The Trekking Dog Trainer

19/02/2025

Something I enjoy the most about what I do is watching the teams develop confidence with their furry battle buddies in order to do what they want to do in everyday life more comfortably! Warms my heart to see the teams advance to higher levels in real-world training outings like this.

Go Liz and Freyja! Cannot wait to see all of the fun adventures that lay ahead!

The SBF training program aims to enable handlers to engage in everyday life activities with the assistance of a service dog.

Pictured here, Liz and her service dog in training, Freyja, can be seen at the gym, with a spotter present in one of the pictures. According to their SBF trainer, Jule W., Freyja was a rock star in being attentive, scanning her surroundings, settling calmly, and even practicing her tasks in between exercises. Freyja's AWESOME behavior will allow Liz to work out more frequently, which is a win all around!

12/02/2025

If you do not know the most basic emergency care for your pet, I highly recommend you research and learn...and create a HABIT that you can rely on DURING the emergency. I will never forget this day nor what Dad, as a member of emergency personnel for humans, said to me: "I've helped saved thousands...but when my own dog is choking, I didn't recognize it or react to you like you did and she is absolutely fine now because of your quick intervention. This could have been so much worse..."

I was eating dinner in between classes and these were students of mine, who came in for a mere cookie training session on their own for helping proof under distractions at the dog daycare I taught classes at. Their beautiful dog started choking on a treat...and, well, you can watch and see what happens next.

I've been in animal care, behavior, general practice and emergency medicine in the veterinary field for over two decades. Sadly, it's not my first rodeo with choking and it likely won't be my last, however, the basic instinct and habit is there when I need.

So I IMPLORE pet owners to educate themselves on basic emergency care...so that you can buy time and get to a professional and further the care if needed.
One of the moments of memory, caught on video: (and shared with permission from owner).

Video shared with all parties' permission. This video was captured one of the internal camera systems at The Woof, where Julie was grabbing a quick meal befo...

23/12/2024

Wishing everyone Happy Howlidays!

06/12/2024

Arizona People!! Please consider and share!
Attached is a picture of the Tax Credit postcard that Soldier's Best Friend has posted! SBF is a Qualifying Charitable Organization in Arizona for the Tax Credit. That means you can receive a dollar for dollar credit on your Arizona state taxes by giving to SBF. If you owe $100 in state taxes, you can give that to SBF and then not have to pay it to the state. Married couples can give up to $938 and singles up to $470.

Please help SBF and post this picture on your social media platforms and encourage your followers to give to Soldier's Best Friend and receive the dollar for dollar tax credit on their Arizona state taxes.

You can help us finish strong in 2024!

26/11/2024

Reminders for Thanksgiving! Avoid expensive vet visits for tummy issues!

Thanksgiving is days away so we wanted to share these do's and don'ts for your dog during the big meal. If Rex gets into something he's not supposed to, here's the number for the Animal Poison Control Center: 855-764-7661.

29/10/2024

Don't have a lot of time to dedicate to an in-person class or lesson right now? Have we got a Howl-o-ween special for you!

Want your pup to start learning right away in your home environment and while going on your normal neighborhood walk routine?

We can help! We offer an online instructional video program that can help you cover all of the basics - and so much more - to help your dog get started on critical Life Skills, learn useful tricks, and show off the manners you've always wanted!

To learn more, visit:
https://trekkingdogtrainer.weebly.com/virtual-learning-programs-online.html

(Option 1 is our most popular program right now and on special!)

Enroll today and get your pup started on the Right Paw!

No special equipment required either...

16/10/2024

Alright, I have finished it! Who wants to enroll?!

Life Skills, Therapy Dog & Service Dog Starter Course
*** This program is offering more than ever before! ***
This program will help you develop a daily regimen of fun activities that also act as an educational program for critical Life Skills in order to get your dog started for Therapy or Service Dog work!
Some of the lesson included are:

Critical Life Skills, like: Come When Called, Loose Leash Skills, Quiet(no barking), Off(no jumping), even getting your dog to Cement their Stays! In addition, how to put all of these things together in real-world (not classroom) applications.

Enrichment Skills, like: Nose Work Challenges and even Rainy Day Games to play to get that energy out with great enrichment games to wear your pup out on those need-more-coffee days!

Tricks and Other Useful Behaviors, like: Having them wipe their paws while circling, Jumping for Joy, and even a Yappy Hour lesson!

Beginning some Service Dog Tasks, by choosing your desired: Alert behavior (Nudge, Chin, etc); Pressure Therapy (LPT(like Lap pressure), DPT (like Paws Up or Cover your body while laying down), Leaning Pressure while standing, etc); Interruption behavior (like for: anger, finger tapping, finger picking/chewing on nails, anxiety, self-harm, restlessness, night terrors, etc); crowd control/creating space in public behavior; and Mobility Assist behavior (like: brace, counter-balance, press, push, retrieve, and others); and a few others!

Explanatory Videos, like: Orientation video about our amazing 4-step program, how dogs learn, and the tips and tricks for SUCCESS! You will also learn about What are Markers, Continuers, NRMs, Verbal Corrections are...as well as Husbandry Tips for Petting without conflict, and so much more!

