Natalie Piper - Dog Training

10/19/2026

Body and hand movements are typically more easily noticed by dogs than words we say. Sometimes training in silence with just hand signals can be really helpful! If you want them to learn that a word has meaning, you might say the word without any movement and wait a couple seconds before giving a hint with your motion.

10/10/2026

Cooler weather means more pockets for dog toys!

09/28/2026

My in-person service area covers Champaign, Urbana, Mahomet, Savoy, St Joe, Rantoul, Tolono, Villa Grove, and more! I can come to your home or we can meet at a dog-friendly public location. I also offer virtual dog behavior consultations via Zoom. Link in bio

09/25/2026

Leashes, fences, gates, windows, etc are useful but can sometimes be very frustrating barriers for dogs. It’s a great idea to teach your dog that calm behavior and checking in with you can work to get your dog access to what they really want. Once you practice across many different environments and contexts, your dog can learn to “say please” instead of becoming frustrated.

09/14/2026

Many dogs feel anxious about losing access to their “treasure” or resource when people or animals approach. When humans panic and try to take items right from a dog’s mouth some dogs interpret that to mean the item is even more valuable than they first thought - because ✨clearly ✨the human REALLY wants to steal it for themselves. A big part of trust building with your dog is teaching them that you aren’t out to steal their treasures. Don’t wait until your dog grabs and ingests something dangerous/expensive/sentimental… have a plan, keep forbidden items out of your dog’s reach, and practice creating value for impulse control, leave it (try to give them something way better!) and drop (practice where dog doesn’t lose access to item). Create very pleasant emotional associations with you and others approaching in these contexts by giving the dog something even better and then walking away (and they get to keep their treasure!). If you see stiffness or hear growling 🛑stop 🛑avoid approaching or reaching, and if you really must recover the item for safety, you might show interest in something else and cheerfully move away and invite the dog to move away (maybe to get food from the fridge or go on a walk or car ride). Next get help from a trained professional so you can keep safe and change how your dog feels in these contexts (I’m happy to help!) Link in bio. savoy

09/03/2026

We cant control other people. We can help our dogs feel safe and relaxed by moving away from stimuli, and we can set them up for success by building value for desirable behaviors and building calm pleasant associations with stimuli that once made them nervous or overexcited. Any plan that relies on others following your instructions well leaves a lot of room for error and potential rehearsal of unwanted dog behavior.

08/31/2026

08/05/2026

Dogs need freedom but as their guardians we sometimes need control for safety and etiquette. It is helpful to learn and practice how to handle the leash skillfully: how to gently stop the dog, how to keep the leash loose, how to follow the dog without influencing them, how to keep your hands safe, how to use the leash to gently guide the dog or slow them down etc. It is also helpful to learn and practice skills for active management (recognizing potentially problematic situations and increasing distance or using cues, your body language, your voice, food, toys, and the leash to proactively prevent unwanted, inappropriate, or unsafe behavior). Want help? Link in bio.

07/20/2026

👏👏👏

You can't force or bully a dog into wanting to try for you, especially when conditions are hot or the task is difficult
—you have to earn it.

Key to this is helping your dog enjoy his work, including aspects of training he finds difficult.
It's an integral part of gaining trust.
Your dog recognizes when situations make him feel uncomfortable and when you help him overcome that discomfort, and turn it into something he enjoys and understands, he associates working with you with positive feelings.
This elevates your connection, encourages mental fortitude and develops resilience.
Your dog's confidence grows, both in himself and in you.
This is in contrast to an approach that focuses on insistence or force to work through difficulty.

It's your responsibility to communicate clearly, not your dog's burden to interpret accurately.
The more unambiguous your method, the less room for misinterpretation.
The smaller the steps, the less new information he has to process.
Your dog's understanding reflects your ability as a communicator and teacher.
You empower his development by setting him up to succeed and if you're not sure how (you don't know what you don't know), the next step is getting help.

Our dogs recall quickly, shed enthusiastically, outrun eagerly, turnback positively and try harder, for one simple reason, they want to.
There are many successful training methods but there's a big difference between training in a way that is intuitive, enjoyable, and in your dog's best interest, versus an approach founded on drilling, imposing your will, or bullying.
Most importantly, the last three don't result in your dog giving you his heart—
You can just train or you can partner.

macraeway.com

06/19/2026

When we think about reactive dogs, we often focus on the trigger itself: the dog, the unfamiliar person, the bicycle, or the noise. However, there is another important factor that is often overlooked: owner-directed social referencing.

Social referencing is a normal behaviour seen in both humans and dogs. When a dog encounters something they are uncertain about, they will often look to a trusted person for information. In simple terms, they are asking, "How should I feel about this?" Their owner's body language, facial expressions, tone of voice, and perhaps most importantly, where they direct their attention and gaze, can all provide information that helps the dog interpret the situation.

Many reactive dogs become remarkably skilled at reading their owners. They may notice a trigger, immediately glance back at their handler, and then make a decision based partly on the information they receive. If the owner tenses up, shortens the lead, holds their breath, or fixates on the trigger, the dog may interpret this as confirmation that there is something to be concerned about. This does not create the reactivity, but it can strengthen the dog's belief that the trigger is significant or threatening.

Importantly, this is not about blaming owners. Most people become anxious because they are trying to prevent a reaction, or because they have experienced difficult situations before. In fact, this phenomenon helps explain why some dogs appear calmer with one family member than another. The dog's feelings about the trigger may be similar, but the information they receive from the person holding the lead can be very different.

The encouraging news is that social referencing can also be used to help reactive dogs. When handlers remain calm, move naturally, and avoid fixating on the trigger themselves, they can communicate valuable information to the dog. Something as simple as not staring at the trigger can reduce its perceived importance. Over time, many dogs learn that if their trusted person is relaxed, there may be less reason to worry. In this way, owners can become an active part of helping their dog feel safer and more confident in challenging situations.