Tails Up Dog Training

10/12/2026

🎓🐾 ANOTHER PUPPY KINDERGARTEN GRADUATING CLASS! 🐾🎓

Look at these adorable graduates! 😍🐶

Congratulations to our newest Puppy Kindergarten graduates and their dedicated families!

Over the past several weeks, these young dogs have been busy learning important skills, building confidence, practicing good manners, and discovering how to work together with their people. ❤️

But perhaps the most important thing they’ve learned is that training is fun, and paying attention to their person is rewarding!

Puppy Kindergarten is just the beginning. The habits and relationships being built now will help shape the dogs they’ll become as adults.

👏 A big round of applause for these hardworking teams! We’re so proud of the progress you’ve made and can’t wait to see what you accomplish next.

Graduation isn’t the end of training—it’s the beginning of a lifetime of learning together! 🐾❤️

10/11/2026

Hunters - beware of the heat this weekend!

Hunters - Be CAREFUL in the heat this weekend!The pheasant season is a long one and there’s not a bird out there worth the life of your 4-legged hunting partner. With temps approaching 90 for the opener, heat stroke will kill some dogs today; please don’t let it be yours! Some signs of heat stroke:

Excessive panting
Drooling
Bloody diarrhea
Vomiting
Weakness/collapse
Confusion

Keep them cool, hydrated and alive to hunt another day!

10/09/2026

🐾💙 PUPPY SPOTLIGHT: MEET TINO! 💙🐾

How handsome is this guy?! 😍

Meet Tino, a 5½-month-old Pit Bull puppy who is currently attending Puppy Kindergarten at Tails Up!

At this age, Tino is learning so much about the world around him, and Puppy Kindergarten is a great place to build the foundation for a lifetime of good manners.

🐾 Learning to pay attention to his handler
🐾 Practicing basic obedience skills
🐾 Building confidence in new situations
🐾 Learning to be calm around other dogs and people
🐾 Developing good habits that will last a lifetime

One of our favorite things about Puppy Kindergarten is watching puppies of all breeds, sizes, and personalities learn and grow alongside their people. ❤️

Good training isn’t about what breed you have. It’s about building communication, understanding, and a great relationship with the dog in front of you!

We’re happy to have Tino and his family training with us! 🐶💙

Let’s give this handsome boy some love! 👇❤️

10/01/2026

🖤🐾 NATIONAL BLACK DOG DAY 🐾🖤

Today is National Black Dog Day, and we couldn’t let it pass without remembering a very special black dog from the Tails Up family—Cedar.

Cedar was my own black Labrador Retriever. Although we said goodbye to him in 2021, he will always hold a very special place in my heart. ❤️

And no - that photo isn’t photoshopped or AI! It’s 100% real. And for reference, I’m 5’8” tall!! Channeling Cedar’s high energy and big personality into becoming the 2017 AKC National Obedience Champion was the most gratifying achievement of my life.

But did you know there’s a reason black dogs have a day of their own?

National Black Dog Day was created to bring attention to black dogs in shelters and rescues and encourage adopters not to overlook a wonderful dog simply because of the color of its coat.

Black dogs have sometimes been thought to be less noticeable to potential adopters—a phenomenon often called “Black Dog Syndrome.” While research suggests the effect isn’t universal, the day remains a great reminder to look beyond color and get to know the individual dog. 🖤

And those of us who have loved a black dog already know how special they can be!

Today we celebrate them all: the competitors, working dogs, family companions, goofy ones, serious ones, youngsters, seniors—and the special black dogs who are no longer beside us but will never be forgotten.

Today, I’m remembering Cedar. 🖤🐾

Have you loved a black dog? Share their photo and name in the comments so we can fill our feed with beautiful black dogs today!

09/28/2026

💪🐶 **WHEN YOUR DOG TRAINER TAKES “WORKING DOG” A LITTLE TOO LITERALLY…** 😂

Apparently our Puppy Kindergarten instructor Jen has been putting her own dog through a pretty serious fitness program!

