Bessey's Positive Paws

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Whitefield, ME
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.

08/27/2025

𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐝𝐨𝐠 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠. 𝐀𝐥𝐥. 𝐓𝐡𝐞. 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞. 🐶
Every moment, they're broadcasting their emotional weather report, so to speak, if you know how to read it:

👂 Ears back but tail wagging? “I’m friendly… but a little unsure.”
😮‍💨 Yawning during training? “This is hard. I need a breather.”
👃 Sudden sniffing? “I’m overwhelmed and trying to calm myself.”

Meanwhile, we humans often communicate in ways that confuse our dogs:

🙃 Leaning over them = threatening
👀 Direct eye contact = confrontational
🎤 Excited high-pitched voice = more chaos, not comfort

This is where training becomes translation.

A trainer doesn’t just teach your dog what you want—they also teach you what your dog is trying to say.

When both sides learn to speak each other’s language,
➡️ Confusion fades
➡️ Trust builds
➡️ Behavior changes

✨ That’s the power of connection through communication.

08/26/2025

🐾 𝐇𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐲 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐃𝐨𝐠 𝐃𝐚𝐲! 🐶💛

Today isn’t just about celebrating dogs—it’s about honoring the bond we’ve built with them.

The snuggles.
The chaos.
The muddy paw prints on your clean floors.
The unconditional love.

Whether your dog is your hiking buddy, your coworker under the desk, your shadow around the house, or the reason your morning coffee spills…
They’re family.

But let’s be real—loving our dogs doesn’t mean it’s always easy.

There are moments of frustration, overwhelm, and wondering, “Am I doing this right?”
Training challenges, behavioral quirks, and big emotions on both ends of the leash.

If you’ve ever felt like you should have it all figured out by now—today’s your reminder:
You've got this and you don’t have to do it alone.
Your love for your dog is already the first step.

Share your favorite picture of your dog below! 👇🏼

08/25/2025

𝐁𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐝𝐨𝐠 “𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐛𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐧,” 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬:

They might perform beautifully in the living room… but completely fall apart at the park.
Why? 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐱𝐭 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐬 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠.

Your dog who “knows” how to sit at home may genuinely not understand what you’re asking when there are squirrels darting by and dogs barking nearby.

It’s kind of like crushing your home workout—but then stepping into a crowded gym and suddenly forgetting everything.
𝐒𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬. 𝐓𝐨𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐝𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐞𝐧𝐯𝐢𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭.

Confusion creates stress.
Stress can look like defiance.
But more often, it’s just a communication breakdown in a tough setting.

The good news?
You 𝑐𝑎𝑛 teach your dog how to succeed in those harder environments—one step at a time.

🐾 Want to help your dog go from home pro to real-world rockstar?
📞 Schedule a discovery call or DM me to get started.

08/22/2025

☕ Morning peace vs. morning chaos… sound familiar?

In your vision: Calm mornings. Dog curled at your feet. Warm coffee. Quiet.

In reality: Barking. Jumping. Spilled coffee. A full-on wrestling match before 8am.

It feels like you and your dog are living in two different worlds—but the gap between those worlds isn’t as big as it feels.

Here’s the truth:
That gap isn’t about your dog being “bad” or you not being good enough. It’s simply about missing communication tools.

With the right support:
✅ You learn how to clearly communicate what you want
✅ Your dog learns how to respond
✅ You both start speaking the same language

Each small win builds on the last. Today’s 10 seconds of calm becomes tomorrow’s peaceful morning. Progress adds up—fast.

You don’t need to give up your vision. You just need the right bridge to get there—and that’s exactly what training builds.

Let’s build that bridge together. 🐾
📞 Schedule a free discovery call or DM me to get started.

08/21/2025

That moment when the fog lifts and everything makes sense. You realize your dog's jumping is actually excitement, not disrespect.

Their pulling makes perfect sense from their perspective.

The barking has been communication attempts, not defiance.

Suddenly, frustration melts into understanding. You stop taking behaviors personally and start seeing them as information.

This shift - from "𝑤ℎ𝑦 𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑑𝑜𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑇𝑂 𝑚𝑒?" to "𝑤ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑡𝑟𝑦𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑡𝑜 𝑡𝑒𝑙𝑙 𝑚𝑒?" - changes everything.

Solutions become obvious. Patterns emerge. Progress accelerates.

Most importantly, compassion replaces frustration. You're not fighting anymore; you're finally on the same team.

08/20/2025

Let me put your mind at ease… Every dog owner has moments they'd handle differently with hindsight.

