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Sarah Knight Dog Training, Kelowna, BC (2026)

09/19/2026

Cute Puppy Alert 🚨
My grandma always used to say, “A stitch in time saves 9….” and I’m often amazed at how frequently that thought crosses my mind in dog training.

🐞 Little Bug did a KickStart Puppy Program here and she was an amazing puppy! Laying a good foundation makes a world of difference in how a puppy will feel about the world.

A puppy program, either done through one-on-one lessons or a KickStart Program, can be a game changer for both your puppy and your sanity.

Some of the topics we covered with Bug included:

🐛 Proper, effective socialization and exposure vs. the common definition of “socialization”

🐞 Crate Training & Crate Games. How to feel good about a crate both at home, during car travel, and while crating quietly at locations away from home.

🦋 Puppy Engagement Games. Helping Bug learn that one of her greatest tools in life will be playing engagement games with her handler.

🐜 Confidence Building. We focused on Bug feeling as confident and brave as she could through exposure and experiences to different sights, sounds, footing, and smells.

🐶 Appropriate Dog-on-Dog Introductions. Let’s be honest…knowing when, how, and who to introduce your puppy to can be stressful and confusing. Bug got the opportunity to meet several puppy-savvy dogs.

✏️ Skills. Bug also learned many puppy-appropriate skills such as puppy recall foundations, sit, down, paws up, and more. We also worked on introducing puppy handling and grooming foundations.

I often ponder about what training gaps we can prevent by laying a great foundation for puppies between 8-20 weeks. I also think about how much stronger we can help a puppy feel about the world when we focus on a structured socialization program. And finally I consider how much more confident & comfortable an owner can feel navigating the first 8-20 weeks of their puppy journey when they have a plan and a support system.

Raising a puppy can be hard… you don’t have to do it alone.

05/16/2026

Are you having a hard time with your adolescent dog? 🙆🏼‍♀️ I’m here to remind you that this too will pass … 💓 After having this conversation with several clients this last week I thought it would be a good time to revisit this topic.

It’s HARD having an adolescent dog. One moment you’re super proud of yourself for surviving puppyhood and the next moment you’re wondering if they actually received any training at all in that first year. 🙈

There is a lot going on in an adolescent dog. They often have raging hormones (much like a teenager human), they have increasing energy levels, they are developing adult muscles and can finally run for as “long as they want” without dropping dead of exhaustion. Adolescent dogs are generally fairly comfortable and confident with their living arrangements.

But let’s be honest - they (much like a teenager human) don’t have the full skill sets to go out into the world and exist perfectly. And all of the above factors can make for a pretty frustrating dog to live with in the moment. They look like adults but still need a lot of the same support and structure they needed as puppies. (Maybe more!)

Here are some reminders to keep in mind if you’re struggling with your adolescent dog.

🐶 This too shall pass. I promise.

🐶 Added layers of accountability to ensure good decisions are crucial. Maybe your dog is back to hiking on a long line. Maybe you are limiting the access to how much of the house your dog has while you’re gone. Perhaps you’re increasing nap times 😴. It might look like you’re focusing more on loose leash walking again. You might find your dog is sleeping in a crate at night again. Taking steps to help your adolescent dog make good choices during this time will help keep you all sane.

🐶 Instead of just increasing exercise - increase mental stimulation. Puzzles, food games, training sessions, access to learning and canine fitness are all powerful tools during these times.

🐶 Go back to the basics. Don’t be afraid to go back to working for all their meals. Don’t shy away from long lines to manage their newly deaf ears. Don’t be afraid to spend some time reminding them that we can sit and wait at doorways, cross walks etc. Put some “dollar bills” into those foundational bank accounts.

🐶 Teach a settle/relax cue / state of mind and take it on the road 💓 You’ll thank me later.

🐶 What you practice is what you’ll do best - so don’t let them spend this crucial time blowing off recalls, dragging you over to people & dogs and treating your house like a play zoo. Help them learn to manage their feelings, hormones, energy levels and new found confidence in the right ways. Don’t “just wait for them to grow out of it” but also give them and yourself grace to navigate this time of life.

And finally - don’t be your own worst critic. Do the best you can and take it one day at a time 💓 You’ve got this!

📸 of one of Seeya’s puppies - Matty at one of our sessions showing off his “middle” trick 🖤

02/03/2026

🎤 Today’s Ted Talk is brought to you by Meeko… (well Vista actually but if Meeko was going to sponsor a post this would be it) 💩 We all know that GI upsets happen in dogs, and over the years, I’ve used a variety of strategies to manage them. From preparing rice with broiled chicken or beef, to using pumpkin, keeping GI prescription food from the vet on hand, fasting the dog, and more. Meeko especially is a dog that if he eats too many random things it can really upset his GI tract. (Especially as a senior now)

Here are a few of my favourite products to have on hand….

