Sarah Knight Dog Training (2025)

30/05/2025

🥈 Silver in Best of Kelowna – Dog Training!

I’m feeling incredibly grateful and humbled to share that I’ve been awarded Silver in the Best of Kelowna Dog Training category this year. 🩷

This recognition means so much to me not because of the “award”, but because it reflects the amazing community of dog owners, clients, and friends who support me in doing what I do. It’s hard to believe that every day I live my dream. Every dog I meet and every team I coach teaches me something new, and I’m so thankful for the trust you place in me.

To be named among such talented trainers in our city is truly an honour. Thank you to everyone who took the time to vote. And a thank you to the incredible dogs that make us better trainers & humans every day. Cheers to the dogs that led us down this path.

Here’s to continued growth, learning, and building stronger relationships every day. 🥂

With so much gratitude & appreciation, (and shock…)

Sarah

Photo Credits
Tiny Fables Photography
Sara Nicole Photography - Okanagan
Brenda Van Mulder Photography

28/05/2025

Say Hello to Rosie 👋🏼
Today we practiced the Power of Watching, Observing, and Rehearsing making Good Choices.

One of the most underrated tools in dog training may surprise you… observation.

Today with Rosie, she spent just as much time watching and waiting as she did actively “training” so to speak. Why? Because learning happens when a dog can take time to process and learn.

🩷 Today we practiced outside a dog park, at a regional park and at a popular pet store and she was a SUPERSTAR 🏆
We practiced….
☀️Watching calmly as other dogs passed by us. We practiced this at various distances ranging from 10-30’.
☀️ We spent time observing dogs playing, running and ignoring their owner’s recalls 😅 (sorry but it’s true…)
☀️ We rehearsed good choices like relaxing in the grass, kibble scatters, calm observation, loose leash skills, engagement and natural disengagement from things that she normally finds triggering.

But most importantly we didn’t rehearse spikes in arousal, lunging, barking, chaotic chaos or feelings of fearfulness etc. And the more times we don’t allow a dog to practice those behaviours the better they get at practicing our end goal behaviours.

We practiced those skills in 3 different environments today 💪🏼

So today with Rosie, we celebrated thinking before reacting. Because that’s where real confidence starts to grow- in the quiet wins. I often remind people that good dog training looks boring… and that’s true. But we had the best time together!

So often we focus on what we want to stop
🛑 no barking
🛑 no jumping
🛑no pulling

But I often need to remind clients that it’s about the quiet wins that don’t look flashy. It’s about being able to relax at 20’ then 10’ then 5’. It’s about rehearsing the good! And rehearsing those choices again and again.

That’s how a well-rounded dog is built…one thoughtful repetition at a time.

I can’t wait for my next puppy day train with Rosie! She got an A++ today!

20/05/2025

🐾 Meet Huck – a 1-Year-Old Pomsky!👋🏼 🐾

This 1-year-old ball of gorgeous coat and an even bigger personality is working with me for a few days to to work on building a solid recall foundation – yes, even a Pomsky (with all that sass and independence!) can learn to come when called. 😄

We’re working on making recall fun, functional, reliable, non negotiable and part of real-life adventures. That means hikes, play sessions, exploring new environments - and using those moments as the reward. One of the biggest tools in our training toolbox this week is Premack’s Principle: which basically says: do this first, and you earn the thing you want.

So for Huck, that might look like:
➡️ “Come to me, and you can go sniff again.”
➡️ “Check in, and you get to run ahead.”
➡️ “Recall off the mouse hole - get to dig again”

Instead of training recall in a sterile, boring way, we’re turning it into a game… one that Huck actually wants to play. It builds trust, choice, and communication without making him feel like listening means the end of his fun. I repeatedly remind clients that a recall shouldn’t be a termination marker in the dog’s mind. “Come when called and all fun ends…” but rather a recall should be part of the fun and a means to more fun!

