Salty Dogs Obedience and Adventure

Salty Dogs Obedience and Adventure Certified Dog Behavior Consultant and Dog Trainers serving Blue Hill, Ellsworth. and greater Downeast

Do you love: DOGSBEING OUTSIDELEARNING LEARNING LEARNINGTEACHINGWe’re thinking about adding another assistant/full train...
04/30/2026

Do you love:

DOGS
BEING OUTSIDE
LEARNING
LEARNING
LEARNING
TEACHING

We’re thinking about adding another assistant/full trainer to our amazing team. Previous dog training experience is not required but the desire to learn, be part of a team, and grow, is. You’d start with us at Maine Canine Academy, with the opportunity to teach classes, private training, and more. If you’re looking to spend more times outside, with dogs, improving their welfare and building skills, send us a message!

This is a post about Tessa but it’s also a post about all the dogs we love, so I think it’s worth reading even if you do...
04/28/2026

This is a post about Tessa but it’s also a post about all the dogs we love, so I think it’s worth reading even if you don’t know Tessa.

Almost two years ago Tessa was diagnosed with heart disease and this past week we were told she now has Congestive Heart Failure. This wasn’t news we were ready for but she is 13 after all, and with the help of an amazing team at Portland Veterinary Specialists and our team here at Salty Dogs, I am hopeful about the time we have left with Tess.

Reflecting on Tessa’s life lately, I’ve had to interrupt myself from going down a path of guilt. “Was her life full enough? Did I do enough? Did she experience enjoy joy? If only I had done xyz training she could have done this and that.” Social media certainly doesn’t make this easier.

If I had spent my time training Tessa to be out in public more, would she have been able to do it? Yes. Would she have enjoyed it? Probably not. Would it have increased her quality of life? No. Was her time better spent in the woods, on the porch, with her friends and family, playing and romping? I think so.

When thinking about the training skills your dog needs, I think it’s worth asking: do they really need to do this, or do I just want them to? Sometimes the expectations we place on our dogs and on ourselves to train is so high and I can’t find a really good reason to do it.

I realize this post is a little scattered, the anticipatory grief is a real…mindf**k. But what I think I’m trying to say is, when you look back on your dogs life, you’ll remember the moments of joy and love, not how tight their heel was or how long they could hold a down stay in a stressful environment. Gear your training towards the skills that allow your dog to life a joyful life.

When you hear the word enrichment on the internet, it’s often someone trying to sell you something. But enrichment doesn...
04/24/2026

When you hear the word enrichment on the internet, it’s often someone trying to sell you something. But enrichment doesn’t have to involve something you buy.

Enrichment is allowing your dog to access their capital D Dog-ness. That can mean them getting wet, getting muddy, going to areas with ticks. Some of Lana’s happiest moments of the day involve getting to move her body quickly through water. Puddles, streams, the ocean, all of it.

How can you increase your dog’s ability to access dog stuff? To run, to jump, to sniff, to splash, to play, to dissect, to choose, to have freedom, to be in nature, to experience joy.

TODAY IS THE DAY! It’s not too late to join us and learn more about your dog, how to live with them, and why they do the...
04/19/2026

TODAY IS THE DAY!

It’s not too late to join us and learn more about your dog, how to live with them, and why they do the things they do!

Our workshop today at 3:00 will cover everything you need to know AND is a fundraiser to help cover costs for dogs in our community who need training help.

Message us to sign up!

In this day and age of Tik Tok trainers, you won’t see us posting videos of long down stays and close heelwork through t...
04/15/2026

In this day and age of Tik Tok trainers, you won’t see us posting videos of long down stays and close heelwork through the distractions at Home Depot. That’s just not our priority. What’s important to us is giving dogs and owners the tools for freedom. Real freedom without the threat of punishment. More opportunities for joy, for dog-ness. Training, relationship, connection, that’s how you get this. And this is what dogs need.

Photo of Dudley, Monkey, Siena, Tilly, and Macy at Maine Canine Academy today. A Mal, a Springer, two perfect mutts, and a GSD: force free, as it should be.

If you want your dog to join us, don’t wait. Next openings in June.

Did you know that our upcoming workshop is ALSO a fundraiser?It's true! That means ALL proceeds from our upcoming PAY-WH...
04/11/2026

Did you know that our upcoming workshop is ALSO a fundraiser?
It's true!
That means ALL proceeds from our upcoming PAY-WHAT-YOU-CAN workshop are going towards our fundraiser!
What is the fundraiser for, you might ask?
Our newly launched mutual aid fund - the SALT Network! (Shared Aid for Learning and Training).
The SALT Network is a pool of funds and resources that go towards our neighbors and friends, dog parents in YOUR community, who may need training help but might not be in a financial place to gain that help!
The heart of the SALT Network is to help ALL dog parents in the community get the training resources they need. That means even classes and services offered at Salty Dogs!

Want to help contribute to the SALT Network? Join us for our upcoming workshop on the 19th! Contribute to a great cause while also learning how to Understand your own dog!
Link is below in the comments!
Or if you wish to just contribute funds to the Network, send us a message!

