Sit Happens K-9 Academy LLC

06/23/2025

Enrichment: It’s Not a Luxury—It’s a Need.

A tired dog isn’t just one who went for a walk.
It’s one who used their brain, fulfilled a drive, used their nose or solved a problem.

Enrichment keeps dogs sane, satisfied, and settled.
Without it? You get chewing, barking, digging, pacing… aka a bored, frustrated dog.

Here’s why enrichment matters:
• Fights boredom = fewer behavior issues
• Builds confidence = less reactivity and fear
• Burns energy (yes, brain work is exhausting!)
• Satisfies natural instincts (sniffing, chewing, foraging)
• Strengthens your bond through purposeful interaction

Easy enrichment ideas:
• Lick mats & puzzle feeders
• Scent work or “find it” games
• Chewing (raw bones, stuffed Kongs, safe chews)
• Obedience drills, trick training, or short structured play(impulse control)

Your dog doesn’t need nonstop excitement—they need purposeful outlets for their brain and instincts.

Enrichment isn’t extra. It’s essential.

06/22/2025

🚨 LAST-MINUTE OPENING! 🚨

I just had 1 spot open up for this upcoming group class starting THIS WEEK! 🐾

If you’re a previous client and have been thinking about joining, now’s your chance! 💥

📲 Message me ASAP to claim it!

Class is full follow for more class announcements!

Ready to transform your dog’s obedience this summer? ☀️🐾
Join my 5-Week Group Class starting June 25th at Creekside Park in Factoryville! 🌳🐕

We’ll cover:
Heel, sit, stay, down, place, leave it, drop it, proper socialization, and more! 🎓🐶
Class is full !– small class size means individual attention! ✅

$250 includes a training collar 📿
A $75 deposit secures your spot and a pre-class evaluation sets your dog up for success! 📝🐾

Wednesdays at 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM ⏰
Message me or call 570-468-2293 to sign up today! 📲

Don’t wait — this class will fill up fast! 🚨🐕

06/21/2025

🐾✨ The Puppy Socialization Window Is REAL (and it closes fast!)

If you’ve got a puppy under 4 months old — this is the time to do the work. 👇
Because after 16 weeks, your puppy’s brain starts saying:
“New = scary” instead of “New = cool!” 😬

🧠 Critical Socialization Window:
📆 3 to 16 weeks old
This is when your pup’s brain is like a sponge — soaking in the world and learning what’s safe, normal, and no big deal.

✅ What to Expose Them To (gently!):
👶 People of all types
🐕 Safe, vaccinated, stable dogs
🛒 Strollers, bikes, shopping carts
🧹 Noises like vacuums & fireworks (start soft)
🚗 Car rides, new places
🐾 Vets, groomers, nail trims, gentle handling

❌ What NOT to Do:
🚫 Force scary interactions
🚫 Wait until they’re “fully vaccinated”
🚫 Overwhelm them with chaos (like dog parks)

💉 But What About Vaccines?
Yes, puppies are still building immunity — but that doesn’t mean zero socialization.
You can safely expose them with common sense and boundaries:
✔️ Avoid high-risk areas
✔️ Stick to clean, controlled environments
✔️ Let them meet known, healthy, vaccinated dogs
✔️ Go for exposure over interaction — even watching the world from your arms helps!

💡 Remember:
Socialization is not just about play — it’s about showing your pup the world is safe, predictable, and no big deal.

Start early. Go slow. Make every new thing a positive thing.
Your future adult dog will thank you! 🐶🎉

06/19/2025

🚨 BIG ANNOUNCEMENT 🚨
Big things are happening at Sit Happens K-9 Academy and I’m beyond excited to finally share the news…

🎉 We’re expanding! 🎉
I’m officially getting a small facility space dedicated to training and helping more dogs than ever before!

This new space will allow me to offer:
🐾 Day Training Programs
🐾 Behavior Evaluations
🐾 E-Collar Off-Leash Training
🐾 Future Board & Train Options
🐾 Temporary Fostering for Dogs in Need
🐾No contact boarding- some dogs just do better that way !
And more !

