Gentle Touch Dog Training

09/28/2026

Next STAR PUPPY CLASS
STARTS 10/27-12/1, 6-7pm.
Currently have 2 slots open. $200

Send a message to learn more

09/27/2026

How you set up your dog's training changes. Different expectations, different challenges for training: Beginner = easy to succeed and low distractions. Intermediate = a bit harder to be successful and slightly higher level of distractions (so the chance of failure isn't very high, but it has increased). Graduate = challenging to be successful, the chance of failure is increasingly likely.

What does beginner set up look like? Easy ask (example have good treat in your hand, raise your hand slightly and when the pup decides to sit, immediately give them the treat). Do this in the bathroom or kitchen with nobody else around (easiest). Add the cue word when behavior response is 90%. Intermediate: change locations to near doorway (doorway to other room in the house is easier than the one that goes outside. Or practicing on concrete is easier than on grass). Challenge: unknown locations, or kids or other dog running around or noise/equipment or something attractive to the dog.

Depending on how well behaviors have been practiced, where, and what kinds of distractions are more distracting for your pup ...the levels of challenge changes. A common failure is to pop the challenge up to high without the commensurate levels of practice. Your expectations are likely to be disappointed if the variety of practices haven't been enough.

Sorry, but this isn't a dog problem. You must put in the reps in order to get to truly mastering this together.

09/26/2026

There is always more than one way to train a trick, obedience, a behavior ... everything. Dogs love to be told that they are right and they love to earn rewards.

Different dogs have different preferences, but food is pretty universally enjoyed. Other things are brief playtimes, toys, petting in a favorite spot/way. You need to figure out and understand which rewards will motivate your dog. And which areas they are more talented in and which areas they're not.

Token (cream poodle) likes food, snuggles and fetching/tug. - she's very responsive and easily worried. Consistent and obedient, can catch, but not that good at it. Really good balance and leaps/jumps. Quick at understanding words.

Glory (black/tan airedale) likes food, tug, tearing up toys and search games. She's rowdy, not worried and only likes brief pets. She is excellent at catching things...fast & accurate mouth. Not quick at understanding words, excellent at body language.

09/24/2026

Pup Training Quick Tips: 1) What's my name? Say their name in a nice tone of voice, call them by their name in training and repeat it a few times during hand-feeding.
Avoid saying their name "FIDO!" as punishment.
2) Eye contact/Attention? Treat up by your face, say "Treat" or their name. Praise and reward for looking at your face. And random times if they look at you..."Treat" and reward.
3) Hand feeding keeps you in the system of where does their food come from, and gets them to focus on your hand. Feed them while they are sitting, or doing other cues, like down, or come or respond to their name or any of the other things you might want to train them to do.

09/20/2026

There are a couple slots open for the Tricks class Wed. 9/23 - 10/28 at 6:30-7:30pm.

Send a message to learn more

09/17/2026

I do like puppies and now it's been about 3 years since I had one. I don't need a pup. Glory is 5 1/2 and Token will be 3 next month. But, my husband's dog, Guster is almost 11, so...

I kind of believe that it's better to get a pup before you need one. Once your old dog dies, then there's this idea that the pup is a replacement. But no pup actually replaces the old dog you've had for years. Old friends aren't replaced. And new ones aren't like the old ones and won't really ever be. Plus Gus likes puppies.

Guster(collieX), Glory (Airedale) and Token Standard Poodle) are all great dogs. They know obedience cues, tricks and games. There's a fair number of things they could be better at doing, Hey, but me too! They can and do learn quickly and do or try to do new behaviors. Token and I will be going to classes in Oct. for rally obed. We're not out of training/doing options, as if....but a puppyyyyy!

And what kind of pup? I'm waffling. Airedale - terriers are terriers, I do like them and have had a lot of them (see photo from 1990, HIckory, Brillo, Sage, D**o, Kalua, C***r, Kendra-daughter, and Thistle). That was the most adult dogs we ever had at one time.
Although, in 1982 driving from Washington state to Wis, during the winter with 3 adult dogs and two puppies and a moving van was a trip to remember.

Standard Poodle - sooo nice, but grooming and more grooming, however, I ran a grooming shop. Collie - really too much fur, otherwise amazing. Heelers - have had a couple...pretty darn great, often cheap and smart, and territorial. Bouvier de Flanders - she was a great dog, so easy, too big especially when she was 12+ and having getting up/around problems (she lived to 14yo). Shepherd -had a couple, really liked them, but I think we need medium sized pooch, not large sized. My first dog was a black lab, my second a beagle, she was surprisingly good at obedience and tree climbing. Current crew are all 50 . I'm thinking 35 - 50 # adult size.

