Suwanee Dog Mom

Suwanee Dog Mom Christina McInnis a former service dog trainer and agility trainer. As well as spending time with her husband and children.

certified by the AKC as an evaluator for AKC Star Puppy, AKC Caninine Good Citizen, CGCU and Community Canine Programs. Committed to providing the most effective, convenient solutions to her clients’ dog training needs, Christina is avidly pursues ongoing continuing education and professional development by attending seminars and keeping current on all industry literature. Suwanee dog mom puts cl

ients first and believes the whole family should be involved with training the dog. When not helping clients to enjoy easier lives with their canine companions, Christina enjoys training their newest addition Ranger.

☀️ It’s warming up out there!Last summer, while driving, I passed someone out running with their dog. Something didn’t l...
06/01/2026

☀️ It’s warming up out there!

Last summer, while driving, I passed someone out running with their dog. Something didn’t look right, so I turned around to check on them. The dog was overheating and needed veterinary care. I stayed and helped get them where they needed to go.

It was a reminder of how quickly a dog can go from having fun to having a medical emergency.

Some of the first signs to watch for are excessive panting, heavy drooling, slowing down, seeking shade, or refusing to continue. If your dog seems weak, unsteady, collapses, or becomes unresponsive, seek veterinary care immediately.

As temperatures rise, take a minute to learn the warning signs below. Sometimes the best thing we can do for our dogs is call it a day early and head home.

Stay safe and enjoy the warmer weather! 🐾

Below is a diagram to help list signs.

Every summer I see the same comments when people post dogs in life jackets.“He’s a dog, he can already swim.”I actually ...
05/26/2026

Every summer I see the same comments when people post dogs in life jackets.
“He’s a dog, he can already swim.”

I actually got asked about it after posting a photo of Ranger and one of our visiting lake house pups wearing theirs, so figured I’d explain why I’m such a big believer in them. 😊

Yep. Most dogs can swim. That doesn’t mean they’re good at it, safe in deep water, or able to handle hours of lake chaos with kids, boats, waves, docks, exhaustion, currents, heat, panic, distractions, or getting launched off the back of a pontoon trying to chase a goose with absolutely zero survival instincts left in their brain. Ask me how I know. 😂

So yes, Ranger wears a life jacket.
And honestly, every dog that comes to the lake house does too.

Not because they’re weak.
Not because they can’t swim.
Because accidents happen FAST around water.

A few reasons I’m big on them:
• Fatigue is real, especially after nonstop swimming and retrieving
• Older dogs and puppies tire quicker than people realize
• Heavy breeds can sink faster than people expect once tired
• Panic changes everything, even in dogs that normally swim well
• Handles on the back are invaluable for docks, boats, kayaks, or “oh crap” moments
• If a dog falls in at night or unexpectedly, buoyancy buys precious time

And honestly? Ranger is confident enough to make questionable life choices. The life jacket helps balance that out. 😅

People wear seatbelts even though they know how to drive…. Well they should.
Same concept.

Water safety isn’t about whether your dog can swim.

It’s about giving them the best chance if something goes wrong.

Booked out through most of June! I do still have a couple spots open, but current clients and clients in starting plans ...
05/18/2026

Booked out through most of June! I do still have a couple spots open, but current clients and clients in starting plans do have reserved dates held for them to keep consistency in training.

Hope everyone is doing well and keeping those paws out of the hot weather!

One of the fastest ways to make a fearful dog MORE uncomfortable is having a stranger march directly up to them with a t...
05/12/2026

One of the fastest ways to make a fearful dog MORE uncomfortable is having a stranger march directly up to them with a treat going, “See! I’m nice!”

Humans mean well, but to a nervous dog that can feel a lot like being chased by the very thing they’re worried about.

There’s actually a funny training comparison people use sometimes called the “clown theory.”

Imagine your child is absolutely terrified of clowns. Full panic mode.

Now imagine a clown walking straight toward your child trying to hand them a balloon while everyone says:
“It’s okay!”
“He’s friendly!”
“Just take the balloon!”

Your child is probably thinking, “WHY IS THE CLOWN GETTING CLOSER?!” not “Wow this clown seems lovely.” 😂

Now imagine instead the clown keeps distance, hands YOU the balloon, and you casually hand it to your child once they calm down a little. Totally different feeling. No pressure. No forced interaction.

That’s how many fearful dogs work too.

A stranger approaching directly with food often adds pressure instead of relieving it. The safer approach is usually the stranger giving space while the OWNER calmly rewards the dog for observing without reacting.

And then people accidentally make it worse by standing there petting the dog going, “It’s okay Bozo, it’s okayyyy,” while the dog is actively panicking.

The problem is the dog learns:
“Yep. Mom agrees. This IS a big scary situation.”

Meanwhile nobody is actually advocating for the dog, creating space, or helping them feel safe. So eventually some dogs decide, “Fine, I’ll handle this myself then.”

And honestly, this week alone I dealt with two separate situations where dogs nipped after giving tons of warning signs they were uncomfortable. The dogs were communicating clearly long before the nip happened — people just kept pushing interaction because they thought the dog “needed exposure.”

Not every dog wants to greet every person — and forcing it is exactly how some dogs end up escalating to finally be heard.

Resource Guarding: what it is and what to do about itResource guarding is when a dog feels the need to protect something...
05/04/2026

Resource Guarding: what it is and what to do about it

Resource guarding is when a dog feels the need to protect something they value—food, toys, bones, even a spot on the couch or a person. It can look like stiffening, hovering, growling, showing teeth, or snapping when someone gets too close.

It’s not a “bad dog” thing. It’s insecurity.
The dog is basically saying: “I’m not sure this is safe to share.”

