Rosie’s Tail Training

12/07/2025

A few months ago, this team couldn’t even imagine taking their dog into a park, let alone a crowded one.

Fast forward to yesterday…

🎉 They passed their Canine Good Citizen test!!

A goal they once thought was completely out of reach.

When we started working together, public outings were overwhelming — too many triggers, too much pressure, not enough regulation. So we focused on:

• building nervous system stability
• improving leash communication
• controlled exposure in real life
• creating predictable routines
• teaching both dog and handler what “just-right challenge” actually looks like

And the results?

A dog who can think in public… instead of react.

A handler who finally gets to enjoy walks instead of bracing for chaos.

And a team that now has the foundation to do all the things they dreamed of.

If you’re looking for this kind of change — calm walks, real-world regulation, and confidence in public — my All-Inclusive Behavioral Program has 3 spots open right now.

Comment INFO or message me to learn more.

12/05/2025

Let’s talk about the most underrated tool for reactive dogs:

SPACE.

Imagine someone shoved a spider in your face.
Would you politely “sit” and “heel”?

Or would your survival brain take over?

Your dog’s the same.

Reactivity happens when the nervous system hits red zone- and distance is what pulls them back into green zone, where learning can actually happen.

Here’s the simple rule:
👉 If your dog can’t breathe, look, or think → you’re too close.
👉 If they can check in and take a treat → you found the right distance.

That’s the distance we train at during my intensive program for dogs who can’t handle public spaces or close-range triggers.

If you need help finding your dog’s distance, message me.

12/01/2025

Something I think more dog owners deserve to hear:

Not all dog trainers are behavior specialists.
And when you’re dealing with reactivity, aggression, or serious anxiety… that difference matters a lot.

Basic obedience (sit, down, stay, loose leash walking, recall, behaving in public) is one skillset. Sports training is another- and service dog training yet another. These skillsets are all important, worthy of respect, and extremely valuable.

That said, behavioral rehab- working with dogs who lunge, bark, bite, panic, or can’t regulate their emotions- is a completely different world.
Reactive and aggressive dogs aren’t struggling because they don’t know their obedience skills. It’s because they’re too dysregulated in the moment to use those skills, and the world feels overwhelming.

Solving that requires:
- An understanding of behavior science
- Reading micro-signals before escalation
- Nervous system regulation work
- Bite-risk management
- Safe exposure and thresholding
- A trainer who can make the owner feel safe
-Real-world handler coaching
-A program structured around behavior change, not commands

A trainer who’s amazing at teaching manners (which is still SUPER IMPORTANT) might not be the right person to safely work with an adult dog who’s in a fight-or-flight spiral.
And that’s okay — everyone has their specialty.

But if your dog is showing reactivity or aggression, it’s important to find someone who works with those dogs every single day.

The right specialist can mean the difference between: “We’ve tried everything and nothing works,” and, “We finally have a dog we can live with and trust.”

If anyone in this group is feeling overwhelmed by their dog’s behavior — or unsure where to start — feel free to reach out. This is exactly the work I do.

I currently have 4 spots open in my All-Inclusive Behavioral Program for reactive + aggressive dogs.

If you want more info, just comment INFO or send me a message. You don’t have to guess your way through this.

Your dog can change — you just need the right kind of help.

11/26/2025

One of the most common things I hear from dog owners is:

“He knows what to do… he’s just being stubborn.”

But here’s the thing:

Reactivity isn’t a training issue — it’s a nervous system issue.

When a dog is reacting (barking, lunging, growling), they’re not making a conscious decision to ignore you.

They’re experiencing a stress response:
🔸 Heart rate spikes
🔸 Pupils dilate
🔸 Muscles tense
🔸 Thinking brain goes “offline”
🔸 Survival brain takes over

This is the exact same thing that happens to humans during a panic response.

You can’t “reason” your way through panic — and neither can your dog.

So when you ask a reactive dog to “sit,” “focus,” or “ignore it”…

You’re actually asking them to do something their physiology won’t allow in that moment.

It’s not disobedience. It’s overwhelm.

