SouthPaw Training LLC

02/03/2021

Thank you for your interest in SouthPaw Training LLC. Unfortunately, we are still having problems with Facebook therefore we are unable to view or respond to Inbox inquiries and/or comments.

For information on our training or to book a class, please visit our website at www.southpawtraining.com. For more information, you can call or text us at 832-722-7044.

We apologize for any inconveniences and we look forward to speaking with you about our dog training classes!

Thank you.

Dog training. Obedience training. Multi-level training. Call us to learn more about our discounts.

10/29/2020

I am not back open as of yet. I am working on a new website, Facebook back and a new Booking system. Still working on videos as well. I am hoping to be back open in January- the first part. I will post it, as well as sending out emails. Unless that quits working as well.

10/29/2020

Well, so far I have my Facebook coming up most of the way. The "Inbox" still cannot be opened. Please contact me by email or text or phone call. I have people still working on getting it fixed. This can make you pull you hair out. At least I have notifications working so I can get the you posted something, but not all of it. Use a different method to contact me please. If you text, please sign it.

10/27/2020

10/27/2020

I apologize for the Facebook issues I am having. The issues are being researched. For information please go to my website or call. My "in box" will not open. Thank you

08/15/2020

The Intermediate / Advanced Level training will be changing format for our programs on September 5. The Intermediate/Advanced level class, will be split into two sessions on Saturday's. The first class will be at 8:30 AM and the second at 10:30 AM, in order to comply with the smaller groups of 10. If one or both of the sessions get full to 10, it will be necessary to make a reservation for one of the sessions. with an opening or be on a wait list until an opening comes available.

This class is as it always has been an indoor /outdoor class, weather depending on in or out. We are not allowing drop-ins at this time, allowing control of the amount of students per class. This class has been very popular this year and has grown bigger than what they suggest for the Covid situation.

Trick Training will be set at 9:30 AM, between the two previously listed sessions and is 30 minutes. If you are registered in the second session and want to attend the Trick class, you will need to come at 9:30. Here again, it will be necessary to have a reservation for this class.

The class schedule will be starting September 5:

Intermediate/Advanced Session 1 8:30 - 9:30
Trick Dog Training 9:30 - 10:00
Intermediate/Advanced Session 2 10:30 - 11:30

As of now the Rally Obedience class is the same time, but will be limited to 10 people in the class. Rally is Tuesday's evenings at 6:30 PM and must have a reservation made prior to admittance to the class. Right now we are almost full again.

SouthPaw Training is in the process of having online classes available. Keep checking back for information about these classes. We hope to get this worked out soon.

If you have any question about any of the classes, please give us a call - 832-722-7044.

08/07/2020

SouthPaw Training is changing the class set up for Basic Obedience. We have reduced the size of the Group classes to make it safer and more inline with the Covid recommendations.

We are now trying a 4 student/dog class, making it less to worry about in a group setting. This class will be a 1 dog, 1 person limit, unless you are signing up for 2 dogs. If a student signs up for 2 dogs, you will need to have second person come and handle the second dog. This will give students more time in training and help the students and their dogs learn more from each week's exercises. I hope this will also make future clients more relaxed and feel safer with the smaller class sizes.

Right now we are experiencing a large number of students requesting to progress into the Intermediate/Advanced (I/A) level. We are working on a way to offer this program to all students who wish to attend. Dividing the class by Intermediate and then Advanced is an option. There are only 4 students currenlty in the Advanced level. That leaves 11 students in the Intermediate level, which is not an ideal number to work with. We are contemplating offering an evening class, but that does not leave much sunlight to work in, as this is an indoor/outdoor class.

While we are working out the details, we have started a waiting list for the I/A class on Saturday. If you wish to attend the I/A class and want to be on the wait list, please contact us. When texting, please make sure you sign your text, so I can identify who is sending the text.

06/29/2020

I would like to say what a wonderful job my students are doing. For the most part everyone who has come back from Covid Stay Home, has stayed with their training for their dog. I am proud of my students that have completed their 6-week class and have gotten their Star Puppy Certificate or for the older ones are nearly ready to get the CGC.

