Freckle Face Dog Training

14/09/2021

03/08/2021

Last week we spent time cleaning out our old place in Leander. Ini tried his hand at a new profession and quickly realized he did not enjoy cleaning windows. Ah well, back to Demo Dog work! We're now officially open for business in the greater San Antonio area. If you, your friends/family, or neighbors are in the market for some dog training help, feel free to send them our way!

07/07/2021

Don't forget to RSVP for this Sunday. It's a byob or byof, so make up some sandwiches, toss a couple of drinks in a cooler, and come hang with Ini and I for a last blast!

26/06/2021

Just a reminder, the last Hike & Trains for the RR, Leander, and Cedar Park folks are scheduled for tomorrow at 9:30 at Brushy Creek Lake Park & July 10th at The Blue Hole in Georgetown. RSVP on the events page so we know you and your pup are coming!

18/06/2021

Well, I have some exciting news for all of my San Antonio friends! As of August 1st, Freckle Face Dog Training will be serving the greater San Antonio area! If you, or someone you know, is in need of training help, please like, comment, share, and be sure to send me a message. I am currently booking new client sessions to start the first week of August, and spots are filling up fast!

Current clients, please check out our upcoming events, we'll be having Hike & Trains and a summer swim party July 10th! We'd love to see as many of you as possible before moving day. Feel free to reach out if you'd like to squeeze in a private lesson in the next month to brush up on any skills you're working on at home.

Ini and I have met and helped some very wonderful people and their pups while we've been in Round Rock and Leander, and we will miss you dearly. We're looking forward to new faces and helping even more pups and their people!

08/05/2021

Howdy all! It's been awhile, but if any students and their pups would like to get out and stretch their legs with us a bit, I'll be having a group session/hike & train next Saturday at 11:30 am at Veteran's Memorial Park in Cedar Park. We'll be meeting up up just outside the Bark Park, and will be doing a mixture of walking for leash manners, group training activities, and re-acclimating your dog to being around other people and dogs again. I will be doing on the spot nail trims and/or files if your pups are in need of a manicure.

This activity is open to all previous students and their pups. If you're a new or potential student and are interested in participating in events like these, please drop me a message here or an email at [email protected].

Cost: $15 per dog for just the session, $25 per dog for the session & manicure

Please check our event page and RSVP so I know you're coming!

01/01/2021

Happy New Year! 2021 couldn't come soon enough, but we're making the most of televised fireworks while the night is young. Ini and I work year round on capturing calmness, sound acclimation, and continued desensitization so that come December 31st and July 4th he's content to chill even when he's feet away from them on the tv or watching with us from the balcony.

Do you have a pup that gets scared when the big booms happen? If so, send me a message, I'd love to help you get a plan in place for desensitization and counter conditioning so come the next big firework holiday, your pup can be more at ease!

25/12/2020

December has been hectic, but we're still here! Check back with us next week for new updates and fun posts. In the mean time... Season's Greetings, Happy Holidays, and Merry Christmas to all of our Freckle Face friends! Warmest wishes from Inigo and I.

27/11/2020

I like to use any opportunity I can for impromptu training sessions, even holidays! This was Inigo working on his impulse control and cue recognition skills with the turkey bones and scraps that were going into the trash right after clean up (none of which he'd be privy to before or after the video). This was a HIGH level distraction for a food motivated dog, and he did pretty awesome.

If begging for handouts and scraps, getting into the trash, or just being up everyone's butts in the kitchen was a problem for your dog this Thanksgiving, why not book a session to improve your dog's impulse control cues? Make your next meal, holiday or regular, less of an issue. Near or far, we've got you covered with in person or virtual sessions!

27/11/2020

I'm thankful for the opportunity I've had to start my business this year. Thank you to all of my past, current, and future clients for helping to support this small business. 🐾❤️

23/11/2020

Is this how you're planning on keeping your dog out of the Christmas tree and gifts this year? Send me a message, and we'll work on your pup's LEAVE IT skills. Remember, video lessons are available too!

11/11/2020

Happy Veterans Day to all of our Freckle Face friends who have served or have family or friends that have! Thank you for your service.

11/11/2020

Training Topic Tuesday is a GO!

