Tree Frog Farm Dog Training

04/10/2025

Autumn in Maine. Cerebral break for all. My schedule was packed the couple of weeks before, and the week after the aggression in dog’s conference. Margo has been edgy since I got back. It’s hard for her when I leave:( I decided to spend the evening exploring different places this beautiful day. I decided to stop trying to catch up to myself for the night. I hope you enjoy the videos. There is zero training involved. That’ll happen during the agility seminar tomorrow…..

03/10/2025

No words

02/10/2025

Eloquently said

Jane Goodall, the conservationist renowned for her groundbreaking chimpanzee field research and globe-spanning environmental advocacy, has died. She was 91.

28/09/2025

Grand finale for the last aggression in dogs conference for a while.

Day Three of the Aggression in Dogs Conference is here, and we are closing out with another powerful lineup.

We start the morning with Andre Yeu on winning clients in the age of Gucci Pajama Trainers. Marlene O’Neill Laberge follows with strategies for creating practical and sustainable intervention plans.

In the afternoon, Kamal Fernandez takes on relabeling reactivity, dispelling myths, and tackling challenges. And to close the conference, Suzanne Clothier brings us Trainers with Zoomies, encouraging us to zoom out for the bigger perspective.

Follow along as we share highlights, key takeaways, and behind the scenes moments throughout the day.

28/09/2025

“Every reactive dog is giving us a window into their inner world. If we listen carefully, they tell us what they need.”
- Kamal Fernandez

At the Aggression in Dogs Conference, Kamal Fernandez reframed reactivity not as defiance or disobedience, but as communication. Behind every bark, lunge, or outburst is a dog navigating fear, stress, or overwhelm.

When we pause to listen, to observe the patterns, the triggers, and the signals, we uncover what the dog is really asking for. Space. Safety. Connection. Support.

Reactivity is not the end of the story. It is the beginning of a conversation.

28/09/2025

My mind is so full. I think I am whittling down a plan for what direction I, the behavior side of TFF, wants to go in the future.

28/09/2025

How’s that for a recall? Guess how I trained it. Foundation skills, various environments: controlled environments, uncontrolled environments, repetition, using the recall only when I know she could be successful, not using when I knew she wouldn’t be. Lots of rewards that Margo finds rewarding. Still at 98% success rate. At three years old I still reward it. Why not?!!! Oh, I don’t use it to come inside, leave the park, get nails clipped, stop dog play, etc. That’s all no bueno in Margo’s mind. I have other strategies for that.

28/09/2025

This

27/09/2025

The moment Emma leapt away from tall grass in autumn was the time I realized a buzz was generalized away from her underground fence. The underground fence was predictable in my brain. The buzz of the cicada was a precursor to discomfort in hers.

E-collar dog training isn't a good training option. Aversive training measures cause stress and pain rather than building a bond with your dog.

27/09/2025

Day one. Emoji’s, death doula, play dates, body language not the be all end all, chatting about animal welfare and limitations of our canine companions, and meeting our dogs’ genetically programmed needs.

26/09/2025

Next topic is “Dogs Helping Dogs” with Trish McMillan. This is a pic of one dog helping another during a park session❤️