Rover Rehab Dog Training

22/12/2023

Rover Rehab will be closed from December 22nd through January 2nd! I look forward to seeing you all in the New Year!

21/12/2023

One of the biggest differences I noticed when I crossed over from balanced to force-free training was the shift from "How do I make my dog stop doing what they are doing?" to "What could be making my dog behave this way and what kind of support might they need?".

This shift from "make it stop" to "get curious and offer support" was a *gamechanger* for me, but also took practice! So here are some examples of the questions I might ask myself when looking at behavior:

- What function does the current behavior serve? Is my dog trying to access something? Trying to escape from something?

- What is the behavior communicating about their comfort level? If they are uncomfortable, afraid, stressed, or over-aroused, what support options can I offer to help them out?

- What would be a safer alternative behavior (safer for my dog, for myself, for others)? How can I teach that behavior in ways that are kind, positive, and that set my dog up for success as they become fluent in this new skill?

By leaning into curiosity instead of focusing on making a behavior stop, we expand our ability to recognize what our dogs are communicating, what needs they are expressing, and how we can support them. This is where the most effective behavior change comes from!

06/12/2023

It was so lovely chatting with Stephanie about one of my favorite topics - fearful and nervous dogs! I talk about what I mean when I describe a dog as fearful, do some myth busting around fear in dogs, and share a few examples of what training with a fearful dog might look like. Thanks DBI for a delightful chat!

https://www.thedogbehaviorinstitute.com/the-dbi-blog/interview-with-lyz-knight

13/09/2023

I ask a lot of questions during my consultations with dog guardians, and there are reasons behind each of them! Here are some of the questions a trainer might ask as they get to know you and your dog, and why these questions are important:

1 When was your dog's last vet check?
The first step in any good training program is checking in on your dog’s health, especially if there have been any sudden behavior changes. The most thoughtfully designed training plan won’t be effective if there are unaddressed health needs!

2 What is your dog's daily routine?
Getting a sense of your dog’s daily routine can help your trainer identify what areas we may want to adjust to best meet you and your dog’s needs. It can also help point out potential areas for further investigation - for example, is your dog sleeping too much or not enough? Is their exercise and enrichment routine sufficient? Are there any red flags for health or wellness concerns?

3 Has your dog ever bitten a person or animal?
If your pet has bitten before there is no judgement! This topic can be a hard and vulnerable one to talk about, but it is important for you to be honest with your trainer about any bite incidents so that they can give you the best and most appropriate safety and training guidance.

4 What have you tried so far?
Knowing what techniques you have tried, what your goals were, and the results you did or didn’t see is helpful for your trainer in determining next steps. We can substitute alternative options or adjust how a technique is applied in order to best set you and your dog up for success.

5 What are your goals for training?
It’s important that you and your trainer are on the same page about your training goals. Every dog guardian’s priorities may be different, and asking this question gives your trainer a clear picture of your goals as well as a chance to adjust goals if needed.

Asking questions is a key part of the consultation process here at Rover Rehab because it gives me the ability to best choose training skills, management strategies, and enrichment suggestions that are the best fit for you and your dog! That's why all of our consultations are virtual - we do a lot of talking, and instead of your dog being stressed or excited about a new person while I gather important information, they can relax at home while the humans chat on Zoom

I am currently booking new private training clients for October - more information on booking your consultation can be found on my website (www.RoverRehabDogTraining.com). I can't wait to meet you and your dog!

07/09/2023

I'm continuing my blog series of training games this month with another favorite pattern game: Ping-Pong! This one, like last month's game (Up-Down), is simple in concept but very helpful and versatile for dogs in a wide range of situations.

Head to the Rover Ramblings blog to learn how to play this fun training game!

Ping Pong is one of my favorite training games that can be helpful for everything from recall to loose leashing to reducing jumping on guests

01/09/2023

It's September and our new Make It Click membership event calendar is here!

Office Hours with Trainer Lyz
September 4th and 18th
8:30pm ET/5:30pm PT

Back to School Lunch Enrichment Event
September 11th
7:30pm ET/4:30pm PT
Join us to make a brown bag "lunch" shredding enrichment activity for your dog!