🤎 Under the Weather & Grandma Lucy’s Simple Replacements - Last year, I discovered these pre-packaged options, and I really like them! (If you know me, you know I don’t even cook rice for myself, so these are a lifesaver.) They’re especially handy for trial weekends, trips away, or when the vet is closed. Each bag provides 3–4 meals and has a super long shelf life. I pair these with probiotics. I’ve used all of these options with my dogs over the last year and really have liked them.

(https://www.homesalive.ca/under-the-weather-bland-diets-for-dogs-chicken-and-rice.html)

🤎 Canigest Combi - This product was recommended to me - and now I always have it on hand! It stops GI upset quickly and contains Pectin! This has been one of my go to products ever since it was recommended to me.

https://a.co/d/0hQyicrp

🤎 RC or PPP Canned GI foods - I also always keep cans of over the counter veterinary GI food on hand. This morning Vista woke up with the runs. I was very thankful to have RC puppy gastro food on hand! I also always have a few cans of the adult version as well. As a bonus - I used the RC puppy mousse in a Toppl!

🤎 Probiotics- most of you know I use regular probiotics and prebiotics (either Purina Pro Plan or Adored Beast love bugs - depending on what I have on hand). I love both of these products.

🤎 Other random find I love - First Mate Cage Free Chicken & Rice formula canned food. The ingredients are simple and I travel with these on hand just incase.

What is your favourite go to product for GI upset ?

✏️ Note: If GI upset persists, or if your dog stops eating or drinking, becomes lethargic, has a fever, or shows blood in their diarrhea or vomit, or you believe they’ve ingested something requiring care - please seek veterinary care immediately. This is not a replacement to true veterinary care needed.

12/25/2025

🎄❄️ Merry Christmas from Meeko, Rylee, Seeya and our newest addition “Cado” (name TBD). I’m so thankful for all of your support, friendship, and trust this past year. It truly means the world to be part of your journey with your dogs. Wishing you and your pups a holiday season filled with joy, health, and plenty of tail wags. ❄️⛄️

05/30/2025

🥈 Silver in Best of Kelowna – Dog Training!

I’m feeling incredibly grateful and humbled to share that I’ve been awarded Silver in the Best of Kelowna Dog Training category this year. 🩷

This recognition means so much to me not because of the “award”, but because it reflects the amazing community of dog owners, clients, and friends who support me in doing what I do. It’s hard to believe that every day I live my dream. Every dog I meet and every team I coach teaches me something new, and I’m so thankful for the trust you place in me.

To be named among such talented trainers in our city is truly an honour. Thank you to everyone who took the time to vote. And a thank you to the incredible dogs that make us better trainers & humans every day. Cheers to the dogs that led us down this path.

Here’s to continued growth, learning, and building stronger relationships every day. 🥂

With so much gratitude & appreciation, (and shock…)

Sarah

Photo Credits
Tiny Fables Photography
Sara Nicole Photography - Okanagan
Brenda Van Mulder Photography

05/28/2025

Say Hello to Rosie 👋🏼
Today we practiced the Power of Watching, Observing, and Rehearsing making Good Choices.

One of the most underrated tools in dog training may surprise you… observation.

Today with Rosie, she spent just as much time watching and waiting as she did actively “training” so to speak. Why? Because learning happens when a dog can take time to process and learn.

🩷 Today we practiced outside a dog park, at a regional park and at a popular pet store and she was a SUPERSTAR 🏆
We practiced….
☀️Watching calmly as other dogs passed by us. We practiced this at various distances ranging from 10-30’.
☀️ We spent time observing dogs playing, running and ignoring their owner’s recalls 😅 (sorry but it’s true…)
☀️ We rehearsed good choices like relaxing in the grass, kibble scatters, calm observation, loose leash skills, engagement and natural disengagement from things that she normally finds triggering.

But most importantly we didn’t rehearse spikes in arousal, lunging, barking, chaotic chaos or feelings of fearfulness etc. And the more times we don’t allow a dog to practice those behaviours the better they get at practicing our end goal behaviours.

We practiced those skills in 3 different environments today 💪🏼

So today with Rosie, we celebrated thinking before reacting. Because that’s where real confidence starts to grow- in the quiet wins. I often remind people that good dog training looks boring… and that’s true. But we had the best time together!

So often we focus on what we want to stop
🛑 no barking
🛑 no jumping
🛑no pulling

But I often need to remind clients that it’s about the quiet wins that don’t look flashy. It’s about being able to relax at 20’ then 10’ then 5’. It’s about rehearsing the good! And rehearsing those choices again and again.

That’s how a well-rounded dog is built…one thoughtful repetition at a time.

I can’t wait for my next puppy day train with Rosie! She got an A++ today!

05/20/2025

🐾 Meet Huck – a 1-Year-Old Pomsky!👋🏼 🐾

This 1-year-old ball of gorgeous coat and an even bigger personality is working with me for a few days to to work on building a solid recall foundation – yes, even a Pomsky (with all that sass and independence!) can learn to come when called. 😄

We’re working on making recall fun, functional, reliable, non negotiable and part of real-life adventures. That means hikes, play sessions, exploring new environments - and using those moments as the reward. One of the biggest tools in our training toolbox this week is Premack’s Principle: which basically says: do this first, and you earn the thing you want.

