KR Dog Training

18/06/2025

11/06/2025

Has anyone read Dogs of the World yet? I can’t wait to grab my copy!

New books just landed at Rooted Paws! 📚

We’re big fans of Lili Chin’s work. Her art makes learning about animal behavior accessible & fun!

🐈 Kitty Language – A must-read for anyone who wants to better understand their cat’s subtle body language, likes, dislikes, & boundaries.

🌍 Dogs of the World – A playful look at dog breeds (and mutts! ❤️) from all over the globe. It is perfect for dog lovers of all ages.

These make great gifts, shelf staples, or weekend reads for pet parents. Come browse a copy in-store!

📍 Available Fri–Sun at Rooted Paws

03/06/2025

I will be at Rooted Paws this Friday 4pm-8pm if anyone wants to swing by and chat about their pups, behavior topics, or enrichment :)

01/06/2025

28/05/2025

My dogs are big fans of trash enrichment! 🥳

23/05/2025

Support your dog ❤️

Here's a great example of that common symptom of adolescence where suddenly random things are very scary. Yes, he's actually very concerned about this sp*ed bump in the parking lot. 🫣 It took multiple minutes for him to feel comfortable enough to walk on it.

It may seem dumb, or frustrating, or silly (I'll admit, I giggled when he balked at it 😅) but it's important to remember that the dog IS actually scared. They're not giving you a hard time, they're having a hard time.

This is quite common in adolescence because the brain is going through a massive reorganization phase. Everything that has been collected that is not necessary is being purged to make room for new data as the dog continues to mature. Unfortunately, there are some babies thrown out with that bathwater (😬 that analogy is a bit much, don't you think?) and suddenly, known things become novel and suspicious.

The key is: support your dog. Remain calm. Don't use force. Don't manipulate them, but also don't bail out. Just be patient and help them solve this "brand new" (🙄) problem.

I simply knelt on the sp*ed bump, used a soothing voice, and let him maneuver himself on a 20ft line. He eventually sniffed it and warily put a paw on it, then it clicked — "oh, I'm safe!". There were lots of wiggles after that and we continued our walk 👍

Spending this time to support the dog through this process builds security, trust, bravery, resilience, and an optimistic outlook. Don't take it for granted by feeling annoyed and rushing.

Adolescents are weird 🤷 Just help them get through this wild life stage that they're in, using curiosity and empathy.

Good luck (dogs and humans)! ✌️

20/05/2025

Chewing is a valuable enrichment activity that supports behavioral health and mental well-being in dogs, especially those experiencing fear, anxiety, or stress.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0168159123002502

16/05/2025

A local group with some awesome pups and fosters!

📣 Introducing: FOSTER TESTIMONIALS! 📣

Fostering isn't for the faint of heart. It's not all squishy cuddles and play time. It's work. But it's worth it.

Finding fosters is a struggle - for all of us. There are so many beautiful reasons why our fosters choose to do it, and we wanted to share them with you. Maybe this will tip the scales for you if you've been teetering on whether or not to foster. Maybe it will give you a better idea of what fostering REALLY is about. Or maybe you're just here for the dog pictures. 🫠 Regardless, we hope these will resonate with someone. We are desperate to save more lives, and those lives are even more desperate to be saved.

First up: Jasmin and her current foster, smooshy-wooshy Percy.

"Fostering dogs has become one of the most meaningful parts of my life, and I often get asked why I do it. The short answer? Because I’ve seen firsthand how a little patience and love can completely change a dog’s life (and mine in return).

When I adopted my first pittie, she came with a lot of behavioral challenges. It took time, consistency, and a lot of love — but watching her grow into a confident, happy dog was the most rewarding experience. That journey with her lit a fire in me, and I knew I had to keep helping others just like her.

Now, I foster dogs — especially the shy, scared ones who struggle in the shelter environment. These are the pups who often get overlooked, but they’re the ones I connect with most and, for some reason, that connection is stronger than any other. There’s nothing like watching a nervous dog begin to trust, relax, and realize they’re finally safe. Sometimes, it only takes a few days in a calm, loving home to see the light come back in their eyes. That transformation? That’s why I foster.

Pit bulls will always have a special place in my heart, but really, I love helping any dog who needs a little extra support. I’m lucky to work from home, so I get to spend lots of one-on-one time helping them learn that the world isn’t as scary as it seemed.

Every dog I foster teaches me something new — and every goodbye, though bittersweet, means there's room for the next one who needs me."

