SmartPaw Behavior & Training

I would like to announce that we are no longer accepting clients for the time being. As some of you may know, I had a baby a little less than 2 years ago so many of my priorities have changed. I am currently focusing on my family and raising my amazing little girl. It was a hard decision to take a step back from training, but I always want to give my clients the attention they deserve and this was proving difficult with a toddler demanding 100% of my time and patience. 🙂
Please reach out to me if you need a referral to another trainer and hopefully I'll be back in a couple years when life calms down (and my little one is in school). All the best!
~Allison

Every new developmental stage of a baby can be weird for dogs! First the arrival of a baby interrupts their routine, then the baby starts grabbing at them, rolling, crawling, walking, etc. Just because your dog was okay with the baby when they were a newborn does not mean that they will be okay with them as they become more mobile! Make sure to have management in place for when your dog needs a break. Baby gates are perfect for this! I had a reminder of this today when my 5 month old grabbed my dog’s leg hair with a death grip and wouldn’t stop pulling 😳 This was a mistake on my part for not preventing this and it made my dog very nervous. Scared dogs are always more likely to bite, so please don’t make the mistake of saying your dog should “get used to it”. They’ll have plenty of opportunities to become close friends when your baby gets older and can learn how to give your dog space when they need it!

And that's a wrap for 2022! I am no longer taking new clients for 2022 as I prepare for the birth of our baby and take maternity leave. 🍼 If you are currently a client, still plan on finishing out our remaining sessions as planned. 😄
Please feel free to reach out to me if you need a referral to another trainer in the area! Thanks for your understanding and I look forward to helping more pups and their families next year!

Since I am 24 weeks pregnant, I thought it would be helpful for me to share what training I am working on with my dog to prepare for baby! My goals for my dog may be a little different than others but should be a good jumping-off point if you need ideas for yourself!
The first thing we are working on is crate training! Specifically inside this travel crate. Our baby will be born right before the holidays so we expect that we may spend the night at our family's with our dog, Finn. This travel crate collapses for easy transport, which will be needed with all of the baby stuff that will be crammed in our car. It also will be helpful so Finn has a cozy space to sleep or take a break from the commotion. The crate can be a wonderful safe space away from kids/toddlers!
Today, Finn enjoyed his lunch from a frozen Kong while relaxing in his crate! Give your dog treats, chew toys, or meals inside the crate to create a more positive association. Also, go slowly and build up time inside the crate gradually - especially if your dog has an existing fear! If your dog is fearful of their crate, I highly recommend reaching out to a certified trainer for help.

I hope you and your pets are safe! Humane Society of Boulder Valley is taking in evacuated pets and has food if you are in need!

Wildfire + power outage update: HSBV is accepting companion animal evacuees in need of shelter. Free pet food and supplies are also available to those in need. We will continue to post updates on Facebook and our website as information becomes available.

Our hearts are with our neighbors and responders impacted by these conditions. At this time, we are not in need of volunteer support or pet supplies.