down4paws

04/24/2025

Whether you’re raising your first pup or your fifth, we all hit moments where training feels hard.🤯

Your dog seems frustrated.
You’re doing your best.
And sometimes… you wish they could just tell you what they need.

That’s exactly what I’ll be talking about at the
KIENO Dog Behaviour Conference – “Kindness Is Essential, Not Optional.”

This is a free 14-day virtual event filled with real, compassionate advice from 28 world-class dog professionals — and I’m honored to be one of them.

In my talk, I’ll be sharing how I use animal communication and mediumship to understand the deeper needs behind behavior.

Not teaching it.
Not woo-woo.👀
Just real connection — between dogs and their people.

If you’ve ever looked at your dog and thought:
“I know you're trying to tell me something…”
Then this talk is for you.

My session drops May 1st — grab your free ticket..Grab the link in comments👇🏾👇🏾

04/13/2025

Ok hear me out...👋🏾😆

I’m not saying I won’t watch the movie…
I’m just sayin’… if the dog dies, I’m crying for a week.
And probably hugging my dog even tighter after.

Are YOU still watching?
Drop a YUP or NAH in the comments!

Tag your fellow dog lovers!!❤️🗣👇🏾

04/10/2025

Ever notice how your dog picks up on the energy in your home?🤷🏾‍♀️

This one’s a little different—but totally connected👇🏾
Your dog’s behavior isn’t just about training… it’s also shaped by their environment.

That’s why I want to shout out my amazing friend—she’s not just a home organizer, she helps families reclaim their space with purpose and flow.

And when your home feels calm and clear?
Your dog feels it too. Less chaos = fewer behavior issues.

Curious how her approach is different?
👇🏾Check her out—you might just find that organizing your space helps your dog and your sanity.

Have you ever worked with a home organizer?
Or better yet—noticed your dog’s behavior shift when your space changes?

04/07/2025

Some days, it feels like your dog is running the show.

They’re barking at everything…
Jumping on guests like it’s their job…
Lunging at the leash like they’ve got somewhere more important to be.

And you?
You’re doing your best, but you’re exhausted.
Maybe even a little embarrassed.

Here’s what I want you to know:

This isn’t a discipline problem.
It’s a clarity problem.

Your dog isn’t being defiant.
They’re overwhelmed, just like you.
They’re navigating a world that feels like too much, too fast, without a clear guide.

You’re not failing.
You’re just early in the process.
That’s where I come in.

This week, I’m sharing small, doable shifts that help bring calm and confidence back into your daily routine — for both of you.

If you’re feeling like your dog’s behavior is just too much right now…
You’re not alone, and it can get better.

Drop your dog’s age in the comments and I’ll send you a quick tip based on where they’re at.

Let’s calm the chaos together.

Know someone this could help?
Tag a fellow dog parent who needs this reminder today.

04/04/2025

Does your dog ignore you when you call them?
It’s not just frustrating — it’s stressful, embarrassing, and sometimes even scary.

But here’s the truth:
Your dog isn’t being stubborn.
They’re distracted. And you just need the right steps.

That’s why you should join
The Total Recall Workshop (In-Person)

In 90 minutes, You’ll learn how to:
✅ Get your dog to come the first time
✅ Practice in ways that actually stick
✅ Stay calm and confident — even with distractions

Only 8 dogs allowed—because your dog (and you) deserve focused attention

You can have a dog who listens.
Let me show you how.👇🏾

Sign up here → https://down4paws.com/total-recall

04/02/2025

The Reliable Recall Workshop this past Sunday was FIRE — and the breakthroughs were real.🔥

Huge thanks to all the amazing local families who joined me live!

SAVE this post to revisit these takeaways:

We covered…
✔️ Why your dog ignores you outside (hint: it’s not just stubbornness)
✔️ How to fix a recall cue that no longer works
✔️ What actually motivates your dog to come running back

Replay access is for attendees only, but if you missed it — don’t worry.

Total Recall is coming up next.

We laid the groundwork last week during our online training...
Now we’re taking it in-person for real-world practice and results.

TOTAL RECALL WORKSHOP
✔️ 1-time, in-person training
✔️ Small group coaching
✔️ Distraction-proof recall in real life

Only 8 spots available — and it always fills fast.

