Underdog Universe Dog Training

09/21/2026

This is Buck.
He lives at Keystone Safari . When I went to take his picture yesterday I said “sit” and a zoo worker said “He doesn’t really know sit.”

And honestly, it doesn’t matter. And here’s why…

Buck is a Great Pyrenees and spends his nights doing EXACTLY what he was bred to do—protecting the sheep and goats at the park. He has a purpose, a job, and an environment where his natural instincts have a perfect outlet.

He may not sit for a picture, but he was calm, confident, and clearly extremely happy being loved on by park visitors. He wasn’t jumping up on people or barking or whining. He was sitting perfectly still as guest after guest walked right by him, some touched him and some didn’t.

That’s an important reminder when we talk about dog training: obedience and commands are only a SMALL part of having a happy, fulfilled dog.

Sometimes fulfillment comes from letting a dog actually be a dog.

If you can give your dog half the sense of purpose Buck has, I promise you’ll have a happy dog.

keystonesafari

09/02/2026

08/14/2026

New Therapy Dogs United team Jen and her dog Onyx! They’ve come so far since day 1, very proud.

therapydogsunited

08/12/2026

I’ve been getting a lot of questions lately about what real loose-leash walking should look like—especially when preparing for something like a therapy dog test.

So here is a super simple way to see leash tension.

I tied a knot into the leash but did not pull the loop tight.

No tension?
The knot stays open.

But the second Ralf puts even the slightest amount of tension on the leash (because of a distraction or he’s not paying attention)… The knot closes.

And THAT is the point.

Your dog doesn’t have to be dragging you down for there to be tension.

If your leash is tight, there’s tension.

And if you’re preparing for a therapy dog evaluation, you need to be able to recognize—and eliminate—that tension.

This little trick gives you instant feedback.

Loose leash = loose knot.
Tension = closed knot.

08/08/2026

New Therapy Dogs United team Shelley and Cappuccino!

therapydogsunited

08/06/2026

First ever Bedlington Terrier trainee, Daytona

08/04/2026

Ralf loves fish

07/28/2026

Thank you! I’ve already had several reach out and begin training! Hope to have many more, message me to start!

Therapy Dogs United
Allegheny Health Network
Allegheny Cancer Center

07/22/2026

Another Therapy Dogs United team, John and Romeo!

07/16/2026

The newest Therapy Dogs United team Cheryl and Goose! Goose went from being mistreated, to a shelter, adopted, back to the shelter, and now a Therapy Dog! The definition of an Underdog.