American Dog Obedience Center

09/29/2026

Last weekend our own Buzz met all requirements to title in AKC’s Advanced Rally at Hutchinson Kennel Club’s annual Obedience/Rally Trial. This was Buzz’s first event performed entirely off-leash. He rocked the ring with scores of 99, 99, and 97 (out of 100 possible points). He was calm and mostly relaxed at the show and at the hotel, even able to join politely in the hotel lobby area for Dashed dinners with friends. If you know Buzz, that by itself is impressive.
We took a break between our September and October classes to attend this show in Kansas. We’ll be back to work soon - and full through most of October, with availability late in October. You can phone Kris at 405-364-7650 or fill out the contact form at https://www.dogprograms.com/contact/ to discuss whether American Dog Obedience Center’s unique boarding school program is a good fit for your dog. We promise to keep the conversation real.

09/28/2026

Lab Gabby and Becky earned their first “leg” toward AKC’s Companion Dog (CD) title in Hutchinson Kansas this past weekend. You’d be smiling too. The dog and handler requirements for this title are “old school” hard and this environment presented its own challenges. Also, being real, Gabby is not an easy dog to manage. This process is helping her with that.
We applaud their months of work to prepare for this level of competition and Becky’s focus on her dog’s needs to pilot her effectively in - and outside - the ring. Bravo girls! Rebecca Hulsey

09/14/2026

Truth. I wish I had written this! We routinely include fitness in our canine athletes' training. Just like with people, fitness doesn't have to be fancy to be effective. But exercise has to be performed properly, in form. And you have to know what that looks like. During this awful heat wave, wouldn't it have been beneficial to be able to get on the floor with your dog and work together in a small space? And about that fancy equipment: it does address limb awareness, balance and coordination in ways that can seem more interesting mentally and challenging physically. We use props from fitness as familiar guides for our canine athletes - proper sits, downs, stands, pivots are examples for AKC obedience and rally. Exercise props become familiar reminders to help our dogs move well as they learn new skills. But it can be really simple and still be really good.

Are we making canine conditioning harder than it needs to be? 🐶💪

It's easy to get caught up in the idea that more is better. More equipment. More instability. More complicated exercises…But more doesn't automatically mean more effective.

Good conditioning isn't about how impressive an exercise looks. It's about choosing the right exercise for the goal and then performing it with quality, control and purpose.

A simple stand.
A balanced weight shift.
A controlled sit-to-stand.
A precise reverse exercise.

None of these are particularly flashy, but when they're done well, they can teach a dog a huge amount about strength, stability, coordination and body awareness.

I'm a big believer that effective conditioning doesn't have to be complicated. In fact, some of the most valuable exercises are often the simplest.

Instead of chasing the next complicated exercise, focus on doing the basics really well. Because quality will always beat complexity.

09/07/2026

Labor Day Holiday sounds like an oxymoron.

Is it a day off from labor…or a day for labor?

Around here, it’s definitely the latter. Our summer break ended September 1, and our fourth client dog of the month arrives today—on Labor Day. So yes, we be laboring!

But maybe Labor Day isn’t really about whether we work today. Maybe it’s a day to appreciate the work we all do.

Our client families represent just about every profession imaginable. They teach, build, repair, grow, protect, manage, create, care for others, solve problems and provide services the rest of us depend upon every day. Their work keeps us safer and healthier and makes our lives better.

And all of us laborers have at least one thing in common: the dogs who are part of our families. We work for them, make room in busy lives for them, worry about them, laugh because of them—and sometimes you hire somebody else to work on them. 😉

That seems worth celebrating, too.

So whether today finds you at work or enjoying a day away from it, take a minute to appreciate what your own labor contributes—and how much of your everyday life is made possible by the labor of people around you.

As for us, we’re happy to be back at work, doing the work we chose and appreciate the opportunity to do every day.

09/04/2026

Even though Koa was already a mature adult when she trained with us earlier this year, her family knew that their forever together would be enhanced by new behaviors and clear communication. It was a good fit!
We want to let everyone here know that our September and October 2026 classes are full. We do have 2 openings that will run from the end of October into mid-November before we close for winter break.
Might our special brand of training be a good fit for your dog too? Phone Kris 405-364-7650 or use the contact form on the website DogPrograms.com and we will discuss the possibilities. We promise to always keep the conversation real.

