Diamonds In The Ruff

Current 2026 schedule with more dates/locations being added soon

Researching the breed or breed type you are thinking about investing your time, love, and money is very important. Yes, there are always variations with in each breed or type, but knowing what they were bred to do - job, temperament, etc., is very important.

My graduating Reactive Rover Class
So proud of all of them!

Trainer Tip Tuesday:

Everyone wants success with their dog but sometimes handlers make the mistake of focusing on the results they want, instead of the effort it takes to produce them.

Many want quick fixes; they don’t want to hear that it takes years of study and dedication to be successful.
Todays society is fast, we have instant access to so many things (including posts on social media)
But dogs don’t care about technology, culture, agendas, ego or your expectations; if you’re not humble, your dog will likely do that for you.

Receiving good information is a must, a coach can be invaluable, but you have to do the work and make a lot of mistakes before success.
There are no great results without effort and training at times can be hard. It can test your patience, intention, commitment, discipline and self awareness.
But the amazing thing is, no matter how much you ultimately accomplish, putting great effort into developing your partnership with your dog can result in immeasurable reward, including one of the most profound bonds in your life.
macraeway.com

Show your support: Help My Cats My name is Joellen, and I am the Mom to these 4 legged kids. I never expected to have these kind of vet b… Joellen Burton needs your support for Help My Cats

Help My Cats, organized by Joellen Burton My name is Joellen, and I am the Mom to these 4 legged kids. I never expected to have these kind of vet b… Joellen Burton needs your support for Help My Cats

The 5 Things Our Dogs Want for the Holidays - The Other End of the Leash While feeling a bit reflective, and thinking about what to write today, I went into the archives to see what I’d written this month ten years ago. I ran into this post, which I’d forgotten about, and decided it deserved to come out of moth balls, like some Christmas tree decorations stashed in t...

It’s said many people don’t listen with the intent to understand;
they listen with the intent to respond.
The same can be true with dogs.
Sometimes handlers get caught up in their own voice, their desire to progress, to achieve their goal, instead of hearing what their dog is telling them they need.
Rather than getting your dog to change into your way, it’s important to adjust to their way.
It is never the same for each dog. The training principles are consistent but individuality is very important.
When you listen, without expectation, it’s amazing how much you will learn.
Being a good listener is key to being a good teacher; it empowers the partnership and bond with your dog.
macraeway.com