CPDT-KA
I work at CARE STL, the only open admission no-kill shelter for the city of St. Louis! In February 2022, CARE STL initiated its Training and Enrichment program with two part-time trainers. Our focus was to help foster and adopters with training struggles that pet guardians had once a dog left the shelter environment, as well as to improve the overall well-being of the dogs in shelter care. Our program was so popular and grew so fast that we added an additional full-time trainer in September 2022 (me, Kailey King!). Since we started tracking data in Apr 2022, we have provided over 2,400 enrichment activities to our shelter dogs in the areas of social, mental, physical, and sensory enrichment. Since Feb 2022, we have conducted 196 training sessions. Of those 196 appointments, only 5 of our dogs remain at our shelter! We have also added group skills classes and look forward to expanding that capability in 2023. Up until now, all those sessions have been provided free of charge to our adoptive parents. Unfortunately, the number of in-shelter canine residents severely strains our limited resources and the time of our hard-working trainers. We will still continue to offer a FREE basic skills group class to CARE STL alumni. We will offer one FREE private lesson at no charge. Any additional lessons will be charged a nominal fee of $50 per lesson for an onsite session (or $100 for offsite sessions). Advanced skills classes offered in the future will also have a charge. Group classes will still be available to non-CARE dogs only as capacity allows. Our priority will always be to keep our CARE dogs in their adoptive homes. We will always continue offering training, behavior advice, and other resources to our CARE family as needed at no cost. Our trainers want you and your dog to have a healthy and strong relationship and bond, and we will do everything we can to facilitate that relationship! Contact our training team anytime with questions or concerns at training@icarestl.org, and they will do their best to help you with your canine struggles.
Anything from puppy socialization and potty training to working on human reactivity, "stranger danger" behaviors, dog reactivity, or separation anxiety. A wide scope!
At CARE STL we are proudly force free and positive only as much as we possibly can (given our stressful shelter environment).
To better help my "stranger danger" reactive dog after we foster failed him <3 I had been working with animals for years and enrichment has always been a passion of mine. I wanted to learn the best ways to help other people and their pets too.
DOGS = HAPPINESS, how can you not love living in the moment with creatures who do nothing but that? I love seeing the bonds build between human and dog when they finally start communicating in a way that makes sense to each other.
HAVE FUN - if it's not fun what is your dog really learning? I want dogs to WANT to do what I ask.
Traveling with your dog can be a rewarding experience, but what do you do when adventure calls you to a place that’s a bit too far for a drive? If you're a pet-owner who want to jetset with your pup, then you’ll want to find the best dog-friendly airlines.
Discover the Great Pyrenees, a breed celebrated for its affectionate, loyal, and independent nature. Recognized as a large dog, the Great Pyrenees have their origins in France where they were initially bred as livestock guardians starting in the roots back to 3000 BC century.
Discover the Staffordshire Bull Terrier, a breed celebrated for its loyal, playful, and friendly nature. Recognized as a medium-sized dog, Staffordshire Bull Terriers originated in the United Kingdom, where they were initially bred for bull-baiting and later for dog fighting starting in the early 19th century.
Discover the Pembroke Welsh Corgi, a breed celebrated for its friendly and affectionate nature. Recognized as a small dog, Pembroke Welsh Corgis have their origins in Wales, where they were initially bred for herding cattle, sheep, and horses starting in the 10th century.
Discover the Boxer, a breed celebrated for its playful, friendly, and alert nature. Recognized as a large dog, Boxers have their origins in Germany, where they were initially bred for hunting large game starting in the late 19th century.
Discover the Great Dane, a breed celebrated for its friendly, affectionate, and curious nature. Recognized as a large dog, Great Danes have their origins in Germany, where they were initially bred for hunting and guarding starting in the 16th century.
Does your dog ever growl when you walk by their food dish? Maybe they get possessive of treats, carrying them far away and giving you side-eye when you start to approach — or snarling at your other pets or children if they get too close.
As almost every dog owner is aware, the nose of a dog is an amazing thing. Just as they can pick up sounds we can’t hear, their sense of smell and ability to pick up scents is well beyond ours. In fact, dogs have 40 times the number of olfactory receptors as humans.
More than 80 million Americans rely on their service dogs to help them navigate the world. Task-trained assistance animals perform a huge range of life-changing—in many cases, life-saving—services: These dogs act as eyes for visually impaired handlers, provide mobility support, alert to seizures and blood sugar crashes, interrupt anxiety attacks, remind their people to take medications, and so much more.
You thought your dog was house trained. Your home was clean from puddles of pee, those dreaded middle-of-the-night bathroom breaks were behind you, and you loved every minute of dog ownership… until your four-legged best friend started using the bathroom inside again. What’s going on?
