Augusta Dog Training and Daycare

07/31/2025

Another satisfied customer 🐾❤️

Mr. Moose after a lesson at Alamagnet Park in Burnsville. Working on doggy distractions and honing our e-collar skills.

07/24/2025

Well stated.

Let’s Talk Entitlement: Your Dog Is Not the Centre of the Universe (And Neither Are You)

Right, let’s get a few things straight from the off:
Your dog is not a human. It doesn’t think like a human, speak like a human, or interpret the world in the way we do. And guess what? That’s not a fault, it’s a fact.

There’s a growing trend among some dog owners to treat their dogs like entitled little toddlers, fuelled by this fluffy notion that “they just want to say hi” or “they’re friendly”. That’s lovely… until your “friendly” off-lead dog barrels up to a dog that’s nervous, reactive, working, injured, or just plain wants to be left alone.

Your Dog Is Not Entitled to Say Hello to Everyone

Let’s put it bluntly: your dog doesn’t need to greet every person or dog it sees. You don’t wave and say hello to every stranger in Tesco, do you? (And if you do, people probably cross the aisle to avoid you.)

Dogs are the same. Some are social butterflies, others are more reserved, and some are just trying to keep their heads down and cope with the world. When you let your dog run up to another without permission, you’re not being nice, you’re being selfish. And you’re setting your dog up to get told off, either by the other dog, the handler, or both.

Puppy Classes and the Myth of Mass Socialisation

Doing puppy classes in group settings where every pup is allowed to run around and say hello to everything that moves? You’re laying the groundwork for a dog that thinks every encounter is a party. That’s not socialisation. That’s overstimulation. You’re teaching them that the presence of another dog or person means “excitement” rather than neutrality or calmness.

Later down the line, when your adolescent dog loses its rag every time it sees another dog, you’ll wonder why. Spoiler: it’s because you taught them to.

Let’s Talk Leads and Recall

If you don’t have a reliable recall on your dog, don’t let them off the lead. Simple. There’s no grey area here. A dog without recall is a loose cannon. If you can’t call them away from a squirrel, jogger, cyclist, or another dog, then keep them on a lead or long line until you’ve put the work in. Freedom is earned, not assumed.

Having a dog is a responsibility. It’s not a right to do whatever you fancy and assume everyone else will tolerate it. The world doesn’t revolve around you or your dog.

Respect Others. Control Your Dog.

You’ve no idea what that other dog is going through. It might be reactive, fearful, recovering from surgery, or in training. The person handling that dog might be managing trauma, anxiety, or just trying to enjoy a quiet walk. Your dog doesn’t get to invade that space just because you think they’re “friendly”.

If your dog lunges at others, pulls you down the street, barks at every passer-by, or flattens small children with glee, it’s not “cute”. It’s a lack of training. Own it, fix it, and stop making excuses.

The Bottom Line

Your dog is a dog. Not a fur baby. Not a social ambassador. Not a therapy dog in training because you read a Facebook post that said it has a “healing energy”.

Train it. Lead it. Be its advocate. And above all else, be respectful of the space and comfort of others.

Because your dog may be part of your world, but it’s not the centre of everyone else’s.

www.k9manhuntscotland.co.uk

07/15/2025

This is Ozzie. He is a one year old male Bulldog.

Ozzie is an Augusta student who excelled in his lessons but is in need of a new forever family.

Ozzie would do best in a home with experienced dog owners who are active and would include Ozzie in their daily activities.

Ozzie is very friendly but is a little “too much” for young children. He would do well in a home with older children who also have experience with dogs. 

Ozzie is a graduate of both our in-home and our board and train program. During his time with us he was well behaved around our children and friendly with guests.

If you are interested, please reach out to me (Kathryn Newman) through Messenger.

Ozzie is a great dog and I would love to see him placed with a family that is a good fit for him and his big personality.

07/09/2025

At Augusta Dog Training and Doggy Daycare, we've been leading the way in personalized in-home training in the Twin Cities since 1996. 🏡 Our expert trainers tailor every lesson to your dog's unique personality and learning style, ensuring effective and lasting results. Enjoy flexible scheduling, one-on-one attention, and the convenience of training in a familiar environment. Watch your furry friend thrive and build a stronger bond with you! ✨🐶 Contact us today to schedule your initial consultation.

