Suwanee Dog Mom

Suwanee Dog Mom Christina McInnis a former service dog trainer and agility trainer. As well as spending time with her husband and children.

certified by the AKC as an evaluator for AKC Star Puppy, AKC Caninine Good Citizen, CGCU and Community Canine Programs. Committed to providing the most effective, convenient solutions to her clients’ dog training needs, Christina is avidly pursues ongoing continuing education and professional development by attending seminars and keeping current on all industry literature. Suwanee dog mom puts cl

ients first and believes the whole family should be involved with training the dog. When not helping clients to enjoy easier lives with their canine companions, Christina enjoys training their newest addition Ranger.

Let’s talk about boarding your dog.I’ll be the first to admit I am an overprotective dog mom when it comes to boarding m...
09/03/2026

Let’s talk about boarding your dog.

I’ll be the first to admit I am an overprotective dog mom when it comes to boarding my dogs. But considering Ranger and I are sometimes the ones out searching for dogs who escaped while their owners were out of town, I’m perfectly okay with that.

For me, the first thing I look at is security.

Is the facility double fenced? How are dogs moved in and out? Are they ever left outside unattended? Is someone physically on site overnight?

If you’re boarding your dog in someone’s home, I want to know the same things. Is there a securely fenced yard? Are dogs supervised outside? What prevents a dog from slipping through a door or gate?

But security isn’t my only concern.

I also don’t want my dog sitting in a small kennel all day and being walked out three times to potty. For me, that’s not enough.

Ask how often your dog actually gets out and how much time they spend out.

There are some amazing boarding facilities with full fenced yards where dogs can get out individually, run around, sniff, play ball and actually engage with someone before going back inside.

Do they need a full play session every single time they go potty? Of course not. I don’t do that at home either. But Ranger absolutely needs meaningful physical and mental engagement every day. He’s a working dog, so his needs may be higher than some, but honestly, most dogs need more than food, water and three potty breaks.

And getting out does not have to mean group play.

I’m personally not a huge fan of large group play. That doesn’t mean all group play is bad. There are some amazing facilities that temperament test, carefully match dogs, keep groups small and have knowledgeable staff supervising. But poorly managed group play can actually be detrimental, and your dog does not need to play with a bunch of unfamiliar dogs just because you’re out of town.

I would much rather pay extra for individual play, walks, ball time or one-on-one interaction.

So don’t just ask how many times your dog goes out. Ask how long they’re out. What do they do while they’re out? How much interaction do they actually get?

Tour the facility. Look at the fencing. Ask who is there overnight. Ask about emergency procedures. Ask the questions.

And if they have cameras, let’s face it, this mom is going to be obsessively checking them. 😂

I don’t need my dogs to have a luxury vacation while I’m on vacation. I need them safe, secure, exercised, engaged and cared for.

The photos below are from one of Ranger’s boarding stays. I have a couple of different places I use depending on how long we’ll be gone, availability and what I need for that particular trip. The important thing for me is that they know Ranger, understand his needs and know that yes, his mother is a little extra. If you didn’t already know that about me, I’m not sure where you’ve been. 😂

Training is everyday life.Your dog doesn’t only learn when you grab the leash, treats, or training equipment and announc...
08/26/2026

Training is everyday life.

Your dog doesn’t only learn when you grab the leash, treats, or training equipment and announce, “Okay, we’re training now.”

They’re learning all day long.

Going outside? Wait at the door.

Putting the food bowl down? Sit and wait.

Walking to the mailbox? Practice a nice loose leash.

Cooking dinner? Place.

Someone comes over? Place again. (You know I love Place.)

Getting out of the car? Wait until released.

Those little moments matter because training has to become part of normal life if you want it to actually stick.

Now, before anyone gets excited and decides this means I just gave you permission to stop doing dedicated training sessions…

Absolutely not. 😂

We still need those.

Dedicated sessions are where we teach new skills, clean up the messy ones, add distractions, build duration and distance, and make sure your dog actually understands what you’re asking.

Everyday life is where we USE those skills.

You need both.

Because the goal was never to have a dog who behaves beautifully for 20 minutes while you’re “training.”

The goal is to have a trained dog when you’re just living your life.

Example learning to sit on the atv …. 😂 playing ball add in a new trick to get that ball. The best part shocking your tiny human.

I’m a little behind on posting, but last week I got to work with this sweet boy, Bo.Is that a Rottweiler? Why yes. Yes, ...
08/17/2026

I’m a little behind on posting, but last week I got to work with this sweet boy, Bo.

