Happy Hikes Dog Training

06/11/2026

Meet Jesse! 🐾

This handsome pup is working on leash skills, impulse control, and place training. We’re also focusing on building confidence. 💛

He has a great owner who’s really willing to put in the work.

06/08/2026

✨ Update — FOUR dogs have expressed interest! This opportunity is now closed; thank you so much!! ✨

🐾 Looking for 1 Local Dog for an Adventure Day Training Promo Video! 🎥

Last time I put this out it it got lots of interest, so, I thought...why not show off a dog's progress in Adventure Day Training too?! 😄

I'm looking for one dog from the Canastota, Oneida, or Sylvan Beach area to feature in a promotional Adventure Day Training session.

Adventure Day Training is a service where I take your dog out for a structured training adventure, typically to a local park or trail (though I also offer an Adirondack version of this service!), and work on real-life skills.

Some examples of goals we might work on include:
• Leash pulling
• Impulse control
• Recall
• Responding to cues around distractions
• Confidence in new environments
• General manners and engagement

✨ What's included:
• Pickup and drop-off from your home (or another agreed-upon location)
• Safe transport using a crash-tested car harness
• A 2-hour (for puppies/dogs working on foundations) or 4-hour (for dogs working on more advanced skills) outing focused on training, exercise, and enrichment
• Tailored to 2–3 of your dog's goals
• Practice videos and notes to help you and your dog maintain progress at home
• Your dog featured in my marketing content

📹 Participation includes consent for your dog to be photographed, filmed, and shared in promotional materials.

🎁 This session is completely free in exchange for your dog's participation in marketing content.

If you enjoy the experience and would like to continue training afterward, you'll receive 15% off any full training program — but there's absolutely no obligation.

If you're interested, please feel free to message me with:
• Your dog's name, age, and breed/mix
• What you'd like help with
• Your general availability

I'll reach out to the person whose dog is the best fit for this project.

Thanks so much! I'm excited to spend a day training, adventuring, and showing off one more local dog's progress! 🐶✨

06/06/2026

06/05/2026

🐾 Let’s talk paw safety on pavement!☀️

As the weather warms up, we’re enjoying the outdoors more…but hot pavement can pose some risks for your pup. Here are some tips to help keep them safe!

🐾 If the ground is too hot for your hand, it’s too hot for your dog’s paws.

Sidewalks, driveways, and asphalt can heat up FAST in warm weather — and paw pads can burn in minutes and sometimes go unnoticed at first.

Quick checks you can do before walks:
👉 Place your hand on the pavement briefly
👉 If it’s uncomfortable for you, it’s unsafe for them
👉 Try walking in the early morning or later evening when it’s cooler

Simple ways to protect your dog:
🌿 Stick to grass or shaded routes
👟 Use dog booties if needed
💧 Keep walks shorter on hot days
🧠 Train for “potty breaks only” during peak heat, and do indoor enrichment or outdoor water play on cool surfaces only

🐕 If your dog is scheduled for a walk with me during the summer, let’s talk about how we can keep the fun going even if the sidewalk is a no-go — I can transport to a local park where we can walk on grass, or we can do indoor enrichment or outdoor water play in the yard if your dog is into it!

Stay cool, stay safe, and keep those pads protected! 💛🐶🐾

06/05/2026

Bella couldn’t go for a walk without total chaos…jumping, biting, full zoomies on the leash.
But tonight started to look very different 👀🐾

06/04/2026

SUMMER SHIFT! ☀️
We’re moving training hours to 12–8 so we can make the most of those cooler evenings and give more opportunities for after-work sessions (you’re not wrong — evenings just hit different for dog training 😄🐶).

Looking forward to more sunset sessions! 🌅

06/04/2026

🐶 Why I teach sniff walking instead of only strict heelwork:

Heel has its place, but most dogs live their lives in “real world walking,” not precision heeling. Sniff walking lets them decompress, use their brain, and engage with their environment — while still practicing loose leash skills and staying connected to the handler.

In my leash walking system, for sniff walking, I actually allow dogs to exist anywhere within the leash radius — front, back, behind, either side — as long as the leash stays loose. They get to explore, enjoy, and collect information from their environment, which is incredibly valuable enrichment.

Alongside that, I also teach a relaxed heel for structured walking, and for advanced dogs, even an off-leash heel. My goal isn’t one “correct” way to walk — it’s flexibility, enrichment, and a system that allows both dogs and humans to enjoy walking together. And ideally, my fully trained dogs can switch between “walk modes” depending on what the situation calls for. 🐶🌿

06/04/2026

Just having some fun practicing heelwork with friends’ dogs today. 🐾
Not a finished routine! Working on communication, engagement, and handling skills. 💛

06/03/2026

⛈️⚡️ UPDATE: Thunderstorms are forecasted throughout the evening on Thursday. For everyone’s safety, this event will be rescheduled — I will share details soon! ⛈️⚡️

🐶✨ FIRST PARK DROP-IN IS NEXT WEEK! ⬇️

🐾🌳 Join me at Verona Beach State Park on Thursday, June 11 from 6–8 PM for 10–15 minute mini training sessions. Perfect for loose-leash walking, focus around distractions, polite greetings, or building confidence!

What to bring:
🐾 A dog 😉
🧀 High-value treats your dog LOVES (tiny pieces of cheese, boiled chicken, freeze-dried meat, etc.)
🎾 1-2 of your dog’s favorite toys

Where and when:
📍 Verona Beach State Park
📅 Thursday, June 11
⏰ 6–8 PM…there’s no park admission fee after 6 PM!
💵 $1 per minute — pay after your session (cash, card, or QR code available)

📩 Message me here or text me at (315) 720-3953 to reserve your spot! I’ll let you know your approximate drop-in time, and send you a text the day of when it’s your turn.

Who’s ready to train in the sunshine?! ☀️🐕🐾

06/03/2026

🐶 Quick question for local dog owners!

If I started doing low-cost drop-in training meetups at local parks this summer, where you and your dog could stop by and work one-on-one with me for ~10–15 minutes on a specific skill you want help with…would you be interested?

🐾 Examples:
• leash walking without pulling
• recall around distractions
• helping your dog learn to listen outside the house

🐾 Pricing would be $1 per minute

Would something like this be helpful for you and your dog? And if yes, would you prefer daytime or evening?

Just curious what people could use before I plan anything — I would love your honest feedback! Thank you! 🙂☀️