07/04/2025

Happy Independence Day.

06/26/2025

Excellent article, great advice

Let's talk about this photo. It's cute, except it's not. I see a dog who cannot get up without telling the child to get off. How do you think a dog is going to do that?

The 7 Golden Toddler Dog Rules:
#1: If a dog walks away from you, you DO NOT FOLLOW.
#2: Always leave room for the dog to walk away from you.
---that right there is 90+% of dog bites eliminated---
#3: We do not climb on the dog.
#4: We do not grab or pull on the dog.
#5: We do not hit or throw anything at the dog.
#6: We do not touch the dog's food.
#7: We do not go into the dog's kennel.

I promise these are not overly difficult concepts for littles, nor will they rob a kid of their bond with the family dog. It will deepen that bond, while keeping everyone safe.

"Oh, it looks like Moose is walking away from you. She is saying she wants a break. Let's play with this instead!"

"It's Moose's dinner time! Let's give her space to enjoy her yummies."

"That is Moose's room(kennel) and only she is allowed to go in there."

"If Moose wanted a break, could she walk away from you right now? No she really couldn't. Let's move away from the play house. You can keep playing but now she can leave when she wants a break."

In conclusion, ***parent your child or your dog will do it for you, and you will not like how they do it.***

06/05/2025

Great summery on why I don't reccommend retractable leashes. I have seen several serious injuring to the back of owners legs from the nylon chord. Obviously we have ALL witness dog altercations and retraining a dog who pulls on leash is challenging as both the dog and owner are accustom to poor leash manners.

At Augusta we sell 6 foot leather leads that custom made for our use. They braided, not stiched, and come in two widths. These leashes will soften over time and will last a lifetime (human, not dog). Great investment into your dog's good manners.

Retractable leashes seem like a good idea, but they have several safety risks to consider. Here’s what to know about retractable leashes, plus safer leash options.

05/26/2025

Freedom isn’t free.

Augusta honors those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. Thank you.

05/25/2025

When we adopted Higgins at he had two horrible habits. He was highly reactive around dogs and HATED nail trims.

Over the years we have tried a variety of different approaches to clipping his nails.

We started with the traditional approach by using a grooming table and a person to distract him with treats.

We have also used a veterinary restraint on the floor. We even tried the peanut butter on the forehead of the nail trimmer.

When we first adopted him, I attempted to counter condition him using a clicker and rewarding with treats. After a month and a half of training, it all fell apart when I clipped the first nail.

Higgins is almost 90 pounds and if he really doesn’t want to do something he will physically resist (I will not win that battle).

He’s also a Doberman so he can be incredibly determined and resolute depending upon the situation and his opinion of it.

About a month ago I decided to “negotiate” with him. For some dog trainers this is considered blasphemy.

For those of you who know me as a dog trainer I don’t allow my dogs up on furniture.

However, knowing how much Higgins likes his dog bed I decided to try trimming his nails on a sofa.

The following video is unedited.

It shows that everything isn’t always peaches and cream.

We take breaks. We enjoy treats. I respect his apprehensions and he tolerates my actions.

We negotiate.

There is one standard that I maintain. I do not release his paw unless he is relaxed and not attempting to pull away.

If I were to release his paw as he is pulling away Higgins would learn that resisting is an effective strategy in stopping the nail trimming process.

In our negotiations, we have made the following agreement: Higgins will allow me to Dremmel his nails in exchange for patience, treats, short breaks, and 20 minutes of sofa time following the nail trim.

05/18/2025

Over the years I’ve watched the concept of quality socialism turn into an unwarranted belief that puppy needs to be entertain or engaged 24/7.

A lack of boundaries and the near constant stimulation has resulted in a greater number reactive dogs than at any time that can remember in my 40 year career.

At Augusta, our puppy classes focus on developing confidence, coping skills, impulse control and a proper leader-follower relationship with their owners.

05/17/2025

My next appearance on KARE-11 is Saturday, May 17 at 9:30 AM.

Our topic is dispelling the common myths about housebreaking.

To learn more check out my blog, Beyond The Training.

Housebreaking is the first training skill new owners teach their puppies. In her blog, Beyond the Training, Kathryn Newman of Augusta Dog Training discusses common housebreaking myths and how to avoid them..

04/12/2025

National Pet Day 🤝 the Masters.