Bessey's Positive Paws

Bessey's Positive Paws Family friendly dog training for all ages! Erin Bessey started dog training in 2005 and has since become a Certified Professional Dog Trainer.

Also an APDT professional member, the largest association for dog trainers, and employee at the Windsor Vet Clinic, Erin is well educated in the way of dogs.

Itโ€™s already so hot ๐Ÿฅต out there! We got our morning walk in before the temp climbs any higher. Even at the end of the wa...
06/25/2025

Itโ€™s already so hot ๐Ÿฅต out there! We got our morning walk in before the temp climbs any higher.

Even at the end of the walk Tripp still ran for the dog pool.

What are you doing to stay ๐Ÿ†’ these last couple days? ๐Ÿ˜Ž

Sit and stay are greatโ€ฆ But letโ€™s talk about the real-life skills that actually transform life with your dog. ๐ŸพโœจHere are...
06/23/2025

Sit and stay are greatโ€ฆ
But letโ€™s talk about the real-life skills that actually transform life with your dog. ๐Ÿพโœจ

Here are 5 skills I teach that make everything easier (and safer!):

๐Ÿšจ ๐‘๐ž๐ฅ๐ข๐š๐›๐ฅ๐ž ๐ซ๐ž๐œ๐š๐ฅ๐ฅ
Dog bolts toward the road? Finds something dead to roll in? Running up to an unfriendly dog?
A solid โ€œcomeโ€ can literally save their life.

๐Ÿง˜ ๐’๐ž๐ญ๐ญ๐ฅ๐ข๐ง๐  ๐จ๐ง ๐š ๐ฆ๐š๐ญ
Dinner guests arrive and your dog watches calmly from their spot? Yes, please.
This one reduces chaos, impresses your friends, and gives you a moment to breathe.

๐Ÿšถโ€โ™€๏ธ ๐‹๐จ๐จ๐ฌ๐ž-๐ฅ๐ž๐š๐ฌ๐ก ๐ฐ๐š๐ฅ๐ค๐ข๐ง๐ 
Say goodbye to shoulder pain and frustration. Walks should be enjoyableโ€”for both of you!

๐Ÿ›‘ ๐‹๐ž๐š๐ฏ๐ž ๐ข๐ญ / ๐ƒ๐ซ๐จ๐ฉ ๐ข๐ญ
Chicken bone on the sidewalk? Your kidโ€™s favorite stuffy?
This skill = fewer emergency vet visits and way less stress.

๐Ÿšช ๐“๐ก๐ซ๐ž๐ฌ๐ก๐จ๐ฅ๐ ๐œ๐จ๐ง๐ญ๐ซ๐จ๐ฅ
A dog who pauses at doors instead of flying through them isnโ€™t just politeโ€”theyโ€™re safe.
This also builds impulse control that shows up in all kinds of daily moments.

๐Ÿ’ก These arenโ€™t just obedience tricks. Theyโ€™re life skillsโ€”the kind that build trust, safety, and that amazing feeling of being truly in sync with your dog.

๐Ÿ‘‡ Which of these would make the biggest difference in your daily life?
Drop it in the comments and Iโ€™ll send you a training tip just for that one!

Nervous about that first training session?Youโ€™re not aloneโ€”many clients tell me they were, too! But by the end, they lea...
06/22/2025

Nervous about that first training session?
Youโ€™re not aloneโ€”many clients tell me they were, too! But by the end, they leave feeling relieved, hopeful, and even a little excited. ๐Ÿพ

Hereโ€™s what to expect when you come to my training space:

First, weโ€™ll chat while your dog explores and settles in. Iโ€™ll ask about:
๐Ÿถ Your specific challenges and goals
๐Ÿ•ฐ๏ธ Your dogโ€™s typical day and routine
๐Ÿ”„ What youโ€™ve tried already
๐ŸŽฏ What motivates your unique dog

Then, Iโ€™ll observe how you and your dog interactโ€”not to judge, but to understand your natural communication style. This gives me a clear picture of where we can start.