So for Huck, that might look like:
➡️ “Come to me, and you can go sniff again.”
➡️ “Check in, and you get to run ahead.”
➡️ “Recall off the mouse hole - get to dig again”

Instead of training recall in a sterile, boring way, we’re turning it into a game… one that Huck actually wants to play. It builds trust, choice, and communication without making him feel like listening means the end of his fun. I repeatedly remind clients that a recall shouldn’t be a termination marker in the dog’s mind. “Come when called and all fun ends…” but rather a recall should be part of the fun and a means to more fun!

And guess what? It’s working. Huck’s already starting to see that choosing to come back doesn’t mean the fun stops… it means it continues.

That’s the magic of good training: it’s not about forcing obedience, it’s about building a partnership.

We have much to work on… but for now he snoozes!

If you want more information about recall programs - shoot me a message 📞

05/12/2025

✨💕 A heartfelt thank you to everyone who nominated us for Best of Kelowna! Im incredibly honoured to have made it to the voting round. (Especially as a small business 💕✨) Voting closes tomorrow, so if you’d like to cast a vote for me, I would be so grateful! But no matter what I appreciate your support & trust in me so very much. I’m so very lucky to be able to do what I do. Thank you!

Unfortunately, Facebook doesn’t allow direct links/ but feel free to message me and I’ll happily send you the link, or you can find it directly on the Best of Kelowna website.

Thanks again for being part of my journey!

05/07/2025

❣️ Today’s best practice - Don’t over complicate things - puppy training should look a lot like play. (Arguably all training should but we will focus on puppy training today. 🤍

…Meet Rosie 👋🏼 This morning I had one of my puppy day train clients and we did a stop into Mission Creek Regional Park. It was a great reminder that early training doesn’t need to be formal or complicated - it just needs to be intentional.

In our short visit we…

🤍 Built some value for the crate and practiced resting in the crate at a new location.

🩷 Practiced body awareness on a variety of different stumps, fallen trees, rocks etc. ( practicing following a food lure, on, off, turning, balancing, foot placement etc.)

🤍 Watched the world go by… dogs, people, kids, bikes - We didn’t interact, but rather observed.

🩷 Navigated a playground full of distractions and played on the structure, following the food lure etc.

🤍 Played a short name game, kept value in our reinforcement marker and practiced our new “sit” skill in a new place.

🩷 Ended with a quick play and back into quiet rest in the crate

That’s it. No long drills. No rigid goals. Just real-life training woven into a puppy’s natural curiosity and movement. Just helping the puppy explore the world. It was a puppy led session. If she had wanted to just sit on the grass and watch - that too would have been 100% ok!

Yes, we touched on things like engagement, food lures, novelty exposure, and a bit of basic position work -but to the puppy, it was just an adventure. And that’s exactly what it should be.

This stage is all about exposure, confidence building, and creating a pup who wants to stay connected. Keep sessions short. Keep expectations light. Reinforce calmness, curiosity, and connection.

These foundations- layered in through play are what carry forward into everything else I teach. Don’t over complicate things… Keep it simple 🩷

If you want help with your puppy, or want information about our puppy day train programs feel free to reach out 📞

04/14/2025

Today I took Seeya on a coffee date with a friend 🩷 It was the perfect opportunity to be able to reinforce and work on our patio skills! The patio was hopping! One lady had 3 busy puppies with her 😍 and Seeya took it all in stride. Seeya was less distracted by the puppies than I was 😅.

There’s something extra special about a calm, confident, polite dog relaxing while you sip your iced drink or grab lunch with friends. But a “patio ready” dog doesn’t happen by accident it takes a unique set of skills, confidence, and many foundation skills. Yes- even my unicorn Seeya had to learn how to be a great patio dog.

So, what makes a dog patio ready?

• Calm around chaos: Loud noises, bustling servers, other dogs, food smells, people, vehicles etc!

• Solid relax on a mat, down, settle skill: A reliable down and the ability to relax for long periods without constant management. In an environment that is incredibly self rewarding it’s important that we help dogs learn to relax and settle.

• People & dog neutrality: Your dog should be able to ignore strangers and dogs passing by without reacting or begging for attention. Seeya says this is the hardest part - but if she can do it - so can your dog! 🥰

• Focus on you: Even with all the distractions, your dog should still be able to look to you for guidance.

Fun Fact: Part of my day training programs include working on the foundations and real-life skills practicing calm and confident patio skills. If you want to help your dog get a head start on some skills - I’m happy to help.

Feel free to reach out - if you’re needing help getting skills with your dog to help make them a dog that you truly can bring everywhere.

Sarah Knight Dog Training

09/19/2026

05/16/2026

02/03/2026

12/25/2025

05/30/2025

05/28/2025

05/20/2025

05/12/2025

05/07/2025

04/14/2025

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