Field & Fence Dog Training

09/01/2026

Sig turned 3 today! By 3, dogs are on typically mentally mature. I think this is the perfect time to talk about puppies and some of the stages they go through.

Fear periods: fear periods are a normal part of a puppy's growth. During fear periods, things that had not bothered them before may be intimidating and cause fear. It is important during these periods to remember to give them extra grace and make training easier as needed. Typically, dogs go through two fear periods. One around 8 weeks and another at 6+ months. It varies greatly by dog. Sig went through three. His third was unexpected and he was older than average. My goal during each of these periods was to keep training sessions simple and continue to build confidence and resilience.

Regressions: as a dog goes through it's adolescence, there will be times where it seemingly forgets a skill it had learned before. This is very normal. Regressions happen very regularly as a puppy grows up all the way into adulthood. Just like with fear periods, it is important to focus on continuing to build up the dog's confidence rather than admonishing then for forgetting.

It is a gift to be able to watch little puppies grow into their best selves, but how we help them through the tough times makes all the difference.

08/26/2026

Here is Sig demonstrating some impressive impulse control with his place command. Is he barking? Yes. He, like many dogs, barks when a car pulls up. I absolutely could have worked on that here, but for today, my rule was just stay on place.

What I appreciate about this command is that despite how worked up he obviously is, he still can keep himself on the bed so I can go and greet my guests and wait until he is calm to release him.

08/19/2026

Therapy Dog Training course starts this Saturday! If your dog loves people - everything else can be trained! If you work in a school setting that allows therapy dogs and have a dog that loves kids - consider training for this complex environment and go to work with your dog, with confidence! Classes run Saturday mornings 9am-10:30 am at the Carevet of Hutchinson. Aug. 22 through Sept. 26. $195. Contact us to register:
www.animalinspirationsllc.com
[email protected]
320-420-2046

07/23/2026

The beauty of place training!

07/23/2026

Come see me in a class setting! Sherry does a great job of setting these up and setting you up for success.

Our Beginner Dog Training course will help you teach your dog basic manners and obedience skills AND will give you the skills to prevent your dog from doing inappropriate behaviors like stealing food, jumping on people, barking excessively and out-of-control energy! Let's bring the JOY back into dog ownership!
August 6 - September 10. Thursday evenings 6:30-7:30 pm. Held at the CareVet of Hutchinson Pet Hospital. CONTACT US TO REGISTER:
www.animalinspirationsllc.com
[email protected]
320-420-2046

07/22/2026

I always use times where unexpected things happen as an opportunity to increase Sig's resiliency and tolerance.

Uncomfortable things happen in life, I want him to always think if he looks to me, something good might come out of it. He also knows he has the option to just get up and leave. If the kitty wanted to bother him nonstop, I would not let that happen.

07/19/2026

Went to Runnings with a friend and their dog. It's not often I get to practice training with another dog, but I always jump at the opportunity!

Here we were working on some loose leash walking while following another dog. A hard task, but both dogs did awesome!

07/16/2026

Sometimes, I wonder and cringe at how much money I have spent on toys that were torn apart within 24 hours. Then, I remember that not a single possession of mine has ever been destroyed, so I sigh and load Sig up to go pick out his next victim🧸

07/14/2026

One-On-One Dog Training

Want your dog to look like this in public?

Let's create a training plan customized to your dog and give them the skills they need to succeed!

Good training starts at home, so that's where we'll begin. I'll come to you and work with your dog at whatever level of obedience they're currently at. Once we have a solid foundation, we can build on those skills with public outings together to help your dog succeed in real-world situations. You don't have to do it alone!

Training takes time and commitment, but the results are worth it. Let me help you, wherever you are in your training journey🐾