And guess what? It’s working. Huck’s already starting to see that choosing to come back doesn’t mean the fun stops… it means it continues.

That’s the magic of good training: it’s not about forcing obedience, it’s about building a partnership.

We have much to work on… but for now he snoozes!

If you want more information about recall programs - shoot me a message 📞

12/05/2025

✨💕 A heartfelt thank you to everyone who nominated us for Best of Kelowna! Im incredibly honoured to have made it to the voting round. (Especially as a small business 💕✨) Voting closes tomorrow, so if you’d like to cast a vote for me, I would be so grateful! But no matter what I appreciate your support & trust in me so very much. I’m so very lucky to be able to do what I do. Thank you!

Unfortunately, Facebook doesn’t allow direct links/ but feel free to message me and I’ll happily send you the link, or you can find it directly on the Best of Kelowna website.

Thanks again for being part of my journey!

07/05/2025

❣️ Today’s best practice - Don’t over complicate things - puppy training should look a lot like play. (Arguably all training should but we will focus on puppy training today. 🤍

…Meet Rosie 👋🏼 This morning I had one of my puppy day train clients and we did a stop into Mission Creek Regional Park. It was a great reminder that early training doesn’t need to be formal or complicated - it just needs to be intentional.

In our short visit we…

🤍 Built some value for the crate and practiced resting in the crate at a new location.

🩷 Practiced body awareness on a variety of different stumps, fallen trees, rocks etc. ( practicing following a food lure, on, off, turning, balancing, foot placement etc.)

🤍 Watched the world go by… dogs, people, kids, bikes - We didn’t interact, but rather observed.

🩷 Navigated a playground full of distractions and played on the structure, following the food lure etc.

🤍 Played a short name game, kept value in our reinforcement marker and practiced our new “sit” skill in a new place.

🩷 Ended with a quick play and back into quiet rest in the crate

That’s it. No long drills. No rigid goals. Just real-life training woven into a puppy’s natural curiosity and movement. Just helping the puppy explore the world. It was a puppy led session. If she had wanted to just sit on the grass and watch - that too would have been 100% ok!

Yes, we touched on things like engagement, food lures, novelty exposure, and a bit of basic position work -but to the puppy, it was just an adventure. And that’s exactly what it should be.

This stage is all about exposure, confidence building, and creating a pup who wants to stay connected. Keep sessions short. Keep expectations light. Reinforce calmness, curiosity, and connection.

These foundations- layered in through play are what carry forward into everything else I teach. Don’t over complicate things… Keep it simple 🩷

If you want help with your puppy, or want information about our puppy day train programs feel free to reach out 📞

14/04/2025

Today I took Seeya on a coffee date with a friend 🩷 It was the perfect opportunity to be able to reinforce and work on our patio skills! The patio was hopping! One lady had 3 busy puppies with her 😍 and Seeya took it all in stride. Seeya was less distracted by the puppies than I was 😅.

There’s something extra special about a calm, confident, polite dog relaxing while you sip your iced drink or grab lunch with friends. But a “patio ready” dog doesn’t happen by accident it takes a unique set of skills, confidence, and many foundation skills. Yes- even my unicorn Seeya had to learn how to be a great patio dog.

So, what makes a dog patio ready?

• Calm around chaos: Loud noises, bustling servers, other dogs, food smells, people, vehicles etc!

• Solid relax on a mat, down, settle skill: A reliable down and the ability to relax for long periods without constant management. In an environment that is incredibly self rewarding it’s important that we help dogs learn to relax and settle.

• People & dog neutrality: Your dog should be able to ignore strangers and dogs passing by without reacting or begging for attention. Seeya says this is the hardest part - but if she can do it - so can your dog! 🥰

• Focus on you: Even with all the distractions, your dog should still be able to look to you for guidance.

Fun Fact: Part of my day training programs include working on the foundations and real-life skills practicing calm and confident patio skills. If you want to help your dog get a head start on some skills - I’m happy to help.