Is that a Rottweiler? Why yes. Yes, it is.

Do I normally forget to take pictures of the dogs I work with? Absolutely. Did I forget with this one? Not a chance. 😂 because I immediately sent it to my Husband and boys.

I love all dogs, but come on — Rottweilers are my heart breed.

Bo is a rescue and still a baby in my opinion. His foster and his new family have already done such a great job with him and have his training headed in the right direction. I’m really just there as backup now — helping fine-tune things, answer questions, and keep building on the work they’ve already put in.

He is an absolute sweetheart.

Did I consider sneaking him into my car when I left? I did. I really did.

And did Ranger give me a look of complete betrayal when I got home? Also yes.

Apparently he can tell the difference between my normal “I worked with dogs today” smell and Rottweiler cuddle betrayal. 😂

Does your dog have an off switch?We talk a lot about exercising our dogs. Walks, training, enrichment toys, sniffing, pl...
08/10/2026

Does your dog have an off switch?

We talk a lot about exercising our dogs. Walks, training, enrichment toys, sniffing, playing, running — all good things. I use enrichment with my own dog.

But we don’t talk nearly enough about teaching dogs how to do absolutely nothing.

Being calm is a skill.

I want my dogs to know how to lie down, relax and just exist without needing me to entertain them. If I get up and walk into another room, I don’t need them immediately jumping up behind me every single time. I want them to be able to watch me leave and basically think, Do I need to follow her? Nah. I’m good here.

That’s an off switch.

And yes, some dogs simply like following their people around. That alone doesn’t mean there’s a problem. But there’s a difference between a dog who chooses to follow you and a dog who genuinely cannot relax unless they know exactly where you are.

We actually have to teach calmness.

Place is one of my favorite ways to start. But I also praise the behavior when I catch it naturally. Your dog is lying quietly while life is happening around him? Tell him he’s good. Calmly reward it. We’re so quick to notice the pacing, whining, barking, jumping and general nonsense — then completely ignore the dog when he’s doing exactly what we want.

Pay the behaviors you want repeated.

The ultimate goal isn’t a dog who needs to be told “place” every time you want five minutes of peace. It’s a dog who eventually learns how to settle himself.

I think of it a little like meditation. As an adult, I had to learn that being still is okay. I didn’t need to be doing something every second. Dogs can need to learn that too.

Exercise your dog. Train your dog. Give them enrichment. Play with them.

But don’t forget to teach the quiet part too.

A dog who knows how to settle, be still and simply watch the world without needing to react to or participate in everything is using a skill you taught him.

“My dog is stubborn.”I hear that all the time.My response usually surprises people.“You’ve actually trained your dog rea...
08/03/2026

“My dog is stubborn.”

I hear that all the time.

My response usually surprises people.

“You’ve actually trained your dog really well…just not the behavior you wanted.”

Dogs are learning every second they’re awake.

They repeat behaviors that have been rewarding, and behaviors that aren’t rewarding eventually become less frequent.

The tricky part is that rewards aren’t always treats.

Pulling can be rewarded by getting to the next tree to sniff.

Jumping can be rewarded by attention.

Barking can be rewarded if the ball eventually gets thrown one more time.

Every time a behavior works, your dog learns something.

Then comes the biggest problem I see…

Inconsistency.

Mom has one rule.

Dad has another.

The kids have their own rules.

Grandma thinks the rules don’t apply to her.

Now your dog isn’t being stubborn.

They’re trying to figure out which rule applies today because yesterday the answer was different.

So they test it.

Not because they’re trying to be the boss…

Because you’ve taught them that sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t.

Here’s the other mistake almost everyone makes.

We’re excellent at catching our dogs doing something wrong.

“Off.”

“Leave it.”

“No.”

But we completely miss the behaviors we actually want.

Your dog walked beside you on a loose leash for 15 feet…

Nothing.

Your dog sat instead of jumping…

Nothing.

Your dog looked at another dog and chose to look back at you…

Nothing.

Then your dog pulls…

Now they’re getting your attention.

You stop walking.

You talk to them.

You correct them.

The entire conversation starts after they’ve made the wrong choice.

If the only time your dog consistently gets feedback is after doing something you don’t like, don’t be surprised if that’s when they engage with you.

Instead, change the conversation.

The second the leash becomes loose…praise it.

The moment four paws stay on the floor…acknowledge it.

