Olympia Dog Training

16/08/2024

As Summer is starting to wind down, crispier weather is right around the corner. 🌻

We still have plenty of warm days ahead of us but Summer training spots are nearly sold out. Here is an updated list of our late Summer/Fall availability. We will be starting another Group Puppy K mid September so make sure to snag your spot now!

For more information on programs and pricing, visit our website and schedule your phone consult today. Spots are first come first serve.

12/08/2024

Messages like this are why we do what we do! 😍

Lucy the Husky was a huge puller on walks and had a habit of lunging at cars. 😅 Her family reached out a while back because they were about to welcome a new baby and wanted to be able to take walks as a family. Lucy went through our Hybrid program and we recently got this update 💜

We absolutely LOVE hearing how your pups are doing after training! Once you train with us you are a part of our family. We offer our alumni a lifetime of support and are there to provide continuing education, tune up training lessons, and even boarding if you need it!

Want to learn how you can become a part of our Olympia alumni family and start living your best life with your dog? Check out our website for more info and to schedule your phone consultation today!

16/07/2024

Meet Hudson! 💜

Hudson graduated Puppy Kindergarten just a few months ago and is back for round 2 of training! His family wanted a head start raising a well rounded, balanced adult dog so they signed up for a Puppy Bundle as soon as they brought him home so they had the help and support they needed to get them through the first year of his life.

The Puppy Bundle starts off with a 6 week in-home Puppy Kindergarten program to get you a solid foundation, then once puppy is old enough, we start our off-leash Hybrid program to round off their training.

Hudson’s family has been working HARD since day 1 to set him up for success and now at just 7 months old he is going to be fully off leash reliable, have a rock solid recall, walk like a gentleman, have an off switch to be calm on command, and be able to enjoy all the adventures his family wants to include him in.

You guys! Putting in the work early on in your puppy’s life is crucial to giving them (and yourself) the best quality of life as they grow into an adult dog. Hudson’s family has gone above and beyond and now get to live their best life with him! This is what it’s all about for us. 😍

If you have questions on our Puppy options or how you can get started living your best life with your dog, visit our website and schedule a phone consult today!

08/07/2024

New puppy parents!

We are so excited to FINALLY be able to offer a group option for our Puppy Kindergarten and we are starting in just a few weeks! 😁

We are SO EXCITED to be able to bring our clients the same great information we offer in our in-home Puppy K in a small, intimate group setting and for a fraction of the price. With only 4 puppies per class, clients will get the one-on-one attention they need with the support and socialization benefits of a group setting.

•Classes will be held on Tuesdays at 7pm starting July 23rd and run for 6 consecutive weeks.

•Puppies should be 10-16 weeks old AT THE START of class.

•Lessons will be held outside weather permitting at our training space in Saint Clair Shores

Small group means that spots are limited and on a first come, first serve basis. If you’re interested, send us a DM, give us a call, or shoot us an email ASAP and mention group puppy class and we will get you set up for a phone call to reserve your spot. Depending on interest, we may add another class so don’t hesitate to reach out and PLEASE SHARE this post with all your puppy people!

As always, thank you all for your love and support! It’s because of all our amazing clients, friends, and family that we can continue to grow our business and do what we love everyday. 🫶🏼🙏🏼

26/06/2024

Congrats to sweet little Millie and her family on their graduation from our in-home Puppy Kindergarten!

Millie was adopted by one of our awesome Olympia Alumni families that trained their first Lab puppy Mabel with us just a few years back. They went on to complete off-leash training with Mabel and knew as soon as they got Millie that they wanted her to have the same life filled with freedom and inclusion. They called the day they brought her home and signed up for our Puppy K bundle which includes our 6 week in-home Puppy program + an off-leash ecollar Hybrid program that we’ll schedule when Millie is a bit older.

Check out this amazing review Millie and Mabel’s mom left for us 💜😭 We really have the BEST clients!

New puppy? Want to be a part or our awesome Alumni group?! Our Puppy K Bundle gives you and your puppy the training and continued support you need to get you through your first year together. We love seeing our puppies back for round 2 so much that we are offering these 2 programs for a discounted price if you bundle them. Message us or check out our website for more details!

