Dogged Pursuits

04/14/2026

DM if he’s yours! I’ve left out hot dog and cat food to keep him here as long as possible.

09/10/2025

New blog post! Know someone who's getting a puppy or considering it? If they're a reader or audio book-listener, these titles make the perfect gifts for future puppy guardians!

Read on:

Whether you’re preparing for your first dog or adding another four-legged friend to your family, the right reading can make all the difference. We’ve rounded up some of the best dog training and puppy care books—covering everything from puppy brain development and socialization to behavior man...

05/19/2025

Started working with this gorgeous and sweet block-headed boy at The Humane Society of Charles County today! He was returned to the shelter due to reactivity toward dogs, but he made such an impression on his former adopters that they're sponsoring my training time with Comet.

He did so well during our first session! We learned about four paws on the floor, conditioned the clicker and basic marker words, played the Name Game, and discovered that eye-contact gets snacks! He was consistently able to eat in the presence of other dogs, which is very promising for future reactivity training.

If you'd like to adopt a dog who needs a little boost in life and comes with complimentary lessons with yours truly, Comet is your guy:

The Humane Society of Charles County (HSCC) is a private, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization that relies completely on private donations and its own fundraising abilities to operate. We do not receive any federal, state, or government funding nor any funds from national animal welfare organizations t...

07/16/2024

My top travel tip for you and your dogs this summer: Pace yourselves!

https://www.instagram.com/p/C9fIx5ApOtN/

06/24/2024

🤔 And my answer is…

B!

To account for trigger stacking, I always assume that the next trigger is more challenging than it may first appear—even on days when my dog is absolutely nailing their skills. This means that I am more conservative with each passing trigger.

Especially after a close encounter with a flexi, I’m running for the hills if I see another dog, because I want to end our walk on a high note and preserve my dog’s feelings of confidence and accomplishment.

There’s nothing worse than tripping and falling flat on your face just short of the finish line, so dig up that extra ounce of patience and play it safe out there!

Remember: Slow and steady wins the behavior modification race!

03/08/2024

If you can get into Joint Base Andrews, you're eligible for pay-what-you-can dog training classes! I'm excited to be teaching this spring at their community center with Wag Workshops.

Comment below with questions or share to help spread the word to our service members!

🇺🇸 Attention Service Members & Families at Andrews Air Force Base! 🇺🇸

Registration is now open for our 6-week "Basic Manners" dog training course, proudly hosted in partnership with Liberty Park at Andrews!

Learn essential skills such as sit, down, place, cued relaxation, recall, and loose leash walking.

Classes will be held on base at the community center every Tuesday from April 2nd to May 7th, from 5:30 to 6:30 pm.

For more information & registration: https://wagworkshops.org/community-programs/training-classes/joint-base-andrews-dog-training/

*Please note that base access is required for participation.*

02/16/2024

I am excited to share that I have completed Michael Shikashio's Aggression in Dogs Master Course. This is one of the most comprehensive courses in aggression and covers everything from resource guarding to breaking up dog fights to human-directed aggression and compassion fatigue.

Michael is the trainer that started my crossover journey thanks to an interview he gave on The Canine Paradigm, and finishing this course feels like a full circle moment. I am so grateful to follow in his footsteps and help owners resolve tough challenges with nothing but a noggin' full of knowledge and a pouch full of treats.

01/05/2024

I'm happy to announce that I'm officially a board member for Wag Workshops and will continue to bring positive reinforcement-based dog training to our service members right on base at JBA.

Our mission is to bring top notch, science-backed, pay-what-you-can dog training services to Southern Maryland (which is currently a hotbed of compulsion training). Our work keeps dogs with the families that love them and defends the public from misinformation in our unregulated industry. If you're a dog or animal lover, please consider supporting our work and spreading the word!

Liberty Park2097 San Antonio BlvdJoint Base Andrews, MD 20762

12/12/2023

My December blog post is up! I'm developing my New Years Resolutions, and of course, it got me thinking about how I can design my life to make consistency easy. Consistency is a pain point for many pet guardians, so I thought I'd expand upon it as we look toward 2024.

Read on here:

Have you ever found yourself frustrated with your dog's training progress? The key might be hidden in a simple but powerful concept: positive reinforcement for YOU, the handler. Yes, you heard that right – the reason your dog training isn't working as effectively as you'd like could be linked to h...

12/04/2023

Confession! The first time I attempted the Relaxation Protocol with Della, I quit halfway through!

It was too hard, taking too long, and driving me bonkers with frustration. But wasn’t the protocol’s fault! It was my approach.

Incorporating these tips has made a world of difference for me and my dogs. Try them out, and let me know if they work for you!