The Right Steps

The Right Steps HISTORY PAST TO PRESENT....

I grew up my 1st 18 years in the country and am looking forward to getting back to it! Positive Reinforcement & Force Free Trainer.

I have been a 25+Year in Northern, California - Local Small Business Owner and Professional Dog Trainer specializing in Puppies. Offering Small Personalized Group Training Classes & Private Training. Started off originally as Cindy C. Smith Horse & Dog Training offering Private Training. Then in 2003/2004 became Owner of The Right Steps (with my Husband) in Orangevale California (also offered In H

ome Pet Sitting and Dog Walking for a short time in addition to Training), then moved to Fair Oaks, California in June 2010

I became a NACSW Certified CNWI - National Association of Canine Scent Work Certified Canine Nose Work Instructor since February 2012 (the first one so far north of Davis/Dixon, California area at the time). Offering Group Classes, Private Training, and Work Shops.

2003/4 to 2010 had a 1000 square foot Inside Training Facility, then in June 2010 moved to a 1200 square foot Inside Training Facility. I have given free Seminars on Dog Training and Safe Handling to numerous Veterinarian Offices over the years, as well as been a Guest Lecturer at Cosumnes River College for Veterinarian Technicians in Elk Grove California on Dog Training and Behavior from 2012-tnru-2019 (soon after California shutdown due to COVID-19 Rules/Restrictions). I am very passionate about doing what I love and helping People, Families, Pet Professionals, and their Animals and Best Friends understand a common language and enjoy the time they have together to the maximum potential. We are excited to our new move and adventure to our new forever home in Montana, with the goal of resetting up the Business I love, my Husband happily retiring, and us (Husband, Dogs, and I) re-finding ourselves and spending quality time together and enjoying the great outdoors! After a near fatal auto accident September 2021, not of my own making/fault, 3 surgeries so far to date and their rehabs, sporting a new hip and knee - finally on no cane and walker - I am looking forward to having an active personal and professional life back! Our Passions? Me? ANIMALS! I love Training and Competing in Dog Sports - Agility and K9 Nose Work! I have also done Rally in the past. Bicycle Riding and going for walks with my Dogs. 18 + years ago I was crazy into Horses - Showing (Western Pleasure, Trail, Reining, and a secret love for cutting) and Trail Riding. I also have a passion for Photography, Reading Paper Books, and Drawing/Art, Camping. Peace and quite - an Introvert by nature, I appreciate the rare and true friends. Love a good nap with my Dogs! My Husband? Fishing - Fly Fishing, Biking, Cars, Tractors, Tinkering, Camping, a nice relaxing Beer and Conversation in local Brewery or Pub, Coffee Snob (I say that laughing), Music, Vintage Stereo Equipment, Photography, Reading. Very social by nature - Enjoys talking and making new friends. We both enjoy privacy, peace, and quiet and look forward to having our own piece of heaven to relax, after living in the insanity of California, a once gorgeous great State, that sadly year by year went rapidly downhill - so not the same place I grew up in, loved, and wandered the hills as a kid and teen on foot, bicycle, and horseback - sad. That said, yes, I will deeply miss our Friends, my CA Clients and their Dogs/Animals, and my Pet Professional Referral Sources of 25+ years. It has been an honor and privilege to be trusted to train, do what I love, and make a difference.

01/06/2026
01/04/2026

10/10 recommend

12/29/2025
12/29/2025

Kodiak was a rock star playing Fetch with a Soft Frisbee Full Such a good boy! 😍🤩

On the way coming & going back to the house he thought it was fun to pounce on ice water puddles and break through, and try and grab/eat deer 💩 p**p! Ugh! 🫣🙄

12/28/2025

—A Comparative Analysis of Dogs and Horses Abstract Bonding is a central feature of social life in many animal species, yet the terms bonding, attachment, and imprinting are often conflated in both…

12/28/2025

Today, my friends, I have something new for you: "Bonding and Attachment in Companion Animals: A Functional–Ethological Analysis."
—I’ve just published a paper on bonding, attachment, and imprinting in companion animals—three terms we use constantly, but rarely define with enough care. In the paper, I propose clear, ethological definitions and a coherent working model that keeps these concepts distinct and functional.
—I compare dogs and horses—a predator and a prey species with very different evolutionary histories. Why do dogs so readily form attachment relationships with humans, while horses usually do not, yet still form strong social bonds? What roles do early learning, shared activity, and manageable challenge actually play?
—This is a conceptual paper, not an experimental one, but it aims to bring clarity where there has long been conceptual fog. If you’re interested in animal behavior, evolution, training, or simply thinking clearly, I think you’ll enjoy it.
—As always, I’d love to hear your thoughts.

12/28/2025

Kodiak Fun 💞💞 Happy Boy!

Short fun exercises.

12/26/2025
From our Family to Yours - Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!🎄🎁😀🎄Morgan (13.2 years old - English Shepherd), Cooper (5.1 ...
12/26/2025

From our Family to Yours - Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!
🎄🎁😀🎄

Morgan (13.2 years old - English Shepherd), Cooper (5.1 years old - English Shepherd), & Kodiak (10.1 Weeks Old - Belgian Malinois )

Address

419 Wolfville Lane #6
Florence, MT
59833

Telephone

(916) 966-6883

Website

https://www.therightsteps.com/about_us.html, https://www.therightsteps.com/testimonials.h

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Products & Services Offered By Appointment Only: We offer Pet Supplies for Sale and Fittings, Puppy and Dog Training - Private Training and Group Classes, K9 Nose Work Classes, Cat Clicker Training for Fun, and Photography - In-Home/Off-Site, and some On-Site. - www.therightsteps.com . Authorized Fit Paws Dealer.

About Us: http://www.therightsteps.com/about_us.html