Have you heard!? We are also offering a NEW 6-week Group Puppy K program starting July 23rd. Spots are limited, message to snag yours!

22/06/2024

Continuing our intros, we have the handsome .villellewellin staying with us for a couple weeks for a Board and Train while his mom is traveling!

The cool thing about a B&T is it doubles as a place for your pup to stay while you’re away and when you come back, they come back fully trained.

Nash is one of our many Puppy Kindergarten graduates back for round 2 of their training right now! We love seeing our puppies all grown up. His mom has kept up nicely on all his training and now she’s looking for full off-leash reliability for safety (Nash likes the catch-me-if-you-can game) and so they both can enjoy their huge, unfenced yard. She is also looking to clean up the walk and curb some of his teenage and lingering puppy behaviors 😅 He is so much fun and is shaping up to be a very well-rounded gentleman. Halfway through his B&T, we can’t wait to see how he progresses!

We have 1 B&T spot open for the end of July into August. Check out our website to schedule your phone consultation today.

18/06/2024

Spring has been BUSY! We’ve gotten the opportunity to work with some pretty amazing dogs and their families and we think they deserve an introduction!

Starting with our current trainees, first we have Miss Poppy, the Floofiest Husky we’ve met! Poppy is just 8 mos old and she is one of our June Board and Train pups.

This goofball is as sweet as they come with the typical dose of Husky sass! Her mom came to us because she was dealing with a teenager…😅 and having a hard time with general listening skills and training. She also needed some help with Poppy’s potty training, leash walking (pulls like a sled dog), crate training, her inability to chill, and mom wanted the peace of mind and safety that training and reliability brings.

Poppy is quite a fan favorite around here going into the final week of her stay. We’re so happy with how she’s doing, for a young Husky she’s really rocking it. On the list:

✅ Bomb proof door manners for safety
✅ An off-switch/calm on command with “place”
✅ Off leash recall
✅ Leash manners that will make her neighbors jealous

We are very excited to get her back home to show off everything she’s learned but that will just be the beginning. Once we transfer leadership to her mom, that’s really where their training journey begins.

Board & Train program slots are currently sold out until August! Schedule your phone consultation on our website today to see how we can help you get started living your best life with your dog.

14/06/2024

Nash wants to know!

If you haven’t heard, we are FINALLY offering a group option for our Puppy Kindergarten that’s starting in just over a month😁

We are SO EXCITED to be able to bring our clients the same great information we offer in our in-home Puppy K in a small, intimate group setting and for a fraction of the price. With only 4 puppies per class, clients will get the one-on-one attention they need with the support and socialization benefits of a group setting.

•Classes will be held on Tuesdays at 7pm starting July 23rd and run for 6 consecutive weeks.

•Puppies should be 10-16 weeks old AT THE START of class.

•Lessons will be held outside, weather permitting, at our training space in Saint Clair Shores.

Small group means that spots are limited and on a first come, first serve basis. If you’re interested, send us a DM, give us a call, or shoot us an email ASAP and mention group puppy class and we will get you set up for a phone call to reserve your spot. Depending on interest, we may add another class so don’t hesitate to reach out and PLEASE SHARE this post with all your puppy people!
villellewellin is one of our most recent puppy grads! Graduating from any of our puppy programs means you become an Olympia Alumni with all the perks and support you need as your puppy grows! Soft launch, we MAY be adding an Alumni Facebook group to connect our current and past clients and give them a platform for continued support, who knows… keep your eyes open for more news 😜

11/06/2024

Lucy is still looking for her forever home! She is a 4 year old Pyredoodle (Pyrenees/Poodle)

She is a big girl but she is sweet as pie. Fully off leash trained by us and comes with transfer of leadership lessons. Lucy must go to a home with no other animals she would rather not share attention and would thrive in an environment without the competition and stress of other animals. She is a calm and chill girl, not overly exuberant with strangers she’s kind of an introvert but loves her people and has never shown signs of aggression towards people, just a tad shy.

She loves to go for walks and lounge she just is pretty perfect just looking for the right fit!

11/06/2024

Lucy is still looking for her forever home! She’s is such a sweet and well mannered pup and fully off leash trained by us. Let us know if you or anyone you know might be good fit for her!