Next, weโ€™ll dive into some simple exercises that build confidence for both of you. These early wins help your dog realize learning is funโ€”and help you see that change is possible. ๐Ÿ™Œ

Before you head home, youโ€™ll have:
โœ… 2โ€“3 simple exercises to practice daily
โœ… Tools to reduce frustration and feel immediate relief
โœ… A better understanding of your dogโ€™s behavior and needs
โœ… A clear, hopeful path forward

That first session isnโ€™t about perfectionโ€”itโ€™s about sparking that amazing โ€œaha!โ€ moment where you and your dog start truly understanding each other. ๐Ÿ’›

Come curious, leave confident. โœจ

Remember why you got a dog in the first place? ๐Ÿถ๐Ÿ’ญYou probably pictured a loyal companion who just gets youโ€ฆOne who tags ...
06/20/2025

Remember why you got a dog in the first place? ๐Ÿถ๐Ÿ’ญ

You probably pictured a loyal companion who just gets youโ€ฆ
One who tags along on adventures, listens even when itโ€™s chaotic, and shares a deep, unshakable bond. ๐Ÿ’›

That kind of relationship isnโ€™t just a dreamโ€”itโ€™s totally possible.
And itโ€™s exactly what modern, science-based training is all about. โœจ

Todayโ€™s training isnโ€™t about forcing obedienceโ€”itโ€™s about building connection.
Itโ€™s about helping your dog make sense of our world, while we learn to understand theirs. ๐Ÿค

Itโ€™s about becoming a team.

The magic starts when:
๐Ÿ’ซ Your dog chooses you because youโ€™re their safe place
๐Ÿ’ซ You learn to read each otherโ€™s signals
๐Ÿ’ซ They turn to you for guidance when theyโ€™re unsure
๐Ÿ’ซ You build your own little language, just the two of you

Thatโ€™s the power of training rooted in trust, communication, and compassion.

Dogs who want to listenโ€”not because theyโ€™re afraid to mess up, but because choosing you brings them joy.

Ever spent hours watching dog training videosโ€ฆ only to feel more confused than when you started? ๐Ÿ˜ตโ€๐Ÿ’ซYouโ€™re not alone.You...
06/19/2025

Ever spent hours watching dog training videosโ€ฆ only to feel more confused than when you started? ๐Ÿ˜ตโ€๐Ÿ’ซ

Youโ€™re not alone.
YouTube training can feel a lot like googling your symptomsโ€”scary, overwhelming, and sometimes it does more harm than good. ๐Ÿ˜ฌ

Hereโ€™s what youโ€™ll find out there:
โšก Contradicting advice from self-proclaimed โ€œexpertsโ€
๐Ÿ”„ One-size-fits-all tips that donโ€™t fit your dog
โŒ No feedback when things donโ€™t go as planned
๐Ÿคทโ€โ™€๏ธ No way to adjust when your dog responds differently

Working with a professional (like me!) is a whole different experience:
๐Ÿ‘€ Iโ€™ll observe how YOUR dog learnsโ€”because every dog is unique
๐ŸŽฏ Youโ€™ll get real-time feedback on your technique and timing
๐Ÿ”ง Weโ€™ll tweak things based on your dogโ€™s actual responses
๐Ÿง  Youโ€™ll have someone to troubleshoot with right away
๐Ÿ“ And best of all? Youโ€™ll get a plan tailored to your goals and lifestyle

The right guidance doesnโ€™t just save timeโ€”it saves your sanity, strengthens your bond, and helps you avoid reinforcing those behaviors youโ€™re trying to change. ๐Ÿ’›

โœจ Ready for a training plan that actually works for your dog? Message me "plan" and let's create a plan that actually works for YOUR unique situation!