It is limited to only 2 kennels at this time but I don’t plan on doing more than one board and train at a time! Plenty of individual attention gives better results ! Eventually I would like a bigger facility but baby steps !

This has been a long-time dream—and I couldn’t have done it without the support of my incredible clients, my support system , Cory for doing all the hard work, the dogs who keep me inspired, and the community that believes in what I do.

Stay tuned for updates as the space comes together… and thank you for being part of the journey as Sit Happens continues to grow!

06/19/2025

Ok it’s OFFICIAL… Baker’s Best Lemonade stand will be open again Saturday at the 2025 Fore! The Love of Animals Golf Tournament to Support True Friends Animal Welfare Center!! You can find him set up over by True Friends Animal Welfare Center under the trees!! Stop by, even if you’re not a golfer!!!
Remember, dude does NOT know how to make change BUT he’s generously donating his earnings to the shelter this weekend!! He will be there from about 8-2!!

06/18/2025

In case anyone’s been wondering where Finley is—don’t worry, he’s still here… patiently waiting for his family… 🙃

I haven’t been posting much about him lately because, well—about two weeks ago, he managed to sprain his neck really badly. Like, so bad he wouldn’t eat, wouldn’t move, stood around sleeping like a sad little statue, didn’t want pets, and had absolutely no interest in his dog friends. Basically, he turned into a Geriatric old man over night.

But good news—he’s finally feeling better and back to being his usual lovable , energetic , beagle pain in the ass 🤣

Anyway, someone please adopt Finley. Thanks. 🤣🤣

06/18/2025

Lana helping Henry work with his neutrality . Henry struggles with reactivity to cars, people bikes, and especially dogs. He did great today and his mom is making great progress with him!

06/18/2025

What’s really in your dog’s bowl?

BHA (Butylated Hydroxyanisole) & BHT (Butylated Hydroxytoluene) are synthetic preservatives used to keep fats from spoiling in some dog foods.

Sure, they extend shelf life—but at what cost?

Studies show:
• BHA is linked to cancer in animals
• BHT may cause liver/kidney damage & behavioral changes
• Rodent studies even found hyperactivity, aggression, and poor learning in young exposed pups!

While these are still allowed in the U.S. (in small amounts), countries like Japan & Australia have banned them. So why take the risk?

What to do instead:
• Read ingredient labels (skip BHA, BHT, ethoxyquin)
• Choose foods with natural preservatives like vitamin E, C, or rosemary
• Ask your vet or trainer for brand recommendations!

Your dog’s gut and brain will thank you.

06/17/2025

Dogs Feel the Energy of the Home They’re In.
Not just the love and laughter—but also the yelling, chaos, and fear.

I’ve worked with many dogs over the years, and one truth always holds: environment matters.
The household a dog lives in has a direct impact on their behavior, emotional stability, and even their ability to learn.

In a calm, structured home, dogs tend to thrive. They feel secure, know what’s expected, and can focus on just being a dog—happy, playful, and balanced.

But in homes where there’s constant tension, yelling, or worse dogs suffer too.
I’m not going to get into specifics but I have seen and experienced first hand both as a victim and a bystander.
They may become fearful, shut down, reactive, overly attached, or even aggressive.
Some flinch at movement. Some pace nonstop. Others begin guarding one person obsessively, or lashing out because they’re in a state of constant stress.

They aren’t being “bad.”
They’re surviving.

Dogs are emotionally in tune with us. They absorb energy like sponges.
If the home is unstable, it will show in their behavior—no matter how well-trained they might be.

This is why environment and leadership go hand-in-hand with training. You can’t out-train trauma, confusion, or chaos. Dogs need peace just like we do.

If you’re in a situation where your dog’s behavior has changed drastically—don’t just look at the dog. Look at the bigger picture.
Sometimes, the most loving thing you can do for your dog is create a calmer, safer world for both of you.

