Lasata Dog Training

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Old Saybrook, CT
Lasata Dog Training

We help people and dogs live a life they love together!

10/29/2026

(is that still a thing?) to Roxi's first Halloween!

10/22/2026

Working with this little lady and her mom was such a pleasure. Sadie is such a sweet soul and honestly one of the most well-rounded puppies I've ever met. We worked on leash skills, recall, navigating distractions out in public, and of course the pesky puppy biting!

The highlight for me each week was hearing her mom brag about Sadie's accomplishments, while showing so much compassion to Sadie as they navigated the ups and downs that come with puppyhood.

I'm gonna miss seeing this sweet girl and enjoying her kisses and snuggles every Wednesday! But she's definitely ready to graduate and I know she's going to continue to develop into the bestest girl!

10/20/2026

Believe it or not, I don't own a dog food bowl.

Well, I do, but it's used to prep Kongs not to feed my dogs.

When I first transitioned from the marine mammal training field to dog training, one of the first things I learned about was what a Kong was and how beneficial they are to feed from.

Mealtime is the perfect time to provide your dog with enrichment and Kongs are one way to do that. It allows a dog to chew, lick, problem solve and work for their food (natural dog behaviors!). And if you have an energetic dog or puppy, even more of a reason to feed through Kongs or other food dispensing enrichment items because it helps to keep them busy and settled...giving you a much needed break!

I stuff my dog's kongs with their daily diet (sometimes adding some extra goodies like a bit of greek yogurt or pumpkin). You can use part or all of your dog’s regular meal and put it into a Kong or another enrichment toy. You’re not necessarily adding extra food or calories, you're just changing how your dog eats it! This can make mealtime much more satisfying and engaging for many dogs while giving them an opportunity to engage in behaviors that come naturally to them (like licking, chewing and foraging).

10/15/2026

One of the first things I teach a puppy is that their name means “look at me!”

This is a foundational skill that can help with recall, leash walking and many other life skills.

Remember to keep it positive, keep training simple, and build up distractions slowly and gradually. 🙂

10/13/2026

FAQ: Will an indestructible crate help my dog with separation anxiety?

No.

An indestructible crate may help prevent your dog from escaping and hurting themselves or damaging your home, but it doesn’t resolve the underlying anxiety. The real goal is to help your dog feel safe, secure, and comfortable being alone so they don’t feel the need to escape in the first place.

And with the right training and support, it's very possible to achieve that. PM me if you'd like help...you don't have to do it alone! ❤️

10/09/2026

Why did I choose to specialize in separation anxiety?

Partly because I love the analytical side of behavior and training (and you don't get much more analytical than sep anx!).

But mostly because I wanted to make a difference. To help people and their dogs overcome one of the most challenging behavior problems out there.

What I didn’t expect was how much I would get out of it.

I’m continuously blown away by my clients. I work with some of the most dedicated and devoted dog guardians out there, and that’s not an exaggeration. These people are pouring so much of themselves into helping their dogs feel better and improve their quality of life.

Every day, my clients teach me about patience, resilience, and compassion. And, in the process, they’ve made me a much better person.

Thank you to each and every one of you who I've had the pleasure of sharing the separation anxiety journey with. I appreciate you more than you know!

10/06/2026

I recently wrapped up training with Leo and his humans, and one of his mom’s biggest priorities was teaching him a reliable recall. Rightly so!

In our last session together, Leo’s mom shared that she was able to call Leo away even though his best dog friend was right next door (Previously, Leo would have made a beeline for his BFF. NOT his mom!)

How did we do it? By teaching Leo that coming when called always leads to great things. We used really high-value food rewards (lucky boy even got prosciutto!), started small, and focused on setting Leo up for success every step of the way.

Recall is one of the most important skills you can teach your dog....it could save their life one day.

If you need help strengthening your dog’s recall, send me a PM to chat about how private training could benefit you and your dog!

(Photo of my dog, Makai. Unfortunately, I didn't get a picture of Leo!)

10/02/2026

Scatter feeding is such a simple way to add more enrichment to your dog’s day!

And you don’t have to have a yard to do it. You can scatter kibble around the house, hide it in safe spots, or use a snuffle mat to encourage your dog to sniff, search, and forage for their food.

If your dog is new to foraging, start easy! Put food somewhere obvious and easy to find so they can quickly learn that sniffing and searching yields food. You can even start by placing the kibble in a small area right in front of them to help them learn in the beginning.

Once your dog understands the game, gradually make it more challenging. Scatter food over a larger area, use more grass or different surfaces, or place food in slightly harder-to-find spots.

Scatter feeding gives your dog an opportunity to use their nose, problem-solve, and engage in natural behaviors while eating their meal (and it can be a HUGE time saver for you!)

09/30/2026

Yesterday got off to a rough start. But then I was reminded why I do this work.

My last client of the day was my first in-person session with this particular family. I had met with them virtually and instantly saw how devoted they were to their dog. Truly a dog mom wanting to do her absolute best. But I could also tell she was frustrated and overwhelmed, particularly with her puppy pulling on leash (puppies sure can be frustrating and overwhelming!).

We started working on leash-walking skills, and we made some real progress. Her dog was focused and walking beautifully with her outdoors, in an environment where, just five minutes earlier, she had been completely distracted by everything happening around her in the yard.

Then it was Dad's turn. Mom and I watched as Dad gently encouraged their pup, talking to her softly as she walked alongside him, gazing up at him. Mom turned to me with the biggest smile on her face. A smile of pure joy, pride, relief and hope. Then gave me a huge hug. A hug that I didn't realize at the time I needed.

Running a business is freakin hard. Sometimes, humans can be not so great. Sometimes, it's easy to doubt myself and think, "what the heck am I even doing!?" But then, there are moments like this. Thank you for reminding me why I love this work (If you're reading this, you know who you are ❤️)

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Old Saybrook, CT
06475

Website

http://www.lasatadogtraining.com/

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