๐—–๐—ผ๐—ป๐—ณ๐—ฒ๐˜€๐˜€๐—ถ๐—ผ๐—ป ๐˜๐—ถ๐—บ๐—ฒโ€ฆMost of my clients come in thinking dog training is going to be a chore. ๐Ÿ˜ฌThey're shocked when they real...
06/16/2025

๐—–๐—ผ๐—ป๐—ณ๐—ฒ๐˜€๐˜€๐—ถ๐—ผ๐—ป ๐˜๐—ถ๐—บ๐—ฒโ€ฆ
Most of my clients come in thinking dog training is going to be a chore. ๐Ÿ˜ฌ
They're shocked when they realizeโ€ฆ itโ€™s actually fun! ๐ŸŽ‰

Think about itโ€”whatโ€™s more enjoyable than:
๐Ÿถ Seeing your dogโ€™s eyes light up when they get it
๐Ÿ’ฌ Sharing moments of connection and understanding
๐ŸŽ‰ Celebrating breakthroughs together
๐Ÿงฉ Turning everyday life into joyful learning
๐Ÿง  Realizing your dog is WAY smarter than you thought

Training isnโ€™t about drills, commands, or being โ€œin charge.โ€
Itโ€™s about playing games, building skills, and discovering what makes your unique dog tick. ๐Ÿพ

Quality training is one of the best investments you can make:
โœ… Tail wags instead of tantrums
โœ… Easier walks
โœ… Stress-free vet visits
โœ… Calm, peaceful evenings at home

Itโ€™s the difference between constantly managing your dogโ€ฆ and actually enjoying life together.

๐Ÿ’› Your relationship with your dog should bring you joy.
Training doesnโ€™t take away from thatโ€”it enhances it.

โ€œWe need to show the dog whoโ€™s boss.โ€I ๐‘ ๐‘ก๐‘–๐‘™๐‘™ hear this when working with clientsโ€ฆ ๐Ÿ˜…โ€œGrowing up, I was taught that you ha...
06/14/2025

โ€œWe need to show the dog whoโ€™s boss.โ€
I ๐‘ ๐‘ก๐‘–๐‘™๐‘™ hear this when working with clientsโ€ฆ ๐Ÿ˜…

โ€œGrowing up, I was taught that you had to be the boss, show your dog who the pack leader is, and establish dominance.โ€ ๐Ÿบ

These beliefs are still ๐‘ฃ๐‘’๐‘Ÿ๐‘ฆ common.
But Iโ€™m here to let you off the hook! ๐Ÿ™Œ

โœจ Modern training is based on trust and communicationโ€”not dominance or fear.
Your dog already knows you control their worldโ€”where they eat, sleep, and play. ๐Ÿฅฃ๐Ÿ›๏ธ๐ŸŽพ

The real magic happens when we loosen the reins and guide our dogs through choices instead of controlling every move. ๐Ÿงญ

I help you put an end to the power struggle. ๐Ÿ’ฅ

When we work together, you'll discover:
๐Ÿค How cooperation feels better than coercion
๐Ÿ’› The powerful bond built through positive experiences
๐Ÿง  Why respect grows from trustโ€”not intimidation
๐Ÿถ How understanding your dogโ€™s emotions changes everything

And hereโ€™s the thingโ€ฆ when your dog chooses you over everything else?
You can literally hear angels sing. ๐Ÿ˜‡๐ŸŽถ

Clients often expect theyโ€™ll need to be stricter with their dog. Instead, they become clearer, more consistent, and more confident. ๐Ÿ’ช

Soโ€”ask yourself: ๐ˆ๐ฌ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐ฅ๐ž๐š๐๐ž๐ซ๐ฌ๐ก๐ข๐ฉ ๐ฌ๐ญ๐ฒ๐ฅ๐ž ๐œ๐จ๐ฆ๐ฉ๐š๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐š๐ญ๐ž ๐š๐ง๐ ๐œ๐š๐ฅ๐ฆโ€ฆ ๐จ๐ซ ๐ซ๐ž๐š๐œ๐ญ๐ข๐ฏ๐ž ๐š๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐ž๐ง๐ฌ๐ž? ๐Ÿค”

Your dog doesnโ€™t need a boss. They need a teacher, a guide, a trusted partner to help them make sense of our human world. ๐ŸŒ

๐Ÿ‘‡ Drop a โ€œpartnershipโ€ in the comments if youโ€™re ready to build a relationship based on trustโ€”and experience the magic. โœจ