Ah, poop. We humans think it’s disgusting… but many of our dogs seem to love the stuff. If you’re wondering why your canine companion tries to eat feces (either their own or that of other animals) you’re not alone!
Do you have a water-loving dog looking to burn some energy? There are countless dog parks to visit throughout our country — but some of them become far too hot in the midday sun to be safe for your pets to play. That’s why we’ve put together a list of some of the best dog water parks throughout the United States! At these locations, your pup can frolic, splash, and swim to their heart’s content.
* All Sniffspot articles are reviewed by certified trainers for quality, please see bottom of article for details *
Does your dog destroy every toy you give them? Is your house littered with remnants of fabric and stuffing of all different sizes? Are you tired of investing in “indestructible” toys only for your pup to still dismantle—or worse, get bored of—them in just a few days?
You’ve been told your dog needs regular exercise. There’s a reason “walking the dog” is a classic daily activity: Frequent excursions give your pup a chance to experience the world, maintain a healthy weight, and — most importantly — spend time with you! Consistent physical activity can also improve their strength, muscle tone, coordination, and mental ability over time.
* All Sniffspot articles are reviewed by certified trainers for quality, please see bottom of article for details *
Many dogs have gotten a bad reputation over the years for being "dangerous breeds." Rottweilers are among them. Like pit bulls and other large, blocky-headed types of dogs, these powerful and beautiful animals are often assumed to be aggressive.
Your dog is reactive. They’ll see another dog, person, or other stimulus in the environment (like a car or bike) while out on a walk and suddenly go crazy at the end of their leash. The barking, lunging, and growling feels embarrassing for you — and it’s clear that your pup isn’t having a great time either.
Does your dog display reactivity to other pets or people? Maybe they’re a new rescue pup and are still settling into your home. Or they were sick growing up, so you missed their critical socialization period. Possibly they’ve had a bad experience after being raised as a normal puppy.
Do you have a reactive dog or suspect you may have one? You’re not alone!
Does your dog ever growl when you walk by their food dish? Maybe they get possessive of treats, carrying them far away and giving you side-eye when you start to approach — or snarling at your other pets or children if they get too close.
From 2009 to 2020, there was a 40 percent increase in the development of public dog parks. Designated spots for canine exercise have become commonplace in every major city in North America — many pet owners won’t even consider renting an apartment that doesn’t have its own fenced-in pet area for their canine companions.
Thousand Oaks, California has been a safe haven for Sniffspot host, Jen, since childhood. Having grown up in busy Santa Barbara, Jen, an introvert from an early age, would seek out solitude and serenity away from tourists attractions and droves of people visiting from elsewhere. “My grandparents own 60 acres about a 30 minute drive from here, and I grew up spending every summer and every holiday visiting them on the ranch,” Jen explained. “In Santa Barbara, we wouldn't go to the beach on the weekend because that's where everybody was, so you'd find places off the beaten path where the tourists weren't. For me, the ranch was just my happy place.”
Ellen is the host of Country Pasture Getaway, one of Sniffspot's most popular sniff spots. She has taken the time to write up the lessons she has learned about how to be a great sniff spot host.
Just 20 minutes outside of the busy city of Portland, Oregon, and settled right on the banks of the Columbia River, you’ll find what countless visitors have flocked to the area in search of – mountain views, crisp, clean air, and running water for miles. What you might not expect to find, however, is a hidden oasis designed just for dogs and their people, owned and operated by a farming couple and enjoyed by visitors on two legs, and four.
Fran is the host of Ranch Setting, one of Sniffspot's most popular spots. She has taken the time to write up the lessons she has learned about how to be a great Sniffspot host.
Looking for a space to play with your dog no matter what the weather’s like outside? Look no further than our list of the best indoor dog parks in the United States! These climate-controlled spaces are growing in popularity as pet ownership increases throughout the country. As a bonus, many of them also offer dog training, boarding, grooming, or daycare services on the premises.
Looking for the perfect place to play with your dog? We’ve got you covered! It’s hard to narrow down, but we’ve put together some of the best off-leash dog parks throughout the country so you can plan your next adventure — along with a checklist of what to bring, what to know beforehand, and some frequently asked questions.
Looking for the perfect place to play with your dog in Las Vegas? We’ve got you covered! Take a look at the best local dog parks to plan for your next adventure in Sin City.
Looking for the perfect place to play with your dog? We’ve got you covered!
Looking for the perfect place to play with your dog in Portland? We’ve got you covered! Take a look at the best local dog parks and plan for your next adventure in the City of Roses.