Feeling stressed out? ✨GET YOUR DOGS INTO THE WOODS✨Dogs home alone all day? ✨GET YOUR DOGS INTO THE WOODS✨Got an import...
04/10/2026

Feeling stressed out?
✨GET YOUR DOGS INTO THE WOODS✨

Dogs home alone all day?
✨GET YOUR DOGS INTO THE WOODS✨

Got an important work deadline coming up?
✨GET YOUR DOGS INTO THE WOODS✨

Dogs need more confidence?
✨GET YOUR DOGS INTO THE WOODS✨

House a mess?
✨GET YOUR DOGS INTO THE WOODS✨

Got a puppy, adult, or senior?
✨GET YOUR DOGS INTO THE WOODS✨

Got a mastiff, a Chihuahua, a Border Collie, or a Husky?
✨GET YOUR DOGS INTO THE WOODS✨

Sleeting, snowing, or raining?
✨GET YOUR DOGS INTO THE WOODS✨

Will getting your dogs into the woods solve ALL of your problems? Unfortunately not, but it is a great place to start.

Can’t get your dogs into the woods? Send a message, we can help. Featuring Ruby, Remy, Maisie, and Novi with trainer Anna at Off Leash Camp

Lana’s never been an easy dog. Sure, the last seven years have been easier than the first seven, but she’s an independen...
04/08/2026

Lana’s never been an easy dog.

Sure, the last seven years have been easier than the first seven, but she’s an independent, strong-willed, husky gal with a don’t give a hoot* attitude, through and through.

Some trainers would tell you that with a dog like Lana you need to force them into submission. That “respect” means to obey you at all costs and that their own needs are secondary to your desires.

But the strong, independent traits that make a husky are why we get huskies. Is it fair to select for that over and over again and then try to squash her into a golden retrieved box?

Sure, your husky needs training. So does your hound and your herder and your bully and your terrier, but they also need understanding. They need breed type *and* general dog time, they need social interactions and sometimes support, they need opportunities to do the stuff that makes them who they are. Not just as a representative of a breed but as an individual with their own experiences and internal state.

If you need help understanding what your dog needs and how you can live joyfully with them, we have a Pay What You Can workshop coming up in a couple of weeks. For folks who need training help, but also folks for whom training help hasn’t been enough. I’ll be hosting it and all proceeds will go to support low and no cost training care to others in our community. We’ll put more details in the comments, and would love to see you there.

*Lana would use a less family friendly word

✨New Class Alert!!✨Introducing "Canine Confidence"! This class is perfect for all ages, and will help our dogs gain conf...
04/06/2026

✨New Class Alert!!✨
Introducing "Canine Confidence"!

This class is perfect for all ages, and will help our dogs gain confidence moving around their world, all while building engagement and a stronger relationship . Stairs, jumps, different surfaces under their feet, and novel environments can be scary, and this class is perfect for helping owners and dogs!

No prerequisites required, $175 for 5 weeks.
Starts Sunday, April 26th at 10:00am. Message us if you'd like to join or to learn more!!

There's still time to sign up for our PAY-WHAT-YOU-CAN Workshop!!Sunday, April 19th at 3:00pm!"Understanding Your Dog: W...
04/02/2026

There's still time to sign up for our PAY-WHAT-YOU-CAN Workshop!!

Sunday, April 19th at 3:00pm!

"Understanding Your Dog: What They Need, And How To Live With Them"

In case you missed it, here is what we will cover in the workshop!:

❤️How to read your dog’s body language
❤️How to know when your dog’s needs aren’t being met
❤️How to navigate multi‑animal households
❤️How to make walks easier and more enjoyable
❤️How to prevent destruction in the home
❤️How to build training into your everyday routine
❤️And more!

Join other like-minded dog parents who want to bring a little more hakuna matata to their household!

All proceeds from this workshop go directly toward funding our the SALT (Shared Aid for Learning and Training) Network.
Your participation helps us create more accessible training support for dogs and their humans in our community!

See the link in the comments to sign up!

**Photo of the beautiful Nola!**

We’re a little late but still wanted to say: HAPPY BIRTHDAY to our bestest biggest boy JET! We love getting to train and...
04/02/2026

We’re a little late but still wanted to say: HAPPY BIRTHDAY to our bestest biggest boy JET! We love getting to train and play with you and are so glad you’re a Salty Dog!

NEW! Puppy II Social Club, for puppies 16-24 weeks!We have been hearing how it would be nice to have a safe, structured,...
03/30/2026

NEW! Puppy II Social Club, for puppies 16-24 weeks!

We have been hearing how it would be nice to have a safe, structured, social group class for puppies to continue playing, growing, and learning together after they age out of the Salty Dogs Puppy Club at 16 weeks.

And this brought to life: PUPPY II SOCIAL CLUB!

This is for puppies ages 16-24 weeks. The pre-requisite is having attended one of our Puppy Club sessions (Unless approved by our trainers).

Just like puppy club, it is a weekly drop-in, so registration is required for each week that you attend.

The drop-in rate is $30 per class.
It will focus on both puppy play, skills around distractions, redirection when needed, and support for puppies and their parents.

Message us or visit our website to sign up!

Address

Surry, ME

Telephone

+12078355363

Website

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