Paw And Order

06/17/2026

06/16/2026

Tango, Gidget and Annie all agreed that laying on the floor and holding still was dumb, when they started school last week. Then these young dogs showed up last night and stomped it, showing off their humans' week of skills practice and playing the training game so well that we could do exercises in week 2 that usually don't happen until week 4! Cookies for everyone 👏🏽 🍪 🦴 🤩

06/10/2026

Charlotte 💐

This little Coton De Tuléar made the big move from Ontario to BC this spring at 6 months old. Her world went from very, very small to incomprehensibly huge in an instant, and this sweet and sensitive girl didn't know what to make of it all. After hotels, flights, car travel and strangers becoming family she got to Nelson and pulled the e-brake on all this change. She wasn't housetrained and was terrified to go outdoors, after her early months in an indoor pen with her littermates. She trusted her new mom (and to a lesser degree, dad) to keep her safe, and everything else was suspect.

Charlotte couldn't have been luckier in where she landed - her people are kind, patient, bighearted, and have experience with fearful wee dogs - though they were hoping not to need it. They created safe enclosed outdoor spaces for her to access, and met her where she was at. They were even willing to forego an important family event rather than force her to travel, or leave her scared and confused with someone else. They remain willing to move mountains for this dear girl.

Luckily, Charley has shown she is in fact inherently resilient, whether genetics or her own special spark. It is not all in how we raise them, or she might still be the dog I met in April. Instead, thanks to carefully orchestrated opportunities and with the support of trustworthy dogs she can model after, this little floof has started to relish her forest walks, trips to the neighborhood park, and training games at home. She has been housetrained, groomed, and is going to be just fine with her visiting dogsitters for a couple of weeks. We were prepared for many months of slow progress - and sometimes it's giving up on timelines that hustles them along. It's a privilege to see her come out of her shell and to now be greeted with wags and sassy smiles.

There is no one I respect more than those who will bend their lives around the beings in their care - and I truly love to get to help them not have to bend quite so much. We get dogs to enrich all our lives and if having one is making your world smaller, reach out for help 🩷

06/01/2026

June classes start next week and there is still a bit of room! A separate post will come about Pints & Puppers as this one is scheduled a bit differently, but Well Rounded Hound and Sports Bar are at as usual!

04/28/2026

Stay! This one can be tough for dogs, especially adolescent pups like these who want to be a part of the action at your side - and then once distractions come into play it's a whole other ballgame.

Want to know the #1 thing you can do to level up and lock in those stationary skills?

*Return to Reward*

Instead of calling your dog to you after a stay, go back to them and reward/release from there. Help them learn that "stay" means "until I get back" 90+% of the time, so they're less likely to seek those little indications that maybe it's go time. You can see Birdie, Catriana, and Tucker really locking this one in here - these are NOT dogs that turn down a party, but they're figuring out that if you can develop a taste for broccoli the cake arrives faster.

My dog can hold a stay while I drop food, do a silly dance, break into a sprint... As well as when dogs, cars, and livestock are running around her. It's a safety skill, but training it can also be fun!

04/08/2026

April classes! 🐾 🎓

04/07/2026

Squeezing in a quick round of 4 weeks of group classes in Nelson this month by request, spaces are limited so email to lock in your spot!

03/09/2026

Not all dogs appreciate the company of other dogs, and that is perfectly normal - like us, dogs have a wide range of sociability and preferences. For the dogs that DO like to party, group dog walks/hikes are a great opportunity to flex those social muscles and we are lucky to have a number of dog walkers (both on and off leash) here in Nelson that can take your dog on epic adventures.

But what about the social dogs that WANT to party but don't have the skills? Maybe they come in too hot, or can't handle when others do, or their recalls or listening amid distractions are so-so? It isn't fair to your dog, your dog walker, OR the other dogs in the group to expect them to figure it out on the fly.

That's where a professional can help. With my squad of canine assistants (all graduated training clients) as backup, I teach dogs the skills to reliably participate in leashed or offleash groups so that they can join in smoothly and successfully. Using a step-by-step graduating plan can give your dog confidence in what to do, and give you confidence in them!

Think your friendly dog would love to join a group walk setting but worried they can't handle it? Shoot me a message and let's get them ready!

03/06/2026

Here's your gently pointed reminder that dogs showing and even using their teeth is not necessarily indicative of any intent to do harm with them and certainly need not be labeled "aggressive". Dogs' teeth are their hands as well as a component of communication. My Aussie loves playing bitey-face with puppies and if I engage her this way, using my hand, she's just as aware of contact and pressure. This allows little Lou the opportunity to practice safe and appropriate mouth usage, and is an important skill as puppies grow bigger and stronger.

03/03/2026

The Paw & Order Polite Puppy party is underway and the students this spring sure are cute! Birdie, Jack, Catriana, Rio, Lou, Aspen, Tucker , Willow and Miso are already doing great with basic skills, relationship building, and social communication development 👏