Good Times Dog Training

28/07/2026

My new favorite tee shirt.

25/07/2026

Frodo was the last one.

The last surviving dog from Michael Vick's dogfighting operation, uncovered in Virginia in 2007. When authorities raided Bad Newz Kennels, they found 49 pit bulls—malnourished, injured, chained to old car axles in the woods. Many had been forced to fight. Some didn't survive.

It became one of the most infamous animal cruelty cases in American sports history. Michael Vick, then quarterback of the Atlanta Falcons, pleaded guilty, served 23 months in prison, and was ordered to pay nearly $1 million toward the care and lifetime needs of the surviving dogs. For many, that legal consequence still doesn't feel like enough when dogs were tortured and k*lled.

But what happened next changed everything.

Rescue groups like BAD RAP and Best Friends Animal Society fought for something radical: evaluating each dog as an individual instead of automatically destroying them. People said abused fighting dogs were too damaged to ever live safely in homes. Those rescue groups proved them wrong.

Many of the Vick dogs were rehabilitated, adopted, and became family pets and therapy dogs. Living proof that abused dogs are not defined by what humans forced them to endure.

Frodo was one of those survivors. He was shy, anxious, and deeply affected by his past—he had nightmares and cried. His adopter comforted him with a fan, a television, routine, and safety. Healing took time and patience and people willing to rearrange their lives around a dog who had already survived too much.

For 14 years, Frodo got that life. The Ramirez family pampered him like a prince. He was loved, protected, treated like what he always should have been: a family member.

In December 2021, Frodo passed away at about 15 years old. BAD RAP called him the last of 48 brave survivors from that case.

His d*ath closed the final chapter. But their legacy lives on. Those dogs changed how courts, shelters, and the public looked at victims of cruelty. They proved that survivors deserve evaluation, rehabilitation, and a chance—not d*ath because of what was done to them.

Frodo survived the worst of people. Then he spent 14 years experiencing the best of them. That's the part worth remembering.

24/07/2026

Greta thinks the xl bed is for her! But it's because I'm a big dog in a small body!

23/07/2026

Welcome Gisele!

22/07/2026

Stopping for a rest while hiking, it's important to keep a stick in your mouth--even if you're falling asleep.

14/07/2026

Your dog owes you nothing. Not a thing.

The decision for him to be in your life wasn’t his, it was yours. He doesn’t owe you anything. If you look at your dog as owing you something in return for your attention, food, medical care etc, then that’s the first problem we have to tackle before we can even begin true training together.

Your dog doesn’t owe you “obedience” he doesn’t owe you “respect” he doesn’t owe you “good behavior” simply because he gets to share the same space and life with you. If you want that kind of relationship and behavior; that’s on you to create, not him.

YOU owe your dog. You owe it to him to understand his history, his development and his ancestors. You owe it to him to learn about his needs, his characteristics and his individual personality. You owe it to him to become educated on how he communicates with you, his body language and train him in a way he understands and enjoys and doesn’t cut corners just because it’s easier on YOU. You owe it to him to protect him and keep him safe. You owe it to him to modify YOUR environment to help him be successful.

Dogs are a privilege. WE created THEM. We’ve done them so many injustices and yet they still go to war with us, herd our livestock, protect us, find people for us, assist us devotedly, meet us at the door wagging their tails and comfort us when we are down. The tasks they do for us go above and beyond any other partnership between species imaginable, so you have to be willing to do your part too.

Your dog owes you nothing. You owe your dog. Let’s get to work to make a great team.

- Helen St.Pierre
If you share please give credit.

13/07/2026

Oh dear! Hope it cools down.

IT'S BEEN SO HOT MY EARS FELL OFF!

And Kate Hall's Hela can only hope they grow back when it's cooler.

04/07/2026

Sending prayers for the safety and comfort for all - animals and people alike - who will be affected by an egotistical desire for a world record fireworks display in DC tonight. The barrage will go on and on, assaulting all without consent, creating air quality so bad that N95 masks are being urged.

My heart breaks for all the animals, in homes and in the wild, who cannot understand nor escape the assault, and for the humans who will also be traumatized. If you are not someone bothered by fireworks, consider what you can do to mitigate the distress of others which may prove quite literally deadly.

01/07/2026

The summer can be one of the hardest seasons for dogs and their humans as it is the season for thunderstorms and fireworks, even on days that don’t usually call for them.

The fourth of July is a holiday where fireworks are abundant and sound sensitive dogs can struggle immensely when exposed to the unpredictable, loud noises that we view as family friendly fun. Even dogs that don’t have sound problems can develop them quickly if exposed improperly to fireworks, which is something that I unfortunately see frequently this time of year. Here are some quick and easy do’s and don’ts to help you and your dog (whether sound sensitive or not) this time of year. It's likely with it being the 250th that things will be A LOT louder and for longer –

Do – Give your dog a safe place to go during the all the noise. Creating an environment that your dog can go to where the sound is lessened is actually fairly simple. A crate covered with a blanket, a bathroom, or even a dark room with the shades drawn, the basement even, and a fan going with some classical music playing on a Bluetooth speaker are options to help your dog feel secure. You may need to set this environment up ahead of time and encourage your dog to go there. You may even need to sit there with them. That's okay.

Do – Give your dog something fabulous to chew on or enjoy during the events. Make it something he rarely gets and that will last a while. A Kong stuffed with peanut butter and frozen is a wonderful option. This can be combined with the safe space you’ve created to not only keep your dog distracted, but also help him pair loud noises with something fun and yummy. Other Kong ideas are found online. Soda pup chews are a favorite here also. You can even do training with amazing treats too during this time. What you want to create is “loud noises = party time for me” in your dogs mind!

Do – Comfort your dog. The idea that comforting your dog when he is scared will encourage fearful behavior is false. Fear is an emotion, not a behavior, and your dog needs your support to feel safe during this time. If your dog is worried, talk to him calmly, give him a massage, or sit and hang out and even read aloud next to him. You don’t have to panic next to him, that certainly wont help, but you can comfort him without worrying it will make it worse. In fact, many clients report their dogs anxieties improve when they are offered support.

Do – Make sure your dog is wearing a collar with tags and if you have to take him out to potty after dusk, have him on leash! EVEN IN A FENCED YARD. More dogs get spooked and run away during this time and making sure your dog is secure on leash and also wearing tags is an important safety tip. Try to limit potty breaks to before and after the dusk period when random fireworks may go off.

DON’T – Take your dog to the show! It can be tempting to bring your dog with you to the big show and watch with you. I highly recommend not making this choice and leaving your dog at home. Your dog has no concept of what is going on and the loud unpredictable noises can create anxiety that lasts a lifetime. Leave him home, he’ll thank you for it.

DON’T – scold your dog! Yelling at your dog for shaking, panting, whining, or showing other anxious behavior will not help but will actually make him feel worse. Not only does he think the world is ending, now you’re upset too!

DO – try other things. Thundershirts, calming supplements, flower essences, pheromone collars and even medication for some dogs are necessary at times.

DO - Talk to your veterinarian and a certified professional trainer NOW (DONT WAIT UNTIL FRIDAY) on what they would recommend if your dog is really struggling. This is a much more common problem than you may think and there are other options! Having relief handy immediately rather than waiting is much better in the long run for both you and your dog. Medication is NOT cheating and it absolutely is worth it. Don’t wait to call. As always, NMBDT is here to help too.

PLEASE SHARE if you like but give credit - Helen St. Pierre, No Monkey Business Dog Training