Nicole the Dog Trainer

15/04/2025

Let’s be honest…
𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆 𝗶𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝘀𝗲𝘅𝘆.

It’s not flashy.
It’s not viral.
It doesn’t come with sparkly results after one training session.

You know what 𝗶𝘀 sexy though?
A dog that actually listens the first time you say something.
A calm walk through a busy neighborhood.
A guest entering your home without being tackled by 60 pounds of enthusiasm.

But that kind of obedience? It’s not built in one wild “breakthrough moment.” It’s built in the boring stuff:
The “yes, I do have to make you sit at the door again” reps.
The “I know you already know this, but we’re going to practice it anyway” moments.
The “no, ignoring that cue isn’t going to work today (or ever)” follow-throughs.

If your dog’s not listening, it’s not because they’re stubborn or trying to be the alpha—it’s usually because the rules change depending on your mood, the day, or the distractions.

So no, consistency isn’t sexy.
But a well-trained dog?
Now that’s hot.

25/03/2025

Please prepare your dogs for the general public. 🤣

21/01/2025

Just a couple of cuties. 😊

Cleo is in for training and Texas (my dog) is one of her besties in daycare so I used him as a distraction during our training session today and she rocked it!

02/01/2025

Ceelo goes home today. This guy pushed me to become a better trainer and I’m very thankful for that. Most puppies that come in have two or three behavior issues that I’m usually able to address right away. This guy, however, seemed to have a laundry list of things that needed to be addressed such as:

👉🏻 Could not interact with me without putting his teeth or paws on me

👉🏻 Would not pee/poop outside, only in his room/kennel

👉🏻 It took him hours to settle in his kennel

👉🏻 Would try to push through you to get out of his room

👉🏻 Would hump my leg while playing or any time he got frustrated

👉🏻 While playing would try to bite my hand

👉🏻 Seemed to have zero respect for leash pressure with the slip lead (which is what I start almost every dog on)

👉🏻 Zero impulse control

Now, I do not blame Ceelo for his “bad” behavior. He is just a puppy whose entire world got turned upside down one day. His owner did not have the proper understanding on how to appropriately manage him. So we did the only thing there was to do and simply got started. We found common ground in obedience work as I quickly found he was very food motivated and actually learned pretty quickly when he actually slowed down and used his brain. Many of the behavior issues became easier to manage once I had a more successful way to communicate what I wanted him to do with his obedience cues. Two weeks in has was improving, but still peeing in his kennel AND had a bad bought of diarrhea that was certainly not helping. 🥴 It was decided taking him home with me and being able to let him out more frequently would be the best option moving forward. Cut to today and he hasn’t had an accident in several days!

I’m proud of all the progress he has made but this is a dog that will challenge EVERY boundary he has, especially as he matures. He is not perfect and training will continue to be an absolute must for him. I have given him the best start I can and I was glad to be a part of his journey even if he made me want to pull my hair out some days. 😆

*Side note: He is a Cane Corso which are
gorgeous dogs that many people get because they will look good on a leash next to them. This is a protection breed that requires a lot of work and training. Do your research on breeders and the breed itself if you are considering a dog like this to make sure it fits your lifestyle and you are dedicated to putting in the hours.

22/12/2024

Because it’s always good to be reminded.

06/12/2024

Whiskey and Ceelo both arrived this week for training. They are both puppies and their owners are doing the right thing getting them in for training EARLY! This will help significantly with potential behavior issues both breeds can be prone to. Plus, they are super cute! 🥰

17/11/2024

Socializing those puppies, and doing it correctly, is super important!

Looking at current position statements from organizations like AVSAB (American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior), who are the leaders on veterinary care and behavior, they are abundantly clear that the outdated belief of avoiding socialization until vaccines are completed has no place in current standards. This is relevant because in many cases this fear of strangers or a particular group of people, results from lack of socialization during this critical period and can have lifelong impacts into adulthood.

08/11/2024

It may be cold and rainy outside but we find ways to have fun! These guys were cracking us up with their antics. 😆

31/10/2024

I’m very excited to announce the arrival of my new puppy, Rue. She is a Border Collie and will be trained up for agility and possibly some other sports as well. She’s an incredibly sweet, smart little girl who has been an absolute joy so far.

She’s joining the pack of my other two dogs, Jenna (Border Collie mix) and Texas (lab/golden retriever mix).

23/10/2024

Took our first stroll on the nature path today and enjoyed the fall-ish vibes. 🍁🍂