Piece of Cake Dog Training and Behavior

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Piece of Cake Dog Training and Behavior

Piece of Cake Dog Training and Behavior A unique dog training experience. Focusing on behavior issues in dogs of any age and breed. After all, our dogs can only think like dogs. Then we can help.

A UNIQUE DOG TRAINING EXPERIENCE

Focusing on behavior issues in dogs of any age and breed. Whether it's preventing problems or addressing existing issues, our approach is based on relationship building and effective, clear, consistent communication that makes sense to the dog. It is our duty to understand them. When it comes to behavior, we explore the underlying root causes - learning who your d

og is as an individual and addressing the daily habits and routines we practice that impact our dogs. Rather than relying on obedience commands, treats, or physically controlling with force, we focus on influencing a dog mentally and changing how they FEEL in their environment. Are you willing to change?

07/03/2025

3/6/25 again forgot the end of day pack photo, but these are almost better!

These dogs 🥰🥰 and field notes 🌾📝

07/03/2025

3/5/25 I, again, forgot the pack photo. With the high winds and intense weather moving in and new members I prioritized getting them all packed up safely, but here is everyone 🥰🥰 and field notes 🤓

07/03/2025

3/4/25 Pack photos. Field notes.

Changing habits proves very difficult! When I ask owners to change how they’re being with their dogs, I get how hard this can be, but it’s not impossible. That’s why it’s called doing the work. …I’m already forgetting to snap a photo before loading dogs in the van 🙃🙃 but it’s the awareness and the small changes around our habits that make the difference long term. Chip away at it and you’ll get there.

I didn’t have it in my heart to pull these sleepy girls out of the van just to snap a photo. I love them and respect them too much to ask something of them that’s really not necessary, so this is what we got. This is also why I don’t like positioning the dogs in a sit or down or place for a photo. I ask a lot of them in other instances and they give me their all, so when it comes to a photo they can choose what they want to do with their bodies based on how they are feeling in that moment.

07/03/2025

3/3/25 Pack photos. Field notes.

…everyone say cheese, doodles look away.
Doodles say cheese, everyone looks away. 😂

28/02/2025

Pack photo. Field notes. Outtakes.

28/02/2025

It’s been feeling a little stagnant on here…

To be honest, since my dad and Cake died I’ve been having a hard time finding what I want this space to represent… business? marketing? educational? personal? …but keep it business, but my business and personal lives are so intertwined. Finding the balance of sharing, but not over sharing.

With losses and grief I’ve been sent down a journey of self discovery, because after all my business is a direct reflection of myself. Gaining experiences, doing the work, and working on relationships became my priority over posting. And they still are. Social media has and still does feel so overwhelming to me. I’ve also recently felt some serious writers block.

Myself and my business have evolved so much over the years and I’m so proud to be where I am at this moment and all of the dogs and people who I’ve had the privilege of working with over the years. I’ve worked with so many different cases I feel like I have such a wide range of experience and knowledge to share. A beautiful friend of mine asked me once, “What is your art?” I answered, “These dogs.” They allow me to get quiet, go inward, be curious, get creative. They test my patience, they require a lot of mental, emotional, and physical capacity. And the reward is improving the dog’s and people’ quality of lives, which for me is so fulfilling!

Anyway, I’ve caught myself over generalizing and being so focused on progress and some perfectionism. I’ve realized that some reflection and putting it all into perspective is important right now. Sometimes you don’t realize how far you’ve come until you look back at where you started. So, I’m starting this new thing for my pack dogs of trying to write down Field Notes: observations, milestones, things to work on, etc. And I thought it’d be fun to share here. My goal is 2 sentences or less. I’ve got to keep this simple to stick with it. I’m a bit of a commitment phobe, I’ve realized it’s being too detail oriented and the perfectionism that often get me. So here it goes, hoping I can stick with it, but no promises 😉😉

Pack photo. Field notes. Outtakes.

29/01/2025

This photo popped up on my phone screen as a memory and it reminded me of when I was struggling with Cake…she was still attacking other dogs and one of the trainers I had worked with said that sometimes dogs reach a certain age and they don’t like to be with other dogs. I remember really sitting on that and it never made sense to me. I couldn’t wrap my head around why a dog would not want to be with its own kind? Why would they not want to be with another being who communicates and moves through the world the same as they do? Through my dog journey it still doesn’t make sense to me. What I see in working with the dogs is that dogs really do like to be with one another. Even the antisocial ones, the fearful ones, the aggressive ones. When they find balance, safety, and the environment is right for them they enjoy being with one another. They choose to be with one another, sometimes laying directly next to or on top of each other. (Izzy and Anchor 🖤💙🥰) And every time it just makes my heart want to burst. After all, they are social and emotional creatures.

