Paws & Progress LLC

Paws & Progress LLC At Paws & Progress, we give you somewhere to turn to if you're struggling with your dog's behavior issues. PD) I decided to start a “hobby”. Kevin Tolan

Welcome to Paws & Progress

After 4 years in the United States Marine Corps and a 33 year career in law enforcement (retired July 2021 as the Deputy Chief of Police – North Wildwood, N.J. We adopted a German Shepherd (8-10 month old male) November 2020 from the Cape May County Animal Shelter and Adoption Center Cape May Court House, N.J.. We had previously owned German Shepherds (from puppyhood),

but this was the first shelter - “juvenile” dog we brought into our home. Being a fearful dog of questionable breeding, likely lacked proper early socialization, and spending a few months in a shelter I felt confident that I knew how to deal with his “issues.”

In the early months with us I failed to “fix” Cash’s issues and exacerbated his “fear and reactivity” by not knowing how to properly deal with what he was going through (following advice from some questionable “dog trainers” on YouTube didn’t help). This led me to begin a journey of education in Canine Training, Behavior, Enrichment, Health, and Nutrition as well as have taken an extensive course on “Shelter Dog Training” (by Robert Cabral). Cash has been able to learn how to cope with many things that used to cause him to be afraid or hypervigilant and his reactivity has markedly improved. Learning how to help a fearful dog gain confidence, how to manage stress and build mental resilience has certainly improved his quality of life (and ours!). Structure, Leadership, Relationship building and Consistency of proper training will help almost any dog to be able to show progress which will help lead to a better life for you and your pup! I look forward to working with dog owners who are seriously committed to their dogs and truly wish to make their lives (dog and humans) better.

05/11/2026

I heard Cash growl, which is uncommon while in the front yard and nobody's around. I turned and saw him staring down the rat snake, slowly inching towards it. Though he would've likely played with it, perhaps tossed it in the air. I preferred he stayed clear of it, didn't want to see the snake get lucky and strike Cash in an eye. A strong "Leave It" can save you lots of headaches!

03/16/2026

"OFF LEASH DOGS" - great freedom for your dog, nothing much better BUT - If you DO NOT have control of your "off leash dog", please DO NOT let your dog run off leash. It's an inevitable disaster waiting to happen.

Two recent observations over at Ponderlodge (Cox Hall Creek WMA):

*a gentleman lets his little Maltese type out of his vehicle, no leash and it began sniffing around the lot. It approached the pathway, leading out of the lot, as a young lady jogger was approaching. The dog went right after her, she was skipping, jumping trying to prevent from being bitten on the ankles. The gentleman did not recall the dog and the girl was able to outrun it. He turns to me and says "can you believe that her running right at my dog like that". I shook my head and laughed to myself; I didn't respond to him.

*I see a gentleman with his dog off leash near the parking lot. I called out to him and asked that if his dog saw other dogs out on walks would the dog run up to them and want to say "Hello"? He replied that she likely would. His dog is a young female German Short-haired Pointer...very lively pup. As we spoke his dog ran over to where some people were and he "tried" a few times to recall the dog but she didn't respond. I asked if he uses a remote collar to better ensure the recall, he said that he did but I guess he doesn't use it.

Now my 105lb German Shepherd used to be extremely, out of his mind, reactive to other dogs. He's been attacked twice in the past by off leash dogs. He is not a fan of other dogs running up on him. I would HATE if that young German Short-haired Pointer ran up on him and I was unable to scare it off.... One good thing is that she wears a harness with bells on it. Today was about the 4th time we heard her coming in the distance and we change our direction to avoid giving her the opportunity to run up on us.

I carry a small "stadium airhorn" and have used it successfully in the past to scare away approaching dogs. I'm sure there are dogs out there that wouldn't be scared off by it though. Some people carry pepper spray, bear spray and these "can" be effective but likely won't when you need it to be. Wind speed / direction could blow the spray right back at you. There are so many videos on YouTube to help you figure out how to defend against an attacking / charging dog. There's plenty of good size sticks out there.

Be prepared to protect yourself and your dog.

And don't set your dog up for failure by letting it run off leash without an ironclad recall. Civil lawsuits and expensive vet bills could be staring you right in the face.

Kevin

03/03/2026

Reliable recall and "leave it" can spare you and your dog many unwanted problems. While I often have the cellcam ready when we go outside to record Cash chasing the bun-bun (so I can get video of his recall from the chase), I saw that he was beginning to stalk. I saw the sparrow just as he was about to pounce.

01/25/2026

Recall - one of the most important behaviors for your dog. Though the UPS truck isn't as enticing as the bunny, Cash is still triggered by it. I chose not to desensitize him to the "big brown box" as it's a good tool for his recall.

Today's walk.
12/05/2025

Today's walk.

12/02/2025

Cash spends about an 1 1/2 - 2 hours in his crate after morning and evening feedings. This video is of him just after getting out of the crate and going "to check things out". By the time I got the cell out to video they had already done two laps around / under the RV. This rabbit seems to be "playing" with Cash as it has 3 or 4 exits to safety that it could've taken sooner.

(I'll post Cash's "recall" version of these two as soon as possible - the rabbit has been chilling in our neighbor's yard the past several nights, but he'll be back)!!!

Francis and Frances - Cayuga ducks. It took a few days for Cash to get used to them. They were unbothered by his initi...
11/14/2025

Francis and Frances - Cayuga ducks. It took a few days for Cash to get used to them. They were unbothered by his initial growling / barking at them. Kool ducks!

Cash checking out the new "duck" shed.
11/14/2025

Cash checking out the new "duck" shed.

This bunny has given Cash plenty of nighttime exercise. It's almost a routine where it seems to enjoy being chased. It...
11/14/2025

This bunny has given Cash plenty of nighttime exercise. It's almost a routine where it seems to enjoy being chased. It's been living under our deck and enters there from behind the recycle bin of which he'll bypass it at least twice while being chased before he goes for cover.

(no worries, Cash's recall is good and his "drop it" as well - in case he does catch it)

RECALL is the number one obedience command! Other wise I'd be cleaning a stinky skunk sprayed Shepherd!
08/20/2025

RECALL is the number one obedience command! Other wise I'd be cleaning a stinky skunk sprayed Shepherd!

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Cape May Court
House, NJ
08210

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