CoolDog Academy

28/11/2024

Wishing all of our current, past, and future clients a very happy thanksgiving! We are so thankful to be able to do what we love and share our joy for dog training with each of you. ❤️

26/11/2024

Get ready for this long overdue introduction! Meet Theo! This spunky guy has all the energy all the time. Finding ways to meet his needs that were realistic for his family was crucial for this pup. With a little creativity, we’ve worked together to make sure Theo gets the exercise, mental stimulation, and attention he craves—without overwhelming his family. Do you have a hard time balancing your schedule with the needs of your pup? Reach out today for an expert consultation with the best

24/11/2024

Puppies puppies and more puppies! Introducing another CoolDog Academy Trainee: Winston! 🤩 Winston and his family were rockstars at their introductory lesson and learned tons of new ways to strengthen their communication and get the results they want.

23/11/2024

Name something cuter than Trotter who absolutely crushed his first lesson with us! 🥰 big things in store for this little guy!

13/11/2024

CoolDog’s Graham and Mally! Graham was recently adopted from SAVE rescue in Skillman and Mally has been showing him the ropes in his new house. Including how to look absolutely adorable to get all the treats! 😉

26/10/2024

Welcome Frankie to the CoolDog club! Frankie was the star of the show at her first lesson! Puppy intro lessons are 1.5 hours and cover everything you need to know about puppies and how to start training good habits from day 1! Frankie here is showing off her flirt pole skills. Did you know how you play with a puppy matters? Flirt poles are a great tool to prevent unwanted jumping and it keeps those sharp puppy teeth away from your hands. Flirt poles engage a dog’s natural prey drive and incorporates chasing, grabbing, shaking, and tugging! A fulfilled dog is a happy dog!

16/08/2024

Behind every CoolDog is a CoolFamily. Happy birthday to Russell! We hope your day is filled with wagging tails!

13/08/2024

We hope everyone is staying cool and enjoying the last few weeks of summer! CoolDog Teddy is a master at staying cool. Check out the comment section to see his underwater bubble blowing skills! 😂 🫧 🐾

06/08/2024

Mimi coming in hot! This spunky little girl had a fantastic first lesson with us! Welcome to the CoolDog family Mimi!

22/07/2024

04/07/2024

17/06/2024

We had the pleasure of working with Bunny after she was adopted from

To set her up for success in her new home her new family reached out for professional help! Not only is Bunny the sweetest girl on the block, she’s also super smart! We got to work covering all the basics and Bunny caught on very quickly. She’ll tell you that her favorite part was trying out the snuffle mat! Keep up the good work Bunny! Welcome to the CoolDog Family! 🥰

Send Bunny a heart💜 in the comments to wish her all the luck in her new home.

12/06/2024

Let’s talk about dominance theory and why it’s time to leave it in the past. 🚫🐾

Dominance theory, popularized in the 20th century, was based on observations of wolf packs. It suggested that wolves competed for dominance within a hierarchical structure, with an “alpha” at the top. However, further research revealed flaws in this theory:🙇‍♂️

🔹Misinterpretation of Wolf Behavior: The original studies on wolf behavior were conducted on captive wolves in unnatural environments. In the wild, wolf packs are often family units, with the “alpha” role attributed to the parent wolves, not achieved through dominance displays. 🐺

🔹Dog Behavior Differs: Dogs are not wolves. While they share a common ancestor, domestication has led to significant behavioral differences. Applying wolf pack dynamics to dogs oversimplifies their complex social behaviors. 🐩

🔹Negative Effects: Anytime we label a dog as “dominate” or assume a behavior is the result of “displaying dominance” we fail to see what the dog is actually communicating. Many times what people view as dominance is actually symptoms of uncertainty, pain, and hyperarousal in dogs🫨

🔹Lack of Scientific Support: The scientific community widely rejects dominance theory as an explanation for dog behavior. Studies instead emphasize the importance of understanding individual dogs and using evidence-based training methods. 📖

🔹Focus on Relationship Building: Modern dog training focuses on building a trusting and cooperative relationship between humans and dogs. Positive reinforcement techniques strengthen this bond and encourage desirable behaviors without resorting to dominance or punishment.🤝

👉Many of the leaders involved in the creation of dominance and pack mentality have since changed their stance and reject their initial findings all together. Let’s join them in ditching dominance theory and cultivate a new culture of understanding and empathy for our 4-legged friends! 🐾🐶❤️

08/06/2024

🚶‍♂️🐶Walking Your Dog vs. Mental Enrichment: Finding the Perfect Balance! 🧠 ✨

Do you think your dog's energy stems from a lack of exercise? You’ve come to the right place! In some cases long walks can actually lead to a more hyper dog! During a walk, your dog encounters various sights, sounds, and smells, which can stimulate their senses and keep them alert. This stimulation can actually increase their excitement levels rather than calm them down!🤪

So how can we help? 🤔

While daily walks are a great way to boost physical health, mental stimulation is equally crucial for our furry friends' well-being. Let's dive in and explore how to strike the perfect balance! ⚖️

👟We all know the joy of a good walk - the fresh air, exercise, and bonding time with our pups. But did you know that mental enrichment activities can be just as enriching? 💡Try incorporating mental challenges into your daily walks! Hide treats along the route or practice tricks at different intervals. Not only will this keep your pup physically active, but it'll also give their brain a workout! 🤓

If your dog isn't ready for long walks try to shorten them and add some mental enrichment at home! You’ll find that your dog may be just as tired if not more! Let's explore all the different mental enrichment we can give our pets at home: 🏡

Puzzle toys
scent games
“Find it” game
Teaching a new Trick
Practicing training skills
Mini agility course
Food dispensing toys
Snuffle mat
Tricky-treat-ball
Sniffy walks in the backyard
Frozen stuffed Kong
Licki mats

🧩 Why not mix things up?

Remember, every dog is unique! Some may thrive on long walks, while others prefer shorter strolls with plenty of mental stimulation. It's all about finding what works best for your furry friend and tailoring their routine to suit their individual needs. 🌈 🩵

💬Share a pic of your cool dog enjoying their favorite mental enrichment!

05/06/2024

It was a pleasure to meet you today Moose! And what a coincidence it landed on International Corgi Day! 😍

Corgi Fun Fact: Corgis were originally used as herding dogs, going back as early as the 10th century!

Do you know any other fun corgi facts? Drop them in the comments!

31/05/2024

Daisy was an absolute rockstar at her first lesson! We worked on strengthening her loose leash walking skills and building engagement with owners on walks. Welcome to the CoolDog family Daisy! Keep up the great work!

11/05/2024

Our services were designed by us for you! From beginner to advanced we’ve got your dog needs covered. 😎