Miss Lucy is looking for her forever home! She went through a full board and train with us and is on and off leash reliable and fully ecollar trained. A little bit about Lucy:

Lucy is a Pyrenees and Poodle mix and she is a big girl! She’s about 90lbs I would guess. She will need regular brushing and baths but she’s not the kind of Doodle that needs regular trips to the groomer. She sheds a mild amount, nothing too crazy.

Lucy is mostly a calm, chill 4ish year old gal that loves to lay around in the yard and affection from her people. She does get the zoomies every once in a while where she runs around the yard, rolls on the ground, then goes back to being chill. 😅 She can be shy/wary of strangers and will probably not be the type of dog that loves crowds and lots of field trip, nor is she one to run up to strangers to say hi, she’s a bit of a introvert and a homebody. But she has never shown any signs of aggression when nervous. She will be very loyal and loving to her people.

She will need (and it will be included free of charge) upkeep on her training and someone who is willing to give her the clarity and structure that she needs to be successful as she transitions into a new home. That means crate training and setting clear expectations for her so she feels like her life is more predictable. We will help with that.

Her ideal home is a quiet one where she is the center of attention. Because kids of all ages can bring noise, friends, and unpredictability we think she would do best in a home with no kids but we’re willing to introduce if you think she will be a good fit and you have older calm kids. She may not go to a home with other animals, she doesn’t get along with dogs or cats, she does not like to share attention, resources, etc with other animals and we feel like to make sure she has the best quality of life she should be the only pet. She does fine passing other dogs on walks and is well mannered around them but she does not want to share a home with them.

Lucy is a super sweet big gal that is looking for the right fit. I’ve spent the last month with her and I really enjoyed having her! She is going to make someone very very happy!

11/06/2024

Guess whaaaat!?!

We are FINALLY offering a group option for our Puppy Kindergarten and we are launching it…right now. 😁

We are SO EXCITED to be able to bring our clients the same great information we offer in our in-home Puppy K in a small, intimate group setting and for a fraction of the price. With only 4 puppies per class, clients will get the one-on-one attention they need with the support and socialization benefits of a group setting.

•Classes will be held on Tuesdays at 7pm starting July 23rd and run for 6 consecutive weeks.

•Puppies should be 10-16 weeks old AT THE START of class.

•Lessons will be held outside weather permitting at our training space in Saint Clair Shores

Small group means that spots are limited and on a first come, first serve basis. If you’re interested, send us a DM, give us a call, or shoot us an email ASAP and mention group puppy class and we will get you set up for a phone call to reserve your spot. Depending on interest, we may add another class so don’t hesitate to reach out and PLEASE SHARE this post with all your puppy people!

As always, thank you all for your love and support! It’s because of all our amazing clients, friends, and family that we can continue to grow our business and do what we love everyday. 🫶🏼🙏🏼

28/05/2024

Looking for someone who specializes in website design to revamp our site! Shoot us a message if you or anyone you know can help. 🐾

01/05/2024

Miss Lucy is looking for her forever home! She went through a full board and train with us and is on and off leash reliable and fully ecollar trained. A little bit about Lucy:

Lucy is a Pyrenees and Poodle mix and she is a big girl! She’s about 90lbs I would guess. She will need regular brushing and baths but she’s not the kind of Doodle that needs regular trips to the groomer. She sheds a mild amount, nothing too crazy.

Lucy is mostly a calm, chill 4ish year old gal that loves to lay around in the yard and affection from her people. She does get the zoomies every once in a while where she runs around the yard, rolls on the ground, then goes back to being chill. 😅 She can be shy/wary of strangers and will probably not be the type of dog that loves crowds and lots of field trip, nor is she one to run up to strangers to say hi, she’s a bit of a introvert and a homebody. But she has never shown any signs of aggression when nervous. She will be very loyal and loving to her people.

She will need (and it will be included free of charge) upkeep on her training and someone who is willing to give her the clarity and structure that she needs to be successful as she transitions into a new home. That means crate training and setting clear expectations for her so she feels like her life is more predictable. We will help with that.

