Shelby Cove Dog Training

08/27/2026

Your favorite dog trainer has lost her phone! Please message me on messenger if you need anything until my new one arrives on Saturday!

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08/11/2026

Let's see your soul dog in the comments!

08/05/2026

SHELBY COVE SPOTLIGHT: BAILEY! 🐾🎓
Oh, sweet Bailey. ❤️
Bailey may have been one of the tiniest little Yorkies I've ever trained, but don't let her size fool you. She had the tallest little legs, the skinniest little body, the prettiest blue eyes... and she believed her full-time job in life was to curl up by your hip and cuddle. Honestly, she was perfectly content with that arrangement. 🥹
But Bailey struggled with confidence.
She was timid and easily startled. If you simply said her name, she'd often freeze and piddle because she was so unsure of herself. My biggest goal with Bailey wasn't just teaching commands... it was helping her believe in herself.
And that's exactly what we did.
Even though she only weighed about 10 pounds, she could still pull her mom around on a leash. One of Mom's biggest goals was being able to enjoy peaceful walks without getting yanked around by this tiny little girl.
Today, Bailey walks beautifully on a leash right beside her mama.
Being treat motivated is always my favorite kind of dog to train. 😂 Bailey quickly learned that listening paid off, and before long she was confidently showing off her sit, stay, come, leave it, park it, and loose leash walking skills like a little professional.
But my favorite transformation wasn't a command.
It was watching her confidence grow.
Instead of shrinking in fear every time someone called her name, Bailey learned that hearing her name meant something good. She stopped being afraid and started coming happily with confidence instead of fear.
That transformation is worth celebrating.
Her mom has told me she's continuing to work with Bailey every single day and loves watching her confidence and obedience continue to grow at home. That is exactly what I hope for with every Shelby Cove graduate.
I'm so thankful her family trusted me with their precious little girl. I know leaving a tiny, sweet-natured dog for 14 days isn't easy, but they trusted the process... and the results speak for themselves.
Way to go, Bailey! 🎓🐾❤️
Welcome to the Shelby Cove Alumni family, sweet girl!

08/05/2026

SHELBY COVE SPOTLIGHT: ROONEY! 🐾🎓
Rooney's story is one that reminds me why I do what I do. ❤️
This handsome Goldendoodle actually celebrated his first birthday while he was here at Shelby Cove, and I couldn't have been more honored to spend such a special milestone with him.
Rooney had a rough start in life.
He experienced some neglect in his first home before eventually being rehomed. His new family had only had him for a few weeks when they realized he was struggling. They also had an older Husky, and Rooney's energy was so over-the-top that he didn't know how to simply exist peacefully. He was constantly "on," and unfortunately that led to multiple fights between the two dogs.
His mom knew he wasn't a bad dog. He just needed someone to teach him how to slow down.
Then, just one day before he was supposed to start training, poor Rooney got stung by a bee. His eye and part of his back swelled up, and we had to make a trip to the veterinarian and delay the start of his training while he healed.
But through all of that...
His sweet spirit never changed.
He loved everyone he met and had the biggest heart. He simply had never been taught how to channel all of that excitement.
During his stay, Rooney learned that life doesn't have to be lived at full speed.
He learned to be calm... to be bored... to simply relax.
He mastered sit, stay, come, leave it, park it, shake, and learned to walk politely on a leash without dragging his person behind him.
One of my favorite transformations was watching how he greeted people.
Instead of sprinting toward them, jumping all over them, and trying to lick them in the face, Rooney learned that he could calmly walk over, sit at their feet, and still receive all the love and attention he wanted.
Actually...
He usually received even more.
By pickup day, his mom looked at him and said over and over,
"This isn't the same dog."
And honestly...
She was right.
The biggest transformation wasn't just obedience.
It was impulse control.
Rooney truly believed every single thing in life had to be done at 100 miles an hour. He learned that calmness brings peace, confidence, and connection.
I'm so excited knowing this sweet boy gets to spend the rest of his life in a home that loves him deeply, spoils him, takes him on adventures, and gives him wonderful fur siblings to grow up with.
His foundation has been built, and I know his family will continue investing in him. I have no doubt Rooney is going to thrive.
His story is also a reminder that we should never give up on a dog simply because they've had a rough beginning. We don't always know what they've experienced before they come into our lives. Every dog communicates differently, and it's our job to learn their signals, understand their needs, and teach them in a way they can succeed.
Rooney absolutely flourished, and I couldn't be more proud of the incredible dog he's becoming.
Way to go, Rooney! 🎓🐾❤️
Welcome to the Shelby Cove Alumni family!

08/05/2026

🎓🐾 SHELBY COVE GRADUATE: PEPPER! 🐾🎓

Ohhhh, Pepper. 😂❤️

Pepper came to me fully convinced that she weighed approximately 100 pounds when she was on a leash. And let me tell you, when she pulled, somehow this tiny little thing FELT like I was pulling against 100 pounds. She was MIGHTY. 😂

But after lots and lots of practice, Pepper finally figured out that right beside me is actually a pretty great place to be. And now? This girl walks beautifully on a leash right by my side. 👏🏼

Pepper ended up extending her stay with me an extra four days because we had so much rain during her training, and I really wanted the opportunity to fine-tune everything before sending her home.

And I am SO glad we did.

Her sit, stay, and park it became beautiful. She learned that every little sound she hears does NOT require an announcement to the entire household. 😂 She also learned that when a dog appears on my television, she does not, in fact, need to protect us from it.

Then there was Pepper’s belief that because she was little enough to jump onto tables and counters, she obviously belonged there. 🤦🏼‍♀️😂

We had to have a few conversations about that one.

One of my favorite things about Pepper, though, was that occasionally I would realize I hadn’t seen her in a while. I’d start walking around the house calling her name, looking everywhere…

She’d be in my bathtub. Taking a nap. 😂😂

And then there was recall.

Pepper believed her name and the word “come” were merely suggestions.

This is something I see with little dogs pretty often. We call them to us, pick them up, put them in a crate or playpen, and suddenly the fun is over. Eventually they figure out, Why would I come to you? Every time I do, you ruin my good time! 😂

So we changed what “come” meant.

I’d call Pepper to me, reward her, and then let her go right back to whatever she was doing. Over and over, she learned that coming when called doesn’t always mean the fun ends.

And now?

That little girl comes when I call her. Every. Single. Time. ❤️

I am so incredibly proud of how much progress Pepper made while she was here. She worked hard, she made me laugh A LOT, and she left here with so much more confidence and understanding than she came with.

Way to go, Pepper! 🎓🐾❤️

Welcome to the Shelby Cove Alumni family, sweet girl! 🥹👏🏼

07/21/2026

If your vacation is already on the calendar, your dog's should be too! 🐶🐾

Summer is winding down, holiday reservations are filling up fast, and the best time to book your pup's pawcation is before everyone else remembers they need boarding.

Send me a message to reserve your dates before they're gone! 💙

07/16/2026

07/16/2026

*See 1st and 2nd comment on this post*

07/15/2026

This is how you get a calm dog for the night!