Training by Jacqueline, LLC

10/31/2025

Happy Halloooooooooooween! 😂🧡

10/25/2025

10/24/2025

My latest posts have been my favorite shepherd ladies….but I’m not mad about it 😍

This post is to highlight that we really really really need to take time to invest in our dog’s emotional bank account. My girl Jewel and I have been working together for years and almost all of our time is exclusively spent on helping her navigate feeling overwhelmed with the world around her (BIG BARKS).

These days she is doing SO well in our sessions…but as someone who has dedicated my brain to the world of dog brains…I know and understand that my very existence predicts stress for her.

I arrive=headed outdoors to seeing the spooky things. Regardless of the snacks. Regardless of my kindness. I predict spooky experiences.

So today, we spent our lesson time re-investing in our *team* bank. We played hide & seek, did fun new behaviors like “middle”, got silly and did tricks, played our muzzle games without wearing it, and then ended our time with some really nice ear & neck scratches 🤍

Because we must take time to remember that the other end of our leash is a breathing, sentient, intelligent, and emotional being…and keeping that relationship strong & FUN is critical for a training journey.

Love you JUJU BEAN!

🤍

10/17/2025

I’ve had a secret project for the last 6 weeks..💛👩🏻‍🦽‍➡️

My friend & colleague reached out to see if I could take the lead on an inquiry for a potential service dog trainee. When you’re given an adolescent GSD with the goal of her being a mobility & task assistant…knowing their common body structure (hello potential hip dysplasia & sloped back end) and typical behavior tendencies (bark bark go away)…I was holding my breath that this would be a good fit…

Instead, I met the most joyful, affectionate, driven, smart, and physically sound (yay for diligent breeders!!) GSD I’ve seen in a looooong time. Everyone, meet Liah ✨

This girl has blown me away at how willing she is to only see her handler. In just 4 weeks, she was picking up objects…hitting switches/buttons, and learning when it was needed for her to pull a little to help support the movements of a wheelchair. Her human is a recent (and unexpected) amputee, and her trained tasks will be a tremendous help.

I do not take service dog work lightly. It has to be a good fit for the dog, understanding it takes a really special one to have the mind and body to help…and it must come with realistic expectations about the amount of work it will take to get to a place of true partnership, and to make sure that the dog-half is taken care of and has time to be a DOG. Luckily, this girl comes from working lines…the kind that focuses on therapy, service dogs, and search & rescue!

Today, we did our first vest on, in a store, outing…and it was like Liah had been training for years. 🥹

Stay tuned 👏🏼

09/29/2025

🤍 please share

💔 DANA UPDATE: We're Fighting to Keep Fighting

UPDATE FROM ANIMAL EMERGENCY HOSPITAL - PLAINFIELD, GRAND RAPIDS

I just spoke with a technician at AEH who consulted with Dana's treating veterinarian. Dana is still experiencing bouts of diarrhea and remains quite sick, though we have seen some improvement. The medical team doesn't believe she's suffering, but they're recommending a third night for continued supportive care.

The Heartbreaking Reality: We're Running Out of Money. Friends, I don't know if we're going to be able to continue this fight. This case is literally wiping out everything we have.

HERE'S WHERE WE STAND:
- Friday Night: $3,000 deposit (24-hour total: $3,600)
- Saturday: $1,700 deposit for next 24 hours (total likely well over $1,700)
- Tonight: Potentially another $1,500-$1,700 deposit for third night

WE'VE COMPLETELY EMPTIED OUR MEDICAL FUND and are now using money meant for our rent, utilities, and basic operations to keep Dana alive.

We Need a Miracle - And That Miracle is YOU

FUNDS RAISED SO FAR: $1301.20
IT'S NOT ENOUGH. WE ARE BEGGING YOU

The Math
📱 We have 6,960 followers on our page
💰 If EACH person donated just $2.00, we'd be in a good place
🙏 $2 from each follower

I'm Being Completely Transparent With You
I would pay this myself if I could, but I'm still paying thousands on CareCredit for Vinny's medical expenses, who we lost in July. I was able to donate $45 of my own money but sadly I don't have any money left to give.

