The Good Shepherd Dog Training

06/18/2026

Jumping, barking, pawing, and nipping often continue because they get attention. Even negative attention can be rewarding to a dog.

Instead of correcting over and over, become boring. Remove the reward for the unwanted behavior and wait for the behavior you’d rather see.

The second your dog offers that better choice, reward it.

Dogs repeat what works. 🐾

06/17/2026

One of the biggest mistakes we see is repeating commands over and over. When you say a command once and give your dog a moment to process it, you’re teaching them to listen to the first cue rather than waiting for repeated reminders.

Dogs learn by making choices. Give them a chance to think through the behavior, and when they get it right, reward it. Patience in those few seconds goes a long way toward creating reliable obedience. 🐾

06/15/2026

What’s all work without play? 🐾

Training should be fun! We balance learning with structured play sessions that build engagement, confidence, and a stronger relationship with your dog. Play isn’t just a reward, it’s an important part of the training process.

A dog that enjoys working with you is a dog that wants to keep learning. 🎾

06/12/2026

Safety first. Always remember to stretch before training. Our preferred pose? Downward Dog. 🐶🧘‍♀️

06/11/2026

Meet Domino and Oliver! 🐾

Domino is joining us for a 2-week training program, where we’ll be focusing on reducing jumping, reducing nipping, and helping her make better choices around people.

Oliver is here for 1 week to build confidence in the crate, learn to relax during alone time, and work on keeping all four paws on the floor when greeting people.

We’re excited to work with both of these pups and can’t wait to share their progress along the way! ❤️🐶

06/10/2026

Testing their skills out in public!

Dogs don’t automatically understand that commands apply everywhere. We practice in new environments so they learn to stay focused and reliable no matter where they are. Different sights, sounds, and distractions help turn training into real-life results.

06/08/2026

A common crate training mistake is only using the kennel when you leave the house.

Keep the crate accessible throughout the day and place it in a high-traffic area where your dog can still feel included in family activities. The goal is for the crate to become a safe, comfortable place they choose to relax in, not just a signal that you’re heading out the door.

A crate should feel like a bedroom, not a punishment.

06/05/2026

06/02/2026

Piper has struggled with reactivity on walks, so today we worked on engagement before the trigger appeared.

The goal isn’t to pretend other dogs don’t exist. The goal is teaching her that she can notice them and still choose to check in with me

Was it perfect? No.

But she stayed engaged, made good choices, and recovered quickly. That’s progress.

Training isn’t about perfection. It’s about building better habits one repetition at a time.

Good job, Piper! ❤️