Dog On It Training and Rehabilitation

09/29/2025

I did it; I graduated and my human even emailed teach to tell her dog training is working! ❤️ (we all know it’s human training). I didn’t react at all to some lunatic dog running out of garage when we were out on a walk. I even warmed up to teach a bit. We’ve learned I am just a little unsure of new people so my human is going to help me through it. We got this.

09/18/2025

Had the honor to hang with Daegan (police dog) at our Cpl. Daegan Page Golf tournament fundraiser.
While I didn’t get to see him in work mode, he was working hard being calm as he was just to stay with his handler all day. This is a dog who is a working dog ready to sniff out drugs and bite bad guys. Doing nothing has been a work in progress for them. He’s getting better and it showed.
I tell all my clients it is so important for our dogs to be able to do nothing and just chill; it’s no different for working dogs. Part of dog training is helping them learn to do nothing.

09/05/2025

When out on walks with your pup don’t just walk; do some other training with them. Sits, downs, doing nothing, etc. Impromptu out in the world expectations helps your dog know they should listen to you any place or any time!! Cara killing it in a long down stay. Remember, she is off leash trained and a damn good girl. We work hard to be able to do stuff like this.

09/04/2025

Off leash trained dog doesn’t always just happen; usually does not. You and your dog work hard at it so they can have the freedom to do what’s natural which is run and explore. We have our structured on leash walks, but I love being able to have my pups be able to do this. It does come with a responsibility of being aware of other people and their dogs.

08/29/2025

How do you get this from a 6 month old pup?
You show them how to do nothing. You work on it and help them learn how it feels to be calm even if there’s other dogs or distractions around. I do not want a dog living in a command, so I work on helping them figure out how to do it on their own.

08/27/2025

Happy National Dog Day from a few of the happy pups of Dog On It Training!

08/05/2025

Whether it’s a busy household full of kids or you have a multi-dog household, it is imperative that your dog(s) know they have a safe space to go for quite and alone time.
This is not about isolating them, it is about protecting their mindset and well being. Overstimulation leads to anxiety, barking, reactivity or just behavioral issues. Just like us, dogs need a break from the noise.
Create a designed calm space; crate, bed in a low traffic area or separate room. Let it be a no-kid, no-dog disruption zone. Look at it like that space is their reset button.
A calm dog = a happier home.

07/23/2025

I often talk to my clients about dogs and stubbornness. Many times it’s lack of understanding and truly things that are just natural to them. This is put very nicely, so wanted to share.

Loose lead isnt natural. It’s a skill that has to be learnt. Biomechanically, dogs are built to move faster than us. Dogs choose to shift to a natural trot and on average walk at 2.5 - 4 mph (Hildebrand, 1966) where us naked monkeys on the otherhand average 2-3 mph walking (Kirtley, 2006). Do you know what 2.5 feels like? You should!

Because the mismatch alone creates tension — physically with the lead and emotionally in the relationship. Infact Dogs Trust found 30% of owners considered it a reason to rehome.

Now add in breed differences with research by Fischer & Lilje (2011) suggesting that Different breeds have different locomotive profiles based on original function. Malinois and Vizslas who are bred to move, track, cover ground; hearding breed like kelpies and collies who are bred to arc out infront; scent hounds like Beagles and Bloodhounds - designed to follow their noses with purpose, drive and speed; and of course breeds like Huskies who are literally bred and built to pull - it’s in the actual job description.

Its not a suprise that Rooney & Cowan (2011) found Lead tension and restricted gait was specifically a negative welfare marker for working breeds.

So when we expect all dogs to plod beside us through a park at human pace, ignoring smells, distractions, and natural instinct…we’re arent asking for a behaviour: We’re asking for the dog to restrain their pace, suppress their instincts, and constantly self-regulate.

In my opinion loose lead is one of the three essential skills I believe every dog pro needs to understand in depth - gait, drive, motivation, mechanics, assessment, different technique and exercise, consequence gradients and all.

Because when you understand what you’re really asking for,
you stop calling it stubbornness
and start training it like the advanced skill it actually is. And this leads to way better pet dogs with way happier relationships. ###

07/18/2025

Please do your research before making decisions for your pup. I just share info so you can make the best decision for you and your pup. Link to study is in the comments.

Preventing unwanted litters is a goal we all share—but it's time to rethink the surgical approach. Hysterectomies and vasectomies, which preserve hormonal balance, can safely be performed as early as 8 weeks of age, making dogs sterile without disrupting their natural hormones.

In this study, researchers looked at whether the age at which dogs were spayed or neutered, meaning how long they were exposed to their natural s*x hormones, affected how healthy they were in old age. They studied a group of long-lived pet dogs to learn what helps dogs live longer, healthier lives. Dogs with the fewest age-related health problems were considered the most “robust.”

The results showed that both male and female dogs who kept their hormones longer (i.e., were spayed or neutered later) were 3 to 10 times more likely to be healthy in old age compared to those altered earlier. Once hormone exposure and age were taken into account, there was no difference in old-age health between males and females.

This study highlights how important s*x hormones may be for staying healthy later in life and shows that early-life decisions—like when to spay or neuter—can have long-term effects on health.

07/10/2025

A well behaved dog does not happen with one dog training session; it is the result of consistency, patience, play and realistic expectations.
Dogs thrive when we clearly SHOW them what we need, give them time to learn and make the process enjoyable. It’s not about perfection, it’s about partnership.

07/04/2025

Happy 4th of July to all! Honoring and remembering all who have sacrificed. Keep you and your pups safe today!

06/30/2025

Many dogs are not big fans of all the firework festivities they go on during 4th of July holiday; can’t say I blame them one bit.
Some tips to help your pup out on those nights they are blasting away:
🐾 if they dig their kennel, put it in a basement with a sound machine and have them in there.
🐾 staying home with your pup? If you can go downstairs, turn a good movie on and turn it up (preferably not more blowing up) and have a novel yummy bone for them to focus and chew on.
🐾 get them out for potty prior to the majority of the fireworks going off.
🐾 even if your dog is good off leash, take them out on a leash. This holiday is one of the highest lost dogs times.
🐾 keep them at home.
🐾 make sure they have their tags on their collars.
🐾 calming thunder shirts or cbd snacks/oil can be helpful for some.