I’m really trying to enjoy the weather right now, it’s weather after all and completely out of our control. Not trying to rush things or wish it was different. HOWEVER, look at all this green!!!!! It is sooooooo beautiful and it surely makes me look forward to seeing it again!!! 💚💚💚

24/12/2024

Happy Howlidays!!!!

Looking at all these faces really fills my heart up. I feel so grateful and honored to provide them with learning and fulfilling experiences, as well as the space and time to find balance, joy, and peace. Thinking of where they started and how much growth each has experienced really lights my fire! Thank you to the people attached to these dogs for their trust and belief in me. I appreciate your support more than words do justice. What a year it’s been. I’m so proud! I’m so grateful!

Wishing everyone a warm and joyful holiday season! Thank you for being here ❤️🎄🐾

17/11/2024

10/23/24 I wrote to myself:

Remember, whatever it is you’re looking for - you won’t find it on social media.
-what do you want?
-what are your goals?
Focus on that!
I want to be so focused on doing my own work and accomplishing my own goals and living and experiencing my own life to the fullest capacity possible that I don’t have time to worry about others and make judgements.
——

Some scenes from the yard this past week …

09/09/2024

The majority of our pet dogs are OVER STIMULATED and UNDER FULFILLED.

We blame them, we complain about them, yet WE are the ones creating their reality.

Want your dog to change?

YOU first!

13/06/2024

I want a well trained dog on a couple of acres

09/06/2024

Sweet girl in VB looking for her forever home.
1 yo and 46lbs now.
Dog friendly.
Please consider her if you’re looking to add to your family. If not, please share!

12/02/2024

2/12/1955, 69 years ago today, these two joined in marriage. The two most beautiful humans I will ever know with a love that I admire. Honest, true, passionate, committed, resilient are just a few words that come to mind to describe their love for one another. I am so grateful to have been able to learn how to love and what a relationship is from these two.

Happy Anniversary Mama and Papa! ❤️❤️❤️

05/02/2024

Thursday pack, 2/1/24. Anchor, Opal, Blu, Lucy, Isla, Domino, Piper, Bailey, Raleigh, Izzy, and Tyson. I can’t speak highly enough of these dogs. Each of them knows the drill and they have been so respectful and have helped make welcoming our new girl Opal feel so seamless. They know when to party and they know when I need them to reel it in. Today I asked them to reel it in and they happily adjusted. I absolutely love welcoming dogs into this program who struggle socially. It’s my sweet spot and I have a soft spot there. It feels so special to offer an environment for these dogs to learn and gain fulfillment. Similarly to Wednesday, highlight of today was not muzzling Opal! I showed her that I control the environment and the other dogs, so she didn’t have to. I disagreed with her feeling she had to move forward and snap at the other dogs to displace her stress and create space for herself, so she chose to deal with her feelings differently. She got the hang of it very quickly! I suspect she’s a girl who needs to build up some trust over time with other dogs. Everyone else can feel that too, so they’re a bit stand offish of her, but when she initiates a sniff they’re happy to offer it to her. She had a great time getting rowdy with Anchor! He is my sacrificial lamb and it’s a great opportunity to learn more about Opal and how she interacts with another dog. Anchor does love himself a spicy woman! She did a great job this week at utilizing some self control and not moving forward to other dog’s raised energy. I was proud of her for not controlling or interfering with her brother Blu’s interactions. He had a great time being explosive with Tyson, who he entertains initially and then he’s ready to make sure Tyson knows he falls lower than him in the pack order. It’s not personal, it’s hierarchy baby. I will be watching this though to make sure it doesn’t turn into targeting/bullying. Dogs are all about power and many bully breeds take their title seriously.

04/02/2024

Wednesday pack, 1/31/24. Anchor, Folly, Conner, Emmi, Kirby, Winston, Cooper, Buddy, and Charley. We were down 3 dogs today, which gave me the opportunity to put a lot of attention on Folly. Highlight, or one of them, was that I never put Folly’s muzzle on! I worked really hard on establishing that he had 1 ear to me. I observed closely what he was doing with his mouth in his interactions. I’m looking at the whole picture of course, because it all matters…what’s he doing with his eyes, ears, tail, body, feet, tenseness? But particularly focused on how he’s using his mouth on other dogs, especially in heightened situations. I disagreed with him and controlled his hormones when appropriate. I am initially conservative in what I allow while the dog is learning to use their mouth appropriately. As they get the expectation I allow more freedom, little by little, and this is how they learn. It’s such a beautiful, incredible process to be a part of. Conner has been reminding me that all the little things matter. He’s been going so well, so I’ve been giving him a pass, but those passes build. I’ve been feeling that lately from him. Leave it to dogs to be brutally honest and let you know you’re out of alignment. So back to focusing on doing all the little things right! Another highlight, lil Emmi came in feeling herself! She sought out play with Anchor, Winston, AND Charley! I’m so dang proud that she felt comfortable and safe enough to let loose. Winston and Buddy started a great game together, those 2 are a match made in heaven 🤪🤣 Kirby and Charley cont to spend a lot of time together. Cooper had a wonderful day in the mix of all the things with little stress dragging him down. That’s a great day!