Feel free to reach out - if you’re needing help getting skills with your dog to help make them a dog that you truly can bring everywhere.

11/04/2025

What would be included in your dog’s action pack? 🩷 Seeya would come complete with her Purple Puller Ring, Agility Equipment and of course her Avocado toy. 🥑!

17/03/2025

I Took My Dog to the Dog Park…
(And before you lose your socks, I said “to”, not “into” 😅)

…It should be no surprise to you but we never stepped foot inside.

Instead, we stayed just outside the fence and had an absolute blast of a training session. (Honestly - Seeya gives it 4 paws up).

What did we work on?
✔️ Engagement – reinforcing that I am more fun than the chaos beyond the fence. (I (yes me, not Seeya 😂) actually had to work the hardest on staying engaged - because I was VERY distracted by the issues going on inside. Yikes 😬)
✔️ Skill proofing – because watching unstructured, high-arousal play is a great chance to practice her skills in a charged environment. Not only did we play, play, play, we also worked on a nice relaxed down/settle, and loose leash walking. We also practiced really fun position changes!
✔️ Reinforcement history building – What did Seeya “learn today”? That when dogs are around - her human is the best thing going! We were able to add tons of reinforcement into her “bank accounts” and had the best time together. Building our relationship.
✔️ Arousal regulation – We practiced being able to think, settle, work/train and play in an environment that was novel to her! (With much activity going on near by)

And the best part? We avoided the following:

❌ Frustration rehearsals – We didn’t learn that barking/lunging gets you into the action.
❌ Unwanted social experiences – no chance of being body-slammed by an overstimulated dog with zero recall. No chance of inappropriate dog on dog interactions, bullying, resource guarding or fights.
❌ Loss of handler value – We didn’t accidentally reinforce that “other dogs = way more fun than our relationship.”
❌ Disease - enough said 😬 😷
❌ So much more… I could write an entire series of posts on just what I watched today.

Moral of the story? The dog park perimeter is an amazing place to build behavioral skills. Engagement, impulse control, and play! Seeya gives it 4 paws up!

Disclaimer - Before anyone comes for me - yes I’m sure there are great dog parks, and lovely dogs, and great experiences that happen. For me personally, it’s just not worth the risk.

23/12/2024

✨🎄❄️ Just a quick note to let you know that we will be closed for training from December 24th January 3rd but will reply to messages, emails and alternative communication during that time. May you find rest, peace and joy during this Holiday Season. ❄️✨🎄

03/12/2024

🎄 Does your dog have an advent calendar?

For the fourth year in a row, I’ve been treating my dogs to doggie advent calendars—and they absolutely love it! Each night in December, we pull out their cookie calendars, and it’s such a fun little tradition.

If you’ve never tried one, now is the perfect time. Most local pet stores have advent calendars on clearance by now!

Pro Tip: Even if you don’t use them as advent calendars, the cookies are great for special treats all year round. Last year, I grabbed a few of the iced variety calendars on clearance and saved them for extra-special rewards throughout the year.

Some of our favorites include:
🐾 Merry & Bright
🐾 Great Jack’s
🐾 Bocce’s Bakery
🐾 Bosco & Roxy’s

There are even limited-ingredient options for pups with sensitivities. My dogs are particularly obsessed with the iced cookies 🍪.

Earlier this week I scored 3 Merry & Bright Calendars for 50% off ($12.50 a calendar) and it was buy 2 get 1 free! Making them $8.33 a calendar!

What are your favorite brands or advent traditions for your pets? Drop your recommendations below! 👇

01/11/2024

🖤 Relationship First, Relationship Second, Relationship Third 🖤

This is a conversation I have daily—heck often multiple times a day—with clients. Your relationship with your dog is THE MOST important part of training. This relationship, or lack thereof, will be the foundation of your entire training program. Your results with your dog - will be dependent on the work you are willing to put into, not just training, but relationship. Engagement, play, connection, joy, and other relationship-building games etc. should be at the center of your training.

