Pine State Shepherds Training

10/23/2026

We're not there yet, but we're doing pretty darn well! 🌟

This sweet boy is in our board & train program.

Service dogs are trained to high levels of neutrality/obedience, in order to stay focused and alert to their handlers.

If you or your trainer for your servcie dog in training (SDIT) is having your dog meet & greet, socialize, etc with people and/or dogs, then you're not training a service dog.

No dog, especially a SD, should be socializing with just anyone / any dog who wants to say hi..
By doing so, these interactions are for human satisfactory, this is NOT for your dog.
-different from therapy dogs-

If you want to learn how to teach your dog to be neutral, to enjoy taking them places with you, and to grow your relationship with them, call us today!! 🐾

& no, your dog does not need to have a sit stay, great obedience, or any obedience at all, in order to start our training programs!! We all start somewhere! 😉

Training center located in Mercer, but we do travel for in home sessions as well 🌟

Enjoy this video of the goodest boy, practicing good impulse control & not feeding his craving to melt at everyone's feet for ear & belly scratches!

10/11/2026

Next basic obedience group class!!! 🌟
Starting Saturday, Nov. 7th!!

Requirements:
1. UTD Rabies, Distemper/Parvo & Bordetella (kennel cough) vaccines.
2. Must have completed atleast one 1 on 1 training session with Morgan or Makinlee
3. Negative f***l screen to include giardia
4. Class fee ($300) is due, in full, at time of booking your spot!

Don't wait!!! We all start somewhere! 🐾
& spots fill quickly, so inquire within!!
PM us here, on our Play & Stay Pet Retreat page,
or call/text us at 207-861-2264

09/15/2026

What happens at Day School doesn’t stay at Day School. 🐾

A client recently brought their dog to a busy event filled with other dogs and noticed something exciting: their dog didn’t react! They felt Day School played a big part in that progress. ❤️

That’s the goal. Through training, structured socialization, and real-life practice, we help dogs build skills that carry into life beyond our doors.

Only 3 spots remain for tomorrow, Tuesday, September 15!

🐶 Dogs must be up to date on our required vaccines and already enrolled in our system.

New to Play & Stay? A meet-and-greet/private training session is required before joining Day School. Contact us now to get started!

09/07/2026

A few private training sessions this week :

-Kyro, a beauceron- His owner has done a great job with the basics, now we are fine tuning leash manners, dog neutrality & duration stays!
&
-Summit, a GSD- Her owners have been working dog reactivity & leash manners elsewhere for the past 4 months (!!!!) Turns out space, treats and a harness does not work for either of these serious behaviors.. 1st session, walking calmly in a heel and non reactive to dogs. (Not cured, by any means, but certainly heading in that direction)

Huh!! Imagine what you and your dog can do with proper training tools, correct & appropriate timing for rewards/corrections, and calm leadership! 🌟

Call/email us now to find out!!
Training center located in Mercer, ME!
207-861-2264 | [email protected]

(Important to note: find a trainer with well behaved dog(s), we can teach a lot to your reactive dog with our own! Also, shows what your trainer is capable of ;) !!)

08/28/2026

TRIGGER WARNING ⚠️

For the sensitive souls who do not believe in dogs correcting dogs. It's not all pretty in training- often times, dogs can teach extremely valuable lessons & communication skills that we can't, or that'll take us much longer to teach.
In this video, you will observe an adult dog and a black puppy. The bigger dog has something the puppy thinks she may want also.
The adult dog expresses warning signs and very delicate corrections (and to be quite honest, she is being extremely patient with this puppy.) I believe that if the adult dog had something of higher value to her, she would have given harsher corrections, causing the puppy to yelp, scream, cry, etc. ( in which I also would have allowed.)
The puppy learns a very valuable lesson here - she learns to read body language, warning signs and doggy communication in a safe setting, with a safe dog.
Let's face it- puppies are ANNOYING! They push boundaries & ignore personal space. This is why it is so important to allow older dogs to correct younger dogs , to an extent, for proper behavior & communication skills.
When your puppy misses out on these valuable lessons, they find themselves in a situation where they push the wrong dog's boundaries and get mauled.

I highly recommend allowing these interactions in a controlled environment, with safe dogs, and with people ready to intervene if necessary.

Now here is the problem with most households & owners during doggy socialization groups or mutli-dog settings.
They will see the initial interaction involving one dog growling, showing teach, snapping, etc, and instantly think the dog is being "aggressive" or "mean". They will yell at the dogs, take the toy or treat from the "mean" dog, and give it to the "poor" puppy. People intervene before the puppy actually learns anything valuable. In fact, In doing this, the puppy will learn that humans will cover for their obnoxious, rude behaviors and continue to help them get what they want.
Until the puppy does this to the wrong dog.
The older dogs get deemed as "the problem". It is our job as their owners to control their behaviors and intervene when necessary.
If you do not know how the "corrective" dog will respond, it is your job to intervene, correct the puppy or obnoxious, boundary pushing dog, and remove them from that space.

If you want to learn more about dog communication, body language, behaviors, etc, please reach out!!!

08/27/2026

Training requires consistency, dedication & time!
It's not a process you can rush and expect a fully trained dog in a few months.

Training your dog is an investment- you learn as much as they do, and together, you grow and build that bond we all desire with our pets 🌟 It's not all hugs, cuddles and snacks. It's much more than the love you give them; it's the structure, the work, socialization, the mental & physical stimulation, the understanding of their communication style.

We have a way of huminizing our dogs- we think they process, feel and communicate as we do. When you realize this is far from the truth, you begin to fully understand what it takes to have a well behaved, balanced dog in your life. One you enjoy taking with you to those public outtings (camps, parks, festivals, shopping, hiking, etc).

Call us today to get started in your investment- we all start somewhere, don't let the fear or embarrassment hold you back from bringing out the best in your dog! Trust us, we've seen it all! 🐾

Training center located in Mercer- we do travel for in home & public access sessions also! 🌟 207-861-2264

08/23/2026