Kelli Staffieri Dog Training

05/11/2026

🚨 GROUP CLASS SIGN-UPS ARE OPEN 🚨

Lakeport classes will be held Saturdays
Hopland classes will be held Sundays

Classes begin the first weekend in June and run through the second weekend in July.

This is a 5-week course spread across 6 calendar weeks because we will be skipping Fourth of July weekend 🇺🇸

YES — we are holding class on Father’s Day 😅
Come train your dog and then go barbecue.

🕘 9:00 AM — Intermediate Class
🕥 10:30 AM — Beginners Class

💲165 for the full 5-week course

Payment is due at sign-up unless other arrangements have been made. Your spot is not considered confirmed until payment is received.

These groups are designed to help build better communication, calmer dogs, and stronger real-life skills in a supportive environment.

Message me to claim a spot or ask questions!

05/11/2026

05/11/2026

Morning walks before the heat

05/11/2026

Some interesting cause and effect …..
Please never call dogs dumb in front of me

05/10/2026

Big graduation day for the Hopland crews🐾

Both our Beginner and Intermediate group classes graduated, and I’m so proud of the progress these teams made together. From dogs who struggled to focus, pull on leash, get overstimulated, or feel unsure in new environments… to dogs learning how to settle, engage, think through challenges, and work with their people with so much more confidence. 💛

These groups worked hard on:
• engagement and relationship building
• leash handling and walking skills
• calmness around distractions
• confidence and neutrality
• impulse control and everyday manners
• creating communication and trust instead of conflict

And the best part? This whole group is ready for more.

Watching people realize their dog is capable, thoughtful, and trying their best is one of my favorite parts of this work.

New Beginner and Intermediate Hopland groups are forming now for the next round of classes. If you’ve been wanting to join us, now’s the time to get on the list.

I’ll also be booking Sunday private one-on-one training sessions while I’m in the Hopland area, so if your dog would benefit from more individualized help, focused behavior work, confidence building, leash skills, or just getting started with training, reach out to reserve a spot.

Message me for class info, placement help, or private session booking. 🐶

05/09/2026

A good walk doesn't look like what you think it does.

It's not a perfect heel. It's not left-side-only precision. It's not your dog marching beside you like they're in a show ring.
Here's what it actually looks like:

A leash with no tension. That soft J-shape hanging between you and your dog that means nobody is pulling anybody anywhere.

A dog who checks in. Who glances up at you occasionally, not because they have to, but because good things happen when they do.

A handler who isn't white-knuckling the leash, bracing for the next lunge, or running out of patience before they hit the end of the driveway.

That's it. That's the goal.

The "left side rule" has its place, military tradition, formal obedience competition, sport handlers who need precision in the ring. For most of us with most dogs? The best side is whichever one gets you both out the door and back home happy.

Save this. Share it with the person who just corrected your dog's walking side at the park. 😄

And if you're in Snohomish County and loose leash walking is still a work in progress, that's exactly what we fix together.

ID: Infographic titled "The 'Left Side' Walking Myth: Fact vs Fiction." Left column lists where the rule came from: formal obedience competition standard (AKC/UKC), designed for ring consistency, rooted in military and police dog handling tradition. Right column covers what actually matters: loose leash walking with no tension, comfort and safety for handler and dog, rewarding consistency in the reinforcement zone regardless of side. Bottom line reads "A comfortable, pull-free walk is the real success." Line art of a woman walking a doodle. Ready, Pup, Go! logo at the bottom.

05/09/2026

DAY 8 – BUILDING A BETTER HANDLER �By Simon Chapman�www.k9manhuntscotland.co.uk
After 8 days of this series, here’s the uncomfortable truth:
👉 Most training problems aren’t dog problems.�They’re handler problems.
Not because owners don’t care…�But because good intentions without structure create confusion.

💥 A good handler isn’t someone with:
• endless treats�• 500 training videos watched at 2am�• fancy techniques
A good handler brings:
✔ consistency�✔ clarity�✔ timing�✔ emotional control
Every single day.

🐶 Dogs don’t learn from your intentions.
They learn from:
👉 your patterns�👉 your timing�👉 your consistency

⚠️ You cannot:
❌ out-treat inconsistency�❌ out-talk confusion�❌ out-love poor structure
Your dog needs:
✔ predictable rules�✔ calm guidance�✔ clear communication�✔ stability from YOU

💥 One of the biggest changes you can make?
Do less… but do it better.
• Talk less�• Repeat less�• Move with purpose�• Mean every command
Most dogs don’t need MORE input…
👉 they need BETTER input.

💥 Final thought:
Raise your standard… not your voice.
Because when YOU improve as a handler,
👉 your dog improves with you.
🐾 Your dog isn’t a reflection of what you know…�They’re a reflection of what you consistently do.

05/09/2026

Today was graduation day for this crew and I couldn’t be more proud of what they accomplished together. 🐾

Over the past weeks we worked on:
• building engagement and focus
• leash skills and handling
• calm around distractions
• confidence and relationship building
• place work, patience, and everyday manners
• learning how to work with our dogs instead of against them

Every single team grew in their own way, and this entire group is ready for more. 💛

Watching dogs and people learn to communicate better with each other will never get old to me. The confidence, trust, and teamwork that starts to develop in group classes is something really special.

If you’ve been thinking about joining us, sign-ups for the May Group Classes are now in the works:
🐶 Saturdays in Lakeport
🐶 Sundays in Hopland
🐶 Beginner & Intermediate options available

Message me if you want on the interest list or want help deciding which class would be the best fit for your dog.