Wolfwood Canine Connection

07/26/2026

❤️🐾 UPDATE: Wonderful news! Beaver has gone to rescue! 🐾❤️
I’m so happy for this sweet girl and excited for the next step in her journey.

🐾 Meet Beaver! 🐾
I had the pleasure of spending some one-on-one time with this lovely girl at Anne Arundel County Animal Care & Control on Friday.

We started with a decompression walk, giving Beaver plenty of time to sniff, explore, and take in her surroundings at her own pace. She did nicely on leash, checked in with me along the way, and we practiced some loose-leash walking while giving her plenty of space from other dogs.
Inside, Beaver showed me just how sweet and curious she can be. ❤️

She explored the room, investigated my iPad, followed me around, came over to see what I was doing—and delivered quite a few kisses!

We also did a little reward-based training. One of my favorite moments came when I offered Beaver a treat while facing her and she took a couple of steps back.

Rather than asking her to adjust to me, I adjusted to her.
I changed my position so that I was beside her rather than directly facing her and offered the treat again. Beaver came forward and happily took it.

And then we progressed.

A short time later, I introduced a simple hand target. This time I was facing Beaver. I offered my open palm, she voluntarily approached and touched her nose to my hand, I marked it with “Yes!”, and she earned her chicken treat.

No pressure. No forcing her through something she had just told me was uncomfortable. I changed the picture, gave her an opportunity to succeed, and then we were able to progress.
This is also where a trauma-informed perspective becomes so valuable to me.

Trauma-informed care doesn't require me to decide whether a particular dog has experienced trauma. It asks me to think about something I can influence:
What can I do in this moment to help this dog feel emotionally safe?

With Beaver, that meant paying attention when she created distance, changing my own body position, giving her choices, allowing her to approach rather than insisting that she do so, and making our interactions as safe and predictable as I could.
We also spent some quiet time together with gentle therapeutic touch, always allowing Beaver the freedom to move, explore, come closer, or wander away.

And wander she did! Beaver was curious about absolutely everything. She would explore for a while, come back to check on me, and then head off on another investigation.
That’s one of the things I love about working this way. Training doesn't have to mean constantly asking a dog to do something.
Sometimes we can learn an enormous amount by giving a dog choices, paying attention to the answer, and adjusting what we are doing.

Beaver reminded me: when we change how we communicate, we can help create the emotional safety a dog needs to learn, connect, and try something that was difficult just moments before. 🐾❤️

Wolfwood Canine Connection
Force-free, reward-based training • Behavior support • Therapeutic touch • Canine massage

07/14/2026

Sometimes the best training plan is to let go of the plan.

This is Bronco, a Bluetick Coonhound currently available for adoption through Anne Arundel County Animal Care & Control.

When we first met on our trail walk, he was understandably worried about me. As we began walking together, he became frightened, so I adjusted my expectations. Instead of thinking about obedience, therapeutic touch, or accomplishing a list of exercises, I decided my only goal was to help him feel safe sharing space with me.

Once we entered the Observation Room, I simply let Bronco explore.

I offered a little cheese, spoke quietly, moved slowly, and waited.

Then something wonderful happened.

Bronco began making his own choices.

He chose to come closer.

He chose to play simple pattern games.

He chose to respond to his name.

He chose to touch my hand.

He chose to walk between my legs.

He chose to stand beside me while I offered gentle Loving Touch.

By the end of our session, he was happily running back when I called, leaning into me, and offering sweet kisses.

The goal had never been to "train" Bronco.

The goal was to help him discover that being with me was safe.

Sometimes, when we remove pressure and allow dogs to learn at their own pace, trust grows faster than we ever expected.
Bronco reminded me that confidence isn't something we can give a dog. We can only create the conditions where they feel safe enough to find it for themselves.

❤️ Bronco is available for adoption through Anne Arundel County Animal Care & Control.

07/13/2026

Sometimes the kindest thing you can do for a dog...is simply let them be comfortable.

Meet Lucky, a 9-year-old Siberian Husky currently available for adoption at Anne Arundel County Animal Care & Control.
After a quiet walk on the trail, Lucky spent most of our time together doing exactly what an older, fluffy Husky on a hot summer day needed to do—drinking water, finding a cool place to lie down, and checking in with me every now and then.

He didn't need constant interaction to build a connection.
Instead, he chose to come over for gentle affection, gave me several sweet husky kisses, then wandered off to cool himself before returning again. Those repeated check-ins told me everything I needed to know.

As trainers, it's easy to focus on what we want to teach. Sometimes the lesson is for us instead: pay attention to what the dog is telling you. Comfort comes before expectations.

Lucky reminded me that relationship isn't measured by how close a dog stays. Sometimes it's measured by how often they choose to come back.

💙 Lucky is available for adoption through Anne Arundel County Animal Care & Control and would love a home where he can enjoy life at his own pace.

07/12/2026

Some dogs don't need you to entertain them.
They just need someone willing to meet them where they are.
Today I spent time with Roxy-Roni, a beautiful Akita mix currently available for adoption through Anne Arundel County Animal Care & Control.

After a peaceful walk on the trail, we spent time together in the Observation Room. Roxy made her own choices throughout the session—exploring, playing with her favorite squeaky ball, checking in with me, enjoying some gentle therapeutic touch, then wandering off again before returning for more. Every interaction was her choice.

She loves treats, already has a lovely sit, was eager to learn, and gave plenty of affectionate kisses along the way. What struck me most was that she didn't need constant attention. She seemed happiest knowing I was there while having the freedom to explore and reconnect on her own terms.