โ€œ๐‘ฐ ๐’”๐’‰๐’๐’–๐’๐’… ๐’ƒ๐’† ๐’‚๐’ƒ๐’๐’† ๐’•๐’ ๐’…๐’ ๐’•๐’‰๐’Š๐’” ๐’๐’ ๐’Ž๐’š ๐’๐’˜๐’.โ€Sound familiar?So many dog parents feel this way.โ€œ๐ผ๐‘“ ๐ผ ๐‘™๐‘œ๐‘ฃ๐‘’ ๐‘š๐‘ฆ ๐‘‘๐‘œ๐‘” ๐‘’๐‘›๐‘œ๐‘ข๐‘”โ„Žโ€ฆ ๐‘–๐‘“ ๐ผ ...
06/13/2025

โ€œ๐‘ฐ ๐’”๐’‰๐’๐’–๐’๐’… ๐’ƒ๐’† ๐’‚๐’ƒ๐’๐’† ๐’•๐’ ๐’…๐’ ๐’•๐’‰๐’Š๐’” ๐’๐’ ๐’Ž๐’š ๐’๐’˜๐’.โ€
Sound familiar?

So many dog parents feel this way.
โ€œ๐ผ๐‘“ ๐ผ ๐‘™๐‘œ๐‘ฃ๐‘’ ๐‘š๐‘ฆ ๐‘‘๐‘œ๐‘” ๐‘’๐‘›๐‘œ๐‘ข๐‘”โ„Žโ€ฆ ๐‘–๐‘“ ๐ผ ๐‘—๐‘ข๐‘ ๐‘ก ๐‘ค๐‘Ž๐‘ก๐‘โ„Ž ๐‘กโ„Ž๐‘’ ๐‘Ÿ๐‘–๐‘”โ„Ž๐‘ก ๐‘ฃ๐‘–๐‘‘๐‘’๐‘œ๐‘ โ€ฆ ๐ผ ๐‘ โ„Ž๐‘œ๐‘ข๐‘™๐‘‘ ๐‘๐‘’ ๐‘Ž๐‘๐‘™๐‘’ ๐‘ก๐‘œ ๐‘“๐‘–๐‘”๐‘ข๐‘Ÿ๐‘’ ๐‘กโ„Ž๐‘–๐‘  ๐‘œ๐‘ข๐‘ก. ๐‘๐‘’๐‘’๐‘‘๐‘–๐‘›๐‘” โ„Ž๐‘’๐‘™๐‘ ๐‘š๐‘ข๐‘ ๐‘ก ๐‘š๐‘’๐‘Ž๐‘› ๐ผโ€™๐‘ฃ๐‘’ ๐‘“๐‘Ž๐‘–๐‘™๐‘’๐‘‘.โ€

Let me stop you right there:
๐Ÿ’ฅ That. Is. Not. True. ๐Ÿ’ฅ

Even professional trainers ask for help with their dogs. Dog behavior is complexโ€”and when youโ€™re emotionally invested (which of course you are!), itโ€™s hard to see things clearly.

Sometimes you need a second set of eyes.
Sometimes you need someone to say, โ€œ๐‘ฏ๐’†๐’“๐’†โ€™๐’” ๐’˜๐’‰๐’‚๐’•โ€™๐’” ๐’“๐’†๐’‚๐’๐’๐’š ๐’ˆ๐’๐’Š๐’๐’ˆ ๐’๐’โ€”๐’‚๐’๐’… ๐’‰๐’†๐’“๐’†โ€™๐’” ๐’˜๐’‰๐’‚๐’• ๐’•๐’ ๐’…๐’ ๐’๐’†๐’™๐’•.โ€

When we work together, youโ€™ll feel:
โœ… Relief in having someone guide you step by step
โœ… Confidence from getting timely, expert feedback
โœ… Joy in learning skills youโ€™ll use for life
โœ… Pride in taking thoughtful action for your dog

Needing support isnโ€™t a failure.
Itโ€™s proof of how deeply you care. ๐Ÿพ๐Ÿ’›

You're not supposed to know it all. Youโ€™re not alone. And Iโ€™m here to help.