06/16/2025

Why I Don’t Work with Dogs on Behavioral Meds

This isn’t about judgment. It’s about safety, clarity, and doing right by the dog.

Behavioral medications like Prozac, Trazodone, or Gabapentin (sometimes all 3)are often prescribed to reduce anxiety, fear, or reactivity—but they don’t “fix” behavior. And more importantly, they can change how a dog processes stress and reacts to pressure—sometimes unpredictably.

Here’s why I don’t work with dogs currently on these medications:
• Meds can dull warning signals (growling, freezing, avoidance), making dogs seem calm while they’re still very stressed underneath.
• Some meds can reduce inhibition, meaning a dog that used to avoid conflict may now act more impulsively—yes, that includes biting.
• Medications can mask the severity of a behavior problem, which prevents me from seeing the real picture or progressing safely through training.
• I believe in working with dogs who are stable enough—mentally and emotionally—to be trained without chemical suppression of their natural communication.

I’ve seen too many cases where dogs on meds were pushed past threshold with no clear warning. It’s not fair to the dog, and it’s not safe for anyone involved.

If your dog is on medication, I’m happy to refer you to a veterinary behaviorist or help you build a foundation once the dog is weaned off and medically cleared. But my job is to work with dogs as they truly are, not with their symptoms muted.

Training starts with clarity—and clarity starts with the truth.

06/15/2025

🚨 Limited June Spots Left! 🚨
Ready to finally get your dog’s behavior on track?

Whether you’ve got a brand new pup or a dog with serious behavior concerns—I’ve got a few openings left this month to help you start the transformation!

🐾 Training Options:
• Group Classes-I have 3 spots left for my evening H3 kennel in montrose class starting Thursday July 10th at 630 pm for 5 weeks !
• Private In-Home Sessions
• Public Outings
• Day Training Programs

🎯 Specializing In:
• Puppy Training & Crate Foundations
• Basic & Advanced Obedience
• Off-Leash E-Collar Training
• Multi-Dog Household Dynamics
• Resource Guarding
• Dog & Human Aggression
• Leash Reactivity
• Livestock Aversion
… and more!

💡 Every program is fully customized to fit your dog’s needs and your goals.

📲 Text or call now to schedule your consultation:
(570) 468-2293

Spots are first-come, first-served—lock yours in before June fills up!

06/15/2025

Breed History Spotlight: The Shiloh Shepherd
This month, we’re highlighting a breed many haven’t heard of—but those who know them, love them: the Shiloh Shepherd.

Where They Came From:
The Shiloh Shepherd was developed in the 1970s and 80s by Tina Barber, a trainer and German Shepherd enthusiast. Tina was concerned with how modern GSDs were becoming smaller, more high-strung, and often structurally unsound. Her goal? To bring back the old-style German Shepherd—larger, more stable, family-oriented, and with fewer health issues.

To achieve this, she selectively bred larger GSDs with Alaskan Malamutes and other foundation breeds known for their stability and structure. The result was a dog with the intelligence and trainability of a shepherd, but with more size, gentler temperament, and a calmer disposition.

Originally Bred For:
• Companionship and family protection
• Therapy and service work
• Herding and versatile utility
• Sound structure and temperament

What Makes Them Unique:
• Larger than a standard GSD—some males weigh over 100 lbs
• Softer, more sensitive temperament—often nicknamed gentle giants
• Long or plush coats with a wolf-like appearance
• Bred for soundness of mind and body

Why It Matters Today:
Shiloh Shepherds aren’t just big fluffy shepherds—they were designed to be working companions that are stable, trainable, and family-friendly. But make no mistake: they still carry drive, energy, and protective instincts that must be shaped with leadership, structure, and purposeful engagement.

They’re not couch potatoes—they’re thinkers, feelers, and doers.

⸻

Respect the breed. Fulfill the instincts. Train with intention.
Follow us monthly as we continue breaking down the roots of the dogs we work with today.