Best Friends Dog Academy

Home
United States
Iowa City, IA
Best Friends Dog Academy

Professional, positive training for you and your dog.

10/31/2026

What a brilliant way to advocate for your dog and make sure they feel safe while still participating in a fun holiday!
💜🐾🙌🎃

10/31/2026

Vicky and I go waaaay back. I’m so proud of what she’s accomplished at The Pet Sitters LLC and looking forward to working more closely with Jen too.

Happy Retirement Vicky!
Congratulations Jen!

Hope to see everyone on the 15th at the open house. 🙌🐾💜

10/31/2026

Halloween is almost here! Is your reactive dog's game plan ready?

Between doorbells, trick-or-treaters, costumes, and unexpected noises, Halloween can bring a lot of extra challenges for dogs who struggle with people or unfamiliar situations.

A little preparation can go a long way!

Use this checklist to plan ahead and think through how you'll manage their environment before the festivities begin.

Remember, every dog is different. And the best plan is simply to reduce exposure, provide a comfortable space, and let your dog enjoy a quiet evening!

What is one thing you always do to help your dog feel safe during stressful situations? Share your tips in the comments!

10/31/2026

Happy Halloween! 🎃👻

If your dog struggles with reactivity, one of the best things you can do today is set up a Zen Zone where they can relax away from the Halloween chaos.

With doorbells ringing, trick-or-treaters in costumes, and unexpected noises, tonight can be overwhelming for some dogs. Having a quiet, comfortable space ready before the festivities begin can help reduce their exposure to triggers and give them somewhere to decompress.

Every dog is different, so tailor your Zen Zone to what helps your dog feel safest.

Wishing you and your pup a safe and stress-free Halloween!

10/29/2026

How can you help keep your dog safe this Halloween. Here's 5 suggestions.

Comment and I'll send you the post.

10/28/2026

"Fixation doesn't matter."
I'm hearing that a lot right now.

I think we're having the wrong conversation.

Because the people I work with aren't trainers.

They're the person standing at the end of the lead, with their heart in their throat, thinking,
"Where did that come from? He was fine a second ago."

But he really wasn't fine a second ago.

It was in that tiny, half-second longer stare. The ears that just shifted. The mouth that just closed.

In three seconds flat, their dog "checked out" and locked on.

And it was missed. Not because they weren't paying attention. But because no one ever showed them what to see - or worse, they've been told it doesn't matter.

It does matter.

Those few seconds where that focus narrows and the world goes a bit too quiet for their dog? That's everything.

If we tell people that moment doesn't matter, we leave them with nothing until their dog is already over threshold. Already reacting.

Then they're stuck in that exhausting loop of reactivity, guilt, and "Why can't I help my dog?"

So call it what you want.
Intense look. Locked on. Fixation. Hyper-fixation.
The word isn't the point.

The message that "it doesn't matter" is.

Because when people recognise it, they can finally help their dog.

10/24/2026

Very important distinction!

Oh I hate telling people this.

"He loves belly rubs!"

He might. Just not this one. Not right now.

That belly up, paws tucked, whale eye, mouth tight? That's not "more please." That's a "please stop."

A lot of dogs learn to tolerate touch that they don't actually enjoy.

So we pause. We check.
Does he actively seek more?

If not, we let it end.

If we only listen when they say yes, we're not really listening.

10/22/2026

Bruno has arrived 🙌👀🐾

Sometimes I meet clients around town. 🚗

Dogs can struggle in our chaotic urban environments and their people need help and support. 💜

Also Bruno loves car rides and his mom makes meeting his needs a priority. 🐾🥰

Address

Iowa City, IA
52240

Website

http://Www.bestfriendsdogacademy.com/

Alerts

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