Cold Nose Companions Dog Training

05/30/2026

Manners Out And About and CGC prep class still have room!
Let's dust of those outside manners before summer arrives fully and maybe we can collect a title with bragging rights while we are at it?

Out and About classes start tomorrow (Saturday, 5/30/26) at 8am or Monday, 6/1/26 at 7pm. 4 weeks/$130.
You can join here:
https://portal.busypaws.app/customers/cold-nose-companions?series_id=2986

CGC prep class also starts tomorrow at 3pm. 4 wks, $130.
You can join here:
https://portal.busypaws.app/customers/cold-nose-companions?series_id=2397

05/23/2026

Summer is coming! (Maybe?)
And some of our special classes are coming along with it. We don't offer these classes often, so be sure to grab your spot this summer!

Our Manners Out and About (outdoor) classes are scheduled to start
Saturday, 5/30/26 and Monday, 6/1/26

Our next AKC Canine Good Citizen class is scheduled to start
Saturday, 5/30/26

Our next Trick for Treats class is scheduled to start
5/30/26

Our next Mind Your Manners 3 (advanced) class is scheduled to start
Tuesday, 6/2/26

Our Therapy Dog Prep class is scheduled to start
Sunday, 6/14/26

Our next Masterminds! class is scheduled to start
Monday, 7/6/26

Sign up on our website!

05/18/2026

Which one is perfect for you?
As you can imagine, we get emergency calls from struggling families all the time. Every now and then the problem comes from a mismatch or unrealistic expectations. People fall in love with a dog’s looks or a cute puppy face only to find out that love sometimes isn’t enough. So – here some tips to select a good fit.

For many generations we have honed dogs in general and certain breeds specifically to become dependent on us while also becoming extremely good at doing certain jobs. The required behaviors are now more or less hardwired into their brains. Raising them a certain way or training will try to push against that but won't change those tendencies completely. Odds are guard-dogs will bark easily, retrievers will die to put things in their mouth, and terriers will dig and play hard. There are breeds designed to work with the military and law enforcement who often make very poor family dogs even if they look really cool on social media. There are always exceptions to the rule – and we have met many - but disregarding a breed’s background means you are gambling against the odds.

Dogs go through stages of life just as we do. Puppies are cute but when they are not sleeping, they tear up your house and skin. They bite and bite and bite and have accidents and then bite some more. Puppies are hard, teenagers are harder. Typically, around 6-7 months puberty hits. Teenage dogs lack impulse control, but they are packing on muscle. New personality traits can emerge suddenly. Dogs’ personalities don’t settle until they are over 2 years old and until then anything goes!

Pick your dog like you pick a car. You may love flashy muscle cars or cute convertibles but for an active family the sturdy SUV will be the better choice. If a caffeinated toddler who randomly stabs you with scissors or a changeable teenager without any impulse control is not someone you would like to hang out with every day, look for a mature dog. The argument that you should get a puppy because you “never know” with an older dog simply doesn’t hold up. In our experience, the older the dog, the easier they are.

Questions? We have tons of experience working with all kinds of dogs. And we are just an email away...

05/16/2026

We will be there talking about kids and dogs and how to keep everybody safe. Hope to see you!

05/06/2026

We are so proud to support such a wonderful organization!

🫶 A big barkin’ THANK YOU to our friends at Cold Nose Companions Dog Training for their Pace Sponsorship of the upcoming CITY DOGS Run Cleveland 5K!
🐾 Cold Nose Companions has helped countless adopted City Dogs Cleveland become their best selves and they go even further by opening space in their classes for adoptable dogs. Volunteers who attend alongside them gain hands-on training experience while helping these dogs build the skills they need to thrive in a forever home.
❤️ Their generosity directly supports the homeless dogs at Cleveland Animal Care & Control, helping provide essential medical care, enrichment, and love while they wait for adoption.
🏃‍♀️ To learn more about sponsorship opportunities or to register for the 2026 CITY DOGS Run Cleveland 5K, visit: tinyurl.com/citydogsruncle

05/06/2026

Let's hear it for our newest Chill! graduates!
They worked hard and diligently clicked away:

Team Bo
Team Cercei (not pictured)
Team Charlie
Team Blu - for extra credit (not pictured)
Team Charlie

Great jobs, everybody!

04/19/2026

If you ever loved a pet deeply and truly but had to make the heartbreaking decision to let them go due to their unsafe behavior and to protect others, this course is for you.
It starts today but you can still sign up. It's online and it's free.

🔼 Losing Lulu Summit 2026 🔼
📧 Welcome to the first day ~ update 19th April 2026
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🤗 Welcome to the Losing Lulu Summit 2026

45 years ago, a young girl sat alone, grieving the dog she was in the process of losing. She sat in her room and cried, while her special friend became a Lulu. The next day, she went to school. And cried. She travelled to her grandparents for March break…and she cried. Alone, even when she was in a group. Grieving my Lulu changed who I was and who I became. This summit is a the culmination of 45 years of regret that I could not resolve when I lost my first Lulu. MY first Lulu was Thurber. She helped me become who I am, and she is who I think of when I wonder why this all matters so much.

For most of us who are attending the Losing Lulu Summit 2026 we have a Lulu who is the reason we are here. Who is the reason we care. Who helped us to become the people we are. I am grateful for the Lulus who have touched me, even though I regret their loss. Today, I want everyone to know that they are not alone in their grief. We have community. It does not change the fact that we have lost and that we hurt, but we don’t have to be alone. Losing Lulu is a community that knows how hard this is and who will support us.

I hope that all of you will remember the best parts of your Lulus, as we join together to learn about behavioural euthanasia. We have 14 days together at the summit and I hope everyone will find something that helps them. We come here because of our animal friends and family, both those who have walked ahead, and those who are still with us. Grief is complicated and having a community is important.

Thank you for being a part of this community.

If you have not yet signed up, please do. If you have signed up already, the link will take you to the front page of your registration. https://thedogtrainerscrucible.thinkific.com/courses/losing-lulu-summit-2026
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⏸️ "With the new day comes new strength and new thoughts."
-Eleanor Roosevelt

04/18/2026

Wohoo! More congratulations are in order.
Please help us cheer for these superstars who leveled up their trick-game!

Team Rosemary,
Team Cole,
and Team Chewy achieved their Novice Trick Dog titles.

Team Otis achieved their Novice and Intermediate Trick Dog titles.

And Team Kevin achieved the Advanced Trick Dog title.

Congrats, teams!

04/14/2026

Congratulations to our newest reactivity warriors!
Join us in cheering for

Team Milo
Team Mango (adoptable through the Ashtabula County Animal Protective League)
Team Beau (not pictured but joined again for extra credit!)
Team Hagen
Team Charly (not pictured)
Team Stella

Way to go, everybody! Keep at it!