04/02/2024

Tuesday pack, 1/30/24. Anchor, Blu, Lucy, Isla, Jersey, Salty, Bailey, Raleigh, and Izzy. It was a deceivingly cold day, so energy was up. This pack are mostly dogs who have been coming with me consistently for a long time, so we all know each other very well. We’ve worked hard to lay a foundation where everyone knows the boundaries and expectations. Everyone has one ear to me, so I can allow the energy to raise and a lot of explosiveness with this pack knowing that when I need to stop them I can. I love being able to allow this freedom and fulfillment, it definitely feels like a nice reward after doing a lot of hard work. It’s fun reaching a point where the dogs are more self sufficient in their interactions and I can stand back and observe the decisions they make with others…big grin and all, feeling so proud of their progress and what they’ve learned. I’m still there to assist when needed, but allowing for growth is important! Even though I have been taking many of these dogs for a while, it never ceases to amaze me how different relationships can form over time. Salty and Isla just recently have begun taking interest in playing with one another. Isla is an omega and she has a soft, fun, happy go lucky way about her. Salty is a little spit fire, true to her cattle dog way. As her owner said, “She’s a heathen, but she’s my heathen, and I love her.” It’s true and couldn’t have been said better. These 2 girls, so different, yet are having the sweetest mutual interactions lately. Jersey was feeling full of herself and chose to play with Anchor, which is always a treat to see. She and Blu are forming an unlikely couple relationship. Little and big snuggles to keep each other warm. Bailey continues to work on her bravery and it’s the little things we celebrate, like laying away from the fence line and going into parts of the yard that she usually doesn’t. This pack has a number of different personalities in it, yet it feels very cohesive. It was a very fulfilling day.

31/01/2024

Monday pack, 1/29/24. Folly, Pinot, Conner, Hazel, Winston, Buddy, Bodie, Frankie, Charley, Anchor, and Bono. Started out this week with a bang, lots of energy today! One thing I love so much about these dogs is their honesty. It’s easy to blame them and create a story around their behavior, as humans we seem to enjoy doing that. We cling to stories and this often blurs us from understanding what is really going on. Truth is, dogs are not liars. They are not afraid to point out your flaws, where you are lacking, and what you need to work on. They are all, just like us, products of their environment. However, unlike us, they don’t have the power to choose their environment. We choose that for them, that’s why our part is so important. Monday pack is an interesting mix of very explosive energies and more sensitive dogs. I’ve noticed where I’ve given too much freedom and where we need to scale back, slow down, and focus on the basics. I felt myself rushing progress, instead of trusting the process. I can be overly sensitive to the sensitive dogs who choose to hang back and observe. It’s a delicate balance with these sensitive souls of setting them up and allowing them time. It’s easy to be more attracted to the dog running and playing. However, the dogs who choose to hang back and observe are almost learning more, while still gaining experience and fulfillment. With all that said, using it as feedback for myself to keep in mind moving forward. This work is all about adjusting as things evolve, like any relationship.

29/01/2024

Thursday, 1/25/24. With Anchor, Opal, Blu, Isla, Domino, Piper, Bailey, Raleigh, Izzy, and Tyson. We excitedly welcomed Blu and new girl Opal to our Thursday pack! Blu fit right in, he knows most of the dogs already from Tuesday and he’s been added to Thursdays now and then. Days like this make me really proud of the dogs and all the work we’ve done. Adding in Opal, who struggles socializing with other dogs, felt pretty seamless. Really knowing the dogs in the pack is essential here, so everyone is set up for success. It’s also the relationship I’ve developed with these dogs that lays the foundation for it all to go so smoothly and for them to trust me in scenarios like this. I know Opal from outside the pack program, so I had insight on what to expect and what she needs to work on. She’s not a shy, timid girl when it comes to most other dogs, so I started her out in a muzzle and brought her into the pack. This allowed her more freedom and for me to observe what she was really all about without initially interfering. She came in very snappy, what she was really doing was creating space for herself from the other dogs out of insecurity. The pack dogs recognized this, no one got defensive, and everyone gave her the space she needed, no push back, no questions asked. I’m so glad I utilized the muzzle because Opal utilized her freedom by blowing off some steam running and rolling around with Anchor. All the other dogs observed and knew not to join in. They were all so understanding and respectful. I believe that we can’t have expectations for a dog if they aren’t first fulfilled, so this part was very important. Izzy and Opal are quite similar in personality and what they’ve struggled with. Both betas who practice sub-dominant behavior, very predatory, and can lose control over their emotions. Too much of the same thing sometimes can create fireworks, so I had my eye on Iz. She really impressed me by fully keeping it together. We worked with Opal without a muzzle and she did great!

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