Let’s Get Your Sit Together!

So you and your pup are sitting there, staring at each other with wheels turning in both of your heads. There are a few scenarios that might be playing out. None of which are ideal. (Otherwise, you wouldn’t be on this site.)

Their head is cocked at that sweet angle that makes us all melt and they’re just watching you try to figure out why they aren’t listening to you, doing their own thing, and chewing up the doily that Grandma Susan made.

They're in their kennel, trying to make themselves as small as possible because this whole new home thing sounded great until they got there and got overwhelmed by the newness of everything. (Hello sensory overload!)

Company came over last night and they got excited… a little too excited. And by excited, I actually mean anxious. Your friends Michael and Jayna were on the edge of their seats all night because your nervous pup growled and barked at them when they came to the door… and then lunged at them once they crossed the threshold.

If you’re in one of these situations, or in a different one that’s driving your possible neurodivergent mind nuts, then I got you.

(And if your brain doesn’t work like mine, I still got you. Promise.)

Before we get too much further, let’s look at the difference between a trainer and a behaviorist because they aren't exactly the same..

Trainers

Behaviorist

Think of a teacher or a coach.

They will come alongside you and teach your dog a variety of basic skills that will set them up for success, whether it’s sit, stay, or walk down the street without being dragged.

Think of them like a therapist. They will come and help you identify the underlying issue, and help to modify or manage behaviors (like fear, stress, anxiety, reactivity, and more) that have become normal (unwanted) behaviors for your dog.

Now that we understand we’re looking at apples and oranges, let’s see what you need to set your four-legged friend up for success. Unsurprisingly, no matter what, it all stems from clear communication.

Services

Behavior Modification/Management:

It doesn’t matter if they all look “the same” (four legs, two ears, one tail) Dogs are individual creatures. They have their own personalities and their own histories.

If they have a learned negative behavior, then let’s nip that shit.

Modifying behavior isn’t a brain transplant that has immediate results.

It’s a process that requires a lot of patience, grace, and understanding.

Basic Training:

This is where we learn to sit, stay, place, leave it, and shake with the best of them.

1-on-1, at-home hour-long sessions to set you and your dog up for success.

Puppy Play Groups:

Who doesn’t love to see a bunch of puppies running around playing canine leap frog together?

But there’s a purpose to it: socializing your pups teaches them manners and how to respect their furry playmates. It can also translate into how they act with you.

>> For example, bite inhibition. If they chomp too hard on their playmate and they get a not-so-friendly correction from them, they’ll learn that chomping down on your arm is not one of their better ideas.

Board and Train

**NOT OFFERED AT THIS TIME**

You remember how growing up Mom and Dad had specific rules for us and then we went to Grandma’s and those rules went out the window? This ain’t that.

(Trust me, growing up undiagnosed autistic, that made things confusing and frustrating! I’m willing to bet, it’d be the same for your dog!)

With the board and train option, your pup would come and stay with me for a set amount of time for intensive specific training, BUT when they come home, you have to be willing to put that work in to keep up with the foundations that I’ve started.

AKA, I’ll provide you with the healthy recipe of a well-behaved pup, but you can’t replace it with cookies and treats and expect Fido to keep up with it himself.

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Day Training session

So how long is the training process? Good freaking question.

That’s like me asking my therapist how long it will take to fix my anxiety.

Trust when I say that my ADHD and Autism has a strong hold on that.

There are so many outside factors at play that have to be taken into consideration. Environment. History. Your dog’s equivalent to stimming: Reactions.

And if any one of these aren’t considered, then we’re in for a frustrating time.

There’s no one set path to “fixing” your dog. What worked for the Golden Retriever with leash reactivity, probably won’t work for the Yorkie with the resource guarding tendencies.

I’m not going to tell you that it’s going to be sunshine and rainbows in two months or less, but having grace and respect for both yourself and your dog is the first step to an awesome relationship with clear communication.

So before you click a booking button, be prepared for a few things:

There will be times when you trip up. It’s human. Sometimes, it’s low registration. (Hi, that’s “clumsy” me!)
There will be times when you’ll want to throw your hands up and say, “Fuck this!” because… sensory overload.
And also, there will be times when you dust yourself off, forget yourself and your dog for whatever mistake there was, and yell “F*** Yeah!” right along with me.

If you stick with it, there will be success. And before you know it, you’ll feel like you’re a “dog savant,” understanding your pup more than ever before.

Also I love you, and I love your dog, but once your pup is on the road to success… I’m not moving in…well, unless you're an amazing cook...since my skill set doesn't lie in a kitchen.

Responsible Rescues I work with:

(which all can always use more volunteers, fosters, or donations)