MarLee & Me Dog Training, LLC

09/04/2023

There is NO RUSH.

06/10/2023

Come see us at Walk for the PAWS today from 11a - 3p at Henderson Park East in Tucker!

Good food, good dogs, and local vendors all here to support a great cause!

04/13/2023

We are passionate about helping rescued pets thrive at the shelter and in their forever homes. MarLee is proud to announce she has joined PAWS Atlanta’s team as the on-site trainer and behavior consultant!

10/27/2022

It is of course important that if a dog has not been trained or prepared to work in public access that the handler understands this and agrees not to work with the dog in places pets are not permitted. Some people think "at home only" service dogs are just an "owner trainer" thing, but actually some service dog programs train and place at home only service dogs.

09/28/2022

Service dog industry terminology can be confusing. The term service animal has a legal definition in the United States and many countries around the world. The Americans with Disabilities Act: "Service animals are defined as dogs that are individually trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities. " You can learn more about the ADA and also see links to laws in other countries here in our updated resource page: https://cooperativepaws.com/service-dog-resource-page/

09/26/2022

09/18/2022

2 out of 3 stolen dogs found! Still looking for Princeton. Help bring him back to PAWS!

09/17/2022

09/16/2022

“Please be on the lookout for Emilia, Violet, and Princeton on Craigslist, NextDoor, Facebook, and out in your community. If you see them, please contact the police and PAWS Atlanta (770-593-1155) immediately.”

03/21/2022

Continuing education is incredibly important in our industry. We are never finished learning about dog behavior. This weekend we had a fantastic time at the Aggression in Dogs Workshop, presented by the always informative and ever so kind . Many thanks to for hosting! It was such a wonderful welcome back to in-person events!
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02/03/2022

As a trainer (and Cooperative Paws Service Dog Coach) with cerebral palsy, MarLee has always considered this a particularly important issue.

10/24/2021

09/05/2021

Lola is working on polite greetings when visitors enter the home. Here she is calmly approaching with her handler and waiting for permission to “Go Say Hi” to MarLee. What a fantastic job!

11/30/2020

A little dog humor to kickstart your week!

11/20/2020

All of our clients have heard MarLee say, “Don’t worry, it’s supposed to look easy when I do it!”

Not only due to professional knowledge and experience, but because your dog’s relationship with her is predicated entirely on training, so the rules are clear and consistent. None of that means your dog cares for you less! With practice and commitment, you will achieve the same results!

Back before I was a dog trainer…

When I had a dog that suffered from pretty much every behavioral problem in the book…

I remember feeling a little deflated when I worked with my trainer.

It seemed like every time I handed them the leash…

My dog instantly snapped to attention…

Like he’d been in obedience training his entire life.

And then the moment the leash was back in my grasp…

My dog seemed to develop selective hearing…

Pulling all over the place…

And acting like I didn’t exist.

It was frustrating.

And it made me feel like my dog had more respect for my trainer.

And I was nothing more to him than a free meal.

I mean, I paid his bills, gave him the best care, fed him the best food, and he could care less about me.

And you know what?

That hurt.

These days…

Now that I’ve learned a thing or two…

It’s rare that I take the leash from my clients.

But it’s not uncommon when I do for my students to say things like “He’s SOOOOO much better for you”…

And then make that mean the dog likes me better…

Or make it mean they are no good at this.

But the truth is…

Your dog SHOULD be better for your trainer.

They have more experience than you.

Doing this is (or at least, should be) second nature for them.

But you are just starting out…

Even if you’ve been at this a few months…or even a few years…

Your trainer has (or at leash SHOULD have) more experience than you, with more types of dogs.

I mean, personally, I’ve been doing this for almost 20 years. I’d better be a decent handler by now 😉

And just because they HANDLE your dog more effectively than you do (because that’s really what this is about)…

That doesn’t mean your dog doesn’t love you.

It doesn’t mean you won’t be good at this.

And it certainly doesn’t mean you are a bad dog owner.

It just means your trainer is a more experienced handler.

So don’t worry if your dog behaves better for your trainer.

Worry if they don’t.

(Of course, assuming your dog has a relationship with your trainer 😉)

08/30/2020

Guilty. Sometimes I even break them into fourths. My human clients may think I'm stingy, but the dogs have yet to complain. Haha!
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05/19/2020

This is something all dog owners should know. If you need help improving connection with your dog, we are always here for you!

05/16/2020

Ask a dog trainer and they’ll tell you the same, but it’s always nice to have science support our experience.

New study suggests adolescent pups don’t listen to their owners

04/06/2020

We are now offering virtual consults and follow-up lessons. Check it out!
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04/06/2020

PUPDATE! Rosie and Keeper are now together off-leash, and as you can see it is going well! The importance and effectiveness of a gradual introduction can’t be overstated. This was such a great video to receive, especially during these difficult times. So proud of these clients!___________________________________

03/07/2020

Who says Pugs can’t be sport dogs? Go Cookie!

02/16/2020

Environmental enrichment comes in many forms, and doesn’t always need to include food or dog toys. Viktor enjoys tearing up cardboard, and I needed some boxes broken down. Win-win! What type of enrichment does your dog enjoy?

Edited to Add: This activity should only occur under supervision; it is not appropriate for dogs who would ingest the pieces.

02/05/2020

Mobility assistance service work is close to my heart. Here’s Moxie retrieving a medical kit for her owner. Such a good girl! ______________________________

02/03/2020

PUPDATE! Rosie and Keeper are making great progress. In this clip, Keeper is walked on a slack leash past Rosie (who is muzzled as a safety precaution). Rosie is welcome to observe Keeper, and is rewarded whenever she chooses to remove her attention from him. It is important to note that Rosie has not been asked to maintain a sit; she volunteered that position. Keeper is walked past Rosie at a distance he is comfortable with, and is never forced to interact with her. ________________________________

01/29/2020

Online scheduling isn’t just for consultations anymore!

Good news for returning clients: MarLee & Me now offers online scheduling for follow-up private lessons. Using the link below, schedule or change appointment times at your convenience. What a time to be alive!

Returning clients, you are welcome to schedule follow-up lessons at your convenience. We look forward to seeing you again!

01/28/2020

The arousal caused by visitors entering the home typically leads Magnus to initiate a fight with one of his housemates. We have been working on a “Place” cue to prevent this, and are now gradually adding the other dogs to the exercise. We begin with Tupper, because Magnus has never shown aggression toward him. Magnus’ job is to remain on his bed from the time the door is opened until the visitor (in this case, MarLee) is seated. Through consistent practice this team has made fantastic progress. Stay tuned for more! _________________________________

01/27/2020

Rosie has a history of dog aggression, and needs to be safely introduced to her new Rat Terrier housemate, Keeper. In this clip, Rosie is rehearsing a conditioned relaxation exercise (on-leash as a precaution) to help her acclimate to another dog’s presence in the home. Keeper is an anxious dog who can be easily overwhelmed by both human and dog interactions, so Rosie’s calm behavior is incredibly important to his feeling secure in his new environment. This is just one step in a gradual integration process to decrease the risk of conflict between the dogs. ______________________________

11/14/2019

Retrieve-to-hand is the fundamental skill for mobility assistance service dogs. Here Viktor and I demonstrate the three components of the task (take, hold, and give) as well as the finished behavior. Viktor’s retrieve cue is “That, please”, and I always make sure to thank him! Please excuse the background noise; my pug, Commissioner Gordon, doesn’t appreciate being left out! ________________________

11/14/2019

Interesting. And adorable!

Narwhal was found on the side of the road and taken in by a local rescue group that focuses on “special needs” dogs.