Bessey's Positive Paws

04/24/2025

𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐓𝐢𝐩 𝐓𝐡𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐝𝐚𝐲:
Not all socialization requires direct interaction. In fact, for many dogs, the most valuable "socialization" is learning to remain calm in the presence of other dogs without greeting them.

Think of it this way:
When you walk through a crowded mall, you don't greet everyone you pass. You simply share the space comfortably. This is exactly what we want to teach our dogs – that other dogs are simply part of the environment, not necessarily social opportunities.

This simple shift – rewarding calm coexistence rather than encouraging greetings – can transform your walks from stressful to peaceful.

Don't forget to 𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧 𝐮𝐩 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐲 𝐧𝐞𝐰𝐬𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 to find out tips like how to manage on leash encounters like a pro.

Bessey’s Positive Paws helps turn rambunctious young dogs into focused, engaged companions so you can relax knowing your dog will listen and won't embarrass you.

04/23/2025

"𝑩𝒖𝒕 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝑰 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒓𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒔𝒆𝒆 𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒖𝒍𝒕𝒔?"

This might be the question I hear most often from frustrated dog owners.

What surprises many of them?
The relief they feel after just ONE session. ☺️

Dog training isn't always the months-long journey many imagine before seeing any improvement.

Sometimes, it's small tweaks with immediate impact:

🟣A simple management solution you never thought of
🔹A slight change in how you deliver cues
🟣The proper way to interrupt an unwanted behavior
🔹Understanding what your dog is actually communicating

One client recently told me: "I've been struggling for MONTHS, and you helped fix (although I would say improve) it in no time with one simple suggestion!"

This isn't magic – it's expertise. Years of education and hands-on experience that I can deliver as a unique solution for your situation in minutes.

After working with hundreds of dogs, I've seen patterns that might not be obvious to you. I know which small changes often create the biggest results. 😀

Is every issue solved instantly? Of course not. And I don't claim that to be the case.

But that immediate sense of "Oh! I can handle this now!" is something almost every client experiences after our first meeting.

It's the relief of finally having a clear path forward instead of feeling stuck and confused.

Training is a journey, but journeys include immediate victories worth celebrating too.

04/22/2025

Ever feel like your sweet, friendly dog turns into a totally different animal the second you clip on the leash?

You’re not alone. 😓

Now that spring’s here and sidewalks are filling up again, maybe you’re noticing it more:

🌸You’re scanning ahead for other dogs like a hawk
🌸Darting across the street to avoid an awkward encounter
🌸That tight feeling in your chest when someone rounds the corner with their dog
🌸And the classic, “They’re actually really friendly!” as your pup goes full tornado mode

It’s frustrating. You know your dog is a lovebug… so why do they act like this on walks?

Here’s something most people don’t realize: 𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑠ℎ 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑖𝑠𝑛’𝑡 𝑢𝑠𝑢𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑦 𝑎𝑏𝑜𝑢𝑡 𝑎𝑔𝑔𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛.

It’s often about feeling stuck and overwhelmed:
👉 “I wanna say hi but I can’t!”
👉 “I don’t feel safe on this leash!”
👉 “I don’t know how to handle this situation!”

The leash keeps your dog safe, but it also takes away their ability to move and communicate like they would off-leash. That tension you feel? Your dog feels it too—and they’re doing their best to cope in the only way they know how.

Those barks and lunges? Not bad behavior. It’s your dog trying to communicate through a barrier that doesn’t make sense to them.

And here’s the good news: this isn’t a failure on your part, and it doesn’t mean your dog is broken. With the right support (read: not more corrections and tighter leashes), things can get better.

Drop a "🦮" if spring walks are feeling more stressful than peaceful right now—I see you. 💛

04/21/2025

One of the biggest fears I hear from new clients?

"I'm worried you'll judge how we live with our dog - we let him sleep in our bed." 🛏

They imagine walking in, me clipboard in hand, silently disapproving when they tell me:

🛋The dog gets on the furniture
🥓The occasional table scraps are given 🍟
🧸The toys are scattered everywhere
Their inconsistent training efforts 🫣

𝐋𝐞𝐭 𝐦𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭: 𝐈'𝐦 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐳𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠.

