Sits'N' Wiggles Dog Training

07/30/2026

Come support the dog 4H kids at their last day at the farmers market! Get some yummy homemade cookies or just add a donation to the jar!

Come on down to the Farmers Market every Thursday in July to support the local Caribou County Dog 4H program. These kids are selling cookies and natural dog treats to raise funds for training and nurturing their relationships with man's best friend.
100% of their sales go toward the program.
Not a cookie fan? There is a wishlist you can shop directly off of to send them exactly what you want.
A big thank you to Autumn Bitton for baking up the dog treats, and also Just Grass and Greys Lake Goodies for donating 100% of their cookie sales in July to the program.

07/26/2026

Let's talk about Intelligent Disobedience!

Intelligent Disobedience is a very important skill that service dogs learn to make sure their handler stays safe. Even if that means disobeying a cue or performing a different behavior than what the handler is asking for.

For example: A guide dog not crossing a street because they see a car coming. The handler doesn't know there is a car and tells the dog to go forward. But the dog ignores the cue because doing so would endanger them and their handler.

Today, Ruby was performing DPT after an alert to a high heart rate. After a little while I told her "all better" to cue that she can get up. She got up, checked me again and laid back down to keep me from standing. Little did I know, my HR was not under control and if I would have stood up at that time, I most likely would have fallen. Ruby ignored my "all better" cue because she knew my HR was still in the alert range and she was supposed to keep performing DPT.

This one skill can mean the difference in a handler staying safe or risking injury. Super proud of Ruby today for making sure I stayed safe! 🩵

07/16/2026

There are a few common mistakes I see all the time when people are teaching their dog to stay.

Bending down to your dog is common body language for "let's play" so when you bed down while trying to get your dog to stay, it's only sending mixed signals. Stand up right with clear body language.

Repeating or emphasizing your vocal cue will also send mixed signals. One single vocal cue is all you need.

Changing too many variables at once. There are many variables that come into play when teaching "stay". Distance Duration and Distractions are the 3 biggest. You only want to change one of those at once and only a little bit at a time.

A lot of people try to move too fast or change too many things at once when teaching "stay". It's not a race. Slow down and work at your dog's speed.

07/13/2026

Sits 'N' Wiggles Dog Training has officially launched our first online course! Super affordable pricing and no complicated techniques!

Go check it out!

https://makayla.newzenler.com/courses/build-focus-in-7-days

06/30/2026

Millie has mastered the distraction of horses and is doing amazing! She no longer has big reactions and is able to pass them calmly no matter what they are doing.

Dogs are really exciting for Millie. Previously, she wasn't able to see or hear a dog without jumping in the air (yes literally), pulling and whining. Today, a barking dog took her by surprise and while she did pull slightly, she did not have a big reaction and turned away easily.

I love watching her learn how to make better decisions and experience more things because of those decisions!

06/24/2026

Always check the pavement and keep your dogs safe!

🐾🔥 Dog paw pads 👉 Built to protect, not built for extreme heat 🔥🐾

Many people assume that because canine paw pads are thick and tough, they are naturally protected from hot surfaces.

⚠️Unfortunately, that’s not true.

While paw pads are specialised structures designed to provide grip, shock absorption, insulation, and protection from everyday wear and tear, they are not heatproof. In fact, extreme heat can cause painful burns in a matter of seconds.

🔬 What’s inside a paw pad?

A dog’s paw pad consists of multiple layers:

• A tough outer keratin layer that provides durability and traction.
• Epidermal tissues that form a protective barrier.
• A deeper dermal layer containing blood vessels and thousands of nerve endings.
• Fatty cushioning tissues that absorb shock and help protect joints during movement.
• Connective tissues that support normal function and movement.

This complex structure allows dogs to run, jump, climb, play, and explore the world around them.

However, when exposed to excessive heat, these same tissues can be damaged very quickly.

☀️ The danger of hot surfaces

Many walking surfaces absorb and retain heat throughout the day.

These include:

🔥 Asphalt
🔥 Tarmac
🔥 Concrete
🔥 Artificial grass
🔥 Decking
🔥 Sand
🔥 Stone paving

What surprises many owners is that surface temperatures can be dramatically hotter than the surrounding air temperature.

For example:

🌡️ Air temperature: 77°F (25°C)
🔥 Asphalt temperature: approximately 125°F (52°C)

🌡️ Air temperature: 86°F (30°C)
🔥 Asphalt temperature: approximately 140°F (60°C)

🌡️ Air temperature: 95°F (35°C)
🔥 Asphalt temperature: 150°F (66°C) or higher

At these temperatures, skin damage can occur rapidly.

🐾 How heat injuries develop

Heat related paw injuries often progress through stages:

1️⃣ Mild irritation
• Redness
• Dryness
• Increased paw licking

2️⃣ Moderate damage
• Blistering
• Cracked pads
• Peeling skin
• Pain when walking

3️⃣ Severe burns
• Deep tissue injury
• Bleeding
• Open wounds
• Risk of infection
• Significant pain and lameness

Some dogs require veterinary treatment, pain medication, bandaging, and weeks of recovery.

⚠️ Signs your dog may have burned paws

• Reluctance to walk
• Sudden limping
• Excessive paw licking
• Darkened, shiny, or reddened pads
• Missing sections of pad tissue
• Blisters or open sores

🐶 Dogs most at risk

While any dog can suffer paw burns, extra caution should be taken with:

• Puppies
• Senior dogs
• Dogs recovering from illness or surgery
• Dogs with existing mobility issues
• Dogs exercising heavily in hot weather

✅ How to protect your dog’s paws

• Walk early in the morning or later in the evening.
• Choose grass, woodland trails, or shaded routes whenever possible.
• Avoid artificial turf during hot weather.
• Carry water and take frequent breaks.
• Check paws after every summer walk.
• Consider protective footwear if appropriate for your dog.

🖐️ The Back of hand test

Place the back of your hand on the surface for 7 seconds.

If it’s too hot for your hand, it’s too hot for your dog’s paws.

💙 Remember: Missing one walk is far safer than dealing with painful burns or heatstroke. On extremely hot days, enrichment activities at home, scent games, puzzle feeders, and training sessions can provide plenty of mental stimulation without risking injury.

Your dog’s paws carry them through every adventure. Let’s keep them safe ✅

06/24/2026

This girl's progress was absolutely amazing today!

06/24/2026

✨Meet Millie!✨

Millie has a big heart and an even bigger personality! She gets so excited when seeing other people and animals. But this makes walks very hard.
Millie's mom contacted me because she was unmanageable on leash. She's a very big girl that gets really excited and wants to explore.

In only 1 session, Millie learned how to walk nicely on a loose leash. During her 2nd session today, she was able to observe horses walking by, walk by those horses in their pasture, and even have a conversation with a neighbor while remaining calm. And the best part, all of this was achieved without the use of aversives! (Prong collar, e-collar, leash corrections, etc.)

Stay tuned if you want to follow Millie's training journey!

06/21/2026

Huge shout out to this amazing team. Gunner has officially tackled his fear of people. Enough to even choose to say hi to my kids. Kids have previously overwhelmed him.

Our next step is working around dogs and he made HUGE strides last session! He previously couldn't even see a dog in the distance without big reactions.

This progress is largely in part to his owner's dedication and her continued hard work between sessions. When the owners put in the work between sessions, the progress is absolutely amazing!! Way to go Kristin and Gunner!!

06/17/2026

One of Ruby's many talents is the ability to break her neck and see what's behind her. Occasionally she likes to check out what's on TV.

When she performs DPT she always faces me. But this doesn't stop her from checking out what's behind her 🤣