Strutt Your Mutt, LLC

03/08/2026

I couldn’t live without dogs!

02/08/2026

People say dogs mirror their owners.

I’ve never been referred to as graceful 🤣🤪

20/07/2026

Meet Roman! He is a 5.5 year neutered Blue Heeler. Currently located in Western Colorado, looking for an experienced home, foster or, ideally, foster-to-adopt situation.

He is incredibly smart, funny, loyal and bonded to his people. He loves to play fetch, enjoys having a job, and is trainable. He is crate trained, muzzle trained, e-collar trained, and house trained. He has also completed a board-and-train program with an experienced trainer. We love him deeply, however our living situation has changed to where he is in a place without much space to release energy, and he is not thriving well in a home with a toddler who is now walking and taking up space in our home.

He has a high prey drive and can be fearful/reactive towards strangers and other dogs. While he can have big vocal reactions when overwhelmed, he is responsive to training and structure. He has no bite history.

We are specifically looking for someone experienced with working, high-energy breeds who understands he is not a dog who can just be dropped into any home and be expected to immediately thrive. He needs someone who is comfortable with management, structure, and continuing his training - but he is absolutely capable of building a relationship and being a wonderful companion to the right person.

We are hoping to find someone who can give him more exercise, mental stimulation, and appropriate outlets than we are currently able to give him in an apartment with a toddler. We love him very much, but we recognize that our current situation isn’t allowing him to have the quality of life he deserves.

We are not looking for just anyone to take him, and we are willing to be patient to find the right fit. We can provide his history, training information, equipment, and anything else needed to help make placement in his new home successful.

Please feel free to contact me (Nicole) at (719)849-5582 via text or phone call.

11/07/2026

This was one of the coolest experiences I’ve ever had. This fox spent almost 10 minutes at our campsite. Of course, it was trying to steal our food, but it was sooooo cool to watch.

Looking back at this moment, one of the coolest parts is the connection Atlas and I shared. I never said one word to him during this event. He is not in an obediance command. He chose to lay on that bed, and he chose to sit there with me quietly and observe the entire experience.

Training your dog isn’t just about getting them to perform behaviors and comply when we need it. Training your dog is about creating clear communication between you and your dog that results in a stronger connection and bond. When you can communicate with ease and there’s a clear understanding, that connection can grow so deep that you don’t always need words to express what you want. This video is a perfect example of that. Atlas just knew. He could just feel me. He let me record for a long time with my back to him and I didn’t have to worry once.

So if you’re thinking about getting your dog trained, and you’re on the fence, this is your reminder that getting your dog trained will create a connection between the two of you far greater than most people realize. Your relationship with your dog will actually grow stronger, your bond will be greater, and there will be times where that connection will make you feel like you just won the lottery.

09/07/2026

The reality is that most dogs lose some obedience after they go home. That’s not because owners don’t care—it’s because most people aren’t dog trainers, and we don’t expect them to think like one. We build our programs with that in mind.

Instead of relying almost entirely on obedience, we spend 85% of our training developing confidence, emotional stability, decision-making, and true autonomy. The goal is for the dog to understand how to behave, not just how to follow commands.

Many training programs depend so heavily on obedience that when results fade, the blame falls on the owner for not maintaining the training perfectly. We take a different approach. By creating a fulfilled, balanced dog that can make good decisions independently, lasting success doesn’t depend on the owner becoming a professional trainer.

This doesn’t take the owner out of the picture entirely. Needs must be met in order for the work that we provided to stick. But our primary goal is to ask for the least amount of management from our clients and the most feasible amount of freedom for the dogs.

16/06/2026

This is what socialization looks like! Pepper, the red lab, came to us for fear and reactivity towards people and dogs. Instead of doing engagement protocols and leash drills, I worked on trying to change how Pepper truly felt about dogs and people. Through real socialization and interaction, Pepper’s perception has dramatically changed! Pepper’s owners won’t be asked to keep her calm at all times or enforce strict rules and structure. They will be able to go into public freely, continue to Pepper’s socialization, and actually have some fun. It has been such an honor watching this little lady grow into the confident dog I knew she could be. I’m so proud of all she’s achieved and the bond we’ve shared. I can’t wait to watch her blossom with her owners and live her best life!

11/06/2026

Pepper and I went on an adventure at Las Colonias, and we were suddenly approached by three loose dogs running toward us. My initial instinct was the same one many people have: protect my dog, create distance, and get the other dogs away. But before reacting, I took a moment to observe. What I saw wasn’t aggression or threatening behavior from those dogs—it was social, playful curiosity.

There is a lot of information out there encouraging people to immediately guard their dogs and drive away every off-leash dog they encounter. While there are certainly situations where that’s appropriate, I’ve learned that not every encounter needs to be treated as a threat. In this case, I could tell these dogs were friendly and looking for social interaction. Pepper, being fearful and reactive, needs more positive experiences with the world around her. So instead of escalating the situation, I chose to remain calm, social, and open. By allowing the interaction to unfold naturally, I was communicating several things to Pepper:
*I am comfortable and social in this situation.
*I do not view these dogs as a threat.
*I believe she is capable of handling this interaction. *I trust her ability to make good choices.

Dogs are constantly reflecting our emotional state back to us. When we approach every unknown dog as a problem, our dogs often learn that the world is something to be suspicious of. When we remain composed and thoughtful, we create opportunities for them to see that not every surprise is dangerous.
Instead of reinforcing the idea that unfamiliar dogs are something to defend against, Pepper got the chance to learn that an off-leash dog might simply be a potential friend.

Not every situation should be handled this way, and good judgment is always important. But sometimes growth happens when we resist the urge to control the environment and instead allow our dogs to discover that the world isn’t nearly as threatening as they once believed

18/05/2026

In Grand Junction, everywhere you look there’s a spectacular view 😍🐶

17/05/2026