Her ideal home is a quiet one where she is the center of attention. Because kids of all ages can bring noise, friends, and unpredictability we think she would do best in a home with no kids but we’re willing to introduce if you think she will be a good fit and you have older calm kids. She may not go to a home with other animals, she doesn’t get along with dogs or cats, she does not like to share attention, resources, etc with other animals and we feel like to make sure she has the best quality of life she should be the only pet. She does fine passing other dogs on walks and is well mannered around them but she does not want to share a home with them.

Lucy is a super sweet big gal that is looking for the right fit. I’ve spent the last month with her and I really enjoyed having her! She is going to make someone very very happy!

22/04/2024

🐊

Fear. 😱

It’s a critical mechanism built into us to help us stay safer, work harmoniously in a social setting, and survive.

And yet, because it’s been given such a negative representation, we attempt to give it softer, sweeter, more palatable, and less ominous names. Responsible. Smart. Cautious. But if you look deeply enough at the foundational motivation of this list, and countless others I could create, and if you’re willing to be honest, you know it’s fear that’s truly at the bottom of all these more pleasant names and the feelings that motivate the actions or inactions of the list.

The efficacy of negative, undesirable, uncomfortable consequences isn’t based on some more pleasant sounding rationale, it’s based on fear. And if shared correctly and appropriately, fear isn’t something to be terrified of and shamed away from. It’s a crucial piece of our behavioral puzzle.

If fear wasn’t being leveraged, either internally or externally, negative consequences, and all the benefits they have to offer, would be completely ineffective and valueless. It’s precisely “that which cannot be named”, which to a very large degree helps us, and our dogs thrive.

Here’s a novel idea: How about we deal honestly with life, and how it, and we, and yes, dogs work. How about we stop pretending fear isn’t everywhere, isn’t healthy, and isn’t useful in dog training?

Or we can keep playing the game of knowing better but being too cowardly to acknowledge that which know.

Your choice.

PS, I’m reposting this (it’s from 2021) for one, to better clarify the value of fear for those who might be confused and are genuinely curious (I posted about a “healthy fear” yesterday), and for two, in response to the cowardly/integrity-free dog trainers in the so-called “balanced” community who refuse to speak honestly about that which is currently considered unsavory/unsayable—reality—and would rather attempt to gain social/reputational points by preaching precisely what is the popular narrative (oooh, how brave of you), over telling owners and trainers a less fashionable but nonetheless obvious truth. Sadly, this “community” is bursting with trainers who are happy to say whatever they think you want to hear in order to gain from the telling, rather than tell you what is actually true and risk the fallout. I respect the PP/FF zealots more than the “balanced” cowards and frauds. At least the PP/FF people believe what they’re saying, the “balanced” cowards/frauds know precisely what they’re doing and saying, and know precisely that they’re lying to you. I despise less those who are ideologically indoctrinated than I do those who are simply opportunistic, cowardly frauds.

30/03/2024

5 Tips for being successful with your dog out in public!

There are so many dog friendly options around town especially now that the weather is starting to shape up.

A few things to remember when deciding to take your dog out in public from a dog trainer and fellow dog owner that just wants to be able to also enjoy dog friendly places 😅

1) Not all dogs enjoy being out in public. Ask yourself, does my dog actually want to be around all that activity? Are they enjoying themselves? Or is it just for me? Be fair to your dog.

2) Do you have a level of control of your dog so you can keep them and the general public safe and happy? Unruly, misbehaving dogs in public make it a lot less enjoyable for the rest of us. If your dog is not trained to a basic level of obedience where you can keep control of them, maybe leave them home for now! And give us a call, we can help! 😊

3) If your dog does enjoy being out and about with you and is generally well behaved, make sure to be respectful of others. Don’t let your dog approach other dogs unless the owner gives you permission. Most people don’t take their dogs out in public to socialize with other dogs, let them enjoy their time without disruption. You also have no idea how dog friendly stranger dogs are or if they are vaccinated/healthy.

4) It’s ok to tell people no when they ask to pet your dog. Maybe your dog is shy, in training, learning to be neutral in public. Maybe having strangers interact with them makes them feel unsafe or is detrimental to your goals and training. Just because your dog is well-behaved and enjoys exploring the world with you, DOES NOT mean they have to love strangers petting them. You got a dog for YOUR enjoyment, advocate for them especially if they are shy, you don’t have to allow people to pet them. Be polite, “thank you for asking but she’s in training” or “she’s very shy so you can say hi from a distance.” Your dog and your relationship will be so much better for it.