What makes it worse (very common mistakes):

– Taking things away randomly
– Reaching into bowls or messing with them while they eat
– Taking toys or food “just because” and not giving them back
– Punishing the growl (this just removes the warning, not the feeling)
– Kids or other dogs crowding them

A big one I still hear: “I put my hand in their bowl so they won’t guard.”
In reality, that often does the opposite—it teaches the dog that people approaching their food means something stressful or threatening might happen.

And one that gets laughed off way too often—dogs guarding a person.

Growling when someone comes near you, blocking, getting between you and others… people call it “protective” and even play into it. It’s not. That’s a dangerous game.

There is a difference between protection and resource guarding, and most people don’t realize it. A stable, trained protection dog is not reacting to every person who comes near you or growling when your husband walks up to hug you on the couch. That’s not protection—that’s the dog treating you like something they need to control and keep others away from.

What actually helps:

– Teach that people approaching = good things happen
– Trade, don’t take (give something better in exchange)
– Respect space when they have high-value items
– Keep it calm and predictable
– Prevent situations where they feel the need to guard

You’re building trust, not “winning.”

And here’s the honest part—

If a dog is already growling, snapping, or guarding people/food intensely, that’s not something to just guess your way through. It’s fixable, but it matters how you handle it. That’s when bringing in a professional is the right move.

Every moment is a training moment… even the quiet ones you don’t think about.

Suwanee Dog Mom 🐾

It’s that time of year again the weather is warming up and it’s time for my annual beware of the heat post. I have attac...
04/27/2026

It’s that time of year again the weather is warming up and it’s time for my annual beware of the heat post. I have attached also some diagrams.

🔥 Heatstroke in dogs can happen faster than you think. Watch for signs like rapid panting, bright red tongue, vomiting, weakness, and thick saliva.

🚨 If you notice any of these, move them to a cool area, apply cool (not icy) water, offer small sips of water, and get to a vet immediately.

🌡️ And don’t forget about their paws! Asphalt can reach up to 143° even when the air temp is only in the 80s. If it’s too hot for your bare feet, it’s too hot for theirs.

I’m usually your funny, lighthearted trainer…but this one isn’t that.A recent experience hit hard, and I think it’s some...
04/20/2026

I’m usually your funny, lighthearted trainer…

but this one isn’t that.

A recent experience hit hard, and I think it’s something more people need to understand.

A dog usually doesn’t just “snap out of nowhere.”

It starts way before that… and most people miss it.

They’ve usually been trying to communicate for a while—we just didn’t recognize it or we accidentally taught them it didn’t work.

Here’s what that can look like before it ever turns into a problem:

* stiff body (not relaxed, almost frozen)
* hard staring
* closing the mouth suddenly
* ears pinned back or forward and locked
* lip licking when there’s no food
* “whale eye” (showing the whites of the eyes)
* slow, tense movements
* backing away or trying to leave
* avoiding… then suddenly reacting
* low growl (this is a warning, not “bad behavior”)

And here’s where people mess up…

They correct the warning.

Dog growls → “NO” → dog stops growling
Owner thinks: “Good, fixed it.”

Nope.

You didn’t fix it… you removed the warning.

Now next time?
That dog skips the growl and goes straight to the bite.

That’s how people end up saying
“he’s never done that before.”

He has.
You just didn’t see it—or you taught him not to show it.

Most aggression is fear.
Fear, pressure, confusion, or a dog that feels like they have no other option.

And a lot of these cases need more than basic training.

Sometimes that means bringing in more intensive help.
Sometimes that means a board & train program.

That’s not something I personally offer—but I will always help guide you to the right fit if it means keeping a dog in their home and not breaking a family apart.

If you’re in that position and don’t know where to start, I’m always happy to talk and help point you in the right direction—no charge. This isn’t about booking sessions, it’s about doing right by the dog and the family.

And yes… there are rare and devastating cases where harder decisions have to be made.

But most of the time?
We missed the signs.

Your job isn’t just to stop behavior.
It’s to understand what led up to it.

Because if you only correct the reaction…
you’ll miss the reason.

These are just some of the signals.

Every moment is training… even when you’re not trying.You walk in the door → your dog goes crazy → you get excited too.Y...
04/16/2026

Every moment is training… even when you’re not trying.

You walk in the door → your dog goes crazy → you get excited too.

You didn’t “not train that.”
You trained it perfectly.

You taught:
the door opening = excitement.

Not you.
Not “mom’s home.”
The door.

So now it’s you… the kids… Amazon…
or great aunt Edna…

Same reaction every time.

Because that’s what you built.

How to fix it?

Stop rewarding the chaos.
Start rewarding the calm.

Door opens → dog loses their mind → you do nothing.
No talking, no touching, no eye contact.

The second they settle—
even a little…

“Good.”
Then you engage.

Now the lesson changes to:
the door opening = calm gets me what I want.

Same with barking.

Dog barking → you say “no.”
They stop… and look at you.

That was them listening.
That was the command being followed.

And most people miss it.

No “good,” no reward…
so the dog goes right back to barking.

Now they’ve learned:
barking gets more from you than listening.

A correction is still a command.
If they respond—even for a second—
that’s what you reward.

You have trained your dog…
just not the way you thought.

Dogs repeat what works.
So make the right things work.

It’s a busy season over here right now. I’m currently booking into mid-May with limited availability for new clients.Cur...
04/14/2026

It’s a busy season over here right now. I’m currently booking into mid-May with limited availability for new clients.

Current clients—nothing changes. Your place is already reserved as always.

— Christina
Suwanee Dog Mom

Address

Suwanee Dam Road NE, Buford
Sugar Hill, GA
30518

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

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+14044834194

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