Silva's Dog House

Silva's Dog House Helping Missoula families build confident, happy dogs through clear guidance, balanced training, and a little fun along the way.

09/07/2026

Zeus’s first field trip wasn’t about teaching him to ignore everyone around him.

We worked on heel, recall, chilling, and catching treats while he watched people from a distance where he could still think. The goal isn’t for Zeus to stare at me and pretend no one else exists. It’s for him to notice someone, check in for direction, gather information, and remain neutral when nothing is being asked of him.

When he became more focused on me than the people, we moved closer until we found his new threshold and practiced the same process again. If he growled, that told us we had crossed the threshold. I stepped in front, used spatial pressure and the leash to guide him away, created more distance, and then restarted.

Every successful repetition helps build a new path: notice, check in, gather information, and stay neutral.

09/06/2026

Zeus Day 10 — Taking the Training Into More Everyday Situations

Today we worked on a few different pieces with Zeus, starting with getting in and out of the SUV crate and introducing the stairs he’ll use along the way.

We also spent time on Place, adding distractions like people coming and going, movement around him, and a ball while asking Zeus to stay put until released.

Then we mixed in more sit work, including continuing to move around him after asking for the command and asking him to listen even after his energy had come up during play.

All of it comes back to the same thing: the communication doesn’t disappear just because the environment changes or Zeus gets excited.

Follow along to watch Zeus’s progress through his 3-Week Board & Train!

Learn more at silvasdoghouse.com

09/05/2026

Karma Day 14 — Look How Far He’s Come 🐾

Karma came to us with a whole lot of excitement and very little idea what to do with it. Over the last two weeks, we’ve worked on helping him slow down, think, stay connected, and keep control of himself even when things get exciting.

From heel, recall, place, and public work to calmer play, better impulse control, and simply learning how to settle, Karma has made a lot of progress while still getting to be the goofy, playful dog he is.

This final video is a look back at where he started and just how much changed in 14 days.

Learn more at silvasdoghouse.com

09/05/2026

Zeus Day 9 — Building Communication Through Pressure

Today we introduced Zeus to the slip lead and spent time helping him understand how to give to that pressure and find the release.

We also worked on getting in and out of the crate, something we’ll need as we start taking his training out into town, and stretched his recall out over a little more distance. He’s also beginning to naturally finish his recall by coming all the way in and sitting in front of us.

A lot of little pieces today, all building clearer communication as we get ready to start asking more from him.

Follow along to watch Zeus’s progress through his 3-Week Board & Train!

Learn more at silvasdoghouse.com

09/05/2026

Chess Day 14 — Before & After

Chess came to us knowing a couple of commands, but she wasn’t very consistent with them yet and excitement could quickly take over.

Over the last two weeks, we’ve worked on building a clearer understanding of her commands, better communication on leash and with the e-collar, impulse control, calmness, and the ability to stay connected even when there’s more going on around her.

From heel, recall, Place, and duration work to public outings and learning how to settle through excitement, Chess has made a lot of progress in two weeks.

This final video is a look at where she started and where she finished.

Learn more at silvasdoghouse.com

09/04/2026

Zeus Day 8 — Building Position & Heel

Today we worked on a couple different pieces with Zeus.

We spent time on the positioning box, helping him think a little more about where his body is and where we’re asking him to be. Then we moved into more heel work, continuing to build a clearer, more consistent position beside us as we moved around the yard.

We also worked in some sit along the way as we continue putting more consistency behind the commands he’s learning.

Follow along to watch Zeus’s progress through his 3-Week Board & Train!

Learn more at silvasdoghouse.com

09/04/2026

Chess Day 13 — Impulse Control During Play

Today was all about teaching Chess that excitement doesn’t mean the rules disappear.

We used the flirt pole to bring her energy up, then mixed in commands throughout the game—asking her to stop, think, listen, and regain control before getting to jump back into the fun.

Being able to stay responsive even when something is really exciting is a big part of making training useful in the real world.

Follow along to watch Chess’s progress through her 2-Week Board & Train!

Learn more at silvasdoghouse.com

09/03/2026

Zeus Day 7 — Giving to Pressure & Holding Sit 🐾

Today we worked on helping Zeus better understand leash pressure and how to move with it instead of pushing against it.

We also spent time building more duration into his sit, asking him to stay put while we moved around and gave him a little more responsibility.

Then we mixed in a little recall to keep building that communication from a distance.

Follow along to watch Zeus’s progress through his 3-Week Board & Train!

Learn more at silvasdoghouse.com

09/03/2026

Chess Day 12 — More Public Practice 🐾

Chess headed back out to Home Depot for more real-world training today.

We worked on sit outside while people moved around her, then headed inside for heel through the aisles, the garden center, and plenty of new sights and distractions along the way.

Another chance for Chess to practice staying connected and calm while everything around her keeps moving.

Follow along to watch her progress through her 2-week Board & Train!

Learn more at silvasdoghouse.com

09/03/2026

Karma Day 13 — Calm in the House 🐾

Today we brought the focus inside and worked on something that’s been a big part of Karma’s training from the beginning: slowing down and settling.

We worked on holding down while people moved around him, then transitioned over to Place where he could practice staying put and relaxing even with normal household activity happening nearby.

For a dog who likes to be involved in everything, learning that he doesn’t always have to be part of the action is an important skill too.

Follow along to watch Karma’s progress through his 2-week Board & Train!

Learn more at silvasdoghouse.com

Address

17916 Mullan Road
Frenchtown, MT
59834

Telephone

+14062747867

Website

, ,

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Silva's Dog House posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share

Category