Maggie Marshall Dog Training

12/01/2025

I hate leash training.

There, I said it. I hate it because I love watching my dog run free. So I avoid it… until life reminds me (again) that my dog needs the skills to be successful in any environment, not just the ones where she gets to be wild and happy.

Every time a situation pops up where she actually needs leash manners, I’m hit with the same truth: I have to teach her. Freedom comes after skills, not before.

So here’s what I do:
1. I get my mind ready.
I’m about to practice something I don’t enjoy, so I prepare myself. If I go in with irritation or dread, we both feel it.

2. I break it into three simple concepts:
• No pulling. First things first—just walk without tension on the leash.
• Focus and position. Stay with me, check in, walk near my side.
• Handling distractions. The real test… and we build this slowly.

3. I keep the sessions short and tolerable for both of us.
Tomorrow, I’m taking her to a quiet spot. She’ll run mostly off leash (because we both love that), and then I’ll call her in, clip the leash on, work a little, and let her go again. A little structure, a little freedom. That’s how we’ll get this done.

Training often means doing the thing you don’t want to do… so your dog can enjoy the life you do want to have together.

12/01/2025

A happy client makes me happy!

"Maggie is an excellent and very knowledgeable dog behaviorist. I was very impressed when Maggie helped my daughter obtain appropriate behavior among her three dogs.
Maggie observes each dog’s behavior and is able to recommend an appropriate solution to the issue.
When we decided to rescue a new dog after our dog passed away, Maggie was able to advise us what to look for in a dog appropriate for our house. She was right on the money.
When we decided to rescue another dog, Maggie was there for the initial meeting of the two dogs so we did not make any mistakes that would make coexistence of the two dogs difficult.
She offered so many great tools, verbiage, and ideas to help us have two canines coexist in harmony.
She is great with follow up and help with any issues that may arise.
I highly recommend Maggie! She is wonderful!"

11/27/2025

So thankful for all of you!!!!

11/26/2025

11/21/2025

11/15/2025

https://maggiedogtraining.com/maggies-blog/maggiedogtrainingcom/blogpost-1

The final part in the series, Kids and Dogs is out! I hope it makes you all wiser and safer.

Creating house rules for your kids and dogs can create a peaceful, safe home!

11/11/2025

Yesterday while working, a dog put his teeth on my leg.
Not a wound, not a puncture—just contact. But meaningful contact.
He used his mouth to say, “I don’t like what you’re doing.”
That matters.
Most people watching something like this will soften the language:
“Oh, it was just a nip.”
“He didn’t mean anything by it.”
“He wasn’t being aggressive—no one got hurt!”
But here’s what runs through my mind:
If someone points a loaded gun at me—even if the trigger isn’t pulled—I’m in real danger.
The threat is real. The outcome depends on one thing: pressure.
So what is the difference between a dog placing teeth on my leg vs. an actual bite?
What is the difference between pointing a gun vs. firing it?
Pressure. That’s it.
The dog decides how much pressure to apply.
Just as the person holding the gun decides whether or not to pull the trigger.
The victim has no say.
So the next time a dog puts its teeth on you—even lightly—understand that the situation could have gone very differently if the dog made a different choice. I take that seriously. I know I was lucky.
Let’s stop downplaying “nips.”
Let’s stop romanticizing “gentle warnings.”
Any dog in my care must follow one simple rule:
No teeth on people.
Pressure or not, contact matters.

Here is what many dog trainers use to define a dog bite in common language and understanding:

11/05/2025

Puppies grow in phases — and knowing those phases keeps you sane. 🐾

One of the most helpful things I ever learned as a dog trainer (and mom, and grandma, and human who likes peace in her home 😆) is this:

📌 When you understand your puppy’s developmental stages, it becomes so much easier to train with patience instead of panic.

If I know a puppy can be fully housetrained by around 4 months old, then when my 9-week-old has an accident, I don’t feel defeated — I feel prepared. I know we’re learning, building habits, and developing bladder control. That gives me grace and perspective.

If I know that by 4 months old my puppy’s eyes and ears are fully developed and the world becomes crisp, loud, exciting, and full of “squirrel!!!!” moments 🐿️✨
…then I’m not surprised when walks suddenly get more distracting. I don’t take it personally, and I don’t wonder if something is wrong — I simply adjust and train through it.

That’s what understanding development does:
✅ sets realistic expectations
✅ keeps you calm
✅ helps you see progress instead of problems

But here’s the flip side —
If your 9-month-old dog is still having daily accidents? That’s not “a phase” anymore. That’s a sign they need guidance and support right away — and that’s okay. Early help prevents long-term frustration.

Raising a dog is just like raising kids in so many ways. When we know what’s normal, we can breathe, show up with confidence, and actually enjoy the process.

Train for the dog in front of you, not the dog you think you “should” have.
Their timeline matters — and so does your peace. 💛

11/04/2025

Every dog deserves an education — guidance that helps them understand their life, their people, and what things mean.

✨ What does it mean when someone comes to the house?
✨ What does “come here” mean?
✨ What does it mean when you walk toward them with a leash?

When a dog understands their world, they can make good choices. And good choices bring calm, confidence, and a deep sense of safety. Without that education, a dog can be left feeling unsure, confused, and stressed — not because they're “bad,” but because they are trying to guess their way through life.

And we get that feeling, don’t we?
Imagine walking into a bank with no idea how to get your own money.
Imagine a stranger entering your home and you don’t have the language to communicate your needs.

Confusing. Vulnerable. Overwhelming. These feelings lead to all kinds of unwanted junk like anxiety and aggression.

Training is simply an education — teaching your dog how their world works.

There are many ways to do this.
It can be simple: a few consistent words, clear routines, predictable expectations.
Or it can be more layered: lots of language, practiced behaviors, and a deep shared understanding of life together.

Either way, the more you teach, the more freedom and peace you both gain. Dogs don’t need perfection — they need guidance.

Teach them. Support them. Help them feel competent in their own life. YOU will benefit greatly too.

A trained dog is a good citizen of the home and world, feels safe and happy and can make choices that empower him and bring is joy.

10/31/2025

The Good-Enough Dog

I listened to a podcast today about the idea of being a “good enough mom” instead of trying to be the impossible “super mom.” Of course, I thought about dogs.

How many owners feel pressure to have the perfect dog? I know i do! The dog that never jumps on people, or barks at people approaching, or steals food and is calm and quiet like the dogs you see on cafe patios.

Perfection looks great online. Have you seen what trainers call the "flip?" That's when your dog flips himself into heel position and sits beside you and looks with laser focus. Have you seen the videos of the dog in a down stay in the yard when the UPS guy delivers a package?

In real life? It usually just makes people feel like they’re failing; like they are not good enough.

And when we feel like we’re failing, we pull back.
We avoid training.
We assume the problem is us or the dog — instead of the expectation and the external pressure turned on by comparison and opinion.

There is a middle ground. And honestly, it’s where most happy dog-owner relationships live.

A “good-enough dog”:

Walks nicely enough that you enjoy getting out together.

Can settle in the house so you can live your life.

Understands basic boundaries and routines.

Fits into your home and your rhythm.

Makes YOU feel happy and content.

That’s it.
If your dog works for your lifestyle and your family, you are doing it right.
It's better to do enough training than to avoid it because you can't achieve it all.

You don’t need a dog that checks every box on the internet’s obedience list.
You need a dog who knows the skills that matter in your real life.

Good-enough is not settling.
It’s choosing peace, consistency, and progress over pressure and comparison.

Train what matters.
Let the rest go.