The instant your dog makes a good choice…let them know they got it right.

Dogs aren’t mind readers.

They learn from repetition, timing, and consistency.

If everyone in the family follows the same rules and starts rewarding the behaviors they want—instead of only correcting the ones they don’t—you’ll be surprised how quickly your dog’s behavior begins to change.

The goal isn’t to spend less time correcting.

The goal is to spend more time teaching your dog what earns the reward.

Dogs & Children: One of the Most Preventable Bite SituationsI recently worked on a bite case where a small child climbed...
07/28/2026

Dogs & Children: One of the Most Preventable Bite Situations

I recently worked on a bite case where a small child climbed on top of a large dog while the dog was sleeping. The dog startled awake and gave a quick nip. Thankfully, it barely left a mark, but the outcome could have been much worse.

This is called a startle reflex, and in this situation, I don’t believe the dog was at fault.

Dogs deserve to be able to sleep without someone climbing on them. A dog that is asleep, eating, chewing a bone, cornered, or trying to walk away should always be left alone.

As both a professional dog trainer and a mother of three, I understand how quickly things happen. For many years I also ran board-and-train programs from my home, and my own children helped dogs learn appropriate interactions with children . Every interaction was carefully supervised—even with puppies. That wasn’t because I didn’t trust the dogs. It was because it was my responsibility to set everyone up for success.

The same responsibility belongs to us as parents and dog owners.

Here are a few ways to help children and dogs build a safe relationship:

• Teach children to never disturb a sleeping dog.

• Don’t allow climbing, laying on, riding, or pulling on a dog. As for hugging, every dog is different. Ranger happily tolerates my kids hugging him because those interactions were built over years with clear boundaries and supervision. Many dogs do not enjoy hugs, so don’t assume a dog is comfortable just because they don’t move away.

• Let the dog choose whether to approach the child instead of forcing interaction.

• Supervise every interaction, especially with young children.

• Give your dog a designated safe space—a crate, bed, mat, or even under a table or desk—where they can rest without being disturbed. If your dog chooses to go there, children should leave them completely alone.

• Teach children to pet gently on the shoulders or chest. Avoid reaching over a dog’s head, as many dogs find this intimidating. Instead, let the dog come to the child and pet from the side or under the chin if the dog is comfortable.

• Reward your dog for calm behavior around children with praise or treats.

• Watch your dog’s body language. Lip licking, yawning, turning away, stiffening, whale eye, or trying to leave are all signs your dog needs space.

• Never punish a growl. A growl is communication, and we want dogs to tell us they’re uncomfortable before they ever feel the need to bite.

I’ve walked into homes where a child was allowed to repeatedly chase the family dog until the dog crawled under a couch or table just to escape. The child would continue following the dog into its safe space while the adults watched.

That isn’t teaching a child to love dogs—it’s teaching the dog that children don’t respect boundaries.

One of the most valuable lessons we can teach children is that when a dog walks away, goes into its crate, gets under furniture, or heads to its bed, the dog is asking for space. We should honor that request.

And let’s not forget the little dogs.

Small dogs often have some of the hardest experiences with children because they’re frequently picked up without warning, dragged around, chased, squeezed, or accidentally dropped. Over time, many begin to associate children with fear and discomfort. To a 10-pound dog, a toddler can feel overwhelming.

Teaching children how to respectfully interact with all dogs—large and small—is one of the best bite prevention tools we have.

Our goal shouldn’t be to prove that a dog will “tolerate” anything. Our goal should be to teach children to respect dogs and teach dogs that children are safe and predictable.

That’s how we keep everyone safe.

Please don’t throw your dog into the water to teach them to swim.I recently worked with a dog that had become terrified ...
07/20/2026

Please don’t throw your dog into the water to teach them to swim.

I recently worked with a dog that had become terrified of the lake. The reason? A well-meaning neighbor tossed the dog off a boat, thinking that’s how dogs learn to swim.

Instead of learning to swim, the dog learned to fear the water.

Here’s what I recommend instead:

• Start in shallow water where your dog can choose to walk in and still touch the bottom.

• Never force, drag, or throw your dog into the water. Panic doesn’t build confidence.

• Figure out what your dog values most—a favorite toy, treats, or simply spending time with you. The second those front toes touched the water, the reward happened. We weren’t rewarding swimming—we were rewarding confidence.

• If your dog backs away, don’t coax, pull, or pressure them. Hang out in the shallow water yourself. Sit down, splash around, or play. Let curiosity do the work.

