No Dog Left Behind

09/04/2026

I used to think “training” mostly meant teaching dogs what to do.

Sit. Stay. Come. Walk nicely.

Nearly 20 years later, I think of it much more broadly.

Training is really all the moments where we and our dogs are learning, adapting, communicating, and figuring out how to live together a little better.

Aussie, Keya, Ghost and Fife all taught me very different lessons.

Some came from things I got wrong.

Some came from finally understanding the dog in front of me.

And some came from realizing that dogs are often far more forgiving of our mistakes than we deserve. 🙂

The responsibility is that we keep trying to understand them better.

They can’t read a book, search the internet, or hire someone to learn how to communicate with us.

But we can do that for them.

Which of these lessons resonated with you most?

09/04/2026

We have three free resources people regularly ask us for:

1. A Human’s Guide to Surviving Puppyhood
For new puppy guardians who want a clearer roadmap through the early months.

2. Stranger Danger Starter System
For dogs who are cautious, fearful, suspicious, or uncomfortable around unfamiliar people or guests.

3. 5 Unintentional Habits That Can Make Leash Reactivity Worse
For dogs who bark, lunge, freeze, stare, or overreact on walks.

Comment 1, 2 or 3 and I’ll send you the resource.

You can choose more than one. 🐾

09/04/2026

I had never taken Ghost to the mountains before this trip.

He had never slept in a tent, stayed in a hotel, hiked these trails, or experienced most of what came with the trip. (Including wolves howling in the middle of the night 🐺)

And he handled it beautifully. Not because we had practised every single one of those situations beforehand.

Because the foundation was already there.

Listening around distractions.
Settling in unfamiliar places.
Walking together.
Being able to handle something new without everything falling apart.

That’s one of my favourite things about training. You’re not just teaching behaviours.

You’re building a dog you can do more life with.

And if your teen or adult dog isn’t quite there yet, that doesn’t mean you missed your chance.

Start with the dog in front of you and build toward the life you want to share.

We currently have one space left in each of two upcoming classes designed to help dogs build better real-world skills.

Comment CLASS and tell me your dog’s age + what you’d most like to be able to do together, and I’ll suggest which option might be a fit.

09/03/2026

“But my puppy already socializes with our family and our dogs.”

That’s valuable, but it’s only the beginning.

One of the most common mistakes I see with puppies is giving them lots of experience with the same familiar people and dogs, but not enough thoughtful practice meeting new ones.

Being able to safely meet and feel comfortable around unfamiliar people and dogs is a skill.

And puppyhood is the optimal time to build it.

That early work can help reduce the chances of problems later like leash reactivity, fear or suspicion of guests, and dogs who struggle outside their very small social circle.

Comment PUPPY and I’ll send you a free digital copy of A Human’s Guide to Surviving Puppyhood, where I walk through how to approach this step by step.

09/02/2026

Our latest Daycare & Training students deserved their own graduation photos. 🎓🐾

And yes, we may have had a little too much fun creating their report cards. 😂

Swipe through all 10 and tell us in the comments:

Which graduate would your dog want to hang out with?

Our current Daycare & Training groups are full until October, but we have a small number of Puppy and Adolescent spaces available for our mid-October programs.

Curious what all the Daycare & Training fuss is about? Comment D&T and we’ll send you the details.

09/02/2026

Our upcoming adolescent classes is actually a hybrid of indoor instruction as well as outdoor to help work towards those next level steps of difficulty. Comment me if you’d like to find out how to register or feel free to ask any questions.

09/02/2026

What's one behaviour your dog does that you find either ☺️endearing or 😩annoying!?

09/02/2026

Okay… apparently we found something dogs AND humans love. 😂🐾

Nearly every Mantrailing class we’ve offered this year has filled, so we’ve added another one.

Our next 4-week Mantrailing Class starts Saturday, September 26 at 10:30 AM.

It’s a fun scent-based activity that gives dogs a job to do, gets them using their nose, and can be a great confidence-building form of enrichment too.

Comment MT and I’ll send you the details.

09/02/2026

Okay… apparently we found something dogs AND humans love. 😂🐾

Nearly every Mantrailing class we’ve offered this year has filled, so we’ve added another one.

Our next 4-week Mantrailing Class starts Saturday, September 26 at 10:30 AM.

It’s a fun scent-based activity that gives dogs a job to do, gets them using their nose, and can be a great confidence-building form of enrichment too.

Comment MT and I’ll send you mote details.

09/01/2026

Dog parents! If you've ever wanted to try a martial art, and or specifically jiu jitsu now is the time! I (Derek) have been training with this club for the past 9 or so years and they have developed such a welcoming, fun community that has helped me stick around so long. Give it a try and or tag your friends in the comment that might like to try or that you would like to battle 😆 🥋

Curious about trying Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu as an Adult?

We’ve created The First 6: An Introduction to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, a 6-week beginner program designed specifically for people with little or no BJJ experience.

You’ll learn the core foundations of Jiu-Jitsu in a small group, including how to escape, sweep, take someone down, pass, control and submit.

It’s a great fit if you’ve been watching from the sidelines, miss having a sport to challenge you, want a more interesting way to get active, or simply want to test the waters and see if BJJ is something you enjoy.

Your registration also includes a fitted Gi and belt that are yours to keep.

We currently have 3 available spots remaining in this round.

If you’ve been telling yourself you’d try Jiu-Jitsu “someday,” this is a pretty good time to make it happen.

Learn more and register here:
https://controlbjj.com/the-first-6

Tag, share or send this to a friend, spouse or family member who might want to try it with you.