The HALF Trained Dog

06/03/2026

Today is hard, a student at the school I work at passed from a car wreck over the weekend, another student is having surgery, a dear friend’s cancer has returned. There’s other, more personal things. But let’s just take a moment to appreciate that even though my life feels chaotic, stressful, and I’m so tired of people being sick and dying and the world is going to crap… let’s take a moment to laugh at the poodle lounging in the pool with his ball. This boy loves to do 3 things. Agility, swim, and chase the ball. And he’s getting to do 2 of those in this video.

06/02/2026

Good information here.

Rule of thumb, 3 perfect or improving reps is better than 10 okay reps.

When I road horses my instructor always said “wow you got 15 mins of amazing work, let’s go ahead and get off”

I’d be so confused because I paid for an hour and I planned to ride for an hour.

Now I get it. When we practice if the dog does a sequence perfectly the first time I move on. If we get the work done before I planned, cool, now we can go for a little walk, play tug, or go watch TV and eat a chew bone. Perfect practice makes perfect, not more.

GROWING PUPPIES NEED MOVEMENT, NOT MARATHONS 🐾

One of the most common mistakes we see with growing puppies comes from a good place…

People want to give them plenty of exercise.

The problem is that more exercise is not always better exercise.

Large breed puppies have growth plates that remain open much longer than most people realize. During this stage, their bones, joints, and soft tissues are still developing, making them more vulnerable to injury from excessive repetitive impact.

What we LOVE to see:
✔ Free play
✔ Exploring new environments
✔ Swimming
✔ Natural movement
✔ Confidence-building adventures

What we try to avoid in growing puppies:
⚠ Forced running
⚠ Long-distance jogging
⚠ Repetitive jumping
⚠ Excessive retrieves
⚠ Repetitive stair climbing

One thing that makes retrievers unique is that many of them will continue working long after they should stop. They love retrieving, running, swimming, and being part of the action. It becomes our responsibility to know their limits while they’re still growing.

Research consistently shows that maintaining a healthy body weight during growth can significantly reduce orthopedic stress and help support long-term joint health.

The goal isn’t to keep puppies inactive.

The goal is to provide the RIGHT kind of activity at the RIGHT stage of development.

Move them.
Don’t overdo them.
Protect their growth.
Invest in their future. 🐾

📍 Best Retrievers
194 Stockade Ranch Rd.
Paige, TX 78659

📞 512-409-8222
📧 [email protected]

06/02/2026

Class Alert!
AKC Fit Dog Level 1
Virtual only: $80.00
Hybrid class: $120.00
Class begins July 14 and runs for 6 weeks.

Age requirements: 12 weeks to participate but dogs must be 6 months or older to earn the Fit Dog B.

Email Hanna at [email protected] to register.

How Virtual Works:
Instructional videos are posted into Google Classroom each week. Participants watch the videos and practice the exercise. When ready they take a short video of each exercise and submit online for review. Feedback is provided for each video submission. There is also an optional weekly zoom. At the end of the course participants who completed all exercises successfully receive a certificate of completion to earn points towards their Fit Dog titles.

What’s different about hybrid?
Hybrid includes everything virtual plus 2 in person class meetings during the program, one in-person meeting will include a Fit Dog walk.

06/01/2026

Gamble is offended. He had his yearly check up today. Mom betrayed his trust saying we were going somewhere fun! The vet is not fun. He says he was poked and prodded and now he only wants his ball and his dad. Someone rescue the poor baby.

05/27/2026

Lexi and Nyla think you should book me for house sitting services! These two are some of my favorite clients, and look at the cuteness!!

I still have openings this summer. I offer sitting services for fish, livestock, dogs, cats, and reptiles (except snakes). I have veterinary care experience so your high needs, deaf, diabetic, or epileptic pet will be in good hands!

Summer 2026 Openings include:
Now until June 4
June 15 - July 11
July 28 - August 31
September is mostly open too!

Message me if you need house sitting in the Jackson Metro, Hinds, Rankin, or Madison county areas in MS.

05/26/2026

Teacher life, I’m off until July 13.

This is one of the benefits, I get to hang out here with my dogs and my yard.

With that said if you want private lessons (in person in the Jackson, MS area or virtual) let me know. I have consistent openings now until July 13.

05/25/2026

Same goal, same stare, same intensity, but different breeds. Apparently drivey work-aholic dogs all have the same look. 🤣

At the BARK trial 2025 Kimberly met Gamble, she said “sit” and he dropped, then started vibrating and staring her down. He wanted to work. She looked at me and said “nice and snappy, like a mal, you sure he’s all poodle?” It’s been a running joke ever since that Gamble was a Malinois in his past life, but accidentally came back in a poodle body this time.

Thank you Kimberly for having us today. I enjoyed meeting the dutchie puppies and seeing you work with them. I can’t wait to see these babies all grown up!!

05/25/2026

On the road today traveling to see a sweet friend and her gorgeous puppies!!

Gamble, Sassy, and the Kia got a little crate upgrade and I love it! I think Gamble approves too!

Sassy said she’d prefer to ride upfront like the Queen she is, but the orthopedic crate pad is acceptable.

05/24/2026

House sitting this week and Gamble is in his X-Pen, as he always is when house sitting. I about died when he looked at me with that reflection in his eyes. Post a photo of your fur baby being a toy destroyer in the comments so I can laugh and not feel alone.

05/23/2026

Mother, may I join you in the bath?

No? Okay I will stand here and judge you then.