Pathfinder Dog Training and Mobile Vet Tech Service

08/04/2026

While the heat and smoke have slowed classes down, there are still some hardy souls plugging along!

Last night my latest Beginning Agility Level 2 class graduated. We lost one member early on to an unexpected life hiccup. That left two brave souls soldering along in, what is arguably, my most difficult agility class.

Last night they nailed every discrimination, and danced their way through rear, front, and blind crosses like a pair of pros. Another two fabulous teams! Please help me in congratulating Kate and Percy and Bethany and Tippet!🎉🥳🔥😍

Well done to both teams and I will look forward to continuing your journey in intermediate!

Oh, and sharp eyes will notice that these are the first two graduation certificates with the awesome new Pathfinder Logo!

08/01/2026

I am reposting the link to my merchandise store. Facebook wants to direct everybody to messenger. I've removed the picture that goes along that goes along with the link. The link below should go directly to the merchandise store. Thanks everybody who's reached out to let me know about some of the bugs so far. The Facebook link sends you to messenger, at least one size and color of t-shirt is out of stock, if you have MacBook it may struggle to follow the link to the bonfire store.... Etc! If you're having any issues, please let me know and I can get you to the store directly. Thank you for everybody who has supported this campaign so far!

https://www.bonfire.com/pathfinder-dog-training160/?utm_source=copy_link&utm_medium=thanks_page_share&utm_campaign=pathfinder-dog-training160&utm_content=default

07/30/2026

Hey, hey, hey!! Great news!! This summer I have reconfigured my Pathfinder Logo and built an online store of merchandise so that my clients can proudly wear pathfinder gear and show their support for reward and relationship based training!

I would be so excited to see someone out and about with a Pathfinder or shirt or sweatshirt on!!

Here is a link so you can check out the store...

Grab your limited edition Pathfinder Dog Training merchandise before the campaign closes. Featuring Black Softstyle Crewneck Sweatshirts, professionally printed in the USA.

07/26/2026

It's been a minute, but two more classes graduated this week bringing the total of group class graduates for the year to over 120 people! Wowza!! I'm humbled and grateful for my incredible Pathfinder family!

Early this morning a Beginning Agility Level 2 class graduated. This was a really fun crew and I saw an enormous amount of confidence grow in each team. Watching the dogs gain confidence while their handlers became more and more skilled was so fun!

Shortly after, my latest Can I Have It? - Impulse Control class graduatuated as well. Impulse control is so much fun to teach and watch the dogs learn self control. The dogs worked very hard and were all super tired after each class. I saw a huge Improvement in skills and understanding in both dogs and their humans.

Please help me in congratulating all of the most recent Pathfinder graduates! 🥳🔥💜

Group classes are on hold for a short period of time until the temperatures moderate a little bit. I will be adding an Intro to Agility and another Canine ABC class towards the end of August. In mid to late September I will have a full slate of classes offered. Please don't hesitate to reach out if you would like to be on the waiting list for any of my classes or would like more information. Come join the fun!

07/18/2026

So what happens in agility and what's an agility run?

Agility is a team sport that requires an enormous amount of communication between the handler and their dog to negotiate a series of obstacles together. An agility run is a numbered course that the team needs to perform without course faults or time faults. Course faults occur when an obstacle is not performed the way it is required to be and time faults occur when the team goes over the allotted time for that course.

In a trial setting, the handler has about 5 minutes to go out and memorize their course and figure out how they are going to direct their dog around it. The dog never gets to see the course or have any practice on it prior to their official run. Once the run officially starts, it's up to the handler to cue the dog with both physical and verbal cues as they negotiate the course. This is where the teamwork becomes very important because as the dog starts to learn that their job is to perform the obstacles, they will often see a nice line ahead of them to obstacles that may not be in the numbered order they're supposed to take. In these cases the dog has to trust that the owner is sending them to the right place and the owner has to trust that the dog has learned to follow their cues carefully, despite what may be obvious or make more sense to the dog.

