The Monthly Wag: August 2025: Our One Year Anniversary of The Monthly Wag!

🎉 Happy One-Year Newsletter Anniversary! 🎉

It’s hard to believe it’s already been a year since we launched our little newsletter! We want to extend a heartfelt thank you to each and every one of you who has subscribed, followed along, and supported us over the past 12 months.

From sharing your pups as our Dog of the Month to liking, commenting, and spreading the word about our monthly updates—you’ve helped make this community what it is today. Your encouragement means the world to us!

We’re incredibly grateful to be part of such a passionate, supportive, and dog-loving community. We can’t wait to keep learning, growing, and celebrating all things canine with you in the year ahead.

Thank you for being part of the Ready, Set…Train! family! 🐾

Make sure you are not missing our emails! Mark our newsletter as important in your inbox! Please help us grow this newsletter by sharing it with your family and friends!

Table of Contents

• Featured Upcoming Class: Out and About

• Each month, we feature one of our upcoming classes …

• Monthly Training Video: Loose Leash Walking-Red Li …

• Why Choose Ready Set…Train! for Group Training Cla …

• Dog of the Month: Helper Dogs Ivy and Winslow

  • The Incredible Power of Your Dog’s Nose

    • From Nose to Brain: A Full-Body Experience

• Upcoming Classes/Events

• Follow us on Instagram

Featured Upcoming Class: Out and About

Each month, we feature one of our upcoming classes to give you a deeper look into what the class entails. This month, we’re excited to highlight our Out and About Class starting August 24th at 1:00 PM!

What is our Out and About Class?

🐾 Take Your Training on the Road with Our Out and About Class!

More and more restaurants, shops, and parks are welcoming dogs—but is your pup ready to tag along without causing a scene?

Our Out and About Class is designed to help your dog stay calm, focused, and well-mannered in real-life situations. The first two sessions are held at our training center where we build solid foundational skills. Then, we hit the town for three sessions at local dog-friendly spots like parks, stores, or greenhouses—giving you hands-on experience in managing your dog in public settings.

Throughout the course, you’ll learn practical strategies for:
✅ Keeping your dog’s attention around distractions
✅ Polite greetings with new people
✅ Confident handling in new environments

To join this class, dogs must have completed our Beginner Good Manners class or have trainer approval.

📍 Spots are limited—sign up now and start enjoying more adventures with your pup by your side!
🔗 https://www.readysettraindogs.com/service-page/out-and-about-sundays-1pm-2?referral=service_list_widget

Monthly Training Video: Loose Leash Walking-Red Light Green Light & Reversal (+ Bloopers)

Why Choose Ready Set…Train! for Group Training Classes?

Dog of the Month: Helper Dogs Ivy and Winslow

Name: Ivy Name: Winslow

Age: 5 years Age: 2 Years

Breed: Cattle dog/hound/beagle Breed: Lab/Shepherd X

Favorite activity: Walking with her mom Favorite activity: Playing Soccer

Favorite food/snack: Freeze Dried Treats Favorite food/Snack: Marrow Bones

Favorite Trick: Spin Favorite Trick: Catching any ball/toy

Best personality trait: She is smart and Best personality trait: He is happy/goofy

independent.

This month, we’re shining the spotlight on two of our incredible team members—Ivy and Winslow! If you’ve participated in any of our group classes or reactivity training sessions, there’s a good chance you’ve seen these two in action.

Ivy and Winslow serve as our neutral demo dogs, helping other pups learn to stay calm and focused around unfamiliar dogs. Thanks to their steady presence, we’re able to work in a variety of environments—from neighborhood walks and local parks to our training center.

These two have played a key role in helping many dogs begin their training journey. And don’t worry—they’re well compensated for their hard work with plenty of treats and affection!

We’re so grateful to Ivy and Winslow for the important role they play in supporting the Ready, Set…Train! community. 💚

Lately, I’ve been diving into the sport of nose work with my dog, Winslow—and it’s completely changed the way I think about how our dogs experience the world. Watching him work has opened my eyes to just how powerful and complex a dog’s sense of smell really is.

As I started learning more about nose work training, I found myself going down a rabbit hole of scientific research on canine olfaction. What I discovered was both fascinating and eye-opening: smell isn’t just a sense for dogs—it’s a central part of how they think, feel, and navigate their environment.

This month, we’re highlighting one especially interesting study that explores the deep neurological role smell plays in your dog’s brain. Whether you're a trainer, a dog parent, or just curious about how your dog "sees" the world, this research is worth a look.

The Incredible Power of Your Dog’s Nose

New research reveals how scent shapes emotion, learning, and behavior

If you’ve ever watched your dog’s nose twitch excitedly on a walk, you’ve already seen the power of scent in action. But new research is showing just how central smell is to your dog’s brain—and how it impacts nearly everything they do, from learning to bonding with you.

A 2024 study by researchers at the University of Helsinki looked at the connection between canine olfaction (smell) and the brain, and what they found is truly fascinating.

Smell Is How Dogs "See" the World! Dogs don’t just notice smells—they think in scent. Their noses are packed with hundreds of millions of scent receptors, far more than we humans have. But what’s even more amazing is that the dog brain has dedicated pathways that link scent detection directly to areas of memory, emotion, and even vision.

This means that when your dog picks up a familiar scent (like yours!), it’s triggering not just recognition, but potentially feelings of safety, calm, and connection. Because of the strong neural connection between the visual and olfactory cortexes your dog may actually be able to see you when they smell you.

From Nose to Brain: A Full-Body Experience

The researchers used advanced brain imaging to show how scent activates multiple areas of the dog’s brain. These include:

• The limbic system, which handles emotions like fear, joy, and affection

• The hippocampus, which manages memory and learning

• Even parts of the visual system, meaning smell may literally “color” what your dog sees

This explains why dogs seem to remember places or people based on scent alone—even if years have passed.

What does this mean for you and your dog?

• Training through the nose: Scent-based games like nose work or treat searches can actually boost your dog’s confidence, reduce anxiety, and increase focus.

• Better behavior in public: Familiar smells can help your dog stay calmer in new environments. Carry a favorite toy, blanket, or even an item of your clothing to offer comfort.

• Enrichment is essential: Giving your dog time to sniff on walks isn't a distraction—it's mental exercise. Letting them follow their nose is one of the best ways to engage their brain.

This study also points to the future of dog training and behavior science: using scent not just for detection or games, but as a tool to understand emotions and improve quality of life.

At Ready, Set…Train!, we’ve seen how dogs using their noses can benefit training —and this research backs up what we see every day in classes and behavior work. Whether it’s a reactive dog learning to stay calm around others, or a shy puppy gaining confidence, scent is often the secret key.

Interested in trying scent-based training with your dog?
Ask us about our scent based enrichment games, nose work classes, or how to incorporate scent routines into daily life!

Source: “Olfaction in the Canine Cognitive and Emotional Processes” – Berg, Mappes & Kujala (2024), Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews

Upcoming Classes/Events

8/3: 11:30 am- Beginner Good Manners | First Class

8/17: 10:00 am- Beginner Good Manners | First Class

8/24: 1:00 pm- Out and About | First Class

9/7: 3:00 pm- Rally Novice | First Class

9/3: 7:15 pm- Beginner Good Manners | First Class

9/14: 11:30 am- Beginner Good Manners | First Class

All of our upcoming class still have several spots available. Sign up today! https://www.readysettraindogs.com/group-training-classes

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