I'm more like a mediator between two species who desperately want to understand each other.

Your home is 𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐑 home. Your family has its own unique rhythm and routines.

𝑴𝒚 𝒋𝒐𝒃 𝒊𝒔𝒏'𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒅𝒊𝒔𝒓𝒖𝒑𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 – 𝒊𝒕'𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝒉𝒆𝒍𝒑 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒅𝒐𝒈 𝒕𝒉𝒓𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏 𝒊𝒕.

Sometimes, that means small tweaks, not complete overhauls:

◾️Slight adjustments to routines
◾️New ways to communicate needs
◾️Better understanding of why behaviors happen
◾️Solutions that fit YOUR lifestyle, not someone else's

We're partners in this journey, not judge and defendant.

Because at the end of the day, we share the same goal – a harmonious life where both you AND your dog feel understood.

Comment "partnership" if you've been hesitating to reach out to a trainer because of worry about judgment.

04/20/2025

Happy Easter, friends! 🐇🪺

04/18/2025

"My dog was so good all winter, but now they've completely lost their minds!"

Sound familiar?

Spring has sprung... and with it, your dog's selective hearing. 🙉

It's not just your imagination. Your once-attentive companion is now:

💩Pulling toward every new scent
🙉Ignoring calls to come back
🐭Fixating on squirrels, birds, and neighbors
😤Acting like they've forgotten every skill they knew

Here's the truth most don't realize: Your dog hasn't forgotten their training.
Their world has simply transformed overnight.

After months of quiet walks and empty parks, spring brings an explosion of stimulation:
🔹Fresh animal scents in every breeze
🔹New dogs appearing on walking routes
🔹Children playing outside
🔹Buzzing insects and chirping birds

Your dog's brain is processing SO much more information now.

It's like asking someone to solve math problems while at a rock concert – the environment has changed dramatically!

This spring regression isn't a training failure. It's a normal response to their suddenly stimulation-rich world.

Progress now might look different than it did in February – and that's okay.💚

04/17/2025

"My dog has never listened to me when it matters!"

I hear this ALL the time from frustrated owners who are looking for those big, obvious wins - like what can be seen on TV.

But here's what they're missing...

Progress isn't always obvious like a perfect heel or a flawless recall.

🐶For most dog owners, it's the subtle glance back at you during a walk when before they never took their nose off the ground.

🐶It's the moment they settle on their bed while guests chat, instead of pacing anxiously or bugging each person for scraps..

🐶It's choosing to sit at the door instead of jumping, even if it took them a few seconds to remember.

Watch for these quiet victories - those are the moments when training truly “clicks” in a dog’s mind.

🐾The briefer reaction to the neighbor's lawnmower
🐾The quicker recovery after a surprise encounter
🐾The steadier focus despite new distractions

Just like watching a garden grow, real progress happens slowly, almost imperceptibly day by day. But suddenly, you look up and realize how far you've come.

Those small moments ARE the progress—and often, they're the ones worth celebrating most.

Drop a "♥️" if you've noticed a small but meaningful change in your dog lately.

04/16/2025

Ever notice how YOU behave differently in different settings?
Quiet and attentive during a meeting...
Relaxed and chatty at a family dinner...
Focused and determined at the gym...
Open and curious in a new city...

Yet we often expect our dogs to behave the SAME way in EVERY situation.
Busy sidewalk café? "Stay right here."
Family gathering? "Don't get excited, sit still."
Hiking trail? "Don't pull or sniff too much, stay close."

The secret to a harmonious relationship isn't having a dog who robotically performs the same way everywhere. The joy of living with dogs is their unique personalities and genuine reactions to life.

Training is about having a dog who understands what's appropriate WHEN and WHERE.

A well-trained dog isn't one who never gets to be a dog.

It's one who knows when to be attentive in crowds, when they can explore on a trail, and when they should settle at your feet.

Different contexts, different expectations.

04/15/2025

𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐓𝐢𝐩 𝐓𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐝𝐚𝐲:

The environment often has a bigger impact on your dog's behavior than you might realize. Before working to change a behavior through training, consider how you can modify the environment to set your dog up for success.

