Good Dog University

10/13/2026

Tuesday Training Byte: How to get your dog to listen.
Follow by weekly tips on my website!

10/12/2026

This is a post that I shouldn't have to make, but here it is. When you sign up on my website and book a class with me, I am counting on you to follow through. I keep a very small cap of no more than 6 to a class so that everyone gets some individual help. Also, I cannot run a class with less than 4 clients. So if you sign up- plan to come. Second, plan to pay for the class online (or the deposit) when you sign up. My website only links to paypal. If you don't wish to use paypal, then please bring cash at the first class. At the first class I will give you your folder with handouts for the entire course, geared for whichever course you are taking. I also give out a treat pouch apron to hold the treats to give your dog. I do not work for free and it costs me to provide these things for you. Please do not come to class, take the notebook and treat pouch and train for an hour without paying and then say you won't be continuing. If you sign up and usually that includes a small deposit to hold your spot, please do not cancel on the day of class. I set up the class schedule to best fit the needs of clients rather than my own preferences. I work hard to tailor the class to best meet the needs of attendees. This takes time for planning and set up plus the cost of all the equipment we use in class. I value my clients and enjoy helping all of you with your dogs and I try to keep my fees reasonable. Thanks for your understanding. Happy Training! Pictured is puppy Penny working on her recall in an AKC STAR Puppy class- thank you Rylee!

10/06/2026

Tuesday Training Byte: Biting and nipping puppies

10/01/2026

This is great information regarding choosing the right dog trainer. This applies regardless of the size or type of dog.

09/30/2026

Looking forward to our new group of owner/dog teams for the beginner's class tonight! So nice to have a bit cooler fall weather. Taking my puppy out tonight to demonstrate with as well! My demonstration girl, Garnet, passed this summer, so need to bring another dog to learn the ropes.

09/29/2026

Tuesday Training Byte: Better methods and better results
This is shared from fellow trainer George Van Huyssteen. Enjoy!

Today I was under anesthesia for a medical procedure, so am sharing something from a fellow trainer- George Van Huyssteen- regarding rewards and training methods. I could not have said it any better. He clearly explains the many questions that I commonly get.George Van Huyssteen4 days ago ·Today I ...

09/23/2026

Tuesday Training Byte: Spaying and neutering? Follow my weekly blog on my website.

Many behaviors are erroneously believed to be due to hormones. Often, it is a matter of understanding your dogs and his needs, and providing appropriate training. Here are a few examples:Humping. Neutering does not fix this issue because hu***ng is generally due to being overly aroused and either se...

09/15/2026

Tuesday Training Byte: Help! My dog is a thief!

09/14/2026

AKC STAR Puppy and Canine Good Citizen course is now open for booking! Small class of only 5 slots, learning manners, socialization, and basic obedience. Sign up and reserve your space under the "services" tab on my website. Hope to see you there!

American Kennel Club certified trainer and evaluator for AKC S.T.A.R. puppy, Canine Good Citizen, and Trick Dog titles. Good Dog University offers a variety of classes, private training, and behavior consulting.

09/13/2026

If you are a dog lover like me, you probably are in a few dog-related Facebook groups. I enjoy reading various posts and seeing the pictures of people and their dogs. Here is the problem though: many people will ask for veterinary advice or behavioral advice and the answers can vary 180 degrees. Many answers are outdated myths or contrary to current scientific research. I have owned 8 different purebred breeds, with 27 Rottweilers, 8 American Water Spaniels, and two smooth Collies. The other 5 purebred breeds I only owned one of each. From a research standpoint, all that experience over a 40+ year period with 42 purebreds does not allow me to make a generalized statement! Not even with Rottweilers. I have an 8-year research PhD and I am continually reading the research and it is based on large sample sizes of hundreds or thousands of dogs in order to make a generalized statement. People may post, "How do I keep my 6 month old Rottweiler from nipping?" My response is based not on my experience with Rottweilers, but on reading articles and books by people with a master's degree in animal behavior and certified as a canine behaviorist. If I am looking for dog health issues, I go to the veterinary journals and studies for a particular topic because the majority of vets are not specialists nor do they have much breed-specific education/training, and minimal education in canine behavior. If a client tells me their vet said to neuter their male Rottweiler and asks me what I think, my answer will be based on science research on male Rottweilers (and contradict the vet). So, how can you get appropriate informed canine health and behavioral information without digging and deciphering the scientific journals yourself? If you are one of my training clients, I will hunt that info down for you. Alternately, you can follow my training blog on Tuesday nights on my website (link below). If you need more specific help and you are not in my area, I highly recommend finding a certified positive reinforcement trainer through APDT or CCPDT. I also strongly recommend a book by canine behaviorist, Linda Michaels: Do no Harm Dog Training and Behavior Handbook. All of these sources are evidence driven and based on current science.

American Kennel Club certified trainer and evaluator for AKC S.T.A.R. puppy, Canine Good Citizen, and Trick Dog titles. Good Dog University offers a variety of classes, private training, and behavior consulting.