Pride and Joy Dog Training

Pride and Joy Dog Training Hi, I'm Katie! I love your dog already. My mission is for you to enjoy many blissful, fulfilling years together.

I’m here if you want peaceful walks, relaxing visits with friends, quiet evenings - all without sacrificing your dog’s need to be a dog.

08/06/2026

When dogs are barking at something, food is a powerful tool we have to help them calm down. A quick scatter of treats on the ground? One of favorite ways to help my foster dogs move away from scary things and reset.

Are some dogs too worked up to eat when they’re upset or over excited? Sure. That’s why we teach them how to do the things BEFORE they need it!

Follow along at Katie Nahabedian | Force-Free Dog Trainer | Medford MA & Online to learn how to help your dog feel calmer in stressful situations!

08/05/2026

I see you, reactive dog mom who’s giving your dog enrichment, worrying about their mental health, googling ways to help them feel calmer. Blaming yourself for what you might have done differently.

Wanna guess how many clients worry that they’re causing their dog’s behavior struggles?

Like, a LOT.

Wanna guess how many clients I think are at fault for causing their dog’s reactivity?

Zero.

For countless reasons, your reactive dog is who they are.

Follow along to help them learn to cope with the hand they’ve been dealt.

07/23/2026

I work with reactive dogs almost exclusively. And not a single one of them had improved walks when a previous dog trainer made them stay off the furniture in the home.

Can we put this idea to rest? Dogs’ reactivity improves when they feel safer, when they feel calmer, when they learn alternative ways to achieve relief, not when arbitrary boundaries are put in place. Good lord.

Follow me at Katie Nahabedian | Force-Free Dog Trainer | Medford MA & Online to learn more about what ACTUALLY helps reactive dogs.

07/22/2026

We all grew up thinking, “Dogs should go for walks every day. That’s what dogs do.”

But for some dogs, regular walks around the neighborhood can do more harm than good.

What if your dog gets really stressed out on walks?

If their head is on a swivel the whole time, looking for scary strangers and dogs?

If they’re constantly straining at the end of the leash, lunging and barking at anyone they come across?

If they startle and try to dart away from trucks and e-bikes?

If they come home more stressed and wired than when you started?

I’ll gently suggest that daily walks are not the best way for these reactive or anxious dogs to get exercise. At least until they’ve learned enough to make walks feel more manageable.

In the meantime, what can you do to make sure they are fulfilled, mentally and physically? Plenty!

* Driving to a quiet field, trail, or Sniffspot and letting them explore in solitude.

* Scavenger hunts for treats all around the home or yard

* Tug and fetch in the yard if you have one, or in the home if you don’t. (But make sure your floor has traction, please!)

* Hide and seek, to find their favorite human

* Snuffling through a box of toys to find kibble and treats

* Working on a frozen Kong or Toppl

* Chasing a flirt pole (again, with traction on the floor, please!)

Plus a million other ideas. Neighborhood walks don’t have to be the end-all be-all!

Follow me at Katie Nahabedian | Force-Free Dog Trainer | Medford MA & Online to watch as I help my foster dog find fulfillment while we work on feeling safer on walks!

Today is the anniversary of the passing of my sweet girl, Minnie. She was the best pup, the doggie love of my life. I lo...
07/14/2026

Today is the anniversary of the passing of my sweet girl, Minnie. She was the best pup, the doggie love of my life. I love you always, mama girl.

07/12/2026

Reactive dog? A scatter of treats can help them calm down after a big reaction. And if you’ve only got big treats, you can get more bang for your calorie buck with tiny treats, chopped up with a veggie dicer!

07/08/2026

Every dog should learn to wear a muzzle. Yes, even yours.

Because any dog can bite, even the sweetest dog you know.

When an emergency vet needs to examine a broken bone. Or when they've had a seizure and are confused and not thinking straight.

When pain makes the gentlest dog forget who they are for a moment.

A bite from a dog who's hurting is nothing personal. It's just what fear and pain do.

And when your dog is at their lowest, the last thing they need is the added stress of a scary new thing strapped to their face.

But what if we taught them AHEAD of time? What if a muzzle meant AMAZING things happen - the tastiest foods, the funnest games, the best praise and affection from their humans?

Then in a crisis, the muzzle is a security blanket, not a source of more fear.

Muzzle training is a gift for your dog. Start before you need it.

Luke's muzzle foundation was built by trainer Katie Fisher, and his previous foster mom and foster dad - I just get to build on the results.

05/30/2026

If your dog comes to you for comfort, I’m here to tell you it’s okay to comfort them.

You’re not going to reinforce their fear or coddle them or make them soft. I don’t know where this idea came from, but it needs to go away.

The fact that your dog sees you as a source of comfort is a GOOD thing. It demonstrates the bond you’ve created with them. When you respond to their request for comfort, it shows them that you’re listening, which only further deepens your bond.

Is it still important for your dog to learn the skills to cope with stressful things in life? Sure. But in the meantime, we don’t need to leave them hanging.

Candi got scared of the wind knocking over a patio chair in front of her. Her response is pretty reasonable, I think. And so when she pressed her body against mine and pawed at me to pet her, I gladly did.

I’m honored that she sees me as a comfort and that she chose to communicate her need so clearly.

If you’ve been falling down the YouTube rabbit hole, trying to figure out why your dog barks and lunges on walks… This o...
04/30/2026

If you’ve been falling down the YouTube rabbit hole, trying to figure out why your dog barks and lunges on walks… This one’s for you.

Three ways we can work together:
* In-home lessons, in and around Medford, MA
* Virtual lessons, over Zoom from anywhere
* Done-for-you training, where I take the lead and hand the skills back to you. In and around Medford, MA

Every package includes weekly office hours, email support, a plan tailored to your dog, and a built-in cheerleader from day 1.

Ready for you and your dog to live a less stressful life together? Link in bio!

04/29/2026

Here’s why it works👇

Scatter feeding is one of the easiest ways to mimic natural foraging and burn mental energy. Just treats and grass.

Bonus tip: If your dog eats kibble, and you have a lawn, you can just toss part of their meals in the grass! Nature’s snuffle mat.

(No pesticides or other harmful chemicals, please!)

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Medford, MA
02155

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