The fun of searching, deciding and finding a puppy. The puppy smell and puppy actions. And getting to know them. Puppy challenges. Nostalgia. And maybe fantasy of what the 'new' pup could do, learn, be like...

But along with adding a pup, are the time constraints and the things I couldn't/wouldn't be able to fit in with my other dogs. It wouldn't really be fair to them, 'cuz I don't think they'd want my time divided more than it already is with old horses, a couple cool cats and Gentle Touch Dog Training biz/posts/responses...

Yeah. At this point I'm not serious about finding a pup. Just daydreaming and checking out the possibilities. So that when it is actually time to find a pup I'll maybe know where to look.

Below photo: 1990 with Kendra and all the Airedales. What a bunch!

09/14/2026

Next STAR PUPPY classes will start on Oct 27th. 6-7pm. Six 1hr/wk sessions, reward-based, small class size. $200.

09/11/2026

Being mentally flexible is the strongest, best, most effective way to create changes...in your dog, cat, horse and/or yourself.

What does that mean?? So I'm aiming to change a behavior: 1) I think of what the animal likes/values and what they worry about and repeatedly do. Or let's say I'm working on myself: #1 what really matters? and conversely #2 what patterns keep interfering with what I believe really matters. And #3 what is working toward 'what really matters.'

Then knowing or at least believing I've figured out some key things...decide on one small thing to do now/today to start the change. And do it!

Yes! (small celebration of action).

Now, evaluate. Was the thing I did something I will repeat. Did it work the way I thought it might. Do I need to change, adjust, rethink strategy or are we on track. And if so, what next?

Usually, I will repeat my strategy with some adjustments based on the results I got or the possibility of better results in the near future.

Ok...so you need examples?
My cat, Skydiver, ducked away from touch, especially on her head. The problem with this is it made it harder to be able to reach for her and do stuff with her. 1) she's very food motivated 2) so frequent offers of food just after I reached (but instead of going directly for head pets going to body strokes). Gradually desensitized the reaction to reaches and was able to do minor head strokes...to now she's a come right in and get petted right away kitty.

My dog Glory, likes to keep stuff. This interferes with recalls, fetching, and general interactions. I went with low value items (to her...so not balls or stuffed toys or anything that squeaked). And the rewards were balls/stuffed toys/sqeakers and high value treats). Went with once and done cycles. This process continues in various iterations. However, it is significantly better.

My horse, Cola, didn't like being blanketed, he would leave if he saw me carting a horse blanket. He also didn't like vaccinations. Food (horse treats or feed) was his answer. I also do ask him whether he wants a blanket on, and depending on the weather, he will come over and line up. He's also a horse who really likes being brushed/itched, so that can be an incentive.

On myself. I'm in the senior category so that means some of my likes have to be timing and quantity adjusted. Repeated issues: not drinking enough water early in the day, not having eaten my final meal early enough in the eve or just wanting popcorn or something. So I increased quantity in early meals (breakfast/lunch). Set deadlines for consumption of food (nothing ever after 7pm and preferably 5pm) and at least 9 cups water in before 7:30pm. Mostly this has been working and creating better sleep and hopefully the amount of time my brain needs to de-clutter itself. 😉

Next classes where we'll use 'mental flexibility' to change behaviors: AKC Canine Good Citizen classes starting Tues. Sept 29th and Tricks Classes starting Wed. Sept 23rd.

09/08/2026

A video of a series of tricks from a class member who missed our last session, but followed up at home with a video of tricks. Nice work! Love it...hope you like what I did with it. :)
Next Trick (Novice/Intermed) starts Wed Sept 23rd, 6:30-7:30pm. Your pup could put on some trick style!

09/06/2026

Why join a Tricks Class? Well...there's a whole lot of reasons: 1) it's a low $ class, but it gives all the benefits of the higher cost classes, plus some extra things. A --offers mental stimulation/brain engagement learning complex movements: like sitting in a box, or walking a plank or jumping over or crawling under. Improves communication-teaches how to learn which makes it easier to understand everyday cues and strengthens owner/pet bond. B --Improves focus around distractions and teaches your dog to listen and look at you even when other people and dogs are nearby. C --Boosts confidence by achieving new tasks. This is great for shy or insecure dogs as they become much more self assured in unfamiliar environments.

2) Practical Benefits? Tricks translates to Obedience. Hand targeting and/or paw targeting make basic handling, vet exams, and nail trims much easier. Tricks build body awareness: physical movements improve your dogs balance, flexibility, coordination and strength. AND trick classes are a LOW STRESS ENVIRONMENT! Tricks avoid the pressure of strict obedience. Making it pure fun for both dogs and handlers.

Short video of a trick called Leg Weaves...done by Novice Trick Class Members. This trick...boosts confidence, flexibility, coordination ... and is a great entry or exit if you're performing with your dog!