And once you understand that, the entire way you work with your dog changes.

What actually helps?

✔️ Teach the dog how to regulate their nervous system
✔️ Build predictable structure so they feel safe
✔️ Improve your handling skills so the dog doesn’t have to
✔️ Create distance + controlled exposure
✔️ Reduce their overall stress load at home
✔️ Build patterns and skills they can actually access under pressure

This is the foundation of all my reactivity + aggression work.

Because when we help the nervous system stabilize, behavior follows.

If you’re struggling with a reactive dog and you feel stuck, frustrated, or like nothing is improving — that’s exactly the kind of dog I work with every day.

Current openings:
• 2 spots for Day Training
• 2 spots for the All-Inclusive Behavioral Program
• 6 spots for Weekly Training

If you want support for your dog, comment HELP or send me a DM.

You don’t have to guess your way through this — and your dog doesn’t have to keep living in survival mode.

11/25/2025

Got a “good dog” who just needs official paperwork to prove it? Come to Baker Park, Saturday the 6th, between 4 and 5PM!

I’ll be hosting Canine Good Citizen (CGC) tests—quick, 20-minute appointments to see if your pup has the manners they claim to have at home.

What’s the CGC?

Basically: “Can your dog act like a respectable member of society for 10 minutes in public?”
The test checks polite leash walking, greeting people without body-slamming them, staying calm around distractions, coming when called, and letting a friendly stranger handle them without filing a complaint.
Why bother?

It’s a great benchmark of training, helpful for rentals/insurance, and a bragging right your dog can’t eat. Many therapy dog programs use it as a first step, too.

Important: This is not a training session—just the official test. You’ll need to sign up for a specific time slot.
📅 Saturday, Dec 6th, 4-5PM
📍 Baker Park
⏰ Reserved time slots only
🌦️ Weather permitting
Message me to grab your spot before they fill up!

11/05/2025

Big big big thank you to everyone who left a review on this post asking for local trainer recs for a nervous puppy learning the ropes.

This sort of support makes it possible for a small business like me to keep things going, and it means I can reach the people who really need it.

Thank you ❤️

10/27/2025

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT!

I’m opening one- just one- day training spot this month for a dog who struggles with reactivity.

If walks feel stressful, or your dog barks and lunges at people or other dogs, this might be exactly what you need.

With day training, I handle the hard part for you.

For 6 weeks, I’ll personally train your dog 3 times a week, helping them stay calm, focused, and confident in real-world settings — not just in your living room. Each session is about an hour.

You’ll get the best of both worlds:
🐾 Professional handling from a certified dog behavior consultant who specializes in reactivity
🌎 Real-life training exposure so your dog learns how to cope in everyday environments
📘 Built-in follow-up and coaching — three transfer sessions (start, middle, and end) to make sure progress sticks
⏰ Convenience — you don’t need to be home for me to train your dog
📍 Available only in Frederick County

🗓️ I’m opening one single spot this round

If your dog’s reactivity has been making walks or guests stressful, this is the most effective (and convenient) way to start turning things around.

Give me a call, comment, or message!

10/27/2025

Back from a few very very busy weeks! We’ll be posting more here soon

10/10/2025

Lewis’s first time on the Appalachian Trail.

This is why training matters- so you can create new memories together.

10/03/2025

Consistency beats perfection. If 5 minutes is doable, do that with your dog. Any training is better than none.

09/30/2025

You know your dog needs training…but between work, taking care of yourself and your family, and trying to relax- you don’t have the consistent time you need to make a change in their behavior.

Introducing day training!

This new offering is a perfect fit for those who love their dog but are too busy to train.

For 6 weeks, I’ll work with your dog 3 times a week, in 45-60 minute sessions. You don’t need to be present as long as I can get to the dog. Each week, there will be a 30 minute virtual review session, and at the beginning, end, and 3 week point, there will be an in-person, hands-on transfer session.

With this type of consistency, better behavior is inevitable. So what are you waiting for? Give me a call, comment, or message, and we’ll see if this program is the right fit for you.

09/28/2025