Sutton Amthor Dog Training

04/20/2026

Prize ribbons are here! Clients who pass my leveled training assessments with flying colors will receive a Distinguished Beginner, Intermediate, or Advanced Award. You can display them alongside your dog's completion certificate and show off your accomplishment to the whole world! 🐕🐾

If you want to teach your dog how to be the best dog they can be, and earn one of these nifty ribbons, fill out the training inquiry form on my website: suttonamthordogtraining.com

04/08/2026

Sometimes it's the simple moments that are the most profound.

This was my 3rd time visiting Jackson, and 3 tends to be his magic number, so his guardian and I were expecting that he would warm up to me during this session. Sure enough, as we worked through the details of "place" and "down," Jackson remained relaxed and unbothered by my presence. If that calm neutrality was all he gave me, I still would have counted the session as a win.

But then something truly magical happened. During a break, I was giving his sister, Sadie, rewards for sitting politely (instead of jumping and begging for attention). Jackson left his guardian's side, approached Sadie and me, and deliberately met my eyes and sat down. (Of course, I gave him a big treat for such a polite request!)

Here's why that was such a big deal to me: the interaction was ENTIRELY Jackson's choice. He decided that he wanted to get some treats, and he knew how to communicate that to me. There was no coercion, there was no bribery, there was no pushing Jackson to do anything he wasn't comfortable with. There was just clear communication that gave Jackson control over the situation. And that felt powerful to me!

If you have a nervous dog and want to see how positive training can empower them with confidence, go fill out my training inquiry form: suttonamthordogtraining.com/training

03/30/2026

📢 New Client Highlight! 📢

Jackson is a mini Australian shepherd with some BIG anxieties about the world. Like many puppies born during COVID, limited opportunities for socialization caused him to develop neophobia (fear of new things) as he got older. Jackson struggles to cope with new people, new dogs, and new environments.

Happily, positive training is the perfect tool for instilling confidence in fearful dogs. With the help of his mom (and Sadie, his emotional support older sister), Jackson is learning that the world is a fun and rewarding place that he can navigate calmly, without having to resort to over-the-top reactive behaviors.

Do you have a fearful dog who would benefit from a confidence boost? Fill out my training inquiry form at suttonamthordogtraining.com, and start your training journey!

02/13/2026

Presley is making real progress in her window reactivity thanks to the "Look At That" game. I started addressing her reactivity just one week ago, and she's already noticeably calmer. I'm excited to see how she'll be doing after a month or two!

Do you have a rescue dog whose behaviors make you feel out of your depth? I can help! Just visit my website, suttonamthordogtraining.com, and fill out my training inquiry form. Hope to hear from you!

02/10/2026

Presley got a new travel crate from , which means our work today has been all about reassuring her that it isn't going to eat her. Presley is a bit nervous in disposition, and I want her to feel totally comfortable and safe riding in this crate everywhere we go, so I'm taking the introduction slow and steady. Patience is the name of the game!

Do you have a crate that you never use because your dog seems to hate it? Do you have a nervous dog that could use a confidence boost? Do you just want to learn how to communicate and bond with your dog?

If yes, visit my website suttonamthordogtraining.com and fill out my training inquiry form. I would love to work with you and your dog!

02/09/2026

Jesse loves to squeeze into whatever cuddling space he can find, especially while I'm working! I appreciate the peace because it wasn't always like this. When Jesse joined our family, he was bouncing off the walls at all hours of the day (and night!), but a few months of training helped him adjust and thrive within our daily rhythms.

Does your dog's endless energy distract you, stress you out, or just plain irritate you? Training can help! Fill out my training form at suttonamthordogtraining.com/training to start your journey!

02/03/2026

For my first Instagram post, I thought I would highlight my first ✨️superstar✨️ clients. When we started, Rusty and Leni's rambunctious behaviors had their owners feeling frazzled and out-of-control. After a few weeks of private lessons, Rusty and Leni are thriving with the enrichment training work provides, and their owners feel empowered to handle problematic behaviors and maintain peace in their home.

Now, Rusty and Leni regularly pass through challenging training situations with flying colors, in large part due to their owners' diligence in practicing the skills they learn in our private lessons. They'll be taking my Basic Cues assessment in a few weeks, so keep an eye out for a celebratory update! 👁

If your dog has you feeling frazzled and out-of-control, or if you just want a fun way to deepen your bond with your dog, I would love to help! Just fill out the training inquiry form on my website, and let the adventure begin!

https://suttonamthordogtraining.com/training

11/05/2025

This video is an awesome example of how fearful behavior in a rescue dog DOES NOT mean the dog was abused. In most cases, the fear stems from under-socialization, not trauma. Puppies that don't have positive experiences with lots and lots of new things during the first few months of their life develop "neophobia"--the fear of new things. As Cooper shows, even something as innocent as an unplugged blender can be a terrifying unknown for these dogs.

But here's the good news: puppies that ARE given lots of experiences with new things develop "neophilias": the LOVE of new things. Well-socialized puppies learn that new things are good, which gives them the power to explore new things with confidence and calm.

11/04/2025

Good dog training always starts with considering the dog's point of view!

10/13/2025

This week's blog post, where I talk about the humble-but-mighty Focus behavior and why it's the first thing I teach every dog I work with.

What's the first thing you should teach your dog? How to focus on you.