Frustrated by your dogโ€™s constant barking? Youโ€™re not aloneโ€”and you donโ€™t have to live with the chaos. I am launching a ...
06/12/2025

Frustrated by your dogโ€™s constant barking?
Youโ€™re not aloneโ€”and you donโ€™t have to live with the chaos.

I am launching a DIY Barking Mini Course - The Bark Stops Here which helps you understand ๐ฐ๐ก๐ฒ your dog barks and teaches gentle, effective techniques to reduce it.

Whether it's barking at the door, on walks, or when left alone, youโ€™ll learn what your dog is trying to tell youโ€”and how to teach calmer behaviors in a way that feels good for both of you. No yelling. No punishment. Just real tools that work.

Bring peace back to your home, enjoy calmer walks, and finally feel confident in managing your dogโ€™s behavior.

Early bird pricing of $27 opens up tomorrow, Friday, June 12th, for only a short time. Start your journey toward a quieter, happier life with your dog.

Don't miss out, join the mailing list so you are notified right when it is available. Link in the comments!

Ever thought this?โ€œ๐ผ๐‘“ ๐ผ ๐‘ก๐‘Ÿ๐‘Ž๐‘–๐‘› ๐‘š๐‘ฆ ๐‘‘๐‘œ๐‘”, ๐‘กโ„Ž๐‘’๐‘ฆโ€™๐‘™๐‘™ ๐‘™๐‘œ๐‘ ๐‘’ ๐‘กโ„Ž๐‘’๐‘–๐‘Ÿ ๐‘๐‘’๐‘Ÿ๐‘ ๐‘œ๐‘›๐‘Ž๐‘™๐‘–๐‘ก๐‘ฆ ๐‘Ž๐‘›๐‘‘ ๐‘—๐‘ข๐‘ ๐‘ก ๐‘๐‘’๐‘๐‘œ๐‘š๐‘’ ๐‘Ž๐‘› ๐‘œ๐‘๐‘’๐‘‘๐‘–๐‘’๐‘›๐‘ก ๐‘™๐‘–๐‘ก๐‘ก๐‘™๐‘’ ๐‘Ÿ๐‘œ๐‘๐‘œ๐‘ก. ๐ผ ๐‘™๐‘œ๐‘ฃ๐‘’ ๐‘กโ„Ž...
06/11/2025

Ever thought this?

โ€œ๐ผ๐‘“ ๐ผ ๐‘ก๐‘Ÿ๐‘Ž๐‘–๐‘› ๐‘š๐‘ฆ ๐‘‘๐‘œ๐‘”, ๐‘กโ„Ž๐‘’๐‘ฆโ€™๐‘™๐‘™ ๐‘™๐‘œ๐‘ ๐‘’ ๐‘กโ„Ž๐‘’๐‘–๐‘Ÿ ๐‘๐‘’๐‘Ÿ๐‘ ๐‘œ๐‘›๐‘Ž๐‘™๐‘–๐‘ก๐‘ฆ ๐‘Ž๐‘›๐‘‘ ๐‘—๐‘ข๐‘ ๐‘ก ๐‘๐‘’๐‘๐‘œ๐‘š๐‘’ ๐‘Ž๐‘› ๐‘œ๐‘๐‘’๐‘‘๐‘–๐‘’๐‘›๐‘ก ๐‘™๐‘–๐‘ก๐‘ก๐‘™๐‘’ ๐‘Ÿ๐‘œ๐‘๐‘œ๐‘ก. ๐ผ ๐‘™๐‘œ๐‘ฃ๐‘’ ๐‘กโ„Ž๐‘’๐‘–๐‘Ÿ ๐‘ž๐‘ข๐‘–๐‘Ÿ๐‘˜๐‘ฆ ๐‘ ๐‘๐‘–๐‘Ÿ๐‘–๐‘กโ€”๐ผ ๐‘‘๐‘œ๐‘›โ€™๐‘ก ๐‘ค๐‘Ž๐‘›๐‘ก ๐‘ก๐‘œ ๐‘๐‘Ÿ๐‘’๐‘Ž๐‘˜ ๐‘กโ„Ž๐‘Ž๐‘ก!โ€

Totally fair fear. But hereโ€™s the truth:

โœจ Modern, positive training doesnโ€™t squash your dogโ€™s personalityโ€”it lets it shine even brighter. โœจ

When dogs feel confident, safe, and understood, their true selves come out. That playful spark? That goofy charm? It gets even stronger when stress and confusion melt away.

