CJ's dog training

05/26/2025

🐾 Big News! I Just Launched a Patreon! 🐾

Hey everyone—CJ here! After a lot of thought, I’ve decided to open up a Patreon as a way for you to directly support my dog training journey, Bear’s progress as a service dog in training (SDiT), and the content I create to help others.

This isn’t just about funding—this is a way to bring you in closer. Whether you’re here to support Bear, learn more about dog training, or just cheer us on, there’s a place for you. ❤️

I have 3 tiers:

$5 – Pack Member: Early access to content + community updates

$10 – Pack Leader: Priority shout-outs & sneak peeks

$20 – Service Sidekick: Exclusive access to Bear’s full training journey 🐕‍🦺

If you’ve ever wanted to support my work, this is one of the best ways to do it. Thank you for being part of this journey—whether you join or just stick around to watch it grow.

👉 Check it out here:

Patreon is empowering a new generation of creators. Support and engage with artists and creators as they live out their passions!

04/13/2025

Loose Leash Walking Isn’t About Obedience—It’s About Communication 🐾🗣️

A lot of people think a dog that walks nicely on leash is just being obedient. But here's the truth:

👉 Loose leash walking isn’t a command.
It’s not a "trick" your dog learns once and always remembers—it’s an ongoing conversation between you and your dog.

When a dog pulls, it’s not usually because they’re being “bad.”
It’s because: 🐶 They’re excited
🐶 They’re overstimulated
🐶 They don’t know what you want from them
🐶 Or they’ve never been taught how to stay connected on walks

Our goal isn’t to force a heel position or keep them glued to our side—it’s to help your dog understand that checking in, walking with you, and keeping slack in the leash is how the walk keeps moving.

✨ It’s about: ✅ Teaching your dog how to make good choices
✅ Rewarding engagement and focus
✅ Setting realistic expectations based on their energy and environment

When you walk together as a team—not just a human dragging a dog or a dog dragging a human—everything about the walk gets better.

Need help turning your leash-pulling chaos into calm, connected walks? Reach out. We’re here to help you and your dog walk together, not fight each other every step of the way. 💬🐾

04/12/2025

Graduating from a Head Halter 🎓🐾

So your dog is finally walking like a dream on a head halter—no pulling, no dragging, just smooth, stress-free walks. First off, way to go! That’s no small accomplishment.

But now you're probably wondering...
"Can I switch to a regular collar now?"
Yes—you can! But just like we introduced the head halter carefully, we also want to make the switch gradually and set your dog up for success.

Here’s how we recommend doing it:

✅ Step 1: Double up at first.
Clip your leash to both the head halter and the regular collar (or use two leashes). Start your walks as normal, but let your dog get used to the feel of the collar again without relying on it for control.

✅ Step 2: Practice in low-distraction areas.
Before ditching the head halter completely, start short walks in quiet spots using just the collar. This keeps your dog focused and prevents slipping back into old habits.

✅ Step 3: Watch your leash skills.
Dogs walk best when we walk well, too! Keep the leash loose, reward good behavior, and avoid unintentionally applying tension (which can invite pulling).

✅ Step 4: Go at your dog’s pace.
Some dogs are ready to switch in a week, others may need more time. It’s not a race—it’s about building confidence and keeping that loose leash behavior strong.

🎯 Goal: You should feel like the head halter was a teaching tool, not a lifelong requirement. If your dog starts pulling again, no big deal—just go back a step and reinforce the training.

Need help with the transition or not sure if your dog’s ready yet? Shoot us a message—we’re happy to help guide you through it.

04/11/2025

How to Properly Introduce a Head Halter 🐶✋

Head halters (like the Gentle Leader or Halti) can be amazing tools for strong dogs who pull—but only if they’re introduced the right way! Otherwise, your dog might end up pawing at their face, shutting down, or refusing to walk.

Here’s how we introduce them the right way:

✅ Step 1: Let them sniff it!
Hold the halter out like you would a treat. Let your dog investigate it first. Reward them with praise or a treat just for checking it out.

✅ Step 2: Create positive associations.
Hold the nose loop open and reward your dog for putting their nose through—even just a little. Don’t clip it on yet! Just repeat this a few times until they’re comfortable.

✅ Step 3: Short & sweet wear time.
Clip it on for just a few seconds at first, then take it off and reward. Slowly increase the time it’s on, always pairing it with treats or play.

✅ Step 4: Movement before walking.
Before you ever attach a leash, let your dog move around the house wearing it. Toss treats, call them to you—anything that keeps them focused on you and not the halter.