5) For dog’s sake, leash your dog in the bar…😁

Sincerely, dog mom of a super well behaved but shy adventure pup who loves to observe from a distance but HATES to be grabbed on by random people out in public 😅

P.S. if your dog is a bite risk or aggressive in any way, they should not be out in public unless you're working through it with a trainer and/or they're muzzled. You are never fully in control of every situation, there is far too much risk when dealing with the general public.

What are some of your favorite pet friendly places around? We want to hear all about them! I’m sure you’ve figured out ours! 🥰

23/03/2024

Happy National Puppy Day! 💜🐶

I was lucky enough to know both of these dufuses as puppies. Tallulah aka Tully, Tullster, Tull Tull, Cholula I got at just 8 weeks old and let’s just say raising her from a puppy was one of the most challenging things I’ve ever done. She tested my sanity and my confidence in myself as a trainer almost every day. 😅 She’s an absolute doll of a dog now but it took a couple years for us to see eye to eye haha.

Nellie I adopted/acquired at around 3 years old. She came from a family friend that needed to rehome her so I offered to foster and train her until she found a new home…🤪 she didn’t go far! Nellie was Tilly in her previous home but the Tully, Tilly thing got old quickly so she is now Nellie, Nellie Belly, smelly, smelly dog, smelly one. I had the pleasure of knowing her years before she found her way to me when she was first adopted as a 4 month old little SASS of a puppy. She was one of my early Puppy K clients and actually grew up with my Ollie 🥹💜 it always blows my mind how alike they look!!

15/03/2024

Parenting our dogs, being the leader they need sometimes means we have to do hard things so they can live a life filled with more inclusion, less stress, and more clarity. Don’t let your emotions
prevent your dog from living their best life!

So many owners who “let things go” convince themselves they’re simply being kind and loving, when in reality they’re being terribly unkind and selfish.

Is it kind and loving to not provide your dog with clear feedback about what is right or wrong, what is good or bad for them? Of course not, but it sure beats the heck out of having to do the “dirty work” of disciplining your dog.

And if you sell yourself on the right rationalization for why you allow what you allow and why you turn a blind eye to the stuff you see and know you should address—but don’t—you can convince yourself that all the difficult “dog parenting” you’re skipping is actually the decisions of the kinder, more caring, more virtuous, and of course more loving dog owner.

But the truth is, that stuff you allow and ignore isn’t actually for your dog, and it’s certainly not virtuous. How could it be? Allowing your dog to misbehave, to have a smaller micro-managed life, to needlessly struggle with anxiety and stress, to put themselves or others in danger… couldn’t be for them.

No. We all know that stuff is for you.

You avoid the structure, the rules, the enforcement… the discipline… for you, because it feels better than the alternative.

15/03/2024

How cute is little Hutch in his grad cap?! 🥰🎓

If you or someone you know is, or is planning on becoming a new puppy parent, we have 1 April slot left for puppies and 1 in May.

Our Puppy Kindergarten is a 6 week in-home program for puppies under 5 mos. During these 6 weeks we cover ALL THINGS puppy parenting from building engagement and relationship, to prevention of common behavior issues, to proper socialization practices. Not to mention we help you get through the not-so-fun parts of raising a puppy - the biting, the potty training, the crate training. We sprinkle in some basic obedience commands and round out your program with a field trip to start to introduce public access training. If this sounds like the right program for you, go check out our website for more info or comment “me” below to snag our last couple spring slots!

15/03/2024

The reality is, unwanted pressure, bullying, scuffles, fights, and out-and-out attacks teach dogs that other dogs aren’t safe, which cause many dogs to become proactively aggressive and/or reactive…because they learn to see other dogs as risks to their safety…an “I’ll get you before you get me” mentality takes hold.

PS, for multi-dog homes, much of the above applies as well. If you’re allowing your home to be a micro version of a dog park or chaotic daycare where pressure, bullying, competition for resources, scuffles and fights ensue, don’t be surprised if you have a home where dog fights are the norm.