The Covid has put stress on all the classes, yet the students are hanging in a still working very hard at their goal. It is nice to see the ones that stay with it and complete the training -how much more their dogs grown. The graduates have dogs that do not bark and lunge at other dogs.

The Basic Obedience graduates are on their way to working toward being off leash trained and/or beginning to have fun learning Trick Dog Training - to get a title through AKC here a SouthPaw Training, working on learning Rally Obedience to learn more difficult maneuvering.

It is exciting to see my students go from class on Day 1, to now working on Tricks, Rally, or Off Leash. Keep up the good work. Love the fine work.

06/25/2020

I hate to get on a rampage about aggressive dogs, but this year is especially bad. I cannot go one week without getting calls or a dog in my class that is aggressive. The sad part is that a very few acknowledge their dog has a problem, but most are oblivious to the fact. So many people say when their dog lunges at a person or another dog, that the dog is just wanting to play. Do your children do that? That is a sign of aggression and poor behavior.

Please understand that I used to be the only trainer that took aggressive dogs and tried to work it out. Now they are more aggressive and more of them. People are not socializing them or they take them to the "Dog Parks" and turn them lose. This does not teach them how to act correctly. You have to work in a stable environment, with stable dogs to teach the correct manners.

Aggression is a bad behavior. It is not an Alpha dog pushing others around. Alphas do not need to do that. We also are not teaching pack relations with other dogs or even in our supposed domestication. Most owners are trying to baby their dogs, because "they do not want to hurt their feelings" or "afraid my dog won't love me". It all starts with RESPECT, they need to respect their domain and pack members (humans or dogs).

Domesticating a dog is teaching them how to learn to live in a human society. Make our rules, boundaries and limitations. They do not know how to live with humans, until you show it to them and make a rule - Live by my rules, set a boundary, and make a limitation that you followed through. They honestly will love and enjoy their life more. Give it a try. The method of showing your dog what you want, set a rule with limitations and make it clear. They can or cannot do something.

When someone (trainer, veterinarian or neighbor) asks you, "is your dog aggressive" - be clearly honest. If you do not know ask a trainer or professional. Learn the signs. They are not just playing when they lunge and bark or growl. The tail wagging is not always an indication he is happy. I depends on how the tail is wagging and where it is located while it is wagging. The liability of owning an aggressive dog can be astronomically shocking. It can change your whole life, if you are not careful.

One more thing, MOST trainers that I have talked with, are not accepting aggressive dogs. The liability to them, their employees and others in the classes, is just to high. I do not work with aggressive and do not allow them in my classes. I cannot afford the liability to a human or another dog. Don't ask to bring an aggressive dog or evade the truth. You will be excused from the class.

06/16/2020

Since opening back up from the Covid-19 Stay Home, it has been overwhelming. I am thankfully busy. I am though concerned about the amount of aggressive dog issues I am getting.

My concern is for everyone who does not know the legal ramification, that can come from owning a dog that bites or becomes aggressive scaring people. First, I do not work with or let aggressive dogs in any of my classes. Second, I do not know of any trainers that I have called out for this, that will work with aggressive dogs. It is a costly and very expensive for a facility to have people working or around aggressive dogs. And Third there are possible fines from the authorities, Homeowners Insurance is usually lost and there is always to high possibility of Civil lawsuits, over damages and/or medical bills. The behavior of your dog can be costly.

I have turned away 6 dogs this month, that have bitten people and have had calls about training for them. If the dog is over a year old or older, the longer the dog goes and the more bites he has given - the harder it is to change that dog from his behaviors. Then, there is the cost to try to train the behaviors out of the dog. It takes a lot of behavior training and usually a great expense. No guarantee can be given, as to if or even how far the dog will change the behaviors. It depends on how strong the fears are and if the dog is willing to change.

I wish there was a magic wand to wave over them, but that does not exist. I myself will not keep an aggressive dog, nor will i give it to a rescue. As sad as it is, there is no choice in my mind on dogs that bite. There are way too many good dogs being destroyed and too many bad dogs being give a home.

Think about your decisions, it is not an easy thing to contemplate - it may be an unfortunate necessity.