Good Dog Rising

10/23/2026

🐿️ Chipmunk patrol is serious business.

A pile of firewood might not look very exciting to us, but to a dog? It can be an entire world of information.

Sniffing for chipmunks, following a trail through the grass, or investigating who passed through the yard overnight are all simple ways for dogs to use one of their most important senses.

And enrichment doesn’t have to mean going somewhere new or setting up an elaborate activity. Sometimes it’s as easy as giving your dog a little extra time to follow their nose in their own backyard.

Sniffing gives dogs a chance to explore, problem-solve, and engage with their environment at their own pace.

So if your dog needs five minutes to thoroughly investigate the firewood pile… there’s probably a very important case to solve. 🕵️‍♀️🐾

10/21/2026

🍂 Fall weather was made for exploring!

A long line is one of our favorite tools for giving dogs a little more freedom while still keeping everyone safe. It gives your dog room to sniff, explore, run back to you, and practice important skills without being completely off leash.

Fall hikes are a perfect opportunity to work on:
🐾 Check-ins with you
🐾 Recall around distractions
🐾 Exploring without pulling you along
🐾 Choosing to come back even when the environment is exciting

And yes—sometimes that recall looks less like a polite trot and more like an enthusiastic full-speed launch through the leaves. 😂

Grab the long line, bring some good treats, and let your dog enjoy the adventure. Training doesn’t always have to look like a formal session. Some of the best practice happens while you’re out enjoying the world together. 🍁

10/19/2026

10/18/2026

🎃 ONE WEEK UNTIL GROWLOWEEN! 🐾

We’re just one week away! Make plans to bring your pup and come join Good Dog Rising for some Halloween fun. 🧡

We can’t wait to see you there!

10/16/2026

Does your dog have a useful skill?

There are very obvious skills of being a service dog or even detection and those are actual "jobs" the dogs are trained to do and take years to get there.

We’re talking the average dog here -

Millie was able to use Sasquatch's stay to help her unroll the landscape fabric.

We think this is a pretty useful skill.

Share yours!

10/14/2026

Your Halloween costume might be obvious to you, but to your dog, you’ve suddenly grown a cape and a giant pumpkin head. 🎃🐾

Before the big night, let your dog see family members in their costumes from a comfortable distance. Give them time to sniff the costume while it’s off, then pair the dressed-up reveal with treats. Masks, hats, and anything that changes someone’s shape or voice deserve a little extra practice.

If your dog has a costume too, start with a few seconds of wearing it, reward generously, and build up gradually. Make sure they can move, see, breathe, and rest comfortably. And if they’d rather skip dressing up? A festive bandana—or no costume at all—is perfectly fine. 👻

10/12/2026

🍂 Fall hikes are here — and so is hunting season!

If you’re heading into the woods with your dog, add a little blaze orange to their hiking gear. An orange vest, bandana, harness, or other highly visible gear can help your dog stand out against the fall leaves and brush.

And don’t forget yourself! A little extra visibility is a simple addition to your fall hiking routine.

Stay visible, stay safe, and enjoy those fall adventures together. 🐾🍁

10/10/2026

🐾 Our junior handlers take their jobs very seriously…

While waiting for their turn, a couple of our junior handlers decided to pass the time by drawing their four-legged classmates. 🎨🐶

We love seeing kids involved in training—not just because it’s fun, but because they’re learning how to communicate with dogs, build confidence, practice patience, and be part of the training process.

And apparently, we have some future dog trainers and artists in the making. ❤️

Sometimes the best moments at class happen while you’re waiting for your turn.

10/09/2026

Spooky season is here, and the Halloween animatronics are at the stores. 👻🎃

For a puppy, those moving, noisy decorations are a lot to take in! We let him explore at his own pace, watch from a comfortable distance, and check in with us for treats. When he decided they weren’t scary we explored up close!

The goal wasn’t to make him brave in one trip. It’s to help him learn that strange new things can be explored safely, one little step at a time. 🐾