We are so lucky to have Jasmin on our team, and Percy is even luckier. 💞

Apply to foster: https://new.shelterluv.com/matchme/foster/OCO/Doghttps://new.shelterluv.com/matchme/foster/OCO/Dog

To learn more about Percy: www.olyverandco.org/adoptables.

13/05/2025

Exciting news! Together with Time ToGo Pet Services, we have opened up a new pet shop in Midwest Market at 2210 Rapids Dr Racine, WI! Come visit us Fridays through Sundays. 🙂

🌿🐾 Welcome to Rooted Paws Pet Market! 🐾🌿
We’re so excited to introduce our cozy, family-run pet boutique inside the Midwest Market in Racine, WI! 🛍️🐶

Rooted Paws was created by animal-loving siblings — a professional dog trainer (KR Dog Training) and a dedicated dog walker and pet sitter (Time ToGo Pet Services). Together, we’re building a space where pets and their people can truly thrive — rooted in compassion, connection, and care for the planet. 💚

At Rooted Paws, we believe a joyful life with pets starts with meaningful connection. That’s why we offer more than just supplies — we’re here to support you with:

🦴 Natural chews & treats bar with bulk ordering options
🌿 Enrichment-focused toys
♻️ Affordable, eco-friendly secondhand finds
🧸 A heartwarming “Adopt-a-Pet” corner for kids
🌱 Holistic wellness support, backed by local vets
🐾 Personalized advice from experienced pet professionals

And this is just the beginning! Whether you're here to spoil your fur babies, discover something unique, or connect with people who really get pets — we’d love to meet you. Come visit us Friday through Sunday at Midwest Market in Racine. Let’s grow something beautiful together. 🐕💚

23/04/2025

If you are going to have a dog, you are going to have to make sacrifices. You cannot expect to have an animal that was designed to live primarily outside and bring it into your house and not have to make changes or adjustments. A dog is not an ornament, a commodity or a display. A dog is an animal. You are sharing your life with another species. This is life with a dog.

Your yard will not be pristine. The grass will get burned from their p*e. Holes will be dug, bushes shredded, mud will come in the house. You cannot ask them to not p*e in your house and then also try to control even their outside bathroom. Please see how unfair this is. This is life with a dog.

You house will need management. Your counters will need to be clear. Shoes will need to be put away. Laundry room blocked. Kids toys picked up. Some things will get destroyed anyway. This is life with a dog.

They will bark at noises. They will protect their territory. Sometimes fiercely. They will not welcome strange people into the home easily even if you “know them” because this is in their genetic DNA. They don’t understand family gatherings and they don’t always see things the way we do. They won’t love playing with every dog they meet. This is life with a dog.

They will need enrichment and work and productivity. They will need training that is kind and fair and consistent and then maintenance to maintain that training. They will need guidance and coaching and lots of reinforcement to help them perform unnatural behaviors against their natural phenotypes. This is life with a dog.

They will mature and change and modify in their likes, behaviors and preferences as they age. Their behaviors aren’t guaranteed. They are not robots and they can be mercurial as they grow into their own personalities. They are allowed to change their mind and shift naturally just as we do. They need to be seen for what and who they are, not what and who YOU want. This is life with a dog.

Life with a dog is not a human right. It is a privilege and a responsibility and an education. They are animals and should be treated and expected to behave as such. That doesn’t make them any less loved or family members and it doesn’t make them any less deserving of respect, in fact it makes them more so.

Enjoy your life with a dog, and help them enjoy life with a human.

- Helen St. Pierre

14/04/2025

Fitness workshop in Oak Creek later this month! 🐶

OAK CREEK, CUDAHY, ST FRANCIS, SOUTH MILWAUKEE, CALEDONIA

Pop up Bootcamp announced!!
Curious about canine fitness, but not ready to take the plunge?

We teamed up with Agility Possibilities to offer a 60 minute bootcamps on April 27!

You’ll learn some basic movements, get an understanding about posture and handling and leave with the knowledge of how to work the circuit you learned for the next 2-3 weeks!! Fitness increases confidence, reduces injury likelihood and gives you something fun to do with your dog (especially when the weather gets crummy!)

Worst case: You go home with a pup that is ready to nap while you go about your Sunday!

Head over to twoleftfeetcaninefitness.com/classes to sign up or learn more! (Link in bio)

13/04/2025

Hey fellow pet parents 🙂 Some friends and I would love your input!

As we explore future growth opportunities for our pet-focused businesses, we’re gathering insights from local pet parents to better understand your needs and preferences. Your feedback will help us shape what’s next.

This quick survey takes just a few minutes and helps us stay community-centered in all we do. Thank you for your support!