✅ Step 5: Light leash pressure.
Once they’re walking around comfortably, attach the leash and practice indoors or in a low-distraction area with gentle pressure and lots of rewards.

The goal is to teach your dog that the halter = good things. It’s not a punishment tool—it’s a communication tool.

📌 Pro tip: Never jerk or yank the leash when using a head halter. It attaches at the nose, not the neck, and sudden movements can cause discomfort or injury.

If you need help introducing one, or want to see if it’s right for your dog, reach out! We're happy to help walk you through it—literally. 😉

04/11/2025

"But what if nothing works?" 🤔

We hear this a lot—especially from folks who feel like they’ve tried everything and their dog still pulls, lunges, or acts like they’ve never seen a leash in their life. You’re not alone!

The truth is, it’s not always about the tool—it’s about the training.

Even the best leash or collar in the world won’t fix a behavior if your dog doesn’t understand what you’re asking. That’s where we come in. We don’t just slap on a new piece of gear and hope for the best—we take the time to teach both you and your dog how to work together, with the right guidance and tools that make sense for your unique situation.

Whether your dog is 6 months or 6 years old, change is possible. You don’t need harsh methods or fancy gadgets—just patience, consistency, and a plan that actually fits your dog’s needs.

💬 Still struggling with walks? Drop a comment or shoot us a message. We’re here to help.

Send a message to learn more

04/10/2025

Let’s Talk Training Tools 🐾

There’s a lot of debate these days about what the “right” training tools are—and the truth is, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer. Every dog is different, and so is every training journey.

In our training, we often use martingale-style collars and harnesses, but we typically avoid harnesses for stronger dogs unless absolutely necessary. For those strong pullers, head halters are a great option to help guide them gently and teach loose-leash walking without relying on strength or force.

What we don’t use? Prong collars or e-collars on just any dog. These tools are often misused and misunderstood, and when they’re not used correctly, they can cause far more harm than good. Most owners haven’t been properly taught how to use them, and we’ve seen firsthand the damage that can result.

Our goal is always to build communication, trust, and teamwork—not fear. We’ll always choose the tool that works best for the individual dog in front of us while keeping their emotional and physical safety in mind.

Have questions about what might work best for your dog? Send a message—we’re always happy to chat!

Send a message to learn more

03/30/2025

🚨 New Video Alert! 🚨

Meet Leah, my newest trainee! 🐾 This is her baseline walk—where we assess her current leash skills and identify areas for improvement. Every dog starts somewhere, and this is just the beginning of her training journey!

Check out the video to see how she does and stay tuned for her progress! 📈🐕

🎥 Watch here: https://youtu.be/JbEpzcqWQn8

Need help with your dog’s training? I offer in-home sessions in the Wisconsin Rapids & Nekoosa areas! Whether it’s leash manners, obedience, or behavior issues, I can help. 🐶✨

📩 Message me here or email [email protected]
to get started!

03/29/2025

We just uploaded a new video! We just started working with Jasper and a video on Leah will be up soon as well.
Do you want this training?
Contact us at [email protected]
Check out the video here!

Jasper is a Husky Collie mix and he is on the chunkier side so we are hoping to touch up on his walking skills and as you see in this video with just 5 minut...

03/25/2025

Hey guys Biggoms had his surgery and we used a muzzle at the vet and turned out to not need it! We love to see that his reactivity has come so far we have done so much work and we can see it is paying off.
Here is Biggoms' training playlist with all the videos he is in
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLV2ps-Ob1su4nIo6faRKMuI2eEFGnmw8F&si=rAq0s8ZfESi4RUVa
Pricing: $35 a session
Contact : [email protected]

All of Biggoms' training videos

03/20/2025

As stated in our previous post all reactive and aggressive dogs are required to wear a muzzle here is a video on how to condition this.
Here is our most recent video showing this
https://youtu.be/btoHojFt4kw

03/20/2025

My name is CJ and I am a new dog trainer in the area. Because I am still learning what works with different dogs I offer my services at a discounted rate of $35 a session and free if my methods don't work. I am willing to work with any dog breed and any issue however for my safety and yours I require aggressive dogs to be muzzled. I will be making a you tube video on how to condition this. The tools I use depend on the dog i am working with so if I am working with a puppy that is learning to walk on a leash I would use a flat collar preferably martingale style and treat them when they are making the right choices. If I was working with a reactive dog, aggressive dog, or a strong puller I would use a head halter. I use these tools because they are minimally aversive and are just as effective as aversive tools such as the prong collar.
Please let me know if you are interested in my services in the Nekoosa area.
Check out my most recent video!