Sometimes relationship-building isn't about asking for more. It's about listening, waiting, and appreciating the dog in front of you.
If you're looking for a mature companion who enjoys both adventure and quiet connection, Roxy-Roni deserves a look.

❤️ Available for adoption through Anne Arundel County Animal Care & Control.

07/03/2026

Great list of things to watch out for and I suggest that trainers should be continuously evaluated throughout. How does the trainer treat you, the human? Do you feel listened to and respected? Do they actually do what they say that they do?

Did you know that literally anyone can call themselves a dog trainer? In the US, there's no licensing or education requirements and no government oversight. It's buyer beware!

That's why knowing the red flags before hiring a trainer is so important. If someone is promising guaranteed results, being cagey about their methods, or still talking about dominance and pack theory... it's time to keep scrolling or walk away.

Your dog deserves someone who uses training methods backed by actual science, and you deserve a trainer who is open, transparent, and honest about how they work.

Save this for later and share it with someone who has a dog. It might just save them from a really frustrating (and expensive) experience.

Read more in my post this week.

06/30/2026

🐱 Cat training is real training!

Meet Amira (calico) and Basbousa (tiger), two of my favorite training partners. Both cats have learned to come when called, and both enjoy participating in short, positive training sessions.
In these clips, Amira demonstrates a recall and a high five on a verbal cue. Basbousa also responds to recall and offers a high five using a hand signal rather than a verbal cue. Different animals learn differently, and training can be tailored to the individual.

Training cats isn't about making them act like dogs. It's about communication, enrichment, confidence, and creating opportunities for animals to engage and succeed. Even a few minutes of training can provide valuable mental stimulation and strengthen the bond between pets and their people.

Whether you share your home with dogs, cats, or both, positive reinforcement training can be a fun way to build skills, trust, and connection. 🌿

06/16/2026

🐾 Judy's Journey: From "Strong Puller" to Connection 🐾
Meet Judy, a young Belgian Malinois mix currently staying at the shelter.

Her notes described her as a strong puller, but labels only tell part of the story.

Before any therapeutic touch session, Judy and I spent time on a decompression and observation walk. These walks aren't about obedience or perfect behavior. They're an opportunity to gather information, build connection, and allow the dog to engage with the environment at their own pace.

As Judy began to relax, she checked in more frequently, responded beautifully to gentle loose leash walking support, and showed just how capable she was when given patience and understanding.

Later, during her therapeutic touch session, she was able to settle into a state of deep relaxation and rest despite the challenges and stressors that come with shelter life.

Sometimes what looks like a "training problem" is really a dog who needs safety, time, and support for their nervous system.
Every dog has a story. Judy reminded me how much can change when we slow down, listen, and meet the dog in front of us. ❤️

06/15/2026

🐾 Training for life... and having fun along the way.

Freya and I spent some time practicing Barkour today.
Some of the exercises had a practical purpose. Jumping into a stroller may seem unusual now, but it could become a valuable skill if she ever needs help getting around due to age, injury, or illness.

Other activities focused on body awareness, confidence, and problem-solving—placing front paws on a stump, navigating under a low branch, and moving through narrow spaces.
And some were simply fun challenges that encouraged her to think and engage with me, such as walking under my legs and going through a hoop.

What I love about Barkour is that it encourages dogs to explore, make choices, use their bodies in new ways, and build confidence through positive experiences. There is no pressure to be perfect. The focus is on communication, connection, and having fun together.

Every obstacle becomes an opportunity to strengthen skills, build trust, and deepen the relationship.

A special thank you to Social Tailwaggers and trainer Jody Broughton for introducing me to the world of Barkour and inspiring many of these ideas.

🌿 Confidence through curiosity.
🌿 Skills through play.
🌿 Connection through shared experiences.

06/10/2026

What a fun morning!

This weekend I had the opportunity to assist and serve as videographer for a Dog Parkour (Barkour) session with my mentor and trainer, Jody Broughton, at Social Tailwaggers.
Dog Parkour is all about exploring the environment with your dog in a safe, positive way. Dogs may climb, balance, go under, around, through, or onto obstacles that are already part of the landscape. There are no winners or losers—just dogs and their people learning, building confidence, solving challenges, and having fun together.

One of the things I love most about Dog Parkour is how adaptable it can be. Activities can be modified for the individual dog, whether they are young, senior, small, large, athletic, or facing physical limitations. My own dog has hip dysplasia, so I especially appreciate activities that focus on what a dog can do rather than what they can't.

Watching each team work together and celebrate successes was a wonderful reminder that learning doesn't have to feel like work. Sometimes the best training happens when dogs and people are simply enjoying the adventure together.

Thank you to Jody and Social Tailwaggers for allowing me to assist and share a few photos from the session.

05/30/2026

🐾 Trust, But Verify
I recently heard a story that made me stop and think.

A dog owner was home one day when he noticed that his dog walking app showed his dog out on a walk. The problem? His dog was sitting right beside him.

As he watched, the GPS tracker showed the "walk" moving from place to place. Curious, he got in his car and drove to the location shown on the app. There, he found the dog walker slowly driving around while the app recorded what appeared to be a walk.

Many pet care professionals are honest, hardworking people who genuinely care about the animals entrusted to them. But stories like this remind us that when we hire a dog walker, trainer, pet sitter, groomer, boarding facility, or other pet care provider, we're placing a great deal of trust in someone else.

Ask questions. Check references. Look for transparency and good communication. Pay attention to whether the service provided matches what was promised.

Advocating for your dog doesn't mean assuming the worst. It means being informed and choosing caregivers who welcome accountability.

What questions do you ask before trusting someone with your dog?