Group Class
August 14th
7:30pm ET/4:30pm PT
Class Topic: Errorless Learning and "Leave It"

Some methods of teaching "leave it" can cause a lot of frustration and confusion for our dogs, but not so with an errorless approach! In this month's group class you will learn what errorless learning means and get started with teaching your dog a "leave it" cue without frustration.

I hope to see you and your dog at this month's events! Join the Make It Click community here: https://rover-rehab-dog-training.newzenler.com/courses/make-it-click-community-membership-1

11/08/2023

As a professional trainer who often works with fearful and reactive dogs, I am a big fan of training games that are simple in concept but oh so versatile and helpful when it comes to changing behavior. The Up-Down pattern game from Leslie McDevitt’s Control Unleashed series is one of my favorites in this category!

The beauty is in the simplicity with this game. Read the latest post on the Rover Ramblings blog to learn how to play!

One of my favorite simple yet versatile and effective training games is the Up-Down pattern game developed by Leslie McDevitt. All you need are some small treats, a clicker or marker word like "yes", and your dog!

15/07/2023

Enrollment for the August "From Nervous Nellie to Confident Canine" class is now open! 🎉

I have a special fondness for nervous, shy, and anxious dogs and this class was created just for them (and their humans, of course!). Class meets weekly on Zoom and we cover a wide range of topics including nervous dog body language, advocating for shy dogs, using enrichment to boost our dog's confidence, harnessing the power of patterns and predictability, how to handle new environments or things your dog finds scary, and what to do when you unexpectedly end up in a situation that your dog isn't comfortable with. Plus we practice training games and strategies to build your dog's confidence at home and out in the world!

There are working and auditor spots available for this class as well as sliding scale pricing options. Working spots come with the added bonus of two 1:1 virtual training sessions with me as well as live feedback and coaching during in-class practice time. Plus all students get access to a community group where you can connect with other nervous dog guardians, get support when you need it , and cheer each other on!

Class will meet on on Zoom on Wednesdays at 6:30pm ET, beginning August 9th and running through September 6th. All of the class info is in my stories and at the you know what in my b i o. I can't wait to meet you and your dog!

10/07/2023

One of my favorite ways to "level up" my dog's puzzle toys is to change up the location and get outside!

Molly has a lot of puzzle toys that she loves and typically she enjoys them indoors, either in the kitchen or in a space like the living room with a rug. But it's fun to change it up and give her puzzle toys outside sometimes! Toys on the grass provide an additional enrichment opportunity since she can then snuffle the kibble that she knocks into the grass. If she is eating on the deck or a semi-outdoor space like a porch, the different surfaces and ridges of wood make for a new sensory experience.

I enjoy watching how location changes impact her interest in or approach to puzzles. She tends to knock the Kong Wobbler with her feet more indoors and uses her nose to move it outside (perhaps to keep her nose close to the ground for the inevitable snack snuffling that will follow?). She also seems to get extra hyped about getting puzzle toys in outdoor spaces in general, and will approach them with some extra zest!

The goal is for enrichment to be enriching, so if your dog seems to get frustrated with a toy in a new location it's perfectly okay (and recommended!) to help them out or move the toy to a slightly less challenging location if needed. If you don't have access to safe yard space to use puzzle toys outside, a porch, deck, or balcony can be another fun option. Or even trying out a different room in your house, or changing up the "location" by giving a puzzle toy on a different rug or on top of a snuffle mat!

18/05/2023

I have new spots opening up for private virtual training clients and I would love to join you and your dog's team!

My services are all available virtually, which means I can support you and your dog no matter where you are located! I specialize in virtual training for dogs who need help with fear and reactivity, and also work with newly adopted puppies and adult dogs as well as providing solutions for general life needs like leash walking help or building good behaviors at home 🥳

I have private virtual training slots available for:

🔹️Reactivity help (for barky-lungy-growly dogs)
🔹️Dogs who are afraid of people, other dogs, new things, or sounds
🔹️Puppies less than 6 months old or newly adopted adult dogs of any age
🔹️Dogs who need help with life skills and manners at home or out in the world

Get in touch by sending me a message or booking your consultation on my website! I can't wait to get to know you and your dog and help you live in happy harmony together 🐶

https://roverrehabdogtraining.com/

12/05/2023

It's the final installment of this week's puppy-themed blog series! Today I'm talking about two of the topics that come up a lot with my puppy clients: socialization and training!

