Calling All Dogs

09/25/2026

Second toy lesson with Shadow 🐾

Today we’re using two long tug toys to tap into Shadow’s natural desire to chase, the same instinct that makes critters so exciting to him. Giving him a safe, appropriate outlet helps us channel that prey drive into a structured game instead of letting it spill over into fence reactivity.

Shadow loves the game, and he’s learning that the best part isn’t taking the toy away to play by himself, it’s engaging with me. We’re practicing switching between toys, reconnecting with his person, and making good choices around big feelings and exciting triggers.

This kind of play helps us meet Shadow’s needs while building focus, confidence, and a stronger relationship. Training doesn’t have to be boring, and when we make it fun, learning becomes something both dog and human can enjoy. 💙

09/22/2026

That viral video of a reactive dog "cured" in one session? It is almost never what it looks like.

In our latest blog, we break down:
🔹Why quick fixes feel so impressive in the moment
🔹The difference between a dog that has been suppressed and a dog that has genuinely changed
🔹Why those quick fixes so often fall apart
🔹What it actually looks like to help a reactive dog that can cope in the real world.

Because quiet and calm are not the same thing, and knowing the difference matters.

Can you tell the difference between a suppressed dog and a happy one? What signs do you look for?

https://callingalldogsny.com/blog/the-truth-about-quick-fixes-in-dog-training/

Quick fixes can look impressive in a single session, but suppressing a reaction is not the same as changing how a dog feels. Here is why fast results with reactive dogs tend to unravel, and what real, lasting progress actually requires.

09/15/2026

We’re practicing position changes with Fisher before his reconstructive surgery. SIT, DOWN, TOUCH, and MAT are everyday cues that help him understand what I’m asking and move through routines with more clarity.

These small skills may make handling and settling easier around surgery and recovery. The goal is not perfection. It is clear communication, useful practice, and helping Fisher succeed one step at a time.

What skill should we practice next?

Follow along for Fisher’s surgery-prep journey and practical, humane training ideas.

09/11/2026

Twenty-five years later, we remember the lives lost on September 11, 2001, and the families and communities forever changed.

We remember the first responders, recovery workers, volunteers, and search-and-rescue teams, including dogs like Riley, who worked through unimaginable conditions to help others. May we remember with compassion, gratitude, and care.

09/10/2026

Fisher is getting ready for reconstructive surgery in 49 days. We’re turning the recovery skills he’ll need into fun, confidence-building games. Follow along.

09/08/2026

Reconstructive surgery is in a few weeks, so we’re making sure Fisher’s skills are solid, starting with the crate.

After orthopedic surgery, dogs are on strict crate rest, weeks or months where the crate is basically their whole world while the bone heals. Fisher has already done seven months of it across two surgeries. The only reason that didn’t break him is that his crate was a happy place long before he ever needed it.

It starts with feeding every meal in the crate, months ahead. There’s a lot more to it, and it’s what we build in my training programs.

09/04/2026

Over 11 million of you watched Fisher’s vestibular episode. What most of you didn’t know: that video was the middle of a much bigger story.

Two knee surgeries. A snapped plate. A bent plate. Months of crate rest. And through all of it, he never stopped being his goofy self.

Reconstructive surgery is next month. Keep our boy in your thoughts. 🧡

08/25/2026

New position statement graphic from the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior. Looking for a trainer is tough, especially in an unregulated industry. Here are a few things to look out for:

08/06/2026

This is the video.

Baby agility, having a blast, nothing obviously wrong. Watch it in real speed first, then slow motion. I only caught it watching the replay: his hip pops up on the return.

Not a limp. Not a yelp. Just a hitch that took a second viewing to see. It was enough to get him looked at, and he was later diagnosed with hip dysplasia.

Most people wait for the limp. By then it’s usually been building for a while. The early signs are smaller than that. A hop instead of a push. A little less drive off one side. Sitting slightly crooked.

Film your dog. Watch it back slow. You’ll see things you miss in real time.

07/24/2026

Two tricks that build real loose leash walking skills, with Theo and his owner at Home Depot.

The first one is turns.

If you walk in a straight line, there's no reason for your dog to pay attention to you. They already know where you're going. Start turning left, right, doubling back, and now they have to pay attention to your movement to stay with you.

The second one is sniffing.

It's their instinct, and it's the strongest reward you have out here because it's what they actually want. If you block it every time, they learn the only way to get it is to pull, and eventually they'll out-muscle you to reach that one spot.

So use it instead of fighting it. You pick the moment, release them to sniff, let them have it, then ask for walking again. Now the loose leash is what earns them the thing they want most.

You'll see both in this video. A lot of turns through the aisles, and sniff breaks that Theo was released into and then walked out of.