Burpees? ✅
Push-ups? ✅
Enthusiasm? ✅
Perfect form? Well…we’ll let you be the judge. 🤣

We love this trick because it’s a great reminder that **training doesn’t always have to be serious!**

Teaching silly tricks is a wonderful way to challenge your dog’s brain, improve communication, build your relationship—and simply have FUN together. ❤️🐾

After all, if our instructors are going to give you homework, apparently their own dogs have to do theirs too. 😂

We give this workout a 10/10 for effort! 👏

What exercise should Jen teach her next?!

09/18/2026

🐾 Great training can change your dog’s whole world.

A well-trained dog isn’t just a dog who can sit, down and stay. Training creates communication, confidence, reliability—and a stronger partnership between you and your dog.

At Tails Up, we’ve been helping families build those relationships for more than 30 years. And there’s something that makes our program a little different:

🏆 Our instructors include some of the most accomplished obedience trainers in the country.

We bring the same principles that create nationally successful competition dogs into the classroom with everyday family dogs: clear communication, good teaching, consistency, appropriate expectations, and skills that hold up when distractions are real.

Your dog doesn’t need to become an obedience champion. ❤️

Maybe your championship moment is a puppy who finally walks nicely instead of dragging you down the sidewalk. A dog who comes when called at the cabin. A calm companion you can take to a patio, park, or family gathering. Or simply a dog who understands what you’re asking and is enjoyable to live with.

National-caliber training. Real-world results.

🐶 Puppy through advanced training
📍 Eagan, MN
🐾 Experienced instructors. Proven methods. Small group classes.

Ready to see what you and your dog can accomplish together?

Come train with us at Tails Up Dog Training!
🌐 TailsUpDogTraining.com

09/17/2026

There is still availability in our Therapy Dog class starting Monday!

❤️🐾 **THERAPY DOG CLASS — ENROLLING NOW!** 🐾❤️

⚠️ **PLEASE READ BEFORE REGISTERING:**
This class is designed for dogs who **already have solid obedience skills.** Dogs should have an **AKC Canine Good Citizen (CGC) title OR equivalent skills and be capable of passing the CGC evaluation now.**

This is **not a basic obedience class** or a class for dogs who are still working toward CGC-level manners. The focus will be specifically on preparing qualified dogs and their handlers for Therapy Dog work.

🐾 **THERAPY DOG CLASS**
📅 Mondays beginning September 21
⏰ 5:45–6:45 PM
📚 6 weekly classes
💲 $175
👩‍🏫 Taught by Sheryl

Do you have a friendly, well-mannered dog who enjoys people? Have you wondered if the two of you might make a great Therapy Dog team? ❤️

This six-week class will prepare dogs and handlers for the **Pet Partners Therapy Dog evaluation**, with an emphasis on the skills, handling, manners, and real-world situations Therapy Dog teams encounter.

Sheryl brings extensive experience to the class as a longtime Tails Up instructor who is very active in Therapy Dog work and serves as a **Pet Partners evaluator**.

Therapy work can be an incredibly rewarding way to use your dog's training to bring comfort, connection, and smiles to others. ❤️🐶

**Already have a CGC or confident your dog could pass the CGC evaluation today? This may be the perfect next step for you!**

Space is limited—contact Tails Up Dog Training to reserve your spot. Link in the comments!!

09/14/2026

❤️🐾 **THERAPY DOG CLASS — ENROLLING NOW!** 🐾❤️

⚠️ **PLEASE READ BEFORE REGISTERING:**
This class is designed for dogs who **already have solid obedience skills.** Dogs should have an **AKC Canine Good Citizen (CGC) title OR equivalent skills and be capable of passing the CGC evaluation now.**

This is **not a basic obedience class** or a class for dogs who are still working toward CGC-level manners. The focus will be specifically on preparing qualified dogs and their handlers for Therapy Dog work.