Learn about why socialization doesn't necessarily mean interacting with everyone and everything, and how you can set up safe and positive socialization experiences for your new puppy. You'll also read some tips for choosing what behaviors to teach your puppy first by thinking about what you want life with your dog to look like as they get older! Check out the Rover Ramblings blog linked below to read the whole post, plus Parts 1 and 2 if you missed them 🐶

What would you like to know about puppy socialization and training?

https://roverrehabdogtraining.com/new-puppy-3/

10/05/2023

Part 2 of "What to Expect When You Are Expecting A Puppy" is up on the blog! Check it out here: https://roverrehabdogtraining.com/new-puppy-2/

In this installment I share my expanded thoughts on three key areas I think it is valuable for new puppy guardians to focus on during Day 1 with your new puppy:

1 Take things slow: it's really tempting to introduce your puppy to friends and family right away but that can be too overwhelming for our little pups! Take things slow and let them get settled in before having guests over.

2 Preventing unwanted behavior is key: management is your friend with dogs of any age, but especially for puppies who are still learning so much about the world! Put away any items you don't want chewed, close doors to rooms to prevent accidents, and use items like baby gates or exercise pens to keep puppies safely contained when you aren't able to supervise them.

3 Helping them feel safe is more important than skills: puppies and new dogs are adjusting, and that learning takes time. My priorities for new pups center around teaching them that the world is safe and that the humans in their home can be trusted. Safety and comfort come first - sit and stay can come later.

What do you wish you had known on Day 1 with your dog?

09/05/2023

A new blog post series is here!

I've been thinking a lot lately about how new dog and puppy guardians find information, and how it can be overwhelming to try to sort through allll of the info online while also trying to adjust to life with a new dog! So I put together a three-part series of blog posts with what I consider to be some of the most important and valuable information for people with new puppies or new adult dogs. I talk about helpful things to know before a new pup comes home, tips for a low-stress day one, what I think are the key things to focus on during the first week and beyond with a new dog. Plus there are free downloadable resources that I hope will be helpful for anyone who has recently brought home a new pup or is planning on welcoming one soon!

Read part one on the Rover Ramblings blog below, and tune in tomorrow for part 2!

https://roverrehabdogtraining.com/new-puppy-1/

26/04/2023

Do you have a dog who is nervous or shy around people or in new environments? Do they have a hard time adjusting to changes at home, like new routines, strange sounds, or guests coming over? If so, then the "From Nervous Nellie to Confident Canine" class is for you! I ran this class back in February and we had a blast getting to see dogs start to blossom into their more confident selves, and I'm happy to offering another round starting in May!

This class is held live on Zoom and will run on Wednesdays at 6pm ET from May 17th to June 14th. Each group class is a combination of webinar and live training practice so that you and your dog can get comfortable with your new skills. If you miss the live calls you can watch the recordings, and there are weekly workbooks and handouts to support your training.

During this class you'll learn:
- How to recognize and interpret "nervous" and "confident" dog body language
- How to advocate for your nervous dog and help them feel safe
- Enrichment to boost their confidence and reduce stress
- Using the power of patterns and predictability to change their behavior
- What to do if your dog is nervous in new or changing environments, around new people, or around strange objects and sounds
- A bunch of training games and skills to build their confidence!

Enroll in an auditor spot to join the weekly group calls, or boost your training with a working spot and get access to live feedback during group calls plus two private one-on-one training sessions with me!

Sliding scale pricing is available for both working and auditor spots (more info on that on the course page below). Enrollment is open through May 12th, so snag your spot now and let us help you turn your Nervous Nellie into a Confident Canine!

https://rover-rehab-dog-training.newzenler.com/courses/from-nervous-nellie-to-confident-canine-may2023

01/03/2023

I'm delighted to have been nominated for Sniffspot's Top Dog Trainer Contest this year!

