Like Magic Dog Training

08/23/2025

It’s a big day! Not only is it my birthday 🎉 but it’s also Find Your Inner Nerd Day — the perfect moment to launch Spell Slots, now available as both a physical card deck and as an app!
Spell Slots is all about bringing a little structure, creativity, and magic to your training sessions. Whether you’re a client, fellow trainer, or just a training nerd at heart, I’m so excited to share this with you. 💜
👉 Which version are you most excited to try — the deck or the app?

08/22/2025

Decatur’s first week was about shifting from hypervigilance 👀➡️ confidence 🌟. Instead of scanning the world for stressors, he’s starting to engage, breathe, and enjoy the adventure of being outside. Every step forward is a victory for both dog and human! 🐾💪

08/21/2025

Look who grew up!!! Kaia is here for a boarding stay while her folks are out of town, and omg who let this lanky teenager replace the baby who was just here in June?!? Swipe to see her baby pic 🥰

08/21/2025

Sometimes when our dogs aren’t listening, it feels like defiance. But more often than not, it’s not about “won’t”—it’s about “can’t.”
Environments have levels, just like in a video game.
👉 A quiet street or your backyard might be Level 1.
👉 A busy new neighborhood full of sights, sounds, and smells? That’s more like Level 10.
In the first clip, Bruno is “under-leveled” for the environment—his attention is scattered, his body language is strained, and focus feels impossible. But in a more familiar spot, he has the skills and comfort to walk calmly by my side and engage.
It’s not about pushing harder—it’s about meeting your dog where they are, building confidence step by step, and leveling up together. ✨

08/18/2025

✨ Your next training session? Now comes with a little magic.
The Spell Slots Training Deck is here—your pocket-sized library of training prompts, concept games, and behavior challenges designed to inspire both you and your dog.
Whether you’re looking to:
🪄 Add variety to your sessions
🪄 Keep your dog’s skills sharp
🪄 Try a new “spell” to tackle real-life situations
…these cards are your quest board for everyday training.
Pull a card, follow the prompt, and watch your dog’s skill tree grow. Perfect for trainers, dog guardians, and anyone who loves making training fun, flexible, and creative.
🌟 Available this month—are you ready to draw your first card?

08/18/2025

Karma & Soots are leveling up their magic skills with 🔍 Detect Magic — their first step into scent discrimination!
One container hides the odor, and only that spot earns the jackpot. After a few rounds, they were confidently pausing at the “magic” container, ready for their reward.
A little nosework = big brain workout for our feline adventurers. 🐾✨

08/17/2025

Some dogs need a little more structure to truly relax.
Soom Soom’s people have used treat scatters for years — and while they’re a fantastic enrichment tool, we noticed they left him tense and amped up instead of calm.

This week, we tried a different approach: a decompression track, with treats placed step-by-step along a “footprint trail.” By slowing the search down, his body language softened, his tail wagged gently, and his whole demeanor shifted.

Training is all about finding your dog’s version of calm — because one size never fits all.

08/16/2025

There and back again: a Clyde story 🥰 Clyde is here for part 2 of his summer stay and is *highly offended* that I’m making him wait and pose for a picture in order to get kibble.

08/16/2025

08/16/2025

Giving me only the very silliest of faces, I’m welcoming Decatur this week! Decatur will be with me for a month to work on his teenage brain as well as some behavioral concerns. Decatur is already working with a great team of trainers, and I’m so excited to pick up and continue with his progress!

08/15/2025

Don’t mistake stillness for emotional regulation.Wait for soft eyes, breath, a check-in…Then praise. Then release. Then trust.