Hills & Hounds Pet Care

06/05/2026

Raven @ Monroe County Dog Shelter & Animal Welfare Department
She is a very good dog. Ready to learn. She is on a 40 foot long line and right next to my side. I'm not asking her to be next to me or bribing her either. Another reason why I push using a long line. Let the dog breathe when safe to do so.

*I will acknowledge if your dog gets zoomies or is very naughty. And you are not physically able to stop them. Please use tools appropriate for your situation. That includes a friend or family member to go with you that you know will help you. Dogs are very strong.

06/04/2026

Is your dog crate trained?

06/04/2026

Title: Am I enabling the very behavior I’m complaining about? (Short version)

Crate training isn’t about the crate. It’s about breaking the cycle that keeps dogs anxious and humans overwhelmed. Feed meals, treats and chews in the crate so it becomes the spot for good things. Keep portions balanced. Crate them while you’re home doing normal stuff. You grab a snack, they get a snack in their space. It doesn’t have to be long. It just has to be a boundary.

Dogs without boundaries can’t settle. They cling, spiral and turn you into their whole emotional support system. Most people allow it because being needed feels good even when it’s unhealthy. That’s when the cycle gets messy. An unstable dog starts making choices it can’t handle. Climbing furniture. Pacing. Shadowing. Ignoring cues. It’s stress, not stubbornness.

Crates get a bad reputation because humans project feelings onto them. Some think they’re abusive. Some only use them for punishment, so kennel becomes a threat. And if life outside the crate is way more fun while the crate is boring or tied to anger, of course the dog won’t like it.

The crate was never the problem. The pattern was. A crate should be a safe spot where the dog can eat, chill and reset without being glued to you. When it’s used consistently and without guilt, it becomes normal and predictable. A place where good things happen.

The crate isn’t the villain. The misuse is.

- Walter the Basset Hound is in an XL Ruffland Kennel.

06/04/2026

One of the most underrated tools in dog training isn’t actually training, it’s management.

This baby gate in front of a door is a simple example of that.

A lot of people focus so much on teaching behaviors that they forget to set their dogs up for success in the first place. If your dog likes to rush the door when guests arrive, jump on visitors, or bolt outside the second the door opens, management can make a huge difference.

A gate creates a physical barrier that prevents your dog from practicing the behaviors you’re trying to change. Every time a dog rehearses a behavior, that behavior becomes more ingrained. Management helps break that cycle while you work on training.

Management isn’t a shortcut or a failure. It’s a legitimate training tool.

Good training and good management go hand in hand. One doesn’t replace the other.

06/04/2026

06/03/2026

Field trip with Raven. Day 1. She is a very sweet lady.
Find her at Monroe County Dog Shelter & Animal Welfare Department

06/03/2026

I care a lot about the dogs I work with, but it’s hard when I’m expected to give away my time and skills for free, especially in those “urgent” moments. This is my profession. My income. My real job. I don’t know anyone who would do their job for free or pennies while being examined under a fine tooth comb.

Sincerely, Erica — a pet professional just wishing for a little empathy

06/02/2026

I got the chance to work with Raven today and wow… this girl is something special. She’s young, gentle on the leash, and honestly so easy to walk that when the long line snagged on a plant, she just stopped and waited like she was saying oh okay then.

She melts for a kind voice and treats, especially the hot dogs some kind soul left for her when we got back to her kennel. I’m not saying she is a Labrador Retriever, but the way she lit up at those hot dogs made me wonder if there is a little Lab spirit hiding in there. Lab parents know exactly what I mean.

I noticed she gravitates toward other dogs, and I did not hear a single bark from her today. She is still new to me, but what I do see is a young dog who is lacking confidence. She is shy, timid, and unsure of herself, but she absolutely has it in her to grow into a confident dog.

My plan is simple. Give her time, give her structure, and show her she is stronger than she thinks. I do not dwell on her past. Dogs do not need us to feel sorry for them. They need us to show them what life can look like now and in the future. Do not make "she is a rescue" her whole identity. She could be your next hiking buddy, camping partner, dog sport teammate, running companion, or couch snuggle champion. You just have to work with her.

Dog training is for life, and whoever adopts her will get one free private lesson from me to help her settle in and start strong.

Raven is ready for her person. She just needs someone who sees the quiet magic she already has. ✨
https://www.adoptapet.com/pet/48173666-sparta-wisconsin-terrier-unknown-type-medium-mix