08/11/2026

These sisters trained with us earlier this year. We worked each girl individually on all behaviors, and then together to overcome the dreaded “two-dog syndrome.” Getting these girls to do nothing was more challenging than you might think. But here they are, doing just that.

We hope you all are enjoying this hot summer with your dogs - and would love to see photos in the comments below.

06/29/2026

These three dogs weren’t our entire June boarding school class—but between them, we welcomed 16 family members to their individual lesson days.

That didn’t happen by accident. It took planning, scheduling, and a commitment from each family to make learning together a priority, and we genuinely appreciate that effort.

By design, every adult and child participated in their lesson. Watching families interact with their dog helps us tailor our recommendations to fit real life—not an idealized training session.

We often say that we train fortunate dogs for busy families, and these three are perfect examples. Their people made the time to learn alongside them, giving them the best chance for lasting success at home.

Thank you for trusting us with your dogs—and for investing in the relationship you’ll share long after school is over.

06/25/2026

Fireworks season is here.
The hand-painted signs pointing to fireworks stands are already popping up at nearly every intersection around east Norman—and we're still almost two weeks away from the Fourth of July. For families in rural areas, the celebrations often begin now and continue well beyond the holiday.
For many dogs, that means days—or even weeks—of anxiety caused by loud explosions and the vibrations that accompany them. We can't stop the fireworks, but we can make a plan to help our dogs cope. The time to prepare is now, before the first rockets go up.
Here are a few simple steps that can make a big difference:
🐾 Feed dinner and give your dog plenty of time to potty before dark.
🐾 Keep your dog on a leash—even in a fenced yard. A frightened dog can panic and escape in seconds.
🐾 Create a safe haven in a place your dog already enjoys relaxing. This might be:
• A crate (if they already love it)
• An interior room
• A closet
• A bathroom
🐾 Close windows, draw curtains, and secure the doggy door to reduce noise and prevent escapes.
🐾 Let your dogs cope in the way that feels safest to them. Some dogs want to hide. Others want to cuddle. Some don't want to be touched at all. Don't force interaction—and don't force them out of their hiding place.
🐾 Check that your dog's ID tags are attached and readable, and confirm that your microchip registration is up to date. Keep a recent photo of your dog on your phone, just in case.
🐾 If your dog has a history of severe fireworks anxiety, don't wait until July. Talk with your veterinarian now about preventive medications or other treatment options.
With preparation, patience, and the right support, many dogs can experience fireworks with much less fear.Our goal is to help you keep them safe enough to get through the celebration—and still be home with the people who love them when the noise finally fades.
What has helped your dog during fireworks season? Share your best tips in the comments—you may help another family and their dog.
Image created through AI

06/09/2026

As many of you know, our business has a special tradition: whenever a former client trusts us enough to send a new family our way, we love to celebrate by giving back to a cause they will likely connect with.
Because 3 of the dogs in our June class are referrals from different families, each with amazing kids and a beloved dog of their own, we wanted to choose something that perfectly honors that unique bond.
That’s why this referral donation x3 is going directly to the Paws for Purpose program at Oklahoma Children's Hospital.
This incredible donor-funded program uses full-time, highly trained facility dogs to help local Oklahoma kids heal. They are essentially highly trained, canine hospital employees.They don't just provide comfort; they help kids hit medical milestones. They are paired with Certified Child Life Specialists to assist in active rehabilitation. It is a goal-directed program helping patients dealing with cognitive, physical and/or emotional disabilities to reach specific outcomes. It is a service provided that is completely donor and community funded.
Thank you for helping our small business grow, which allows us the opportunity to support such a beautiful local cause.We hope all families – the referrers and the referees – approve this choice.
To support Oklahoma kids and their canine co-therapists, use this link https://giving.ouhealth.com/give/622187/ #!/donation/checkout.
Do not confuse this OU Childrens Hospital program with the private Oklahoma dog trainer who uses the similar name Paws4Purpose.