Abbey the Dog Trainer

Abbey the Dog Trainer Certified Dog Trainer @ Off Leash K9 Training Detroit. Awarded Dog Trainer of the Year - 2022✨

Two doods enjoying a field trip out🥰
03/26/2025

Two doods enjoying a field trip out🥰

Last Thursday, we said goodbye to our Penelope 💔. Losing a dog is always difficult, but it feels like a kick to the gut ...
03/26/2025

Last Thursday, we said goodbye to our Penelope 💔. Losing a dog is always difficult, but it feels like a kick to the gut when they are so young. Penelope lived for just three years. Although her life was brief, we filled it with so much love and happiness.

She came to us as a rescue, having faced a tough start, but every day she radiated sweetness and joy, as if she was grateful for the second chance we gave her. Even in her final moments, despite her severe anemia and heart disease, she continued to play with her toys, surprising her vets with her spirit.

We did everything we could for her, but ultimately, her body could not accept the treatments. It was so hard to let her go, but we had to allow her to cross the rainbow bridge, where there is no more suffering or pain. I hope she’s up there, happily doing her little hippity hops as she always did 💕

Thank you to everyone for your love and support during these past few days. Evan, Kelso, and I are keeping busy, and while it’s tough not having her around, we find solace in knowing we gave her the best life possible. As they say in the rescue world, we didn’t save them; they saved us ❤️

“No paparazzi please ma’am”
03/25/2025

“No paparazzi please ma’am”

Just two girls yapping during lunch 😜
03/23/2025

Just two girls yapping during lunch 😜

03/22/2025

So many of you struggling with reactivity issues need to do two things:

1/ Digest and process this simple formula, memorize it, and do not attempt to make it more complicated than it is.

2/ Stop allowing your reactive dog to look at other dogs.

Owners, once you truly *get* number one, and you see the clear sequence that takes you from relaxed/neutral dog to exploding dog, you are now empowered to solve the problem.

Of course the training universe will attempt to make reactivity into something profoundly complex — which will cause you to hesitate and second guess… which will cause you to fail. It’s not complex — not when it comes to how the reactivity escalation sequence works. Don’t let the multitude of online experts mislead you. Keep it simple, and you’ll succeed.

As for number two, this is also simple. Truly reactive dogs are unable to look at other dogs without moving — within milliseconds — onto the “lock”, and once locked on the “load” and “launch” come wildly fast and are often impossible to stop.

But because owners think: “Maybe he/she won’t do it this time.”, or “I don’t want to create a negative association.”, or “I want my dog to enjoy the sight of other dogs and make friends.”, or prior to this post you simply didn’t fully understand that looking was the gateway to the explosion… you allow the look.

Instead of doing what all the other owners who are struggling with reactivity are doing, do something different. Understand the reactivity escalation sequence, and knowing how it works, simply correct your reactive dog for attempting to get the sequence rolling by looking at prospective targets.

Yes, initially, we teach seriously reactive dogs not to look at other dogs — because they don’t know how to do so in a healthy fashion. And no, it doesn’t create a negative association — it begins to disarm the already existing negative association and gives you the chance to help your dog see other dogs from an emotionally neutral, and thus healthy standpoint. Over time, as your dog becomes more and more neutral (naturally counter-conditioning themselves) around dogs, you can slowly, incrementally, organically start to explore your dog’s limits and abilities. Perhaps, in a few months, your dog will be able to look at other dogs without escalation. Perhaps it will take more time. And perhaps you’ve got a very serious customer (a 1%er) who even after great amounts of time and effort still can’t look at dogs without racing through the R.E.S. Happily, these dogs are extremely rare — and thus why they’re called 1%ers. 🙂

PS, please for the love of all that is holy in actually successful dog training: don’t use food to try to redirect your reactive dog. Correct the looking behavior firmly and give your dog clear guidance/information about what is and isn’t desired/allowed. Because, if your dog is truly reactive, they won’t care what high-value food item you’re waiving in front of them — they will just continue to stare, and now you’re screwed.

PPS, sorry to say, if your reactive dog will take food, and disengage from the trigger/target, then you don’t have a reactive dog. True reactivity will ignore food every time, or will take it and go right back to the stare — and if they will take it, congratulations, now you’re training your dog to be reactive.

Walks with dad 💕
03/22/2025

Walks with dad 💕

03/22/2025

You don’t have to *actually* train your dog to engage in problematic behavior, you only have to allow it — from there nature will do the rest.

It typically starts out as a small, “no big deal”, testing of the waters. And because the behavior is so small and seemingly benign, many let it go. But as the waters repeatedly permit the tiny, seemingly benign behavior to be repeated over and over, something strange occurs…

The once small, innocuous, “no big deal” behavior has now become anything but. It now occurs far more frequently, and it’s far stronger and firmer in its presentation.

This is the place where many owners reach out for help from professionals. And usually they will relay a story of the issues coming virtually out of nowhere. But that’s never the case. Problematic behavior always starts small (that’s the “out of nowhere part”), and always grows into something more if allowed.