Want to start training now?👇🏾
Drop “RECALL” in the comments and I’ll DM you my free recall guide to help you get started before the next workshop drops.

Let’s build a recall you can actually trust — even at the park, on the trail, or in your own backyard.

04/01/2025

It’s 10PM.🤷🏾‍♀️
Do you know where your dog is? 😉

Mine’s in the corner side-eyeing me for daring to touch the fridge.

Some of y’all’s are on the couch like royalty.
Others? Still running laps from that random zoomie surge at 9:47pm.

But for a lot of you…
Your dog is lying at your feet.
And you’re sitting there wondering why today felt so hard.

You’re tired.
Your dog still didn’t listen.
You lost your patience (again).
And now the guilt is creeping in.

Let me say it loud:📣

You’re not a bad dog owner.
Your dog isn’t broken.
You’re just both overwhelmed.

And that is so human.

Training isn’t about being perfect.
It’s about learning how to live with the dog you have,
not just the one you hoped for.

If this hit you tonight — drop a ❤️
You're not alone. And you're not doing this wrong.

03/25/2025

Feel like your dog’s just “not like the others”?
You’re not alone—and you don’t have to train like everyone else either.

Every dog learns differently.
And when you start training with the dog you actually have (not the one you thought you'd get), everything shifts.

Maybe your dog is…
→ Full of energy and bounces off the walls.
→ Super shy and needs confidence.
→ Independent and does things on their own time.

The truth is: personality matters. And training gets easier when you work with your dog instead of trying to fix them.

I love helping Norwood-area families create training plans based on who their dog really is—not just cookie-cutter advice.

What kind of personality does your dog have?
Drop it below and I’ll share a tip just for you!

Let’s celebrate training that feels good and actually works.

03/24/2025

Ever wish your dog was just… calmer? Quieter? Easier?

I used to feel that way too.

But everything changed when I stopped trying to fix my dog, and started trying to understand her.

Her quirks? They weren’t problems.
They were part of her magic.

That mindset shift changed everything, how we trained, how we bonded, and how I showed up for her.

So if you’ve ever looked at your dog and thought,
“Why can’t you just be easier?”
…you’re not alone.

But maybe the dog you have is exactly the dog you were meant to learn from.

Tell me in the comments:

What’s one funny, strange, or unexpectedly sweet thing your dog does that you’ve learned to love?

I wanna hear all the quirks!

03/21/2025

Think about how you feel when someone:
✅ Believes in you
✅ Supports you
✅ Helps you learn
✅ Celebrates your wins

Now, imagine how you feel when someone: ❌ Pressures you
❌ Frightens you
❌ Disregards your feelings
❌ Breaks your trust

🐶 Your dog feels the same way.

Modern dog training isn’t about “being the boss” (you already control every part of your dog’s life). It’s about being someone they WANT to follow.

It’s the difference between:
💡 Collaborating vs. Commanding
💡 Fostering Trust vs. Imposing Fear
💡 Building Confidence vs. Breaking It

Your dog WANTS to work with you. They WANT to make you happy. Sometimes, they just need help understanding how.

❤️ Training with trust, not fear makes all the difference.

📢 Drop “TRUST” in the comments if you’re ready to build a better bond with your dog!

Know a dog owner who needs to see this? TAG them or SHARE this post!

03/20/2025

🔥 Let’s be real—your dog isn’t barking to be a jerk… they’re barking because IT WORKS.

Dogs don’t bark just because—they bark because they’ve learned it gets a reaction. The doorbell rings? Someone talks back. A squirrel runs by? Excitement overload.

Here’s how to stop the barking (without losing your mind):

🐶 3-Step Fix to Stop the Barking Spiral

🟤 Step 1: Reward Silence Before the Bark Starts

Most people wait until their dog is already barking their face off—too late! Instead, reward those tiny pauses of quiet before the barking starts. If your dog stops for even a second, mark it (“yes!” or a click) and reward.

🟤 Step 2: Teach a "Quiet" Cue That Actually Works

Yelling “QUIET” doesn’t count. If your dog doesn’t know what “quiet” means, it’s just noise to them. Instead, when they stop barking—even for a second—say “quiet” and reward. Repeat. Soon, they’ll learn that quiet = treat time.