If you feel so inclined, you can vote at the link below by scrolling through the list of trainers and choosing Lyz Knight.

There are lots of excellent R+ folx on this list and you can vote once per trainer, so feel free to spread the love and vote for multiple trainers!

Sniffspot is a resource I use with clients to help them find places to let their dogs explore, sniff, and move their bodies. This is great for all dogs but can be especially helpful for dogs who are nervous or reactive and benefit from quieter spots, or for dog guardians who don't have access to safe, public green spaces. Each year, Sniffspot shares their list of top dog trainers and I'm honored to be included in the voting this year!

Thank you in advance to anyone who considers voting for me, and please give your dogs extra snacks (or eggs) from me!

https://www.sniffspot.com/blog/dog-trainers/contest?utm_source=trainer_contest

03/01/2023

Our "It's Cool to Be Kind" design has just dropped and features a few of my favorite things - Buck the pitbull, wearing a sweatshirt, looking Very Cool on a skateboard, spreading the word that kindness is cool as heck

Kindness is an inherent part of the positive reinforcement and force-free training that I am passionate about, so it made perfect sense to highlight this for the first official merch from Rover Rehab. I also wanted to include Buck the pitbull in this one since bully breed dogs are often thought to need a heavier hand in training and that simply isn't true - kind training matters for ALL dogs! In addition to spreading the word about how cool kindness is, all of the proceeds from this design are going towards supporting sliding scale tuition and free class spots in Rover Rehab training programs and classes to help make quality training more accessible to all humans.

This design is available on a variety of shirts, tanks, and sweatshirts, plus mugs (because kindness and coffee go together like bacon and eggs, in my opinion). I'm so excited to share this one and hope you love it!

Major shoutout to for the help with the design and ex*****on on this one. They also have some awesome merch available so check out their IG and Bonfire shop as well!

https://www.bonfire.com/store/rover-rehab-store/

08/12/2022

We have a new and updated website!

I recently worked with the team at DigiWoof to do a complete website overhaul and I'm excited to share it with you. The website is the place to access more information about my current services, book appointments, learn more about some of the values I stand for, and access additional free and low-cost resources. Woohoo!

https://roverrehabdogtraining.com/

28/10/2022

It's spooky season, and time for ghosts and witches and pumpkins, oh my! 👻🧙‍♀️🎃

While the Halloween season can be a fun one for us humans, it can be stressful for many of our pets. Between new strange lawn decorations in the neighborhood, a night of strangers coming to the door in odd outfits, and a house full of candy, it's understandable that our furry friends might have a hard time. But fear not, there are lots of ways to help them!

Do you have a Halloween plan for your pets? Ours involves turning off the outdoor lights, closing the curtains, and spending our evening in the section of the house that doesn't look out onto the street. For us, this is the option that provides the lowest stress for everyone! (And yes, we used to put out candy for trick or treaters but after the "Our Second Group of Kid Visitors Stole the Entire Bucket of Candy" incident of 2019 we don't do that anymore).

Have a happy and safe Halloween!

20/10/2022

A common thing I hear from dog guardians is "No matter how much I exercise my dog and try to tire them out I just can't get them to relax!". They are feeling stuck with trying to go for hours of walks, or miles of hikes, or spending their whole day playing fetch so that their dog will maybe, FINALLY, relax and fall asleep when they get home.

But more exercise isn't always the answer to relaxation! When it comes to helping dogs relax I consider three key elements:

1 - Appropriate physical exercise. How much physical exercise and what kind will depend on factors like breed, age, health status, and training and behavior needs. Some dogs benefit most from a sniff walk, some from running around a safe field, others from doing more specific fitness work - it depends!

2 - Meeting mental stimulation/species-specific enrichment needs. Do you have a dog who likes to forage for food? Maybe they would enjoy a puzzle feeder! Or perhaps your pup yearns for social interaction with trusted human or dog friends? Setting up a playdate could help! (psst - if you're looking for enrichment ideas I have a free ebook linked in my bio!).

3 - Actively teaching and reinforcing relaxation through force-free methods. This often starts with setting up the environment to help them be successful - minimal distractions, a quiet room, and practicing after their physical exercise and mental stimulation needs have been met. Relaxing might look different for every dog at first too, and that's okay! We can customize our training plan to help them learn that relaxing is a rewarding and fulfilling activity.