Fed your dog from the table? Used the wrong equipment? Let them sleep in your bed? Lost your patience? Made mistakes?

Welcome to being human with a dog. 😄

Good trainers don't arrive with judgment. We come with solutions that fit your real life, not some perfect standard that doesn't exist.

Your love for your dog brought you to seeking help. That's not something to be ashamed of - it's something to celebrate.

We work with what is, not what should have been. Your journey starts from where you are today, baggage and all.

08/19/2025

Walks feel like tug-of-war battles? You might be heading in different directions.

𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭: Exercise, fresh air, maybe a quick bathroom break for your dog.

𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐝𝐨𝐠 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐬: To read today's neighborhood newspaper written in scent, check pee-mail, investigate that fascinating trash can with last nights half-eaten meal.

The secret isn't making your dog abandon their interests or you abandoning yours. It's creating a walk structure that honors both.

When we stop seeing our dog's interests as obstacles and start seeing them as valid needs, walks transform from battles to compromises that work for you both.

08/17/2025

There's a moment in every training journey when everything shifts.

🟣Your dog starts checking in with you without being asked.

🟣You notice their stress signals before they escalate.

🟣They pause at doorways, waiting for your cue.

🟣They automatically reach for a toy instead of grabbing your shoe.

Suddenly, you're not managing behaviors - you're having conversations. Your dog offers behaviors, hoping for engagement. You respond to their needs before they have to shout.

This shift from reaction to communication transforms 𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑦𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑔. Walks become dialogues - a give and take. Challenges become puzzles you solve together. Daily life flows instead of fights.

The magic isn't in perfect obedience. It's in finally speaking the same language. 😌

08/15/2025

After working with countless dogs, you kind of develop a sixth sense for reading the room - or rather, reading the dog.

🔹That "aggressive" lunge? Often it's fear wearing a brave mask.

🔹The "disobedient" dog ignoring commands? Usually, an overwhelmed pup choosing an alternative outlet for their energy.

🔹That "hyperactive" pup who won't settle? Frequently anxious and self-soothing through movement.

Experience teaches you to see past the behavior to the emotion driving it. Like a doctor who spots symptoms others miss, trainers learn to read the subtle signs.

The way a dog's weight shifts, how their breathing changes, the tension in their face - these whisper truths that behavior shouts over.

This deeper understanding transforms how we approach each dog. We stop treating symptoms and start addressing causes. It's why a huge part of training with me is understanding your dog and learning 𝒘𝒉𝒚 they do what they do.

08/14/2025

Back-to-school chaos is coming. Schedule changes, morning rushes, afternoon activities, homework stress - your dog feels it all and they don’t understand.

Dogs who sailed through summer often struggle when September hits like a freight train. 🚆

But August? August is your secret weapon.

Start adjusting wake times now. ⏰ Practice calm morning routines before you need them. Build independence skills while everyone's still relaxed.

Create positive associations with backpacks 🎒 and lunch boxes. Establish after-school decompression rituals. Set up success before stress hits.

Families who prepare in August cruise through September.
Ready for a bit of prep to avoid a load of hassle and stress?

Comment "prepare" if you're ready to use August strategically.

08/13/2025

Effective training feels like learning a dance together. Sometimes you lead, sometimes you follow your dog's cues. Both partners matter.

When training flows naturally through your day - a quick spin during coffee time, a down during dinner prep - it stops feeling like work and starts feeling like connection.

Your dog becomes an eager participant because they're not being drilled; they're being invited into a conversation where they matter, too.

The best-trained dogs aren't the most drilled ones. They're the ones who've learned to dance through life with their humans.

08/12/2025

our dog might not be exactly who you pictured when you brought them home—and that’s okay.

Maybe you dreamed of an adventure buddy but got a nap-loving couch potato.
Or a social butterfly for brewery outings… but ended up with a dog who prefers quiet trails.
Maybe you wanted a snuggly velcro pup, but you’ve got a sweet, independent soul instead.

Here’s the truth:
Your dog isn’t broken. You’re not doing it wrong.
They’re just themselves—and that’s something to work with, not against.

💡 The magic happens when we let go of the picture in our head and start seeing the amazing dog in front of us.

A few small shifts in expectations, better communication, and a little flexibility?
That’s what builds strong, trusting, lasting relationships.

✨ You don’t need a different dog. You just need to unlock the best version of the one you have.

Address

72 S Hunts Meadow Road
Whitefield, ME
04353

Telephone

+12074850851

Website

http://www.besseyspositivepaws.com/

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