🟤 Step 3: The Parmesan Cheese Trick 🧀
Got a dog that barks at every single noise outside? Try this:

Sprinkle Parmesan cheese in a towel, roll it up, and let them sniff it out. Smelling lowers stress and redirects their focus—helping them calm down before the barking escalates.

🚨 Try these today & let me know which one worked best for your dog!

📢 Want my full guide on stopping excessive barking?

Comment BARKING below, and I’ll send it straight to you!

🐶 What’s the #1 thing your dog barks at the most? The mailman? Squirrels? Your neighbor sneezing too loud? Drop it in the comments! ⬇️

03/20/2025

Let’s be real, your dog isn’t barking to be a jerk… they’re barking because IT WORKS.

Dogs don’t bark just because, they bark because they’ve learned it gets a reaction. The doorbell rings? Someone talks back. A squirrel runs by? Excitement overload.

Here’s how to stop the barking (without losing your mind):

🆘️ 3-Step Fix to Stop the Barking Spiral🆘️

👇🏾 Step 1: Reward Silence Before the Bark Starts

Most people wait until their dog is already barking their face off—too late! Instead, reward those tiny pauses of quiet before the barking starts. If your dog stops for even a second, mark it (“yes!” or a click) and reward.

👇🏾Step 2: Teach a "Quiet" Cue That Actually Works

Yelling “QUIET” doesn’t count. If your dog doesn’t know what “quiet” means, it’s just noise to them. Instead, when they stop barking—even for a second—say “quiet” and reward. Repeat. Soon, they’ll learn that quiet = treat time.

👇🏾Step 3: The Parmesan Cheese Trick 🧀

Got a dog that barks at every single noise outside? Try this:
Sprinkle Parmesan cheese in a towel, roll it up, and let them sniff it out. Smelling lowers stress and redirects their focus—helping them calm down before the barking escalates.

🚨 Try these today & let me know which one worked best for your dog!

📢 Want my full guide on all 5 tips to stopping excessive barking?

Comment BARKING below, and I’ll send it straight to you!

🐶 What’s the #1 thing your dog barks at the most? The mailman? Squirrels? Your neighbor sneezing too loud? Drop it in the comments! ⬇️

03/17/2025

Did you mean to have this many dogs… or did life decide for you? 😂

You start with one… maybe a second… and before you know it, your house looks like a full-on dog daycare. Hahaha, some of y’all really went from “just one dog” to a full squad. I see you. 👀😂

But let’s be real, more dogs = more personalities, more training, and sometimes, way more chaos. And yet, here you are, showing up, learning, figuring it out as you go.

And that? That makes you an incredible dog parent. No one has it all together, but your dogs don’t need perfection. They just need YOU.

So take a deep breath. You’re doing better than you think. ❤️

How many dogs did you plan for… and how many do you actually have? Drop your number in the comments—I need to know I’m not alone! ⬇️

📌 Tag your fellow dog parent who “accidentally” ended up with a pack!

03/12/2025

Does your dog grab EVERYTHING they shouldn’t?

Socks, trash, food, toys — you name it.

If you’re constantly yelling “No!” or chasing them around the house, I get it. You’re not alone.

That’s why "Leave It" is one of the most important commands I teach every dog — because it’s not just a cute trick. It’s a lifesaving skill that makes life easier for both of you.

Here’s why you NEED to teach "Leave It":

➡️ Keeps your dog safe (from trash, harmful things, or running into the street)
➡️ Stops bad habits (like stealing, chewing, digging, or jumping)
➡️ Helps dogs greet people and other dogs calmly

So if your dog grabs food off the floor, runs off with socks, or picks up everything on walks, this is your sign to start working on it!

👉 Tell me in the comments — what’s one thing YOUR dog refuses to leave alone?
I’ve heard some wild ones — no judgment here!

And if you’re tired of struggling, send me a message and let’s chat about how I can help.

Tag a friend whose dog could use this too!

03/04/2025

Tired of Your Dog Dragging You Down the Street? Try This!👇🏾

Walking your dog shouldn’t feel like an extreme sport (unless that’s what you signed up for! 😂).

