Shelly Wood Dog Training and Behavior

10/01/2026

I had a great time catching up with Jaana Aadamsoo for the most recent episode of the Animal Training Academy (ATA) Making Ripples podcast.

It was a ton of fun for me to chat with Jaana and learn more about her work through Kennel Pure Power, her experiences in dog shows, and life with her own dogs. I especially loved hearing how weight pulling played an important part in the positive changes she saw with her dog Olive.

Thank you for joining me on the show Jaana and a big thank you to Ryan Cartlidge for making this show, and the ATA community possible! 💚

https://open.spotify.com/episode/4WPlrqG0vbMm0jKKhGZhus?si=81hM0PKTQaGo6-yTfPPoZw

Animal Training Academy: Making Ripples · Episode

06/30/2026

What a pleasure it was to start my day with Woody and his dedicated human this morning. 🐾❤️

06/28/2026

Being this cute should be illegal! Scottie is as sweet as she is cute too! 😍🐾

06/26/2026

I had so much fun with EPIC at the EPIC Pals group up at Southeast Missouri Pets today. Simon, Javi, and Temple were all about perfect. If you are looking to add a dog to your family, go up to SEMO Pets and meet one of these lovely dogs today!

06/24/2026

Being able to take a dog out in public requires a wide variety of skills. Dogs need to be able to navigate new sights, sounds, smells, people, movement, and all of the other things that come with being out in the world. They also need to be able to relax and settle in those environments.

Woody and I spent some time at Panera this morning. I ordered breakfast, found a spot on the patio, and Woody settled in on his mat while we watched the world go by.

He spent much of the outing observing. He watched people, noticed sounds, sniffed the air, and gathered information about the environment around him.

Although it’s not shown in this clip, we also practiced some of the things he would encounter during a real outing. I crumpled up my bag, stood up and sat back down, walked around him, and spent time standing near his mat. These are all things that can be surprisingly challenging for some dogs, especially dogs who are still building confidence and skills in public spaces.

For Woody, who can be a little unsure in new places, these outings are opportunities to practice skills, gather information, build confidence, and become more comfortable navigating the world around him.

Good job Woody!!!! 💛 🐾⭐️

06/18/2026

Look at these awesome dogs who are available for adoption through Southeast Missouri Pets! I had a ton of fun with EPIC and the EPIC Pals group last week and am looking forward to tomorrow!

06/16/2026

It’s been too long Gus! It was a treat to see your handsome face this morning. ❤️🐾

06/12/2026

🎙️ New podcast episode!

I recently had the pleasure of speaking with ATA member Alamelu Sankaranarayanan (KPA CTP) on the Animal Training Academy: Making Ripples podcast. We explored topics including hidden cues in training, choice and consent, behavior change, technology, and working across species.

Alamelu brought such thoughtful insights to the conversation, and I know that you’ll enjoy this one. Let me know what you think if you give it a listen! Animal Training Academy

https://open.spotify.com/episode/2fNcNvEap4fZ8vwe0IpSgc?si=pJBsJjKARzigBISfpPU2Sw

06/12/2026

Look at these cutie patooties! 😍

06/11/2026

Woody is the best boy! ❤️🐾

We have been working on numerous skills that will help Woody be successful in public spaces.

In this video, we are building on Woody’s existing “chill” (settle on a mat) skill by beginning to add things like:

• Foot movement around Woody while he is lying on his mat
• Light tactile contact from feet brushing against him while he remains on his mat
• Staying on the mat while his handler walks away for a period of time
• Returning to the mat on cue, even when his handler is in different locations

While this may look like a simple video of a dog lying on a mat, there is actually a lot going on. Woody is demonstrating an impressive amount of understanding, focus, and self-control, and he is knocking it out of the park at every turn.

Skills like this can make public outings even more successful by giving Woody clear information about where to be and what to do in a variety of situations. The more fluent he becomes with this skill, the easier it is for his human to communicate expectations and help him navigate new environments successfully.

Good boy, Woody! 🍖❤️🐾