Today's topic is how to do a shake or give paw cue WITHOUT grabbing your dog's foot manually, as well as how to problem solve mouthing or pushy behaviors..... AND a practical use for the cue later!

Remember to like, comment, and share! Show me YOUR dogs doing a shake, paw, or high five in the comments below!

08/11/2020

"What's in your treat pouch?"
The dog trainer's version of "what's in your wallet?"

This question gets asked almost every training session I have with new clients. So I thought I'd go ahead and start showing y'all, from time to time, what's in my wallet! Keep in mind, these are Inigo's rankings as far as what's low to high value, and what he enjoys working for the most.

Low value -
-Baby "Poofs" - cheerio like in nature with big smells, but low in calories!
-Dry dog kibble - working for his meals is not uncommon in our house! I HIGHLY recommend putting value on your dog's food by using their normal kibble as treat during training sessions. Mixing it up with high value, high protein (if safe for your dog) kibble is also fun too!

Mid value -
-Fruits and Veggies - Inigo LOVES apple pieces, bananas, frozen peas and carrots, broccoli, strawberries, blueberries, and watermelon. They may not come out of my treat pouch, but I'll use them in kongs and slow feeders at meal times.
-Soft treats - These small, soft, easy to break apart bites make up the majority of what's used along with kibble in my pouch. They're usually high in smell and taste value, but can be calorie dense, so it's best to use in small quantities.

High Value -
-Goldfish Crackers - These are Inigo's "crack". He's highly addicted to them, knows the crinkle of the bag, and will do just about anything for them.
-Dehydrated Proteins - Livers, organs, meat....these are HIGH in smell and taste for most dogs, will get you BIG behaviors out of motivated dogs, and need to be used sparingly.
-Dairy and Lunchmeat - These are great in small quantities. Things like low fat string cheese or mozzarella, plain low fat Greek yogurt (read ingredients and avoid ANYTHING with Xylitol or artificial sweeteners), and small quantities of chicken breast or turkey (be careful with additives and fat levels). Again, these are HIGH in scent and taste attraction but can only be used in small amounts!

What's your dog's favorite training treat? Drop us a comment below, and be sure to like and share to see more of our treat recommendations!

08/11/2020

End of the week ENRICHMENT discussion! Today's topic: Play with me vs play by yourself toys.

Does your dog have a basket full of toys that they just don't seem to care about? Or do they just play with a new toy once after purchase, but give up on it after that? If that's the case, you may need to take a hard look at whether or not you have a "play with me" or a "play by yourself toy"!

Play with me toys require engagement from either a person or another dog to get the maximum play results from. They include things like tug ropes, flirt poles, fetch toys, long stuffing free squeak toys, and chuck it cubes, among many others.
-These toys are great for burning energy, mixing up your exercise routines, adding in play during training sessions, building drive and reinforcement during training for something other than food and praise.

Play by yourself toys need only your dog to operate in order to get the best enjoyment out of them. Inigo's favorites include things like teeth safe chews, stuffed and frozen kongs, puzzle toys and slow feeders, snuffle mats, and any variety of food dispensing toys.
-These toys are GREAT for teaching a dog to self soothe or self entertain. They're a wonderful addition to your dog's enrichment routines throughout the week, and can be used to work the brain, sense of smell, and instinct to forage.....all while you relax on the couch and catch up on your favorite shows or some much needed quiet time!

Remember, not every toy is the right fit for every dog's chewing or play style. If your pup is annihilating their toys every time they play with them, it may be time to upgrade to safer, more durable options.

Drop a comment below and tell us what your dog's favorite toy is! Not sure what toys are the best option for your pup or adult dog? Let us know and we'll make some recommendations!

07/11/2020

Today was a great day! We had a blast partnering with Kelly's Pet Spa LLC at the Wolf Ranch Farmer's Market. We met some pretty awesome folks there. If you happen to be one of the new potential clients we met, drop us a like, comment, and be sure to like our page for all of the upcoming fun things to share!

05/11/2020

Training topic Tuesdays were postponed due to technical difficulties, but keep an eye out for our first post this coming Tuesday! We're all ears, so keep sending us your topic suggestions!

