Baird Creek Canine Connection

07/10/2025

Dog Owners: Be the Leader Your Dog Needs

Dog owners need to be their dog’s leader—not because they have to be the “alpha” or because their dog needs to fear them, and certainly not because their dog will be the “alpha” if they don’t.

Think of being a good dog owner like being a good parent. As a dog parent, it's your job to set guidelines and boundaries. This teaches your dog how to behave and develop good manners. If you don’t take the time to provide that structure, your dog will act wild, out of control, and eventually take over your home—or any place you bring them. And let’s be honest, no one wants to be around that kind of chaos.

Keep in mind: dogs never truly mature mentally. So, while things usually get easier as they grow older, the need for leadership and guidance never really ends.

And remember, leadership is not abuse. Being in charge never means being cruel. True leadership is patient, calm, fair, consistent, and clear.

No matter how you frame it, your dog needs you to lead.

Leadership.
Structure.
Boundaries.
Discipline.

Without these, you'll likely end up with a dog who acts like a spoiled, unruly child—and that’s not fair to you or your dog.

06/10/2025

Dear Clients and Friends,

I want to take a moment to share an important update with you.
After much thought and consideration, I’ve decided to reduce my dog training business to part-time. This decision wasn’t easy, but it comes from a desire to create more personal time—time to travel, recharge, and most importantly, spend with my family.

Dog training has been a true passion and calling for me, and I’ve been incredibly fortunate to work with so many amazing dogs and dedicated owners like you. Your trust, friendship and support have meant the world to me.

While I’ll be stepping back a bit, I’m not going away completely! I will continue to work with a smaller number of clients and remain available for select training sessions, behavior consultations, and ongoing support for current clients.

If you’re unsure whether I’ll be available for a particular service, please don’t hesitate to reach out. I’m happy to discuss what options are still available or refer you to trusted colleagues when needed.

Thank you for being a part of this journey with me. I look forward to continuing to support you and your dogs—just with a little more balance in my life.

With gratitude,

Jim

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05/23/2025

A HUGE Congratulations to Nicole and her amazing dog Dukie!
They are now an official Therapy Dog Team!

Nicole and Duke passed their certification with flying colors, and I couldn’t be more proud of them. Duke has such a warm, gentle spirit—he absolutely loves meeting people and lit up the room during visits to assisted living communities. The residents fell in love with him, and he clearly felt the same. They’re already asking when he’ll be back!

What makes this even more special is that Duke, along with his sweet sister Lady, also helps with socializing new puppies and offering calm, confident support to nervous dogs. They have such a natural way of bringing peace and connection wherever they go.

Nicole, thank you for raising not one, but two truly exceptional dogs. Duke and Lady are more than just good dogs—they are heart dogs. The kind that makes the world a softer, kinder place just by being in it.

05/08/2025

The Importance of Engagement When Training Your Dog

As you begin or continue your training journey with your dog, one of the most important concepts to understand is engagement.

Engagement refers to your dog's focus, attention, and willingness to interact with you. It's the cornerstone of successful training and a key factor in building a strong relationship with your dog.

Everyone has seen someone walking their dog on a loose leash or possibly no leash at all and the dog is walking relaxed next to them and paying little attention to other things around them. This IS possible for everyone, BUT it must be practiced every day and it doesn't mean constantly jerking on the leash and yelling at the dog! In fact, just the opposite. Seek some help and learn how to accomplish this if you don't already know.

A wonderful quote I've heard is "PRACTICE MAKES PERMANENT".

If you don't make the commitment to practice training behaviors with your dog daily, you simply will miss the opportunity to have a well behaved family companion.

Playing games with your dog like hide-n-seek, fetch, tug-a-war and scent games and conditioning your dog to believe you are the best thing on the planet, helps build engagement and a great relationship with your dog.

Remember, patience and practice wins the game!

Why Engagement Matters

1. Foundation for Learning: When your dog is engaged, they are more attentive and responsive. This sets the stage for learning new behaviors, responding to cues, and making good decisions.

2. Improved Communication: A focused dog can better interpret your body language, voice, and timing. This clarity speeds up learning and builds mutual understanding.

3. Stronger Bond: Consistent engagement helps strengthen the connection between you and your dog. This bond encourages trust and cooperation in both training sessions and everyday life.

4. Minimized Distractions: An engaged dog is less likely to be sidetracked by other dogs, people, or environmental noise. They stay connected to you, even in more challenging settings.

5. Motivation and Enthusiasm: Dogs that enjoy their training and find it rewarding are more enthusiastic. Engagement ensures that training is fun, motivating, and productive.

Conclusion
Engagement is not just a training tool; it’s the heart of a successful and enjoyable relationship with your dog. By making engagement a priority, you create the foundation for clear communication, faster learning, and a stronger bond. Whether we’re working on basic manners or more advanced skills, your dog's ability to stay connected with you is key to their success.

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03/25/2025

Today I spent the morning with Maisey, a 7-month-old mini Bernedoodle. Although Maisey and I have spent some time training together previously, this is the first time Maisey spent the morning with me without her mom, Kayla. Maisey adjusted quickly and did great.

We started our day at the park on a long lead, allowing Maisey to run and play in the snow, and investigate the new environment. From the park we went to several local stores and practiced good manners and “PLACE” training, which thanks to Kayla’s continued practicing with Maisey, Maisey did great. Maisey was even challenged while being close to Seymour, an 11-month-old Golden Retriever.

Maisey did really well today for her first outing! Keep up the great work, Kayla!

03/24/2025

Team work among friends! Jameson and his new friend.

03/24/2025

Zoe turned 2! Happy Birthday Zoe!