If your pup is pulling like a sled dog, here’s a quick fix that WORKS. 👇🏾

The Stop & Go Method:
👣 Step 1: Walk at a calm, slow pace.
✋ Step 2: The second your dog pulls, STOP immediately.
👀 Step 3: Wait for them to look back or loosen the leash.
🎉 Step 4: Reward by moving forward!

Why This Works:🤷🏾‍♀️
Your dog learns that pulling = no progress, while staying close = we keep moving. After a few walks, they’ll start making better choices.

📩 Want the full breakdown + more leash training tricks?

Drop the word ‘FIVE’ in the comments’ and I’ll send you this week’s High 5 Newsletter—packed with real-life training solutions that drop every Tuesday!

🏆This weeks Quick Win! Our bonus tip on the stop and go Method

🚀 Let’s get those stress-free walks started!

👇🏾 Comment ‘FIVE’ to get this week’s training tips straight to your inbox!

02/24/2025

🔥 SPRING IS COMING—IS YOUR DOG’S BEHAVIOR READY?

If you think your dog is acting wild now… just wait until the first warm day. 😅

🌿 SPRING WEATHER CHANGES EVERYTHING:
🐶 More people & dogs outside
🐿 More distractions (squirrels, bikes, joggers)
🚀 More leash pulling, barking & jumping
😩 More frustration for YOU

Your dog isn’t trying to be difficult—they’re reacting to the energy shift happening around them. If you don’t prep NOW, it’s going to feel like chaos when spring hits.

🔥 HERE’S HOW TO GET AHEAD OF IT:

✅ Start reinforcing leash manners NOW—before they’re dragging you down the street.

✅ Practice recall in a controlled space—so they don’t suddenly “forget” what Come! means.

✅ Expose them to movement & noise gradually—so they aren’t overwhelmed when the world wakes up overnight.

🚶‍♂️ WANT MY BEST LEASH TRAINING TIPS? Comment "WALKING" below, and I’ll send them to you!

📌 SAVE THIS POST so you don’t forget when the warm weather hits!

🐶 TAG a dog parent who needs this reminder!

02/22/2025

🐶 𝗗𝗼𝗴 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗜𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝗝𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴—𝗜𝘁’𝘀 𝗨𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴.

Most people think training is about 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 "𝗯𝗮𝗱" 𝗯𝗲𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗼𝗿𝘀. But what if I told you…

❌ 𝗗𝗼𝗴𝘀 𝗱𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗺𝗶𝘀𝗯𝗲𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗳𝘂𝗻.
✅ 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗯𝗲𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗼𝗿.

I used to get frustrated when my dog 𝗷𝘂𝗺𝗽𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝗻 𝗺𝗲 after I got home. I thought,
"𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝘄𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻?!"

I tried 𝘀𝗮𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗡𝗢.
I tried 𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝘆 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸.
I even tried 𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗵𝗶𝗺 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗹𝘆.

And yet…
𝗛𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗷𝘂𝗺𝗽𝗲𝗱.

Then I realized: 𝗛𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝗯𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗯𝗮𝗱—𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗲𝘅𝗰𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗲𝗲 𝗺𝗲.

Instead of punishing the behavior, I asked: “𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱?”
💡 The answer? 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻.

So, I started doing 𝗢𝗡𝗘 𝘀𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴:
✅ I gave him a moment of attention 𝗕𝗘𝗙𝗢𝗥𝗘 he had to jump for it. And guess what?
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗷𝘂𝗺𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗱.

𝗗𝗼𝗴𝘀 𝗱𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗺𝗶𝘀𝗯𝗲𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗳𝘂𝗻.
𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗲.

💬 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗬𝗢𝗨𝗥 𝗱𝗼𝗴 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗼𝘆𝗲𝗱? 𝗗𝗿𝗼𝗽 𝗶𝘁 𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗼𝘄! 👇😂

02/17/2025

This is how amazing dogs are👇🏾

🔗: bit.ly/3EHJQbA

Cheyenne Campbell was working a normal animal shelter shift when a dog who had just been dropped off started exhibiting unusual behavior. Then, she realized the rowdy pup was her own dog, Emma — whom she hadn’t seen in months.

📷️: 2nd Chance Shelter/Facebook