Happy Dawgs Obedience Training

03/04/2026

It's been a few weeks since I updated here. I've been hesitant, because my experience with being truthful on this platform has not been positive. But, I also believe in being transparent, so here goes.

I've been sitting in silence and isolation, fighting a deep depression. Winter is always hard on me (I have S.A.D.), but this bout has been especially difficult, as I've been facing the possibility that I will have to close my doors. My heart and soul belongs - and will always and forever belong - to the dogs who need help finding happiness and stability. But, I also need to carry my own weight in this world. With the economy so deep in the toilet, everyone is struggling to make ends meet; for many people, that means making hard sacrifices and painful choices.

I am grateful to all of my clients for choosing me. I hope you and your dogs are living successfully and happily, and I hope you'll send me updates from time to time. I appreciate those who have chosen to follow me, like this page, comment on posts of interest to you, and share posts you think others might like; thank you for doing that.

I don't know what lies ahead. What I do know is, I'm fighting this darkness as best I can. For now, my doors are still open. If or when that has to change, I'll let you know. I promised full transparency, even when that means sharing the messy stuff, so that's what I'm doing.

Have a good week ahead, and remember to stay calm and lead on.

02/17/2026

Stay warm, stay safe, stay home if you can. We're in this weather for the next little while.

(Note: For those of you in the US, the current temperature is 2ºF, with a wind chill factor of -24ºF)

02/13/2026

I've been watching a lot of police body-cam videos, many of which have included police dogs. I've been doing this because of all the extreme negativity being pushed by some social media influencers about police and K-9 units. I'm the kind of person who never take anything anyone says on blind faith; I research and educate myself as much as I can before I take a position one way or the other.

What I've learned is this. Our police, firefighters, and paramedics are extraordinary human beings. They deal with situations that we, the general public, can't begin to imagine, and with people that we, the general public, often ignore or avoid. They do this every day just to keep the rest of us as safe and sound as is humanly possible. What they put up with from people and the hard sacrifices they make every single day is unimaginable to me. It takes a very special kind of person to choose to do the work they do. The amount of stress they carry with them all the time, the risks they take, all the sacrifices they make - all on a daily basis...

The next time you see a police officer, a firefighter, a paramedic, take a moment to thank them for their service. Acknowledge their efforts. Give them the respect and gratitude they deserve for putting their lives at risk every day for us.

Have a great day and a great weekend, and remember to stay calm and lead on.
Calgary EMS Calgary Firefighters Calgary Police Service

02/06/2026

You are not alone. Please reach out. If you are struggling, or if someone you know is struggling, please reach out. At the very least, please share this out. You never know who might be suffering in silence.

Hey gang,

If ya know someone who is struggling with their Mental Health, please send an invite to follow us at Sea to Sea for PTSD.

Though our challenges are with PTSD / OSI, we found along our journey, that Mental Health is important to all, and we don't speak enough about it OPENLY.

Our walking tours across the country have opened our eyes and minds, we embrace all.
❤️

PS: WE don't sugarcoat sh*t, we speak openly and honestly about real life, real mental health, and first-hand experiences.

02/05/2026

I'm not book smart. Never was, never will be. I don't win prizes for anything, I'm not into competing for anything, and I definitely don't talk like I'm some high end professor who knows every big word in the book to describe a common cold. But I do know animals. I've been around them all my life, and I'm a damned good trainer, too. So, mock me, belittle me, call me names - whatever floats your boat. The only proof I need to give is to the dogs who decide to trust me to help them. :) ❤️

02/03/2026

Very well stated. 👍

02/02/2026

EXACTLY.

Important advice from our friends at Spirit Dog Training.

01/26/2026

"Be A Turtle"

Reactive dogs get fired up easily and quickly. Their movements are fast, frenetic, and so intense that you end up feeling jazzy yourself. Your adrenalin is pumping, you're hyper-alert... the smallest twitch makes you jumpy and ready to swing (or, to run). And, it's the exact moment where you have to become like a turtle.

When a dog is going off the rails like that, you must SLOW DOWN. Remember: Your dog doesn't hear or see you when they're going off the rails, but they do feel your energy humming through their leash. You and your dog are feeding off each other's energy, and that makes things worse, not better.

When your dog is going off the rails:

DO NOT:

1. talk to them. They quite literally can't hear you.
2. touch them. They're blind to everything except their trigger; in their high state of panic, they can't recognize friend from foe, and they may redirect a bite onto you.
3. yank or pull the leash. All that does is add more tension to an already intense situation, which makes the dog lunge harder.

DO:

1. take a deep breath to calm yourself as best you can. This is a crisis situation, and what do you do in a crisis? You stay calm; you think before you speak or act.
2. be a turtle: SLOW DOWN. Use your body to block your dog's view, or redirect them to an area where they can start to calm down. Act like nothing is happening - be a turtle - by calmly and more slowly moving away; remember that even though your dog doesn't hear or see you when they're in that high state of panic, they *do* feel your energy. Among other things, slowing down brings your and your dog's heart rate down, which in turn helps calm things down.

When I say, "Be a turtle", I mean slow down. I understand you're feeling tense, nervous, and anxious. But, you're trying to teach your dog how to be part of the world *calmly*; you're trying to teach them to not care so much about their trigger. You can't do that if you're tense; you need to be like a turtle, and *slow down*.

I hope this helps. Remember to stay calm and lead on, and have a great day.