While this is a simplified version, it shows how complex agility can really be. The dogs need to learn how to perform each individual obstacle, follow the handlers path (where they point), and their verbal cues. The handler needs to know how the course goes, where their dog is, where to give the dogs timely cues so the dogs know where they're going, and to draw a clear path through the obstacles for the dog to follow. Simple! 😂

It takes a lot of time, training, and practice to really gel together as a team. When it all comes together, it is an agility Holy Grail that feels like a smooth and beautiful dance with your dog partner. When it comes off the rails, it can be an epic train wreck that rapidly devolves into a giggle-fest. It's the holy grail us agility addicts chase and keeps us trying for more!

Agility should be a fun sport for both the dog and their human and can greatly enhance connection, relationship, and communication between you and your dog.

Give it a try! It's fun!

07/01/2026

A big congratulations is in order for the latest Intro to Agility and Beginning Agility Level 1 classes who graduated last night!

While agility is a connection game, I feel like the teams just keep getting more talented every class. These two groups did an incredible job of navigating our final courses for class.

Please help me in extending congrats to the latest Pathfinder graduating classes!🎉👏🥳💐🐾

Missing this week - Betty and Juno

06/28/2026

Another skill I teach my dogs, is to stop if I drop the leash.

If your leash is the only thing tying your dog to you that is a terrifying and anxiety-inducing way to walk with your dog. Leashes can be pulled from our hands, snaps and collars can break, and a myriad of other things can go wrong while out on a walk.

I tend to think of a leash as something I need to have on my dogs where it is required, but not the thing that binds my dogs to me. Meaning, I rely on the relationship I have built with my dogs and the trust we have in each other for them to stay with me whether or not they are on a leash.

Also, teaching them to stop if I drop the leash ensures that they are not going to bolt or leave me if for some reason something happens with that leash. I continually underscore to my clients how important it is to build a solid relationship with our dogs. If we are the most rewarding thing and place where our dogs want to be, the risk of losing them lessens. Teaching a leash drop pause is a skill that highlights that.

My dogs are with me because they want to be, not because they are physically tied to me. With new dogs or puppies, I make sure I have built a solid recall and they have earned the right to be off leash before I transition them to being loose on hikes. I've work hard to ensure they have solid recalls, are fully connected with me, and, most importantly, that being with me is more fun and desirable than all the other distractions in that big, tempting, enticing world out there.

Think about it... If you drop that leash what will happen....??

06/25/2026

I will be holding a Yappy Trails- Hiking with your Dog class beginning Monday, July 13th at 5:30 pm. This is a two part class. The first week we will meet without dogs and discuss trail manners, etiquette, things to bring, first aid, conditioning, safety, traps, and a myriad of other useful information. The second week, July 20th, we will meet at 6:30 with dog so that I can teach you how to teach them the trail cues that I use. Both sessions will meet at my outdoor Pathfinder Arena in Stevensville. The cost for both sessions is $95.

If you love to hike with your dog but need help or more confidence, this class is for you! If you are new to hiking and aren't sure how to proceed with your dog this will start you off on the right foot safely.

Please email me at [email protected] if you are interested! Come and join the fun!!

06/20/2026

It's been a busy week at Pathfinder headquarters! Multiple agility classes are still running, although as the days warm up more, most of those classes are limited to early mornings and late evenings.
Today, another Beginning Agility - level 1 class graduated, as did the latest Canine ABC class. Another two classes full of wonderful people and really awesome dogs. They have made Saturday mornings a morning to look forward to for the last month or two! I'm looking forward to seeing the agility teams moving up to Level 2 and working more with the Canine ABC folks in some of my other upcoming classes.
Please congratulate the latest Pathfinder graduates! 🥳💜🐾🔥

06/13/2026

Update - this class has filled!

Hey Pathfinder folks - I have an upcoming Can I Have It? Impulse Control class that still has some spots available (2). The class will begin Saturday, June 27th at 10 am and runs for 4 weeks. Cost is $115.
Impulse control drives everything we do with our dogs! It can help with nuisance behaviors like couter surfing, garbage raiding, jumping up etc, as well as helping to improve focus, connection, and engagement. It is also a huge componenent of a good recall. Dogs with good impulse control handle distractions better and the exercises we do can be a fabulous way to exercise them mentally and provide significant enrichment.... plus it is FUN!!!
If you are interested in class, please email me at [email protected] or message me through FB.

Feel free to share! Come and join the fun!!