Group Walk Lessons

What We Learn on Group Walks: Lessons From the Trail

Whether your dog is fearful, fizzy, or somewhere in between, one of the best ways to turn training into real-world success is to take it on the road and that’s exactly what we do on our Beginners Group Walks.

These walks are more than just a stroll around the block. They’re thoughtfully designed opportunities for both dogs and humans to practice, grow, and connect. Let’s take a look at some of the key skills and lessons we work on together during these powerful sessions.

1. Staying at a Safe Distance

One of the first things we teach is that it’s okay to stay far away. In fact, it’s encouraged! Dogs learn best when they feel safe. We help each team find their “learning zone” — that sweet spot where your dog can observe, think, and participate without tipping into panic or overwhelm.

 

2. Using Visual Barriers

Sometimes just not seeing the stressor is the best support. We practice using parked cars, bushes, benches, or even our own bodies as visual barriers. This simple technique can lower arousal, reduce barking, and help fearful dogs settle.

 

3. The 3-Second Rule: Look Away

When our dogs see another dog or person, we practice the “3-second rule” — a short look, then a gentle redirection. This prevents intense staring or fixating, and teaches dogs that it’s okay to look away instead of escalate. One dog can intently watch another as long as the 2 dogs are not making direct eye contact. The moment they do, owners count out loud; "1-2-3-Look Away!" and immediately turn to build distance between the 2 dogs. Dogs can take turns looking at each other, gathering information

 

4. Processing the Environment

Fearful dogs often need time to process the world around them. We honor their need to stop, scan, sniff, and think. This is called threat assessment, and when we allow it, our dogs build coping skills and confidence instead of panic.

 

 

5. Making Friends Who “Get It”

One of the most beautiful parts of these walks is the community. Every dog here is learning, and every human is showing up with kindness, patience, and empathy. There's no pressure to “perform” — just encouragement, understanding, and shared wins.

 

6. Exit Strategies & Gaining Distance

We always have exit strategies. Whether it’s a U-turn, a quick side path, or moving behind a barrier, we teach dogs (and humans!) how to leave before things get too hard. This builds trust, not just between dog and handler, but also in the environment itself.

 

7. Playing Games to Stay Focused

We practice games like “Find It,” “Watch Me,” and “Let’s Go!” to keep focus flowing back to the human. These games aren’t just fun — they’re effective tools for calming arousal and building trust in real time.

 

8. Leash Manners in Motion

With other dogs around, it’s the perfect time to reinforce polite walking. We practice soft leash handling, reward calm walking, and build your dog’s ability to check in even when there’s exciting stuff happening all around.

 

9. Clear Communication

These walks help humans learn what their dogs are saying and how to respond clearly. Whether it’s reading body language, responding with calm signals, or building cue fluency — communication is a two-way street.

 

10. Learning to Regulate Arousal

Perhaps the most important skill of all: dogs learn how to self-regulate. Whether they start too excited or too shut down, every walk gives them practice returning to a calm, thoughtful state. That’s the kind of emotional resilience that changes everything.

 

Come Walk With Us

Every week, we witness progress that goes far beyond obedience — we see dogs learning how to feel safe, stay calm, and enjoy the world again. We see humans growing in confidence and compassion.

And most importantly, we see teams becoming stronger together.

Whether your dog is fearful, fizzy, or just learning the ropes, our Beginners Group Walks are here to support you both with real-world practice, positive reinforcement, and a whole lot of heart. 💛  

All new clients start with a full Behavior Evaluation! 

Learn more here!

Interested in joining our next Beginners Group Walk? 

Reach out and we’ll make sure you and your dog feel welcome, supported, and ready to take the next step. 💛🐾

📅 Fall 2025 Schedule 

Beginner Group Walk using the Training Toolkit Class held Mondays at 4 PM.

Beginner Trail Walk - Making Friends With New Environments held on Saturdays at 11AM.

Advanced Trail Walk Group is held on Fridays at 11AM

Safe, supportive environment for learning
📨 Reserve your spot today by emailing: dogtraining@yooperpaws.com

Let’s turn your training into everyday confidence one gentle step at a time. 

