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The Monthly Wag: July 2025
Ready Set...Train! Monthly Newsletter
ReadySetTrainDogs
July 06, 2025
Hello Fellow Dog Lovers!
Thank you for subscribing to our monthly newsletter! We’re thrilled to have you be a part of our ever growing community of dog lovers and training enthusiasts. Each month, you can look forward to receiving valuable training tips, behavior insights, and updates on our upcoming events and classes. We're excited to share this journey with you and your furry friend(s)!
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Table of Contents
Featured Upcoming Class: Beginner Good Manners
Max recently graduated our puppy preschool program!
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 Beginner Good Manners Class stating July 23rd at 7:15 PM!
What is our Beginner Class?
5-Week Foundational Training Course
Looking to build better behavior and a stronger bond with your dog? Our Beginner Good Manners class is the perfect place to start! This 5-week course focuses on practical, real-world skills that help your dog succeed beyond the classroom.
Through positive reinforcement methods, you’ll learn how to:
Recognize and reward good behavior
Manage and reduce unwanted behaviors
Teach your dog new skills in a fun, supportive environment
Your dog will gain important foundational skills like:
✅ Targeting/Come When Called
✅ Stay
✅ Loose Leash Walking
✅ Impulse Control around dogs and people
✅ Polite Greetings with new people
By the end of the course, you’ll have a calmer, more focused canine companion who’s ready to take on the world—one polite paw at a time!
📅 We have classes starting on July 23rd and August 3rd.
Click the link to sign up! https://www.readysettraindogs.com/book-online?category=b7edb5b7-db72-4d08-ab4b-c42e613d4d7d
Monthly Training Video: Loose Leash Walking-High Rate of Reinforcement
Why Choose Ready Set…Train! for Group Training Classes?
Dog of the Month: Moose
Top Left: Moose Training at Wildwood. Top Right: Moose and his siblings. Bottom Left: Moose getting one of his first baths. Bottom Right: Moose being a grooming art guinea pig for his mom.
Name: Moose
Age: 1.5 years
Breed: American Bully
Favorite activity: Doing commands like sit, touch, and down for treats and licking his moms face.
Favorite food/snack: hot dogs, cat treats, and freeze dried salmon…
Favorite Trick: Touch
Best personality trait: Moose is a HUGE love and cuddle bug
Fun fact about Moose: From the time Moose came home, until he was around seven months old he went to work with his mom at a commercial salon every week. Even after all that he still sits perfectly for his baths!
Moose began his training with us after showing signs of reactivity in public and protective behaviors at home. Since then, Moose and his dedicated family have been putting in serious work—and it’s paying off!
For the past few months, Moose’s family has been heading to the park nearly every day to practice around real-life distractions. His mom, PET, who is also a professional groomer, has even incorporated training into her home salon and grooming bus to help Moose feel more comfortable in a variety of settings.
When Moose first started, he could barely handle seeing a dog from 100 yards away. Fast forward to his most recent session—he stayed calm and focused around multiple dogs just 10–15 feet away! His progress has been incredible.
Moose now looks forward to training days, especially when he spots Max (aka “the treat guy”) at the park. While there's still more progress to be made, we are truly inspired by the commitment and consistency Moose’s mom has shown. They make an amazing team!
💈 Looking for a patient, professional groomer? Check out PET’s in-home grooming services: pawsfurpetsgrooming.com
Moose looks good in real life and as a business logo!
Its All in the Name! Why Name Recognition is the Gateway to All Good Behavior
Wait for your dog to respond to their name before cueing another behavior.
Have you ever stopped to think about how we get our dogs to truly listen to us?
It all starts with attention. A dog who is giving you their full attention is far more likely to respond quickly and reliably to your cues. That’s why name recognition is one of the most important foundation behaviors you can teach—it's the gateway to everything else your dog will learn.
When I say my dog’s name, I want them to immediately disengage from whatever they were doing and offer me their focus. If I can’t get that first spark of attention, it’s unlikely they’ll respond to anything else I ask. Teaching your dog to consistently respond to their name sets the stage for a well-mannered, responsive companion.
So How Do We Teach Name Recognition?
Let’s start with a few what not to do's:
Don’t repeat your dog’s name over and over.
If your dog doesn’t respond the first time, it might be a fluke. The second time, they’re probably distracted. By the third time, they’re likely ignoring you. Repeating their name teaches them it’s okay not to listen. Instead, say it once or twice—and if there’s no response, go get them and try again in a lower-distraction setting.Don’t only use their name for negative consequences.
If your dog only hears their name when it’s time to go in the crate, come inside, or end playtime, they’ll begin to associate their name with disappointment. Make sure their name is linked to positive outcomes far more often than negative ones.
Step-by-Step: Teaching Your Dog to Respond to Their Name
Create a positive association.
Randomly say your dog’s name in different settings throughout the day and immediately reward them with a high-value treat. No strings attached—just name = something awesome.Practice around mild distractions.
Start working in low-distraction environments so your dog learns to tune in even when something else is happening. Say their name, and the moment they look your way, mark (with a clicker or a word like “yes!”) and reward.Shape attention and eye contact.
Once your dog consistently responds to their name, begin waiting a second or two before rewarding. You're now encouraging eye contact, not just orientation. Say their name, wait—when they look at you, then mark and treat.Build duration.
Gradually increase how long your dog needs to look at you before you reward them. This teaches them to not just glance but stay connected and focused. A dog that offers voluntary eye contact is a dog that’s ready to work with you—anywhere, anytime.
Why It Matters
Name recognition may seem simple, but it lays the groundwork for everything else: recall, leash walking, stay, leave it—you name it. And more importantly, it builds communication and trust between you and your dog.
So next time your dog looks at you when you say their name, celebrate it! You’re not just teaching a cue—you’re opening the door to a lifetime of better behavior and a stronger bond.
Upcoming Classes/Events
7/20: 1:00 pm- Advanced Good Manners Class | First Class
7/20: 3:00 pm- Novice Agility | First Class
7/23: 7:15 pm- Beginner Good Manners Class | First Class
8/3: 10:00 am- Puppy Start Right Preschool | First Class
8/3: 11:30 am- Beginner Good Manners Class | First Class
All of our upcoming class still have several spots available. Sign up today! https://www.readysettraindogs.com/group-training-classes