So here’s one of the most important tips I can share with you. What you allow is what you train. And the reason you allow it is almost always because it doesn’t appear to be that serious initially. But then at some point it becomes something you’re no longer able to ignore. So instead of doing what so many do, and falling into the trap that so many fall into, work to see the small moments of unwanted behavior as your “go-signal” for addressing the issue. These are your chances to head problem behaviors off at the pass, and also to ensure your relationship dynamics never end up in the dysfunctional space that so many owners end up in.

And maybe just maybe, you’ll never need a professional to help — because you never allowed the small stuff to become the big stuff. :)

The happiest little dude!! Meet WAGS🐾🐾
03/19/2025

The happiest little dude!! Meet WAGS🐾🐾

Three years ago today we brought home our first child🥲 happy “gotcha” day Penelope!💕
03/19/2025

Three years ago today we brought home our first child🥲 happy “gotcha” day Penelope!💕

Kelso’s main character energy is on the rise now that grandma and grandpa have cleared the trees, leaving the perfect st...
03/19/2025

Kelso’s main character energy is on the rise now that grandma and grandpa have cleared the trees, leaving the perfect stage for our little show-off pup😅✨

🌟 Meet Sweet Willow, one of the best shepherds I’ve ever had the pleasure of working with! Her owner, a wonderful senior...
03/19/2025

🌟 Meet Sweet Willow, one of the best shepherds I’ve ever had the pleasure of working with! Her owner, a wonderful senior who uses a cane and an electric scooter, has truly amazed me with their incredible bond and Willow’s obedience.

When I first met them, I had my doubts—seeing a retired senior with such a high-energy dog raised some red flags. I thought, “How is this going to work?” But this dynamic duo has completely changed my perspective!

Over the past seven lessons, we’ve made monumental progress. The e-collar has been a game changer, allowing her owner to communicate effectively with Willow without relying too much on the leash. Now, they confidently take trips to Home Depot and stroll through the neighborhood, passing other dogs, kids, and cars—all while Willow remains focused on her commands and her owner.

This transformation has become one of my favorites! It’s humbling to realize that my initial judgments were misplaced, and witnessing this family become such skilled handlers has been incredibly rewarding.

It’s amazing to change lives and even more rewarding when clients shift your perspective! 💖

Kayce you are stealing my heart little man🥹
03/17/2025

Kayce you are stealing my heart little man🥹

Spring has sprung🌹💐 bring on the sun!
03/15/2025

Spring has sprung🌹💐 bring on the sun!

Say hello to Gunner! 💕 This playful 6-month-old Labradoodle enjoys exploring 6 acres of land and has little interest in ...
03/13/2025

Say hello to Gunner! 💕

This playful 6-month-old Labradoodle enjoys exploring 6 acres of land and has little interest in coming back when called. We’re excited to focus on recall and basic obedience training together! 🐾✨

Our Penelope (and Kelso, don’t worry🤪) got a well deserved pup cup last night 💕 so far, Penelope seems to be stable from...
03/10/2025

Our Penelope (and Kelso, don’t worry🤪) got a well deserved pup cup last night 💕 so far, Penelope seems to be stable from her blood transfusion last month. Her first appointment with her specialist is tomorrow, hoping for many questions answered and praying for good news.

I’ll update as we learn more! In the meantime, send prayers & good thoughts Penelope’s way🥰

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Videos

Moments like these remind me why I love what I do! Cash arrived to me last week as a high-energy German Shepherd puppy who had no idea what neutrality meant—just constant whining, like he was serenading us all day! I’m thrilled to share that we’ve reached a turning point in our training. Today, he was not only quiet but genuinely happy! With his tail wagging, he made fantastic choices, like lying down to find calmness and embrace neutrality. He’s a million times more confident & genuinely LOVES working! I can’t wait to share this brand new dog with his owners next week💘

Smokey is thrilled for the holiday season! Do you prefer to celebrate Christmas before or after Thanksgiving?❄️🎄

Reflecting on an incredible year of 39 board and trains! 🐾 Feeling an overwhelming sense of gratitude for every owner who placed their trust in me to guide their pups towards becoming the best versions of themselves. This job holds a special place in my heart, and I wouldn't trade it for anything. Excited for the endless possibilities that 2024 will bring! 🌟

📸✨ Such an incredible privilege to be a part of this wonderful journey! 💖 Introducing Zeus, the newest addition to a loving Rhodesian Ridgeback family! 🐾🐶 I had the honor of training Zeus’s intelligent and beloved parents, Thor and Amber, over a year ago, and now it’s time to pass on my knowledge and expertise to their amazing son. 🎓💪 I am beyond excited to spend the next two weeks with Zeus, showering him with love, guidance, and plenty of fun-filled moments. 🌟 Stay tuned for updates on this smart and charming boy’s progress! #RhodesianRidgeback #TrainingAdventures

Never just a dog🐶

“I may be 99% Angel, but that 1% gets me in trouble” … and that’s why this gentleman is here for training! Apollo the 100 pound German Shepherd loves to pull on the leash, and he’s quite reactive towards people and dogs in public. Deep down, he’s a sweetie! I’m having a blast training with him. Stay tuned to see his progress!🐶💖

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