Newsletters

I'm updating my business model and using some new and improved services! This has pros and cons for all my clients, followers and friends. With this improvements, I'll be implementing some changes!

NEW Email Address:  dogtraining@yooperpaws.com

NEW Newsletter Sign Up Form

If you previously signed up through Kit, then there is no need to sign up again as I've imported your data for you. If you haven't signed up yet, please do so with this new and improved Google Form.

Now there is one simple form to sign up for the PawCAKES Newsletter, the Helping Fearful Dogs Feel Safe Club, and Yooper Paws Special Promotions Emails.

Thank You for following this blog and all the support you've shown me.

Feel free to contact me at dogtraining@yooperpaws.com  if you need help!

Patreon Membership

 

Why Should You Join The Yooper Paws Patreon Memberships?

Affordable, Positive Dog Training – Tailored to Fit Your Life

At Yooper Paws of Love, we believe dog training should be accessible, affordable, and rooted in compassion. Our Patreon Memberships offer a variety of support options designed to help you and your dog succeed—no matter your experience level, location, or budget.

We offer free resources to get you started, and affordable memberships packed with valuable tools, videos, and community support—all centered on building teamwork and trust with your dog.

For our Service Dog Clients, the resources you need the most will be available on the Crazy2Calm Patreon Page, however if you join one of the memberships there, reach out to me for a discounted price on Yooper Paws Memberships. Many people find that joining both memberships is extremely helpful.

Free Membership – A Great Place to Start!

Our free Patreon membership gives you immediate access to a growing collection of educational tools, including:

• Yooper Paws Monthly Updates
  Stay informed about local and virtual events, training tips, and new resources.

• Focus Around Distractions (FAD) Workshop Series
  Follow Azul’s training journey over 3 years to learn how to help your dog focus on you instead of environmental distractions. Includes 15+ hours of video content.

• The Canine Car Club Podcast
  Teach your dog to feel safe and calm in the car with quick, practical lessons you can listen to on the go.

• Creating a Calm Christmas Series
  A 12-part series filled with strategies to help your dog handle holidays, family gatherings, and schedule changes year-round.

You can find all these memberships on our Patreon page here!

🐾 Paid Membership Tiers

Each paid membership offers deeper training support, access to more advanced content, and the guidance of certified Canine Coaches across the U.S. You can join or cancel at any time—no commitment required.

Play With a Purpose – $6/month

Perfect for new puppy parents and dog owners who want to have more fun while training.

Learn how purposeful play can improve your dog’s focus, manners, and overall confidence. Divided into 4 fun sections:

• Training with Tug (June focus)
  Teach gentle mouth skills, self-control, and trading behaviors.

• Balls with a Brain (July focus)
  Build impulse control and recall skills through ball play.

• Playing with Enrichment (August focus)
  Engage your dog’s brain and body through scent work and creative activities.

• Playing with Your Food (September focus)
  Turn mealtime into a training opportunity for calmness and problem-solving.

🔹 Also available: Play With a Purpose E-Book for a one-time purchase of $18.

Helping Fearful Dogs Feel Safe – $10/month

For dogs who bark, lunge, or react strongly to new people, animals, or environments.

This entry-level program designed for all dog owners with posts that break it down in easy to understand bits of information that include links to YouTube videos and pre-recorded training resources. This Membership includes:

• A 2-hour core video that introduces emotion regulation and safety-building strategies.

• Step-by-step guidance on leash manners, exit strategies, and confidence games.

• Access to the Confident Canines Collection with nearly 50 posts to explore at your own pace.

• Each month a new post is added to continue building the collections.

• Direct support from our trainers and community.

💡 Comparable reactive dog courses often cost $500–$3,000. We’ve created a heart-led, budget-friendly alternative.

Turning Struggles Into Strengths – $14/month

For dog owners facing a wide range of behavior challenges and looking for comprehensive support, this membership takes a look at more of the nerdy side of dog training helping you to understand why your dog is behaving the way they are and giving you lots of resources for modifying your training to create a great partnership between you and your dog.