As the world wakes up outside your windows, try these management techniques to reduce reactivity:

🙈Apply decorative window film to lower windows to block your dog's view of triggering sights

🙉Use white noise machines or calming music (specifically designed for dogs) to mask outdoor sounds

🙊Create distance between your dog and windows by using baby gates or rearranging furniture

Also, providing a fun activity for your dog to do like a stuffed toppl toy, Kong or other puzzle toy can help redirect their focus away from outdoor things.

04/11/2025

Happy National Pet Day!!

Show me all your pets!

04/07/2025

🐾 Is Your Dog’s Barking Driving You Crazy? 🐾

Do you feel overwhelmed every time your dog barks at the door, another dog on a walk, or just because? You're not alone—and I’m here to help!

✨ Introducing The Bark Stops Here - mini course ✨
This course will teach you:
✅ How to understand why your dog barks (hint: it’s not always what you think!)
✅ Proven, step-by-step exercises to manage barking and help your dog stay calm.
✅ Practical techniques tailored to your dog’s skill level—from beginner to advanced.

Who is this for?
🐾Dog parents struggling with barking at triggers like visitors, other dogs, or noises.
🐾Anyone looking to bring peace and quiet back into their home while strengthening their bond with their dog.

💥 EARLY SIGNUP BONUS 💥
Sign up before the official launch and enjoy exclusive savings! After launch, the price goes up, and these extras won’t be available.

🎯 If this sounds like something you need, let me know in the comments or follow the link to get on the email list so you don't miss out on this opportunity to bring sanity back to your home!

The bark stops here is a DIY course that helps dog owners discover the reason behind their dog's barking. Learn strategies and real life solutions to restore the peace and quiet.

03/20/2025

📢 Does your dog bark at EVERYTHING? The doorbell, other dogs, random shadows on the wall, noises… it never stops! 😩

You're not alone, and the good news? Barking is communication. Once you understand why your dog barks, you can finally help them (and yourself) feel calmer and more in control.

🎉 Introducing: "The Bark Stops Here" – A Mini Course for Dog Owners! 🎉
For a limited time, get Early Bird pre-launch pricing of $27 by simply signing up with your email (regular price: $54)!

💡 In this mini course, you'll learn:
✅ The main reasons dogs bark (and how to respond)
✅ How to tell the difference between alert barking, frustration, and anxiety
✅ Simple strategies to reduce barking without yelling or punishment

⏳ Save your spot now before the price jumps.

The bark stops here is a DIY course that helps dog owners discover the reason behind their dog's barking. Learn strategies and real life solutions to restore the peace and quiet.

03/15/2025

Late-night Googling. Scrolling through video after video. Trying every tip you can find.

And yet… your dog still isn’t improving. You’re still struggling. And it’s starting to feel really overwhelming.

It’s exhausting to sift through endless advice, hoping something will finally work. But here’s the thing—real progress happens when you have someone in your corner.

✔️ Someone who understands your dog.
✔️ Someone who sees your challenges.
✔️ Someone who creates a plan that fits your life.
✔️ Someone who’s there when things get tough.

You wouldn’t try to learn how to swim just by watching YouTube—you’d get a teacher who could guide you, support you, and make sure you succeed.

Your dog deserves that same level of help.

Let’s find a real solution together. Drop a ❤️ below, and I’ll reach out!

03/13/2025

You had such big plans...

🐾Long walks in the park
☕Coffee shop dates
🌲Weekend adventures
🐶Showing off your good boy to friends and family

But instead, you got:
🐾A dog who barks at every passing neighbor
🐶Stressful walks that leave you both frustrated
🐾A living room you can't enjoy because your dog won't settle
🐶Friends who stopped visiting because your dog is "too much"

Your heart 💔 hurts. This isn't what you wanted. This isn't what you planned for.

And you know what? It's okay to feel disappointed. It's okay to feel stuck.

But here's the thing - you don't have to stay stuck.

I help families just like yours understand their dogs so that we can make a plan to redirect their behavior. Different path, same destination: a happy life with your dog. ☺️

Ready to talk about it? Send me a message. No judgment, just help.