02/03/2024

Everything has its price. Want more soft, doting, affection time with your dog, but don’t want to turn your dog into a mess? Simple, pay the price of being a solid, healthy, selfless, and disciplined leader when needed and when appropriate, and you buy your way into what you desire.

Sadly, like many things in life, most want the fun/enjoyable stuff without paying the price to have it in a healthy fashion. The price of discipline, discomfort, and delayed gratification are simply too high, and so these people’s dogs—like so many other aspects of their lives—take the hit for their inability to discipline themselves.

I personally love having my dogs on the couch and the bed, I also love being able to be super soft and affectionate and doting. But I’m not interested in having my dogs take the hit for my desires, nor am I interested in all of us taking the hit by having less freedom, less enjoyment, and more stress…simply because I want the good stuff but am unwilling to do the hard stuff.

So we have a handful of very clear rules, we are mindful of each of our dog’s individual needs/personality/limits and their personal requirements for structure, and when trespasses occur there are appropriate negative consequences that clearly resonate with each dog. This simple approach allows myself, my wife, my dogs, and all those around us, to enjoy life together to its fullest.

This stuff isn’t complicated, although as of late we’ve worked awfully hard to make it appear so. If you want the good stuff, man-up and woman-up, and pay the price. Otherwise, your dogs will. And, without realizing it, you will most certainly pay as well—just in a different fashion.

As Jocko so simply says: “Discipline equals freedom.” It’s true with dogs, and it’s true with everything else.

26/02/2024

If you have a reactive dog, allowing them to sit in the window all day or look out the front door exploding on every trigger is SO STRESSFUL for the dog and deeper rooting your issue. **Behaviors repeated are reinforced.** Make sure the right things are being made into habits 👍🏼

So many struggle with reactivity issues because they struggle with setting firm boundaries because they feel guilty with not allowing their reactive dogs to “window shop” when their dogs have proven over and over that they’re terrible at “browsing” and almost always make impulse “buys”.

While I get the desire to allow your dog to “enjoy the sights”, if your dog is unable to do so without becoming a reactive mess, I’d suggest a shift in priorities.

Dogs who can peruse their environment without getting into trouble are dogs who’ve earned the privilege to do so. Dogs who’ve shown repeatedly their inability to peruse without explosion have earned different rules.

Eye contact is the gateway to reactivity. As I’ve said many times, “They have to look to load”. And so, if our dogs have shown us they are unable to look at triggers without escalating, then our dogs need our help if they’re ever going to get out of the reactivity cycle/trap.

But what to do? Correcting our dogs when they look and lock in an unhealthy fashion on triggers is only going to make them worse, right? Wrong. Stopping the cycle of “see-feel-escalate-explode” at the “see” portion of the sequence logically stops the rest of the sequence—and if this blocking of the cycle is practiced long enough and consistent enough, it removes the reinforcement of the “feeling” portion of the sequence, which creates a temporary neutral mental space which enables the dog to start to develop new feelings about the trigger, which eventually enables a permanent shift to a neutral emotional state around the triggers which then enables the dog to develop a completely different and actually healthy association with the trigger. (What I call, “Natural Counterconditioning”.) Which means you’ll get a healthy, non-reactive response… which means your dog has now earned the privilege of looking.

Many will bristle at this and draw all kinds of alternative potential negative conclusions. That’s fine. I share it as someone who’s seen it with his own two eyes with his own two wildly reactive dogs 20 years ago, as well as with the thousands of dogs I’ve worked with since.

This stuff is simply not that complicated, but we do an impressive job of making it so.

25/02/2024

Have you recently added a new puppy to your family? Are you planning on getting a new puppy in the near future? Do you know someone who needs help with puppy parenting?

We have the program for you! With 3 puppy training options including our NEW puppy bundle, we have the program to fit into your life and schedule. Whether you prefer 1:1 training in your home for the individual attention, or maybe completing training on your own timeline sounds like it would better fit your busy schedule, we can help!

Virtual puppy kindergarten is rolling out in just a couple weeks! Discounted presale pricing is available. Click the payment link in our bio or head to our website for more info. Coupon code “puppy” gets you 20% off virtual program for a limited time. *Once you purchase, you will get notifications about how and when you can access your virtual program.*

Comment more info below to learn more!