This is the most expensive emergency case we've ever taken on.

We are fiscally responsible. We don't ask veterinarians to bill us and wait for payment - we pay at time of service because it's fair to them. When we don't have funds, we go on medical hold rather than rack up debt.

But we committed to Dana. We committed to preventing economic euthanasia. And we won't abandon her now.

PLEASE - I'M PLEADING WITH YOU:
✅ DONATE $2, $5, WHATEVER YOU CAN
✅ SHARE THIS POST - Reach people who can help
✅ HELP US CONTINUE THE WORK WE DO

By midnight tonight, we need to decide if Dana gets another night of life-saving care or if we've reached our limit.

Please don't let it be the latter. Dana's family is counting on us. We're counting on you.

Donate via this fundraiser
or
📱 Donate via PayPal: [email protected]

This sweet girl deserves every chance. Please help us give it to her.💔

Grand Rapids Pit Bull Alliance - 501(c)(3) Nonprofit

We need your help to keep saving lives.

09/24/2025

This summer, I welcomed sweet Kya to the training roster. She had B I G opinions with unknown humans and sometimes dogs. Like any pet parent, Chloe had been trying so hard to help Kya but needed the expert support to develop a training plan specific to her, and her needs.

Fast forward to this week where I came for our last lesson in our initial program…and everyone was giddy with her progress report 🥹 I am SO proud of this duo.

“Jacqueline has been absolutely incredible with my fearful and reactive pup! I went into training thinking that my dog might be beyond help, but after 3 sessions the progress exceeded anything I could have imagined! We are able to take her out and about, welcome company into our home, and enjoy so many things that I never thought possible!
I can’t recommend Jacqueline enough :)”

Thank you so much for the kind review, team Kya 🫶🏼

⚠️ heads up: this is turning out to be a very very busy season (thank you!!). I am booking into the end of the year already.

🩵If you are a current or former client, you can reach out to check in on your lesson credits, and openings!

🤍 new/prospective clients: I’m booking for late oct/early nov depending on your availability!

Happy Fall, trainees 🍁🍂🎃

09/19/2025

There is a part of this career that I wish I didn’t have to experience…which is often (sadly) job security. It’s being called in for the aftermath of what happens when dogs end up in the wrong hands.

The dog training field is UNREGULATED. This means anyone can wake up tomorrow, declare they are now a trainer, and give you advice that they’ve made up on the go or advice that we used 20 YEARS ago (sigh). They can take your money, and subject your dog to the most inhumane and unnecessary treatment.

Being certified requires…REQUIRES…that I continue to take classes. I’m also required to provide 3 references (from another colleague, a veterinarian, and a client) along with case studies where I go through top to bottom detailing a case, my decisions, reasoning, and the evidence to support it. Not all certifications ask this. Look into the certs a trainer lists.

Here are some red flags to watch for when deciding on a trainer:

🚩tells you NOT to contact them when they have your dog
🚩provides no updates
🚩 took an online certification that doesn’t require them to re-certify or to ever take classes again (or maybe they’ve just never certified ever)
🚩lists having dogs since they were a child as part of their experience (I’d also have 30 years experience if I used that parameter 😂)
🚩unwilling to work with other colleagues in the field, or refer you to others when they are out of their scope of expertise

Last…while reviews are super helpful to read through….remember that sometimes there are unethical trainers that will require a review or ask for a review in exchange for services.

Need more help to figure out a trainer’s methodology?
💡”what will you do when my dog does the right thing?”
💡”what will you do if my dog doesn’t do what you ask?”
💡”what items do you use for training?”
💡”if you can’t help my dog, will you tell me when I should seek additional help or support?”
💡”what classes or certificates have you completed in the last 6 months?”
💡”can you tell me what you specialize in?”

Protect yourself. Protect your dog.

Have a great weekend, trainees!

📸: Malachi 💚

09/18/2025

“Take me to the Sniff Spot, training lady!” -Stella