Diamonds In The Ruff

11/08/2025

Researching the breed or breed type you are thinking about investing your time, love, and money is very important. Yes, there are always variations with in each breed or type, but knowing what they were bred to do - job, temperament, etc., is very important.

10/30/2025

10/07/2025

My graduating Reactive Rover Class
So proud of all of them!

05/10/2025

Trainer Tip Tuesday:

01/24/2024

Everyone wants success with their dog but sometimes handlers make the mistake of focusing on the results they want, instead of the effort it takes to produce them.

Many want quick fixes; they don’t want to hear that it takes years of study and dedication to be successful.
Todays society is fast, we have instant access to so many things (including posts on social media)
But dogs don’t care about technology, culture, agendas, ego or your expectations; if you’re not humble, your dog will likely do that for you.

Receiving good information is a must, a coach can be invaluable, but you have to do the work and make a lot of mistakes before success.
There are no great results without effort and training at times can be hard. It can test your patience, intention, commitment, discipline and self awareness.
But the amazing thing is, no matter how much you ultimately accomplish, putting great effort into developing your partnership with your dog can result in immeasurable reward, including one of the most profound bonds in your life.
macraeway.com

12/31/2023

My name is Joellen, and I am the Mom to these 4 legged kids. I never expected to have these kind of vet b… Joellen Burton needs your support for Help My Cats

12/19/2023

My name is Joellen, and I am the Mom to these 4 legged kids. I never expected to have these kind of vet b… Joellen Burton needs your support for Help My Cats

12/19/2023

While feeling a bit reflective, and thinking about what to write today, I went into the archives to see what I’d written this month ten years ago. I ran into this post, which I’d forgotten about, and decided it deserved to come out of moth balls, like some Christmas tree decorations stashed in t...

12/18/2023

It’s said many people don’t listen with the intent to understand;
they listen with the intent to respond.
The same can be true with dogs.
Sometimes handlers get caught up in their own voice, their desire to progress, to achieve their goal, instead of hearing what their dog is telling them they need.
Rather than getting your dog to change into your way, it’s important to adjust to their way.
It is never the same for each dog. The training principles are consistent but individuality is very important.
When you listen, without expectation, it’s amazing how much you will learn.
Being a good listener is key to being a good teacher; it empowers the partnership and bond with your dog.
macraeway.com

12/08/2023

PSA 📢📢 Puppies and kittens need a LOT of time, training, and love, and they come with long-term financial responsibilities. Do NOT recommend getting them as gifts for your loved ones without their knowledge. This is a big decision for any person because you are choosing a companion for the rest of the animal's life.

Every year people adopt puppies at Christmas time only to return them 1-4 months later or even a year later. And by then, they are not so tiny and adorable. And haven't been trained, developed poor behavioral habits, and now are much less adoptable. This means they will sit in the shelter, now in the large dog runs instead of the tiny puppy pits.

We want FURVER homes for our animals, not just homes right now. Do what is in the best interest of the animal. We would love for all of our animals to find great homes for the holidays, ones where we know they will be loved forever and be taken care of long-term.