Do you have questions about helping your dog learn to chill? I'd love to hear them!

22/09/2022

I came to the belated realization last week that we officially started Make It Click one whole year ago! What started as a small Patreon adventure has grown into almost 30 podcast episodes, community events, and a wonderful community of dog guardians who are eager for more learning and who support each other in ways that I am so appreciative of.

In celebration of the one year anniversary of Make It Click, we are releasing two of our favorite OG episodes for public listening! These episodes were previously only available on Patreon but I wanted to share these special conversations and give you a peek into some of what we created back when this community was first getting started.

First up is an episode I got to record with a fellow trainer and all around delightful human, Jenna from Think Smart Dog Training! Jenna joined me for a really interesting conversation about how the “why” of "why do we get dogs" can impact welfare and wellness, the ways that our own human stress can change when we reframe our relationship with dogs, and thoughts about what qualities dogs might pick if they had the opportunity to choose their human. This was such a lovely and honest conversation about how it can be hard to change the ways we think about dogs, how being a dog guardian can be challenging (spoiler: trainer's dogs aren't "perfect" either!), and the journeys both Jenna and I are on to discover how we can best learn and adapt for our dogs.

Our second special anniversary re-release episode was originally Make It Click Episode 4, which was recorded way back in October 2021 and featured guest Ali Sutch from Up to S***f! Ali came to chat with me about a topic that has a special place in both our hearts - shy baby dogs.

So what is a shy baby dog? How do I know if a dog is shy? What can we do to support them? Ali and I talk about what "shy baby dog" means to us, how that descriptor can be either a help or a hindrance, and why it's valuable to bring extra compassion to our discussions about shy dogs. We also discuss what skills might be helpful for shy dogs to help them navigate the world more comfortably, plus knowledge and skills that the human guardians of shy dogs can benefit from. If you think you might know or love a shy baby dog then this episode is for you!

Listen to the episodes here now: https://open.spotify.com/show/53hP3cVxxWY0bAQ6EzarpO

10/09/2022

While I was waiting for a veterinary appointment recently there was another dog getting picked up from surgery. The guardians were delighted to be bringing their dog home safe and sound and were clearly happy that the surgery had gone well, but they also made a comment about how the dog was "usually so dramatic" at the vet. That comment inspired this bit of myth-busting: your dog is not being "dramatic" at the vet - their behavior is telling you something!

There is an unfortunate trend on social media where I will often see footage of dogs at the vet that have been captioned in a similar way - dogs who are "dramatic", "a drama queen", "doing it for attention", etc. So I'm here to tell you that those things simply aren't true!

Our dogs are always telling the truth with their behavior. By that I mean that they are always behaving in the way that is right for them in that moment. Dogs who are frozen or immobile during veterinary exams or who flinch or cry out when certain body parts are touched are not being dramatic. They are letting us know that they are scared, or in pain, or uncomfortable with whatever is happening - all of that is them telling the truth!

The biggest gift we can give our dogs is to really look at and listen to what their behavior is telling us. Instead of thinking of it as drama, remember that behavior is communication, and behavior in the vet clinic is no different!

02/09/2022

I often work with dog guardians who need help because their dogs are displaying some kind of fearful or reactive behavior towards a particular trigger. Common triggers can be unfamiliar people, other dogs, or other animals, but it can be a whole variety of things. When I am working with clients we often talk about how distance is our friend! But why is that important?

The way I think about it is this: if you and your dog can't be successful at practicing your skills without a trigger nearby, there is almost no way you'll be successful once triggers are actually in the picture!

Working at a distance, or even without triggers at all at first, gives us a chance to help you and your dog be successful as you practice new things. Then we gradually introduce triggers at a distance, moving closer as that success continues.

This is way less stressful AND it better prepares your dog for feeling comfortable because they have a chance to change their emotional response to a trigger at a safe distance.

Distance is your friend!

18/08/2022

Welcome Team Presley to the Rover Rehab family!

