North Star Canine Connection

09/26/2025

The Bandana Class (Your Goals, Your Pace) is on for tomorrow at 11:15! 🎉

* Regulars: Just send me a quick text if you’re coming or fill out the returning client form.

* New folks: Please hop on the website to sign up, and be sure to have proof of vaccines.

This is a great chance for your pup to:
Enjoy playtime with other friendly dogs
And/or
Practice focus and calm behavior while working at a distance

Hope to see you there!

09/22/2025

✨ Looking for Ideas / New Space ✨

I’m hoping to find a space for group dog training classes that doesn’t require a full set-up and breakdown each time. Right now, I’m limited by hours and the regular moving of equipment, and I’d love to find a more permanent spot.

Ideally, I’m looking for something within budget that would allow me to expand my class offerings and even bring on additional trainers.

If you know of a location (indoors) that might work, please send me a message or drop a comment - I’d really appreciate the help! 🐾

09/21/2025

30 dogs in a single day! Between 3 group classes and private sessions, today set a new record. I’m thankful to my clients for trusting me with their pups, and I’m looking forward to possibly adding another trainer to keep up with the demand!!

09/20/2025

Maggie is being held to one specific rule meant for the After School Program 😂. I caught this candid moment at the end of class today. She’s just a beagle doing what beagles do best! 🎶

09/19/2025

Last call for tomorrow’s bandana class (Your Goals, Your Pace.) If you’re an established client, all you need to do is fill out this form and show up tomorrow at 11:15. It’s a great opportunity to practice skills in a more distracting environment. It’s nearly full, so if you miss out this week, join us next week!

Submitting this form reserves your spot for the upcoming Your Goals, Your Pace Saturday training session (11:15 a.m. at the Whitefield Town Office). This form applies to this coming Saturday only. The class runs weekly, except possibly on holiday weekends. If the group is too large, or if we need to...

09/18/2025

I had an unexpected chance to go for a little ba****ck ride today on this beautiful lady and boy do I miss it. (My less than proper riding attire is due in part to the impromptu nature of the ride, and also the fact that I don’t care 😂.)

09/15/2025

09/13/2025

Boy, was this trial class a hit!! Today we did a “soft opening” of the Your Goals, Your Pace class and it couldn’t have gone better. 5 dogs wore green bandanas to indicate a desire for close proximity to other dogs (and some indoor play time.) 3 dogs wore yellow who wanted a little space. And 2 dogs wore red who needed lots of space. This will now become a weekly offering!

09/11/2025

Any interest in a class specifically for senior dogs?

It would be purely for the DOGS’ wellbeing, not an obedience class. Focus on brain games, scent work, communication, bonding, and information about physical and cognitive changes.

09/08/2025

I’m home sick today, but boy did this cheer me up! 😊

09/01/2025

Group classes start September 20th. There is still room in the Young Puppy Play and Learn, and the Your Goals, Your Pace classes. More classes will be offered in the winter.
https://www.northstarcanineconnection.com/groupclass

08/26/2025

Great post from The Timeless Dog. I couldn’t have said this better myself. When speaking with prospective clients, I explain that my goal isn’t to create a robotic dog in just a few sessions (or at all!) My training approach is gentle and methodical, helping dogs learn to meet our expectations while still respecting their natural canine behaviors. Our dogs deserve some amount of autonomy.

Feeling stuck in your dog training journey?

You might need to shift your mindset.

When we focus on all the things that are "wrong" with our dog, those become the only things we can see when we look at our dog or try to work with them.

A popular saying in the dog training community is "you dog isn't giving you a hard time, they are having a hard time."

We are expecting dogs to live in a world where they are not allowed to do any normal dog behaviors. We want them to wait patiently for us to come home, but then cuddle up on the sofa with us when they have been laying around all day. Then we get mad when they want to play. We want our dogs to never bark, except when it might benefit us. We buy dog toys, but then don't let our dogs play with them how they want because "we spent good money on that for them to not destroy it."

We ask SO much of our dogs, but when they get it "wrong" we label them the problem.

If we want to change our dog's behavior, we have to change ours first.

This week, when your dog does something you don't like try looking at it from their prospective. Did they pull you down the street on your walk and you didn't like that? Think about what you did before you left the house... was that the first time they have been outside all day after you being at work for 8 hours and they are well rested and excited? They were not trying to make the walk unpleasant for you. They were most likely just excited to be out and about with their favorite person. Did you try to set them up for success or did you just head out without thinking about bringing the treats?

Your dog is NOT trying to be difficult, but if you view them in that lens, you will only see them as difficult. Shift your mindset and shift your relationship with your dog.