This program will help teach you how to get the best out of your dog while keeping it fun and rewarding for all species involved!

Enrollment is only $75 for over 45 video instructional lessons - that's less than $2/lesson - AND you'll get a myriad of handouts, extra tips and tricks, our Training Journal download, our recommended Vocabulary Term List...and more! The next course starts October 27th and if you enroll before October 25th, you will also receive an additional personalized video instructional of your choice (a $25 value)! Having trouble with one behavior in particular? This could be the best way to help problem solve and move forward!

We also offer the 5-behavior add-on package for Service Dog Tasks for $25 where you can pick 5 additional behaviors to receive instructional videos for if you want to teach your pup more Service Dog tasks.

Enroll today!

Contact / Enrollment Form at bottom of page! :-)

13/08/2024

I am so dang proud of this team! Leroy is a rescue dog evaluated and brought into the SBF program and paired with Larry with such an obvious connection from the beginning, is was easy to see they were meant for great things together!

They are one of my first teams that started when I did back in January and to have them share this real-world win with me recently (and the behind-the-scenes look into what a PTSD Service Dog can help with!) just warms my heart even more and makes me glow with pride, knowing how far they've come ...and the bright future ahead.

Life isn't a race to the finish line - it is finding the joy in the journey that matters. Dogs can help us start to heal from trauma in ways no human can sometimes.

They bring us back to the present...because that's what they really know. How to be PRESENT.

Larry & Leroy - You Got This! One more PAT test after the airport and on to Graduation!

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/dVv6GF6tHLpKRhAS/?mibextid=oFDknk

09/08/2024

From 2016...
At 9:25 p.m. on Tuesday, August 9th, 2016, Guinness peacefully crossed the bridge ahead of me while snuggled in my arms, surrounded by friends and family. I could not have asked for a more serene way to say goodbye to my best friend. He knew without a doubt he was loved. So...thank you in advance for all of your condolences. He was just over 10.5 years. We've lived a grand adventure and only until VERY recently, he was still running, playing, and being a goofball...then...Lung Cancer. Very Aggressive. With everything it tried to take away, we modified our lives and still remained hopeful, happy...and we conquered it all...together. I told him if he fought I would too...and we did. But the last few days...we stopped. He wasn't the same dog and even the hope of cure was ripped away as he told me he was tired on the same day I discovered I had raised all of the money through private donors and was approved for a loan to start the SRS treatment we had hoped would give him more quality time here. He knew: The cancer had already spread. It was confirmed a second lesion was in his lungs and his platelets dropped to 18,000(manual count) as he spiked a 104.9 degree fever and we sat at WVRC looking into each other's eyes and he told me he was done. So, we stopped fighting. We left WVRC and went to watch the sunrise together for the last time at one of his favorite spots. We did some arts 'n crafts and got messy. We then went to the park to chase bikes, splash and relax in his favorite creek, and just be for awhile. We then got some vanilla custard and he finally ate something. In after 3 days of begging him and barely getting anything down, he decided to eat his custard...and I knew: it was his last meal. He refused everything else, even chicken, steak, cat food, etc. We had friends come by one last time, and then I kept my promise: I was there the moment he took his first breath and was holding him in my arms as he took his last and his heartbeat peacefully ceased to exist. I don't have any other words right now. His passing has ripped a huge piece of my soul out and right now I am just trying to cauterize the bleed. Just taking some time away from everyone and everything right now...so thank you in advance.

The Blog I Wrote a month later(viewer discretion is advised):

https://paws4reflection.weebly.com/personal-reflections/a-vet-techs-farewell-to-her-best-friend

08/08/2024

Allison Pejsa and one of my favorite Sniffspots was on the news!!!!

Join Sniffspot today and get $5 off to book your visit!
https://www.sniffspot.com/to/aoscx

https://youtu.be/9A_s3vzhLjo?si=3aL5fTVSh1kj7vAF

The property, called Barksville, is in Gilbert near Ocotillo Road and Greenfield Road. It offers several shady spots and canine activities. For more Local ...

04/07/2024

Please remember all who fought, died, and those who live with the scars and memories of fighting still to maintain while you celebrate your freedom - today, tomorrow, and every day.

I wish everyone a safe and Happy 4th of July and extended weekend.

A fav memory of my Guinness...

01/07/2024

So proud of this dude! Progress, not perfection but when opportunity presents, we'll take it! I discovered a flattening tire this morning(slow leak/another bolt in the sidewall, for crying out loud!), so I searched and found a close tire place that had the tire I need to match, pumped up tire, and drove over with Saber. While we waited for the checks and changes...I started a leash retrieval with this dude and mwah! The retriever kicked in! Yay! So, now we have another task starting and I am heading back home.

We also practiced: LLW, Sit, Down, Settle, Under, Tuck, Touch, Check it Outs, Leave its, Focus, Paws Up for DPT/Grounding, and the new cue, "Ignore" when people try to actively distract. SDiT...lots of work to do, but Progress Not Perfection for this 7.5mo old!

Your dog is learning EVERY moment they are awake...what is it that YOU are teaching them?