Pawsitively Pups

Pawsitively Pups Pawsitively Pups offers puppy classes, obedience classes and nosework classes as well as private lessons. Dogs have been a lifelong passion for me.

We are reinforcement-based trainers and our goal is to make training fun for both you and your dog. I first began training in 1999. My instructor quickly became my friend and I trained with her for many years until she retired. She introduced me to the dog show world and I have been hooked ever since. I started competing in Obedience, Rally Obedience and Agility in 2000 and my dogs have earned a

combined total of 27 performance titles between both UKC & AKC. Jake, the first dog I trained, earned the highest agility title offered by UKC, United Grand Agility Champion. He also was a UKC All Star in 2004 being among the top 50 dogs in the nation competing in agility. My current dogs, Tango & Katie, are training in Agility, Obedience, Rally, Nosework and Barn Hunt. We have many adventures ahead of us.

05/31/2026
Little Colby.. all these years later and he is still my class helper. 🥰
05/18/2026

Little Colby.. all these years later and he is still my class helper. 🥰

We had a sniffing good time over the weekend! I took my two girls, Katie and Angel, to a UKC Nosework trial held by Upp...
05/18/2026

We had a sniffing good time over the weekend!
I took my two girls, Katie and Angel, to a UKC Nosework trial held by Upper Peninsula Dynamic Dogs in Escanaba MI.
Our good friend (and student), Michelle & her pup Hannah, attended as well. It was their first trial and they even earned their first Nosework title!
I’m so proud of all 3 pups and I’m looking forward to what the future holds. ❤️

05/15/2026

Growth doesn’t start with certainty. It starts with curiosity.

Asking better questions, staying open, and being willing to consider things differently. đź’™

What’s something you’ve become more curious about lately?

05/06/2026
05/05/2026

REDEFINING REACTIVITY

Reactivity is a complex topic that requires an individual approach for each dog and their specific circumstances. But the underlying driver is often the same — it’s an emotional response.

Trying to “fix” it through obedience training, corrections, or punishment-based methods focuses on what a dog does, instead of how a dog feels. It doesn’t address the root of the problem—and often creates new ones.

Reactivity can quickly become self-reinforcing because it works. When the trigger moves away, the dog experiences relief—and that emotional shift strengthens the response. The more it’s repeated, the more it becomes a default or a habitual behaviour.

Changing an emotional response is not a quick fix. Real change takes time, patience, understanding, and consistent practice.

Behaviour is the symptom. Emotion is the cause. Work on changing that emotion and the behaviour will follow.

Understanding that behaviour is driven by emotion, should change how we respond to our dogs. They’re not being difficult—they’re struggling.

Looking at reactivity from this perspective should encourage us to be more empathetic and understand that we need to support them rather than control them.

Address

Kingsford, MI
49802

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 6pm - 10pm
Wednesday 6pm - 10pm
Thursday 6pm - 10pm
Friday 6pm - 10pm
Saturday 9am - 5pm

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