? Awesome, Finn loves canine friends. Enjoy having your house in one piece? Great, Finn will only chew on his toys. Don’t want to clean up accidents? No worries, Finn is house trained. Need some laughter in your life? Finn’s got you!

If you’re looking for a lab friend to bring joy to your life, visit My Second Home Rescue to inquire about this guy.

07/24/2022

Cheyenne Frontier Days™ is in full swing and we couldn't be more excited about it!

Your dog would much rather relax at home on the couch while you enjoy the festivities this week! Parades and the Thunderbirds (depending on where you go) are the few events that are dog-friendly and both tend to be overstimulating and sometimes even downright terrifying for dogs. Go out and enjoy yourself but leave your pups at home!

Have fun and stay safe out there!

07/20/2022

Disclaimer: this only works for dogs lol

07/17/2022

Basic Manners group classes for Fall 2022 are open for enrollment - classes are filling ridiculously fast so sign up soon if you're interested!

Sign up here: www.dogsquaredtraining.com/dog-training-basic-manners

07/15/2022

Reach out to Barb with The Elemental Dog, LLC if you’re interested in joining a Nose Work class in the fall—your dog will thank you!

07/13/2022

Ahahaha who knew!

07/10/2022

There are plenty of ways to safely socialize puppies who haven't received all of their vaccinations yet!

The benefits of early socialization are so important which is why we encourage puppy owners to get their puppies out and about before they are fully vaccinated (usually around 16 weeks)! This is also the current recommendation of the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior (AVSAB).

We understand that not all vets are on-board with this line of thinking which is why it is helpful to get creative when thinking about socializing your puppy while following your vet's recommendations.

Great every day opportunities for socialization:
▪️ playgrounds: allow your puppy to work on a Kong while you roll down the window or open the hatch and expose them to the shrill screeching of kiddos running around and having fun

▪️ parks: encourage your puppy to enjoy a lickimat while taking in everything as it happens around them—wildlife nearby, fast moving scooters, noisy dogs, slow moving people

▪️ stores: these environments expose your puppy to new sights and sounds that are difficult to replicate elsewhere. If you hope to take your dog with you to various places in the future this will be their first exposure to learning how to be the dog that everyone is envious of!

Remember to keep these socialization field trips short (10-15 minutes or less) to avoid overwhelming your puppy!

*One place that we absolutely do not recommend taking your puppy is to the dog park. Dog parks are not safe places to socialize your puppy and the risk of disease is high!

07/06/2022

I bet our dogs have some of the best neighborhood gossip 😂

07/05/2022

This is your friendly reminder to get your dog outside to potty within the next couple hours before the sky starts exploding!

Stay safe out there!

06/29/2022

Con artists, I tell ya!

06/26/2022

When the humans don’t appreciate your gardening skills 😬

Show us your master gardeners!

06/23/2022

The little teefs are the worst 😂

06/22/2022

We recently had 11 dogs complete our Basic Manners class! Congrats to these dogs and their committed humans:

▪️Maverick
▪️Axel
▪️Cooper
▪️Ziggy
▪️Oreo
▪️Max
▪️Elli
▪️Kumo
▪️Maggie
▪️Maverick (not pictured)
▪️Malcolm (not pictured)

We never get tired of seeing the progress from week 1 to week 6 of class! We meet some amazing dogs but we also get to meet some really cool humans as well 🥰

05/19/2022

Our July Basic Manners classes are open for enrollment! It is crazy to think we are already booking classes for July but summer is officially here and we couldn't be more excited! Classes are filling quickly so click the link below to sign up if you're interested in joining us!

https://www.dogsquaredtraining.com/dog-training-basic-manners

04/27/2022

Did you know we have a highly skilled animal chiropractor here in Cheyenne? Laura with All Creatures Chiro is an amazing human who is incredibly skilled at what she does.

She has a background in dog training and sports (everything from obedience to herding—Laura and her dogs have trained and trialed in it all!) and a passion for helping animals of all sizes feel their best. If you haven’t already, go ‘like’ her page and check out her services. Your dogs will thank you!

https://www.facebook.com/allcreatureschirocheyenne/

AVCA Certified Animal Chiropractor
Laura Lane DC, cAVCA
Cheyenne WY, Northern CO, & surrounding area

04/24/2022

UPDATE: Class is full!

We're baaaaaack!

And we're excited to have added an additional Basic Manners class to the schedule! If you were hoping to join the July class—you are in luck. Our next Basic Manners class will begin May 8 at 10:00am. We anticipate that this class will fill quickly so sign up soon if you're interested in joining us! For more information and to sign up: www.dogsquaredtraining.com/dog-training-basic-manners

Also, if you reached out while we were away, all emails, texts, and calls have been returned. If you didn't receive a response, please reach out again!

04/20/2022

Barbecue season be like 😂

04/11/2022

I will be unavailable April 8 through April 23. Feel free to email me at [email protected] and I will return all emails when I return!

04/11/2022

Six wonderful dogs and their humans completed our Basic Manners class today!
▪️Aurora
▪️Apollo
▪️Sage
▪️Kona
▪️Afro (not pictured)
▪️Thea (not pictured)