When we work together, youโ€™ll see:
๐Ÿถ A dog who thinks and makes choices
๐ŸŽ‰ More playfulness as anxiety fades
๐Ÿง  Their natural intelligence on full display
๐Ÿ’› A relaxed, expressive companion who feels safe to be themselves

And guess what?
YOU matter in this, too. When you're having fun, your dog feels it. Joy is contagiousโ€”and itโ€™s a key part of the process!

Training with compassion doesnโ€™t change who your dog is.
It gives them the tools to be more of who they areโ€”and to enjoy more adventures with you along the way. ๐Ÿพ

Drop a โ€œspiritโ€ in the comments if youโ€™re ready to help your dogโ€™s real personality shineโ€”without the stress behaviors.

Does this sound familiar?โ€œIโ€™ll hire a trainer for a couple sessions, theyโ€™ll work with my dog, and boomโ€”problem solved. ...
06/09/2025

Does this sound familiar?

โ€œIโ€™ll hire a trainer for a couple sessions, theyโ€™ll work with my dog, and boomโ€”problem solved. Like dropping off my car at the mechanic.โ€

Itโ€™s a totally understandable mindsetโ€ฆ
But hereโ€™s the reality:

๐Ÿพ Dog training isnโ€™t a quick fixโ€”itโ€™s more like physical therapy than a repair shop.

Because your dog isnโ€™t a machine.
Theyโ€™re a living, feeling, learning creature.
And real change takes time, patience, and consistent practice.

But hereโ€™s the good news:
Watching your dog grow and succeed feels amazingโ€”and it strengthens your bond in ways you canโ€™t imagine. ๐Ÿ’›

When we work together, youโ€™ll experience:
โœจ The joy of seeing real progress, week by week
โœจ A deeper connection with your dog
โœจ The power of small, daily wins
โœจ The pride of being part of your dogโ€™s transformation

The magic doesnโ€™t just happen in our sessionsโ€”itโ€™s in the little moments in between. And Iโ€™ll be right there to guide you through it all.

Is your dog defiantโ€ฆ or just confused? ๐Ÿค”Youโ€™re not alone if youโ€™ve thought:โ€œI just need my dog to listen. I say sit, the...
06/08/2025

Is your dog defiantโ€ฆ or just confused? ๐Ÿค”

Youโ€™re not alone if youโ€™ve thought:
โ€œI just need my dog to listen. I say sit, they should sit. I say come, they should come. Why are they being so stubborn?โ€

Hereโ€™s the truth:
What looks like ignoring is often just your dog not understanding what you mean.

Theyโ€™re not being difficultโ€”theyโ€™re speaking a different language.

Most of us were taught outdated ideas about dog behavior. But modern research has flipped a lot of that on its head. ๐Ÿง โœจ Today, we focus on understanding whatโ€™s really going on under the surfaceโ€”and it changes everything.

When we work together, weโ€™ll uncover:
๐Ÿพ How your dog actually learns
๐Ÿพ What motivates your unique pup
๐Ÿพ Where the miscommunication is happening
๐Ÿพ How to teach in a way that makes sense to them

One client put it perfectly:
โ€œI thought my dog was just ignoring me. But once I understood how to communicate clearly, the change was like magic.โ€

Dog training isnโ€™t about forcing obedience. Itโ€™s about building a bridge between two very different speciesโ€”so you both feel heard and understood. ๐Ÿถ๐Ÿ’ฌ

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72 S Hunts Meadow Road
Whitefield, ME
04353

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