03/06/2025

“𝐌𝐲 𝐝𝐨𝐠 𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐛𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐧, 𝐬𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐰𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐧. 𝐈𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐡𝐨𝐩𝐞?”

It’s a common belief that some dogs are simply “stubborn,” but often, what looks like stubbornness is really a sign of confusion, distraction, or unmet needs.

Imagine trying to focus on a task while you’re hungry, stressed, or overwhelmed—it’s hard, right? Dogs are the same. When they don’t respond to cues, it’s usually because:

🐾They don’t fully understand what’s being asked.

🌲The environment is too distracting.

🐾They’re not interested in the reward being offered.

The key is to break training into small, achievable steps. Start in a quiet space with minimal distractions, use rewards your dog loves (treats, toys, or praise), and make training sessions short and fun. Need help creating a plan for your dog? Let me know—I’d love to help!

03/04/2025

We all know that there are no two people alike.

Genetics, how someone is raised, and even health challenges all influence each person’s life experience and behavior toward others.

The same applies to dogs. There are no two dogs that are alike! (Trainer Tip: Stop comparing your current dog to past dogs ☺️)

𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐨𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 - 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐨𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 - 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐛𝐞 𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐨𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐟𝐮𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐟𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠.

This applies to the activities you may have expected to do with your dog - dog sports, group hikes with your dog, dog park outings, bar buddy, etc.

It just might be that your dog may not prefer those environments… BUT maybe they enjoy car rides and Puppuccino from Starbucks or ice cream from your local Ice cream Shoppe.

𝑃𝑎𝑟𝑡 𝑜𝑓 ℎ𝑎𝑣𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑎 𝑙𝑖𝑓𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑛𝑔 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑝𝑎𝑛𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑖𝑠 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑚𝑖𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝑠𝑜𝑚𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑖𝑟 𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑓𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒𝑠, too. Learning to love what they love and doing activities you both can enjoy. (I'm still talking about dogs, but it does apply to human companionship, doesn’t it!?)

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐝𝐨𝐠 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐬𝐭 - 𝐚 𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐬𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐥𝐨𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐝𝐨𝐠𝐠𝐲 𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐨 𝐡𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭? Tell me in the comments below!

03/03/2025

You get more of what you practice. This is a concept that dog trainers know very well.

𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝒂 𝒅𝒐𝒈 𝒉𝒂𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒐𝒑𝒑𝒐𝒓𝒕𝒖𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒚 𝒕𝒐 𝒓𝒆𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒔𝒆 𝒂 𝒃𝒆𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒊𝒐𝒓, 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆𝒍𝒚 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒚 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒅𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒃𝒆𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒊𝒐𝒓 𝒂𝒈𝒂𝒊𝒏.

This can be good and bad news. 🙃

🐶If the behavior 𝐢𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 something we really want to keep seeing, we’d better change up a routine or the environment!

🐾If the behavior 𝐢𝐬 something we’d love to see more of, we’d better provide more opportunities to practice!

This even applies to relaxation. Dogs, like humans, can learn how to relax more deeply and more often. Some dogs also need help learning how to relax.

Once a dog’s needs are met (health, physical, psychological, etc), there are exercises you can do to practice relaxation!

Better yet - when you establish a pattern your dog can recognize as a sign to relax, your dog can take this skill on the road to coffee shops or while on vacation. 😮

(photo of Tilly relaxing while I work on creating this post. 😁)

03/01/2025

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀 𝗮 𝗴𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗱𝗼𝗴 𝗴𝗼𝗼𝗱?

Have you ever paused to ask yourself what makes a good dog “good”? 🤔

🐾Is it that they listen to your every word?

🐾That they play gently with others?

🐾Is a good dog “good” because they snuggle with you every evening and help you decompress?

This is a good question to ask yourself!

Does your definition of a “good dog” stem from what your parents expected? Do those expectations still align with how you see your dog fitting into your life?

This is a great question to ponder as you start your dog training journey.

Recognizing what your own expectations are will help you better explain your goals to your dog trainer and stay clear and consistent with what you ask of your dog.

𝐓𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐦𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬: 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐝𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐝𝐨𝐠?