🐾 **THERAPY DOG CLASS**
📅 Mondays beginning September 21
⏰ 5:45–6:45 PM
📚 6 weekly classes
💲 $175
👩‍🏫 Taught by Sheryl

Do you have a friendly, well-mannered dog who enjoys people? Have you wondered if the two of you might make a great Therapy Dog team? ❤️

This six-week class will prepare dogs and handlers for the **Pet Partners Therapy Dog evaluation**, with an emphasis on the skills, handling, manners, and real-world situations Therapy Dog teams encounter.

Sheryl brings extensive experience to the class as a longtime Tails Up instructor who is very active in Therapy Dog work and serves as a **Pet Partners evaluator**.

Therapy work can be an incredibly rewarding way to use your dog's training to bring comfort, connection, and smiles to others. ❤️🐶

**Already have a CGC or confident your dog could pass the CGC evaluation today? This may be the perfect next step for you!**

Space is limited—contact Tails Up Dog Training to reserve your spot. Link in the comments!!

09/09/2026

🐾 TRAINING GIVES DOGS A BIGGER LIFE 🐾

Three dogs. One beautiful Wisconsin State Park. And a holiday weekend adventure together! 🥾🌲🐶🐶🐶

Hiking is one of the best ways to enjoy the outdoors with our dogs—but when you’re bringing THREE along, good training makes a big difference!

A busy state park means narrow trails, other hikers, dogs passing by, wildlife, new smells, and plenty of distractions. Having dogs who understand what’s expected of them makes the experience safer and much more enjoyable for everyone.

🐾 Walking politely on leash
🐾 Passing people and dogs without needing to greet them
🐾 Paying attention despite exciting smells and wildlife
🐾 Waiting when asked
🐾 Responding to their handler even in a brand-new environment

These may sound like basic obedience skills, but this is what we’re really training for.

Not just a good heel in class. Not just a nice stay. We’re building skills that allow our dogs to experience more of the world with us.

And sometimes the reward for all that training is a beautiful hike through the woods with three of your favorite companions. ❤️🌲

Training creates more opportunities to say, “Yes, you can come with us!”

That’s a bigger life for our dogs—and a whole lot more fun for us, too.

Want to enjoy more adventures with your dog? Start building the skills that make those adventures possible at Tails Up Dog Training. 🐾

09/04/2026

🐾 TRAINING GIVES DOGS A BIGGER LIFE🐾

Sometimes a bigger life is as simple as a trip to the hardware store! 🔨🐶

Here’s Slice practicing her skills while tagging along at a local dog-friendly hardware store.

For a young dog, an outing like this is a fantastic opportunity to experience the world while also learning how to behave in it.

There are carts rolling by, unfamiliar noises, interesting smells, people walking past, and plenty of things she’s never seen before. But the goal isn’t for Slice to greet everyone or investigate everything.

The goal is to learn that she can simply be calm, pay attention to her person, and move comfortably through the world.

🐾 Walk politely through the aisles
🐾 Ignore people and other distractions
🐾 Sit or stay when asked
🐾 Keep four feet on the floor
🐾 Check in with her handler
🐾 Experience new sights and sounds without making them a big deal

These little outings are especially valuable when dogs are young. Every positive experience gives us another opportunity to practice the skills we eventually want from our adult dogs.

And the payoff?

Instead of always having to say, “The dog needs to stay home,” training creates more opportunities to say…

❤️ “You can come with me!”

The hardware store may not seem like much of an adventure to us—but to Slice, it’s another little piece of a very big world she gets to experience.

Training gives dogs a bigger life. 🌎🐾

Want a dog you can confidently take more places and include in more of your life? That’s exactly what we help families build at Tails Up Dog Training. Start with the basics, keep building those skills, and see just how much bigger your dog’s world can become.

Doesn’t she look proud of herself??!

🐾 Come train with us!