Rocky Junior's Dog Training Service

Rocky Junior's Dog Training Service We specialize in positive training and expert, force free, fear and reactivity resolution. We are here to help with all your dog training needs!

Does your dog not pay attention to you, pull on the leash, jump on people and generally act in a distracted fashion? Does your dog have behavioral issues such as reacting negatively towards other dogs or people?

Bella came to us last summer, as a very unique and challenging case. She was afraid of her collar and leash, afraid of ...
06/22/2026

Bella came to us last summer, as a very unique and challenging case. She was afraid of her collar and leash, afraid of people and dogs, afraid to go outside, and seemed to constantly be ridden with anxiety.

Bella was one of the small percentage of dogs who show their fear through avoidance rather than the more common acting out. After 3 lessons at home with no progress I decided to do something I'd never done: take Jenny to Bella's next lesson at Bella's home.

After play bows and rollovers, Bella excitedly ran out the door and started playing with Jenny! This was the start of Jenny being Bella's Life Coach. Just Jenny being with and supporting Bella had a tremendously positive impact on Bella, who is now much more confident and happy. She even heels nicely when on walks through the neighborhood with her Mom.

Bella and Jenny have become very good friends. Now they just play during Bella's sessions.

Save #20 for Jenny!

http://rockyjrdogtraining.com

Jenny did more excellent RAFT with fearful and reactive dogs this weekend. I'm more amazed by her with every passing da...
06/22/2026

Jenny did more excellent RAFT with fearful and reactive dogs this weekend. I'm more amazed by her with every passing day.

I took this photo during a RAFT session. Just like Rocky Junior before her, Jenny absolutely loves helping dogs and their people.

Jenny's beat and I am too, so we'll do posts Monday and Tuesday.

http://rockyjrdogtraining.com

RAFT (Reactivity And Fear Therapy) is the only way to help fearful, reactive dogs. Using confrontation and punishment b...
06/21/2026

RAFT (Reactivity And Fear Therapy) is the only way to help fearful, reactive dogs. Using confrontation and punishment because a dog is communicating its fear will only further damage the dog.

I started working with Meghan and her dogs, Brunson (left) and Barkley about three months ago. The dogs were so reactive to me during our first lesson that I had to ask Meghan to crate them and cover the crates with blankets.

It would have made no sense at all to try further work at home because it just would have terrorized the dogs more. So we moved to the safe, wide open expanses of Idea High School for our second and subsequent sessions.

We started RAFT immediately with Brunson and Barkley, and have continued. We have seen these two boys grow more confident and less reactive as our therapy sessions progressed. Today Brunson let me pet him, which was amazing. I have been walking Barkley for over a month and we're besties.

Meghan told me she recently had friends over and Brunson and Barkley were little angels. That would not have been possible in the past.

When dogs feel safe they flourish. And when you respect them and treat them with love, compassion and understanding, they heal.

http://rockyjrdogtraining.com

06/19/2026

OMG, look at the baby wolf!

From 2018: Baby Cat and Rocky Junior. Baby died in 2021 and Rocky Junior in 2024. They were a great pair and I miss th...
06/19/2026

From 2018: Baby Cat and Rocky Junior. Baby died in 2021 and Rocky Junior in 2024. They were a great pair and I miss them.

http://rockyjrdogtraining.com

Jenny is getting lots of extra rest today because I woke up to a plumbing emergency. My kitchen sink was backing up, an...
06/19/2026

Jenny is getting lots of extra rest today because I woke up to a plumbing emergency. My kitchen sink was backing up, and if I had been gone my apartment would have flooded. Thankfully I was here, and was able to use a bucket to prevent a big miss.

I was set to work with our most severe case today. I'm not happy about that, but sometimes life happens, right?

http://rockyjrdogtraining.com

In the 2010's I did some pro bono work with Sunny Sky's Animal Rescue, helping some of their troubled dogs become adopta...
06/19/2026

In the 2010's I did some pro bono work with Sunny Sky's Animal Rescue, helping some of their troubled dogs become adoptable.

Ollie was a very frightened Chihuahua who only trusted two volunteers. He would bite anyone else who tried to interact with him. I started visiting Ollie and soon gained his trust, which led me to be able to help with his confidence.

It took a year, but Ollie finally met his perfect person and was adopted 7 years ago. You're a good boy, Ollie! I miss you and hope you're living your best life.

http://rockyjrdogtraining.com

I worked with my big buddy Buford and his Mom, Cherry, on Wednesday. Sometimes we have to take a step back, into consul...
06/19/2026

I worked with my big buddy Buford and his Mom, Cherry, on Wednesday. Sometimes we have to take a step back, into consulting mode, which we had to do with Buford due to a recent concerning incident. It was time well spent, with Buford spending most of the hour with me. I just love how much this big boy loves me!

RAFT with Jenny is likely in Buford's future, but first we have to work on body language recognition and helping Buford trust visitors - as well as educating those visitors.

http://rockyjrdogtraining.com

Thursday featured two RAFT sessions: A first time RAFT with Brisket the Corgi; and a second RAFT with Koa.Brisket does ...
06/19/2026

Thursday featured two RAFT sessions: A first time RAFT with Brisket the Corgi; and a second RAFT with Koa.

Brisket does have some reactivity issues, but more frequently it's over excitement. Today Brisket experienced the magic of the 30 foot leash and did extremely well. He was SO happy!

I met up with Koa and her Dad at Idea High School. During Koa's first RAFT session we didn't see any dogs and Koa was so happy, having the time of her life. Today was more of the same, but towards the end of the session a couple showed up with three dogs.

Koa's reaction was off the charts. I see Jenny in her future, but I have to be careful. Jenny's hip joints are in such bad shape that a dog running into her could cause fractures - which would mean the end of Jenny's young life, as I wouldn't be able to afford $7500 for hip replacement surgery.

http://rockyjrdogtraining.com

Today I went to the VA American Lake medical center for blood tests prior to imaging of my feet. Blood flow needs to be...
06/17/2026

Today I went to the VA American Lake medical center for blood tests prior to imaging of my feet. Blood flow needs to be restored or I could lose my feet. I still have difficulty walking. It exhausts me and I experience a lot of pain.

I'm almost about to exit when I encountered a disabled veteran in a wheelchair. He wasn't able to roll the wheels to move forward. No one was offering to help him.

He told me he had to go to the admitting desk, which is probably 400 feet from where we were. Despite my pain and mobility issues, I started pushing him to the front desk. He told me he had four strokes in the past week. He was paralyzed below the waist. He could barely use him arms and hands, and had great difficulty speaking.

To top it off, he is a combat veteran of the Vietnam war. I told him about my strokes and how I had improved with time. When we parted ways I urged him to be strong and patient, and wished him all the best.

Sometimes we meet people having great difficulty in life, and they deserve our compassion and help.

http://rockyjrdogtraining.com

Address

Tacoma, WA

Opening Hours

Wednesday 10am - 7pm
Thursday 10am - 7pm
Friday 10am - 7pm
Saturday 10am - 7pm
Sunday 10am - 7pm

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