Two Paws Up Dog Training LLC

Two Paws Up Dog Training LLC Modern, science based dog training focused on client education and a positive relationship. Good behavior begins with you!

Good behavior is the result of understanding your dog, creating predictability, and reinforcement. Serving Lead, Deadwood, Spearfish and the surrounding communities. Virtual training sessions can help dog owners across the country. As a society, our understanding of canine behavior is growing! Unfortunately, many dog trainers still use outdated methods based on force, fear, and intimidation. Our s

tudents obtain results using this simple formula:

1) Management
2) Predictability and Leadership
3) Reinforcement

In an unregulated industry, Two Paws Up Dog Training, LLC is owned by Brenda Belmonte, Certified Professional Dog Trainer, with more than 35 years experience in both the veterinary industry and as a professional dog trainer. Brenda established a successful dog training business in the northern suburbs of Chicago, before retiring and moving to the Black Hills. A reactivity and aggression specialist, Brenda created the trademarked S.A.F.E. Program For Dogs, which helps owners understand this challenging behavior, and establishes predictability for dogs. Through structured exercises and behavior modification, this program helps dogs of all ages. Member Organizations:

Professional Member: Association of Professional Dog Trainers
Canine Training Professional: Pet Professional Guild
Supporting Member: International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants
Certified Professional Dog Trainer-Knowledge Assessed: Certification Counsel for Professional Dog Trainers

Come play outdoors in the beautiful Black Hills!
05/26/2026

Come play outdoors in the beautiful Black Hills!

Courtesy Post
05/25/2026

Courtesy Post

UPDATE: OWNER FOUND! THANK YOU TO EVERYONE THAT SHARED...THEY SAW HIM ON FB!FOUND. On Hwy 385 in Pluma. Male not neutered, but chipped. His name is Gunner and he belongs to Chris (or Kris) Keller in Belle Fourche but his number is discontinued. If any one knows who Gunner belongs to or knows Chris Keller, please call Chris Shopshear at 605-593-3125 who has Gunner or leave a message at the shelter 605-584-2480. He was chipped Belle Fourche Veterinary Clinic and we will contact them after the holiday.

Do you say “BIG STRETCH?”
05/22/2026

Do you say “BIG STRETCH?”

05/04/2026
Here’s a great training opportunity from our friends at RyeDoodle Boarding, Training, and K-9 Sport Complex
05/04/2026

Here’s a great training opportunity from our friends at RyeDoodle Boarding, Training, and K-9 Sport Complex

It is official! Our next ORT is scheduled for Thursday June 4th from 4:00 pm to 9:00 pm. Entries will be limited so don'...
04/28/2026

It is official! Our next ORT is scheduled for Thursday June 4th from 4:00 pm to 9:00 pm. Entries will be limited so don't delay in sending yours in!

Premium List: https://www.twopawsupdogtrainingllc.com/events/nacsw-odor-recognition-test-ort-x3ypm

Make it a weekend! NADD dock diving, AKC Fast CAT, and Barn Hunt trials all in the same place! Friday June 5th - Sunday June 7th at RyeDoodle Boarding & Training and K-9 Sport Complex

Sniffing is ingrained in dogs because it provides information about the world around them. Why can’t we, as humans, unde...
04/26/2026

Sniffing is ingrained in dogs because it provides information about the world around them.

Why can’t we, as humans, understand normal canine behavior and embrace it?

Did you also know that it can be self-calming, stress reducing behavior?

Here’s a PSA on behalf of all dogs.

Stop correcting your dog for sniffing.

Stop it. Please.

How would you like it if I corrected you for looking around a room? Imagine if you raised your head to look around a new place and I popped you or shoved you or said “HEY! PAY ATTENTION TO ME” You’d get pretty upset pretty quickly I’d imagine.

Dogs don’t smell because they are ignoring you or being stubborn. We humans primarily depend on sight, but dogs use smell AND sight to assess their surroundings and communicate. People spend more time interpreting visual data than olfactory information. Dogs are just the opposite.

Dogs devote lots of brain power to interpreting smells. They have more than 100 million sensory receptor sites in the nasal cavity as compared to 6 million in people, and the area of the canine brain devoted to analyzing odors is about 40 times larger than the comparable part of the human brain. In fact, it’s been estimated that dogs can smell anywhere from 1,000 to 10,000 times better than people.

Scent gives information. Smelling is normal. Smelling is necessary and natural. Smelling is relaxing. Air scenting is HUGE for recovering reactive dogs. LET YOUR DOG SMELL!

Correcting a dog for sniffing is one of the worst things I watch people do. It’s another example of how controlling we try to be in our dogs lives. If you don’t want your dog to smell, teach him to focus on you instead for PART of the time, and then give other ample opportunities to smell. Walks on a long line on a dirt road or in a field for your dog to zig zag back and forth on to smell is MUCH healthier and more tiring for them as animals than trying to keep them within 6 feet of you on a neighborhood walk.

Please accept that smelling is normal and work WITH your dog on it, rather than just trying to suppress it. Just because that blade of grass or tree isn’t interesting to YOU doesn’t mean your dog deserves a correction. Who cares if you don’t walk the extra block - spend those 5 minutes on that one tree if you need to. Your dog doesn’t complain when you watch YouTube videos of kittens for hours or read the news or binge on Netflix, so let him get his scent binge in to.

Happy smelling pups!

- Helen St. Pierre

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Lead, SD

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