05/11/2020

Agree wholeheartedly! Sometimes the best thing you can do for a dog that's always on the go, is teach them to stop and chill! If you need help managing your busy pup, drop us a message or email us at [email protected] for a consultation today!

I always thought, when it came to my dog, I needed to do more.

When my first dog had behavioral issues…

I thought he needed more exercise…

More training…

More mental stimulation…

More interactive toys.

What I never realized was…

He was really good at DOING things.

But the skill he lacked…

The one that got us in trouble ALL…THE…TIME…

Was the skill of doing…

NOTHING.

He didn’t know how relax.

And all I did was keep him busy.

Listen…

I don’t care if your dog is reactive, or if you have a dog that you are competing with in dog sports…

Teach them how to do nothing.

Teach them how to chill out…

How to relax…

And for the really busy dogs…

Make them practice it often.

Your sanity and theirs will thank you 😉

22/10/2020

New things coming! I'm going to be doing a Training Tip Tuesday post every week and would LOVE your input! No question is too mundane or strange! Pop a comment below, like, and share this post with your friends and family so they can ask away too!

21/10/2020

Oh....my.....DOG!!!! I'm SO excited for this opportunity to team up with this amazing local, mobile groomer! Kelly's Pet Spa LLC is hosting Freckle Face Dog Training at their booth at the Georgetown Farmer's Market starting November 7th! If you're in the area, come check us out. Nail trims, merchandise, training demos, and plenty of opportunities to get to know what we're about.

18/10/2020

Inigo is deciding what costume he wants to wear for tomorrow's Halloween Hike at the Round Rock Outlets....Cute Bat or Ultimate Frisbee Player. Be sure to join us tomorrow at 9:30 near the playground to find out for sure!

11/10/2020

Our hike this morning was awesome! Miss Lucy and Ini hopped a train and worked some stays and pressure on/off response. Be sure to join us next weekend at the Round Rock Outlets. Bring your pup in costume for some spooky season fun!

11/10/2020

Our friends at Superb Snuffles have a new ordering system! It makes it super simple to order your pup an AMAZING, handmade snuffle mat. They're custom made per order, and are great for enrichment and keeping your busy pup entertained!

***NEW*** Now ordering is easier than ever! Just fill out our simple inquiry form and submit 🐶 we will email you back with final pricing and invoicing
https://form.jotform.com/202823295122045
We will always try to accommodate any special requests - we want you to love your snuffle mat as much as your pet will!

04/10/2020

Y'all remember "little" Siggy? She's gotten so big since starting lessons and has worked hard on getting her basics down! She and her Dad will soon be joining us on hikes! What a good girl!

04/10/2020

Don't forget to check our events for all things upcoming! Our costume hike is 10/18 at the Round Rock Outlets! Join us for spooky, training fun!

03/10/2020

Some days you're the puppy, some days you're the horse. 🤷‍♀️ If teaching leash manners is a struggle, drop me a message and set up one on one lessons for success!

01/09/2020

Inigo: how do I use the space bar??
Me, not paying attention: With your thumbs.
Inigo: *stares* not funny, hooman.

Did you know Zoom sessions are available for anyone not local to the Leander, Cedar Park, Georgetown, Round Rock, and North Austin area? Send a message today to set up your free virtual evaluation session!

30/08/2020

We LOVE Superb Snuffles! Custom made and top quality, they're sure to give your pup loads of awesome enrichment!

Happy FIRST anniversary to Superb Snuffles 🐶 hard to believe that it has been an entire year since I started my little business making snuffle mats after looking for something fun for my own dog and not seeing anything with the level of customization I wanted. I couldn't have made it through without all the support, encouragement, and feedback from friends, family, and supporters! I truly appreciate each and every one of you 😁 here's to another year of happy snuffling pets 🎉🎉🎉

30/08/2020

Dealing with teething, wild puppies that just don't give a heck? Send me a message and I'd be happy to help! Credit to the artist labeled at the bottom.

30/08/2020

We had a great hike session today! Joy and her sister, Boots, and their people worked really hard on trail manners, stays, and impulse control today! Great job, guys, we'll see y'all on the next adventure! 🐾🐾🐾