Yes, dog training is nuanced. Yes, there are different styles, methods, theories and concepts. Yes, accountability is a necessary part of the process. And no, it’s not black and white or a quick fix. But when you prioritize building a strong relationship with your dog and examine your beliefs about what that relationship should look like, everything else begins to fall into place.

Many clients start with, “I just want my dog to listen to me because I said so (and the first time).” And hey, don’t we all? But if you’re not willing or able to focus on building a relationship, learning to play and train together, and fostering engagement, I have news for you: you might get that “first-time response,” but it will come at a cost and the cost will be that your relationship is more of a dictatorship than partnership.

If you’re going to pick just one “thing” to “train” today - choose to put that 5 minutes into your relationship with your dog. Everything else will be easier because of it.

Thank you to Things Dog Handlers Say for this reminder this morning 🖤

30/10/2024

🎃 Happy Halloween: Keeping Your Dog Calm on Halloween 🎃

Halloween can be very unsettling and even scary for dogs. It’s a conversation I have regularly with clients surrounding holidays - how to help your dog feel safe and comfortable on holidays such as Halloween 👻

Here are some of my best practices:

1. 👻 Set Up a Safe Space: Designate a quiet room away from the main activity for your dog to relax. If they’re crate-trained, their crate can be a great tool. Cover it with a blanket to create a cozy den-like atmosphere. I put on our pink or brown noise machines and leave them with a special chewy or stuffed toppl. I don’t want my dogs racing to and from the door each time I hear the doorbell ring for many reasons - so a safe space works perfect for us!

2. 🎃 Keep Them Busy with Long-Lasting Chews: Having a Toppl stuffed and frozen with their favourite recipes, a frozen stuffed Kong, or a bully stick can keep your dog entertained and distracted. I also try to make sure I’ve done a great job of meeting their physical needs that day with a good hike, sniffy walk or adventure. This will help them settle more easily.

3. 👻 Try to Reduce Startling Sounds: Doorbells, fireworks, and kids shouting can cause stress. If doorbell sounds get your dog excited or anxious, consider waiting outside to greet trick-or-treaters, or put a sign up letting them know not to ring the bell with a self serve bowl. I try to revisit my 100 doorbell game the weeks leading up to Halloween as well.

4. 🎃 Fireworks Safety: Fireworks can be alarming and unpredictable. Even though it is illegal to set fireworks off in the city of Kelowna - I know I can expect several episodes of fireworks tomorrow night. My dogs don’t mind fireworks but If your dog has had past reactions, consider being sure to walk them earlier in the day to avoid the nighttime fireworks. If going outside - make sure your dogs are in collars with identification attached. We see so many “missing dog” posts every day after fireworks.

5. 👻 Practice some of your training skills. If your dog is at the point in training - where you are ready to practice your door manners, station/place work, or other training goals this might be a good night to get several successful training reps in. But remember we want to practice success and good clean reps! So make sure to set your dog up for a successful training session. (I highly recommend a leash) Please remember that kids in costumes might be very stressful to some dogs and many kids might not like/be scared of dogs.

5. 🎃 Consider Calming Support: Talk to your vet ahead of time about options for extra support, especially if your dog is particularly anxious with loud noises. Many vets offer calming supplements, anxiety wraps, or medications for occasional use that can help keep your dog relaxed throughout Halloween and other stressful days of the year.

**Disclaimer - Most of these suggestions are for pets that don’t struggle with high level anxiety, sound sensitivity or generalized anxiety disorders. Please consult with your veterinarian if your dog requires extra support on days such as Halloween or day to day throughout the year. **

Happy Halloween from Meeko, Rylee & Seeya
🧡 Remember to give your dog a treat from me in exchange for a fun trick 👻 🍬

Sarah Knight Dog Training

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