01/23/2026

How is everyone doing today? How has your week been with your dog? Are you remembering to "be a turtle" with your reactive dog? Are you remembering to acknowledge your dog when they check in with you? Are you remembering to check in with your dog? And, are you remembering to acknowledge your dog when they make the right choices?

Remember: all of these things help build and strengthen your relationship with your dog. Don't forget that your dog is reading and responding (or reacting) to the energy you're giving them; if you're feeling anything other than calm, cool, and collected, your dog is going to mirror that through their behavior. So, try to be mindful of what you're feeling. Check in with yourself often just to be sure you're good to go. If you're not, just stop moving - give your dog a good sniff break - and take a few deep, calming breaths to get yourself centered again. You can move again when you feel ready.

Have a great day and a great weekend, and remember to stay calm and lead on. You've got this!

Send a message to learn more

01/20/2026

Calm Before the Door

A calm dog at the door isn’t just a nice-to-have, it’s the foundation of a safe, predictable home environment. When a dog learns to regulate their excitement in that high‑energy moment, they’re practicing impulse control in one of the most challenging contexts. That single skill ripples outward into better behavior everywhere else: fewer frantic greetings, less jumping, and a dog who can actually think instead of reacting on pure adrenaline. It’s the difference between chaos and clarity, and it starts before the doorknob even turns.

Doorways are emotional hot spots for dogs. They’re thresholds to the outside world, to visitors, to smells, to possibilities. Without training, that excitement can tip into reactivity, bolting, or accidental injury, especially if your dog rushes forward the moment the door cracks open. Teaching calm behavior creates a buffer of safety. It gives you control over the environment, protects your dog from darting into danger, and prevents guests from being overwhelmed by an enthusiastic missile of fur and enthusiasm.

Most importantly, the ritual of “pause, breathe, wait” builds trust. Your dog learns that good things happen when they stay grounded, and you become a reliable guide instead of a referee in a daily wrestling match. Over time, that calm doorway routine becomes a shared language: you ask for composure, they offer it, and the world beyond the door becomes accessible without the drama. It’s a small habit with a massive payoff, shaping a dog who moves through life with confidence instead of chaos.

Teaching your dog to be calm at the door has to start at the moment you reach for the leash. If the dog gets excited, the leash goes back to its place (leash hook, closet, or wherever). When the dog is able to remain calm, that’s when you put the leash on. If the dog gets excited and bouncy again, the leash comes off and gets put away. Repeat this until your dog realizes that it has to remain calm. Then, start approaching the door. If the dog gets excited, go back to the start and repeat everything. Do this step by step until you reach the door. Remember: You’re teaching your dog that the only way that door is going to open is if they are calm all the time, not just when you’re putting on their leash.

Now you’ve made it to the door. The dog is calm…… until you put your hand on the door handle. The moment the dog gets excited, it’s back to Square One. You have to do this in order to teach the dog that calmness is the only option they have to get out that door. It’s time-consuming and it can be frustrating – absolutely. But, if you ever want to get out the door without being yanked off your feet by your over-excited dog…

Go through the entire process until you can open the door and your dog remains calm and in a state of waiting. You can use food, praise, or pets as a reward if you wish. If you use verbal praise, remember to keep your voice calm and low so that your dog remains calm. And, if your dog tries to go out the door before you’ve given permission – even if they do it calmly – you need to close the door, remove your hand from the handle, and start again. If you don’t do this, your dog will learn that they can go when they want, and that “outside” means they can be excited again.

If you need help, don’t hesitate to reach out to a trainer near you – or, if you’re near me, give me a call. I’m happy to help you. We can discuss your situation over coffee. :) buymeacoffee.com/hdot

On that note, have a great day, and remember to stay calm and lead on.

01/19/2026

I don't have an Amazon Wish List - there wouldn't be enough room for all the dog stuff I would love to have. 😂 But I'm always up for a cup of coffee (or two, or three... I drink a lot of coffee 😁).

I'm a common-sense dog trainer in Calgary, Alberta. I teach owners how to train their dogs in basic obedience, and how to help their reactive dogs learn that the world isn't such a scary place.

01/18/2026

Balanced training offers a practical, humane way to reduce unwanted barking by focusing first on why the dog is vocalizing. Excessive barking is almost always rooted in a trigger: excitement, fear, boredom, alerting, or attention‑seeking. When you address the environment by reducing visual triggers, increase structured exercise, and provide mental enrichment, barking often decreases before any formal training even begins. This foundation prevents frustration and ensures the dog isn’t being corrected for stress‑based communication.

Once the environment is managed, you can begin to shift to teaching a clear, reinforced “quiet” behavior. Positive reinforcement plays a central role here: rewarding calm moments, marking silence, and giving the dog an alternative job such as going to a mat or holding a sit‑stay. Barking is a natural behavior, so the goal isn’t to suppress communication but to shape it into something appropriate and predictable. By reinforcing quiet early and often, dogs learn what earns them success, attention, and rewards.

After the dog understands the quiet cue, you can introduce fair, consistent interruptions for barking that continue despite clear guidance. These interrupters aren’t harsh punishments; they’re gentle pattern‑breakers like leash guidance, spatial pressure, or removing access to the trigger. When used together, these three components create a training plan that is structured, humane, and highly effective for real‑world dog owners.

Have a great day, and remember to stay calm and lead on.