• If you have access to a calm, confident dog that loves the water, let them lead the way. Ranger has helped several dogs build confidence simply by showing them the water is safe and fun.

• Keep sessions short and end on a success, even if today’s win is simply one step into the water.

Over three sessions, we used positive associations and Ranger’s calm confidence to help this dog change how he felt about the lake. By the end, he was willingly walking into the water and enjoying himself.

And here’s something else to remember…

Not every dog is going to become a Labrador. Some dogs will happily wade in, splash around, and cool off without ever wanting to swim—and that’s perfectly okay.

Training isn’t about making every dog love swimming.

It’s about giving them the confidence to enjoy the water instead of being afraid of it.

Scent games are one of my favorite ways to give dogs a mental workout.Before anyone asks…this isn’t formal scent work, t...
07/15/2026

Scent games are one of my favorite ways to give dogs a mental workout.

Before anyone asks…this isn’t formal scent work, tracking, or detection training. Those sports teach dogs to locate and indicate specific odors and involve much more advanced training.

This is simply a fun enrichment game that encourages your dog to use their natural ability to search. It’s easy to teach, requires very little equipment, and you can make it more challenging as your dog improves.

The graphic covers the basics. Here’s how I like to progress the game:

🐾 Start by letting your dog watch you place a few treats on the floor. Release them with “Find it!” so they understand the game.

🐾 Once they’re confidently searching, begin hiding treats in slightly more difficult places—behind furniture, along baseboards, under the edge of a towel, or around corners. Make them think, but don’t make it so difficult that they become frustrated.

🐾 When they’re successful in one room, expand to multiple rooms or move outside to the yard. Have them wait while you hide the treats before releasing them to search.

🐾 As they improve, use fewer treats, spread the search over a larger area, hide a favorite toy instead of food, or increase the difficulty of the hides.

Remember, the goal isn’t to stump your dog—it’s to build confidence and let them enjoy solving the puzzle. Keep it fun, keep it positive, and end while they still want to play.

If your dog absolutely loves these games, you can always explore formal scent work, tracking, or detection training down the road. This is simply a fun way to introduce them to using their incredible nose.

You may not realize it…But sometimes our dogs train us just as much as we train them.Every time your dog pulls toward a ...
07/08/2026

You may not realize it…

But sometimes our dogs train us just as much as we train them.

Every time your dog pulls toward a person…
And we let them say hello…

They learn.

Every time they drag us over to another dog…
And we allow the greeting…

They learn.

Dogs repeat what works.

Over time, many dogs stop hoping they’ll get to greet everyone…

They begin expecting it.

One of the biggest lessons I learned years ago while training service dogs was the importance of neutrality.

Not every person is there to pet you.

Not every dog is there to meet you.

Sometimes we simply walk by.

If your dog has spent months—or even years—believing every person or dog means interaction, don’t be surprised if they struggle when that suddenly changes.

The picture they’ve learned no longer matches the rules.

That’s why you may see pulling, whining, barking, or lunging. In many cases, it’s frustration because the expectation has changed.

This is also why my puppies wear “Do Not Pet” vests from the very beginning.

Let’s be honest…

Puppies are adorable.

We all want to pet the puppies.

We all want to love on the puppies.

We all want to squish the puppies.

I get it… I want to squish the puppies too. 😂

But every interaction is teaching something.

The vest isn’t there because my puppy isn’t friendly.

It’s there because I’m teaching my puppy that people and dogs are simply part of the environment. They don’t have to say hello to everyone they see, and they don’t have to expect every person to stop and pet them.

Does this mean my dogs never get petted by strangers?

Absolutely not.

My dogs meet people all the time.

The difference is they don’t decide when it happens.

Once they’re calm, focused, and making good choices, I’m happy to let someone say hello.

I want the greeting to be the reward for calm behavior—not the reward for pulling, whining, or dragging me across a parking lot.

Dogs don’t automatically know the rules.

We teach them.

Sometimes on purpose.

Sometimes by accident.

Just a side not let’s all make sure our puppies have all their shots in place prior to any big outings. Ask your vet.

07/03/2026

Ranger: “We’ve talked about this.”
Arlo: duun dun… duun dun… 🦈

Address

Suwanee Dam Road NE, Buford
Sugar Hill, GA
30518

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+14044834194

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Suwanee Dog Mom posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to Suwanee Dog Mom:

Shortcuts

Share

Category