UpSwing Canine Behavioral Services

09/03/2026

Lots of changes are happening at UpSwing this fall!

This new blog entry introduces the F.A.I.R. framework, something that puts a name to much of how I have come to think about dogs, training, and our expectations of them over the years. F.A.I.R. will also help guide how I work with clients going forward.

It’s about looking beyond simple obedience and asking whether we are considering Function, Agency, the Individual, and Realistic expectations before we jump straight to changing behavior.

If you've ever loved a dog who turned out to be very different from the dog you expected, I especially hope you'll give this one a read.

Are We Being F.A.I.R. to Our Dogs?

And there’s more coming! Three weekend workshops are headed to UpSwing this fall: Focus in the Forest, Confidence in the Clearing, and Trick Dog: Novice & Beyond.

Lots happening around here. Stay tuned!

There was a time, long ago, when I too thought a beautifully trained dog was one who did exactly what they were told, right when they were told to do it. A good dog listened, complied, and waited for the next instruction. That was what training looked like to me then, and honestly, it is still how a...

08/29/2026

Tonight, Riot left this realm for the Rainbow Bridge. She fell ill, declined rapidly and passed away in my arms at around 2am.
If you've followed along with our adventures, you've probably seen this tiny girl pop up from time to time. Riot may have been one of the smallest animals here, but she was, without question, one of the biggest personalities. She was funny, feisty, ridiculously charming, and so incredibly special to me. She was everything.
Every once in a while, an animal comes along who simply owns a different piece of your heart. Riot was that to me. She wasn't "just a chicken." She was my little girl, a good friend, a heart-bird, and I adored her more than I could ever adequately put into words.
Our little flock, and this entire place won't be the same without her. Our tiny welcoming chicken is gone.
Rest easy Riot. You were loved beyond measure and there will never, ever be another like you.

08/27/2026

Everyday is National Dog Day here!

08/23/2026

Sully joined us for a quick overnight stay on Friday. He is a Glen of Imaal Terrier, which is a less common Irish breed developed as a hardy working terrier. Glens may be short, but they are very powerful, substantial dogs bred for tough jobs. There is a lot of big dog packed onto those short legs!
One of Sully’s struggles is other dogs, so we used his stay for some carefully managed opportunities to work around them. With barriers, plenty of space, and no pressure to interact, Sully practiced seeing other dogs, moving around them, and disengaging.
We also made plenty of time for sniffing, exploring, and a good decompression walk around the property.
Sully doesn't need to become a social butterfly. The goal for him is helping him to learn that other dogs can exist nearby without him having a big reaction.

08/23/2026

We cleared some creekside land this weekend (thanks to Ian, my beloved) and Ghost says it is perfection!
(I do not own the rights to this music, but it seems fitting.)

08/23/2026

Really proud of how Sully did working with other dogs this weekend! Also so proud of Boulder - setting a good example of being calm (also getting out of my plants when asked, haha).

08/23/2026

Sully worked on keeping his cool around other dogs today and Boulder was an amazing helper!

08/21/2026

Boulder is putting in some leash work today, specifically learning that tugging on the leash like a maniac is not actually part of leash walking.