This cutie and her family started their training program this month and I'm excited to support them on their training journey. Presley is a two year old French Bulldog who we are working with to build her confidence, reduce some anxiety and help her better be able to relax at home, especially when her family members move around the house.

We started this month with introducing fun games she and her humans can play together and helping her people learn how to identify Presley's body language signals and threshold levels. We think of training as being for the dogs, but there is a lot that the humans learn too!

Welcome Team Presley!

13/08/2022

Confession: I'm a professional trainer and I give my dogs "human food"

I make my dogs eggs every morning. I often share bits of my own snacks and meals. Sharing food with them and making them "human foods" is part of how I express my care for them!

"Human food" is a construct. If you want to share food with your dog or make them something special (as long as it is a safe food for them and we are conscious of maintaining a healthy weight) there is nothing wrong with that.

Giving our dogs human food doesn't automatically cause begging behaviors. And an additional confession: I don't particularly mind if my dogs beg either 😉. Making and sharing food is often an act of love, and one that I personally adore.

Inspired by my dogs' daily eggs

Music: Sunshine & Blue Skies
Musician: Philip E Morris

05/08/2022

Chewing and biting and digging, oh my! Having a puppy can feel like pure chaos, but also comes with a lot of joy and learning for both us and our dogs. For our latest Make It Click podcast episode, Kelly Fahey from PupScouts of Hunterdon: Puppy Training & Separation Anxiety Coaching joined me to chat all about puppies, puppy training, and why socialization and safe experiences are so important.

Kelly and I got to talk about a lot of different aspects of puppy life. Kelly shared her thoughts on what to prioritize when bringing a puppy home (spoiler alert: sit and stay aren't the first things on her mind!). We also bust some myths around puppy behavior and talk about what we can learn by observing how our puppies interact with the world.

Listen now at the link below or by searching "Make It Click for Dog Guardians" on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or Stitcher. Enjoy!

https://anchor.fm/make-it-click

28/07/2022

Our new Enrichment Guide for Dogs is here - and it's free!

The guide includes a ton of helpful information for incorporating enrichment opportunities into your dog's life. You'll learn about important health and wellness foundations to consider, why enrichment is so valuable, and tips for choosing the right enrichment activities for your dog. The guide covers food-based enrichment, sensory enrichment like sound, smell, and chewing, social enrichment, and games and activities that use movement to enrich your dog's day. Plus you get a Weekly Enrichment Planner to help you easily track and adjust the enrichment activities you choose.

Get your free guide now at the link in my bio. Enjoy!

16/07/2022

I recently had the chance to collaborate on a blog with Liz from High Tail Hikes and we took the opportunity to put together a guide for dog-friendly vacation and travel!

If you are planning a day trip or a multi-day adventure with your pup we have lots of tips and info for you. We cover preparing for your tip (including a packing list), how to find dog-friendly lodging, what pre-travel training might come in handy, and a variety of tips and tricks for enjoying a fun and stress-free vacation with your dog. You can check out the guide over on the High Tail Hikes blog below!

https://hightailhikes.com/blogs/news/the-ultimate-guide-to-planning-a-dog-friendly-trip/?aff=18

Read our guide to planning a road trip or vacation with your dog! All about how to pack and prepare, secure dog friendly lodging, car safety for your dog, dog friendly activities, and much more.

12/07/2022

I'm welcoming a few new client teams into the Rover Rehab family this month and first up is Team Stevie!

Stevie's family reached out for support in helping Stevie feel more comfortable around friend's kids/babies, specifically during times when Stevie and the small humans are in the same house. Since Stevie doesn't currently live with children we have a unique opportunity to practice lots of foundation skills at home and empower her humans with a solid understanding of Stevie's communication, management and safety options, and setting her up for success. Plus she and her humans will have lots of practical, actionable skills and knowledge to apply. Then we can implement short and productive training and management sessions when dog and kiddos are in the same space.

An important note about Stevie's training program is that the goal here is not that Stevie will be best friends with a baby or that she will need to directly interact with children - that isn't always realistic! Instead we will be focusing on reducing Stevie's stress and helping her feel better about hearing or seeing babies and kids.

Welcome Team Stevie!