My Sidekick Dog Training

13/12/2025

Flight training in a nutshell! While we want to avoid having the dog become reactive whenever possible, life happens. This training technique can teach the dog to choose FLIGHT 💨 over FIGHT 👊 as a default behavior. It makes a huge difference for reactive dogs. Thanks to for teaching me this technique!

18/11/2025

Why I don’t believe in saying we have “ruled out medical”…

17/11/2025

Practice with a muzzle with the front cut off! Baskervilles and other ones like it are easy to cut with scissors. The dog can even pick up toys with the open front training muzzle. Then when they are comfortable with this we can start training on a real, bite proof muzzle. Bite proof muzzles can be solid hard plastic, metal, or thick rigid vinyl. Muzzles that aren’t bite proof are the mesh/fabric ones, soft rubber ones, biothane, and thin flexible vinyl. Remember that your muzzle needs to have some panting room. Happy training!!

07/11/2025

Just wanted to remind everyone that this sweet boy Kenny is still looking for a family to call his own! His start to life was tough.. he was a puppy living on the streets of Detroit for months until he was rescued and is now up for adoption through Underdog Rescue Ranch!

It took some time for Kenny to learn how to be in a home. At first, he would rather play with trash and random objects than toys.. where he came from, those were the only toys he had. Now, he loves all kinds of actual dog toys and enrichment! He will readily go back to his room for a treat puzzle 🧩 he enjoys playing fetch with his toys 🏈 and lounging around with a nice long lasting chew 🐾 he’s quite cuddly, especially in the mornings, and likes to play with his husky friend, River!

Apply today to adopt this sweet little ham!

29/10/2025

My other client had showed me their dog’s harness which came with this style closure, as the dog had handling sensitivities and fumbling with the closure made things more difficult. Being able to get Kato’s muzzle on and off with the standard belt-buckle style closure was a barrier for Kato’s guardian, so we are trying out this Fidlock magnetic buckle which I installed with rivets. We also color coded the buckle to make it easier to see which sides are supposed to go together. Now the challenge will be to get through all that poodley fluff to find the buckle itself! 😆

What creative ideas have you used to make things easier for dog guardians with disabilities?

13/10/2025

Kato out here looking like one of those pup play boys sporting his new Jafco muzzle 🥲

03/10/2025

Kenny is a one-year-old pup full of playful, puppy energy and a heart just as big as his stuffed toy collection. After surviving more than three months as a stray in Detroit, he’s ready to leave his street life behind and soak up all the love he can get.
This cuddly boy adores pets from his friends, enjoys a good round of fetch (even if he makes up his own rules), and loves soft toys more than anything. Kenny can be a little nervous at first, but once he feels safe, his sweet and silly side shines. He seems interested in other dogs, and he’ll need very slow introductions to any cats since we know how much he loves squirrels.
Kenny is looking for a family who can give him the patience, love, and playtime he deserves. Could that be you?
Apply to adopt Kenny through today!!

21/09/2025

I would love for every dog behavior professional to know this stuff! The vast majority of my clients turn out to have something going on with them physically that is causing or contributing to their behavior.

Check it out:
Sitstaysquat.ca

What are some of your favorite resources for learning about physical/medical issues in dogs?

20/07/2025