Maine Force Free Dog Trainers Network

21/04/2024

16/01/2024

Need help with nail trims?

New class added! Teach your dog to file their nails! No more wrestling, pleading, snapping, or fear and have fun while doing it! Two 30-minute appointments done remotely to introduce using scratch boards for front feet, dewclaws, and hind feet. We will show you how to make them or consider different commercially-available ones. It'll be fun for both of you! Sign up now on haulinausdogtraining.com.

04/01/2024

Therapy Dog Team Training is an online course for people interested in learning about therapy dog volunteer work and training your dog to be a therapy dog.

The course is taught be two certified Maine trainers.

Haulin’ Aus Dog Training, Inc. and Canine Insights, LLC

Teach your dog the skills of therapy dog work and discover just how big a difference you and your dog can make together. Learn at your pace, on your schedule, right from your home.

03/01/2024

Looking for a professional dog trainer to work with online or in the Bar Harbor area?
Cooperative Dogs is a multi certified professional dog trainer that we recommend.

I wish you all a very happy and prosperous new year! I'm not big on making many new year's resolutions because I'm a realist, but I will be trying to spend more time outside, more time training dogs and more time allowing the animals I work with to do whatever they want to do, to give them agency.
Pictured here are my amazing clients from this summer that chose to do exactly that. Contrary to first impressions, training can actually aid in giving your dogs more choice, agency and safety in exploring and enjoying the outdoors. Good training is different from coercion. Using food for training does not mean you are bribing your dog. So for this new year, I hope you all will train with your dogs more, spend more time outside with them, and carry a f***y pack full of tasty treats ☺️

03/01/2024

Gooddogz Training upcoming classes. Check them out!

I have had an overwhelming request for Foundation 1 classes. They all filled super fast.

I am sorry if you did not get in this round. Please contact me through the web site, and get on a list.
Gooddogz Training . Com

It is not uncommon for people to withdrawn, especially with Covid still hanging around.
People on the list will be contacted before the next round goes live.

The other classes listed all have only 1 space, except for the Thursday puppy class that I just added.

29/06/2023

You asked for it so here it is!

In person puppy class returns to Pittsfield.

Puppy class is for puppies to begin between the age of 8-16 weeks old.
It is an open enrollment class meaning you start when your puppy is ready.

Puppies must have age appropriate vaccines.
Email for more info: [email protected]

21/06/2023

Ellsworth, Maine classes taught by a certified dog trainer.

Cooperative Dogs is now offering three different semi-private group classes, starting in July!!
You can sign up at www.cooperativedogs.com/group-classes.

At the Moore Community Center in Ellsworth, starting July 9th and running for 6 weeks:
Foundation Obedience 1pm
Bark Busters-Reactivity Rehab 2.15 pm.

Online Cooperative Care class starts July 16th at 10:15am and runs for 6 weeks on zoom.

We are intentionally keeping class size small so that students can receive intensive instruction. These classes will be challenging and rewarding! If you are looking for a class jam-packed with behavior science and techniques for working effectively with your dog, sign up soon!

Registration is required.
First class of the in-person classes is humans only.

Don’t hesitate to send us a message with any questions!

21/06/2023

Behavior problems can be challenging, join six behavior professionals to learn how they help dogs adapt to living in the human world.

21/04/2023

Calder Veterinary Behavior Services -

23/06/2022

Last minute opening for AKC Star Puppy, tomorrow , at 1030 AM, 6 wks.
Grab a spot at Www.GooddogzTraining.com

21/06/2022

There is a movement in our industry to make learning positive for our dogs by providing choice and control--what does that actually look like? How do we measure this? How can we be sure that the dog is freely participating in the program?

It's like a coal miner working in a coal mine: they could either work in the coal mine to earn a paycheck or not work in the coal mine which means they can't put food on the table. Their alternatives are limited, and so their perspective. They also have choices as a coal miner: they can either push a trolley or they can swing a pick axe. The coal miner has choices within their job, but does that make their experience enjoyable?

In modern dog training, we have to consider the welfare of the animal during the training process. Providing choice and control are wonderful topics explored by many trainers today. At the heart of this movement is a concern for our animal's experiences and the desire to want them happy and fulfilled. But this paints an incomplete picture.

To learn more about how to truly train positively, join us for this webinar: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/sean-will-webinars-creative-ways-to-tackle-tough-cases-tickets-300884482587

20/06/2022

Registration for the 2nd Summer session of Basic Manners classes is OPEN! Class availability is updated in real time.2nd

25/05/2022

19/05/2022

Ever wondered if a specific trainer is the right one for you?
Here are a few tips on what to look out for.

12/05/2022

Worth watching.

I made this video because sometimes things don’t go according to plan. Many forms of dog training are outdated and damage your relationship with your dog.…

05/05/2022

Why falsely-advertised "positive reinforcement" training can do harm.

03/05/2022

🤔Aggression/ reactivity is often misunderstood as a dog being naughty.

A dog reacting is NOT being naughty or, a poor reflection on you as a dog owner, nor is it a personal insult if your dog is growling. Aggressive responses are usually attributed to a much bigger problem.

💥Your reactive dog is being reactive because he feels defensive or scared. Other reasons could be he is in physical pain or discomfort. His fear can be due to a lack of positive experiences when having to deal with something he finds scary or a lack of appropriate socialisation.

👀Identify your dog's triggers so you can avoid them in the beginning. Avoiding the triggers mean that you are not putting your dog in a position where they feel they need to react because of feeling threatened.

👍Manage your environment to stop your dog from rehearsing/practicing undesirable defensive behaviours.

🤓Learn about dog body language to understand how your dog is feeling and build up his confidence with fun games.

🌳Slowly start working on introducing your dog to the trigger from a far distance.

🥰Keep your dog feeling safe by working at a distance to the trigger where the dog is able to look at the trigger, not react, but still able to take treats.

😎Use positive reinforcement training.

Have a professional force-free trainer help you with systematic desensitisation and counter-conditioning methods as it will help deal with your dog’s emotional responses which will naturally address the behavioural response.

If they don’t know how to do this or don’t think addressing the emotions is not how you train, then find another trainer.

🐕Your reactive dog does NOT need more obedience training, nor does he need corrective training tools, he needs understanding, patience, and to feel safe.

Do no harm, create no pain, & cause no fear.

29/04/2022

27/04/2022

25/04/2022

Gooddogz Training is OPEN !!! 28 Stroudwater St, Unit 1 Westbrook!

15/04/2022

Offering positive, evidence based dog training and behavior modification with Nancy Freedman-Smith, a certified behavior consultant with 25 years professional experience.

10/04/2022

Kids and Dogs - Building Relationships
"Kids are excited about having a new dog and impatient to have fun, but it is important to LET THE DOG ADJUST SLOWLY.
There are many quiet activities the kids can do together with the dog that will build trust, such as: reading books, coloring, doing homework, or watching TV.
Encourage the dog to join in, but allow him to come and go as he pleases.
MAKE SURE THERE IS PARENTAL SUPERVISION AT ALL TIMES!
Take extra special care if there are infants or toddlers in the home. Crying and screeching are horrible sounds to a dog. When the baby, or anyone, makes a loud or sudden noise or movement, praise your dog to let him know that this is not something to be feared. If you can, toss some treats safely away from the noise.
Make sure you have baby gates or free-standing expandable pens to keep your little ones from approaching the dog".
Hangin’ out together is a simple way to begin a positive and trusting relationship.
Excerpts taken from the book “Adopting A Dog?” Start Off Right with A Sound Beginning” https://asoundbeginningprogram.com/shop1/product/31-asb-book
Photo courtesy of the Benton family with newly adopted Peppa from West Suburban Humane Society
Want to learn more?
FREE Intro to Training class - VIRTUAL – LIVE with time for Q/A
Tuesday, April 26th, 7pm CDT https://asoundbeginningprogram.com/classes/events-calendar/purple/2893-free-intro-to-training-virtual-class-34

03/04/2022

𝐒𝐀𝐕𝐄 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐃𝐀𝐓𝐄!
We're aiming to start our Spring Toss and Fetch Season on Monday, April 18th at 5:30pm! Stay tuned for more details!

02/04/2022

Hiring a trainer?
We encourage you to seek out certified trainers who use science-based positive reinforcement methods.
"Avoid trainers who describe themselves as 'balanced'.
'Balanced' refers to using positive reinforcement as well as harsh corrections, which makes life confusing and unpredictable for our dogs and can lead to increased and severe behavior problems."
Want to learn more? Read the Position Statement on Humane Dog Training at the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior www.avsab.org

31/03/2022

Free resources for dog owners:
https://aggressivedog.com/webinars/

Expand your knowledge with our collection of free webinars covering aggressive dog training, defensive handling, and more.

30/03/2022

Okay I know AND you know that there’s more to just having an unrestricted pant when you’re looking at whether a fit is good for a particular muzzle. However, I think this is the best place to start.

So many muzzles were originally intended to keep a dog’s mouth closed to prevent biting. This is why so many designs taper towards the tip of a dogs nose AND why it’s so hard these days to find a good fit with standard sized muzzles AND why when looking a breed sized recommendations they can be really misleading.

Why shouldn’t a muzzle hold a dogs mouth shut? Well, if the dog is going to be in that muzzle for any length of time it becomes a safety hazard. Dogs don’t sweat to cool off, they pant. If they can’t open their mouth they’ll overheat. Additionally, if the dog is ill and is vomiting they can aspirate (choke on their own vomit 🤮) in a muzzle. Not to mention it’s just uncomfortable and restricting to have their mouths held shut. *Autonomy is a reinforcer and a basic need for all organisms*

Edit in comments!!!

So what are the downsides to having a muzzle that allows a full pant? 1️⃣Well, if the muzzle is made out of a flexible material (fabric or biothane) it decreases its ability to prevent a bite, especially for larger dogs. 2️⃣ A full panting circumference/height creates more vertical space in a muzzle which might allow the muzzle to go over a dog’s eyes when running or resting. Personally, I think this is okay since those moments are greatly outweighed by the good fit 90%+ of the time. And can be compensated for with a shorter nose length.

It is so important get a full panting measurement OR height when measuring for your muzzle. I, personally, don’t need both because one will usually get me pretty close to the other. 😉 I made a chart! But if you can get both fantastic!!!
of.clark thanks for being such a beautiful model!