This powerful membership combines two key collections:

1. Challenging Behaviors Workshop Series
   Over 12 hours of foundational videos on leash manners, impulse control, and managing reactivity.

2. Behavior-Specific Resources
   Monthly posts that expand on the resources posted elsewhere, applying it to real life problems such as resource guarding, separation anxiety, jumping on guests, barking (fear- and excitement-based) and other struggles that are currently happening with members.

✅ Includes everything from:

• Play With a Purpose Collection

• Helping Fearful Dogs Feel Safe Collection

• Confident Canines Collection

Trainer in Your Pocket – $18/month

Our highest level of access and support—like having a personal trainer in your pocket. In addition to all the great content, members are able to schedule a free 30 minute chat with a trainer each month and get access to planning worksheets and templates to help you create a unique training plan for you and your dog.

Includes ALL content from every membership tier, PLUS:

• Private group chat with Canine Coaches

• Monthly live Q&A sessions

• The ability to submit training videos for feedback

• Priority access to direct messaging support

💬 Get fast, expert advice without the $1,000+ price tag of traditional training programs.

Opening for New Members this Fall:

• A Fresh Start Membership (open for registration every October)
  A structured training path for new clients ready to reset and rebuild routines. This is perfect for dog owners looking to build up their relationship with their dog to a higher level. Weekly activities can be tailored to beginning, intermediate, and advanced dog training teams.

• Positively Safe Puppy Membership (launching Fall 2025)
  Support for puppy parents building positive, proactive habits from the start.

You can find all these memberships on our Patreon page here!

Many of our workshops and e-books are available for single purpose through our Patreon Shop. If you are not able to do a membership at this time, these individual purchases may be exactly what you are looking for.  Be sure to check out these e-books:

• Positively Puppy (6 week class)
• Play With a Purpose
• Leash Manners
• Coming Soon - Camping With Your Dog

❤️ Our Philosophy

We’re not just teaching dogs to obey—we’re teaching humans and dogs how to communicate, connect, and grow together.

Most traditional training is based on commands and compliance. At Yooper Paws, we believe in using love, play, and science-backed strategies to help dogs:

• Make thoughtful choices

• Seek support from their humans

• Stay safe, calm, and happy in their environment

Our goal is to help you become the teammate your dog needs—while having fun together along the way.

We encourage you to join as a free member and check out the content there first, then look at what you really need help with the most and how much time you can commit right now to help your dog. Then if you still are unsure of which membership is right for you, reach out to us for a FREE 15 min phone call where we can point you down the path that will help you the most based on your needs.

Online Dog Training Works!

Affordable Dog Training Should Be Available To Everyone!

Whispers, Screams, & Singing

Do dogs whisper, scream, & sing?

And if so, what does that look like?

Most dog owners would say that their dog has different barks or levels of bark to mean different things. They may use in "inside voice" or whisper on cue to get a treat, their alarm bark for an intruder that can be heard miles away, and sometimes a singing voice that often comes out when they are playing with good friends. Just like the audible voice dogs have, their behavior also reveals body signals that can be divided into these 3 categories. The emotions a dog is feeling in any given moment plus the level of arousal the dog is experiencing work together to create the behaviors we see. Humans then can observe these behaviors to take an educated guess at what our dogs might be feeling.

Screams

The loudest, most energetic, obnoxious, extreme behaviors are signs that our dog is extremely aroused and over-threshold or rapidly going off the deep end. This might be that audible alarm bark, lunging at a perceived threat, running away, or any one of the behaviors that we recognize as fight, flight, freeze, fawn, or fool around behaviors. New dog owners might struggle to recognize this body language, but most seasoned dog owners recognize when their dog is over-the-top reacting to a change in the environment.

Whispers

These are more like the subtle body language cues we can observe in our dog that suggest something has gotten their attention and their arousal level is starting to increase. Unlike screams, the whispers are very easy to miss! Whispers vary greatly from individual to individual, sometimes impacting the common places we watch for body language (eyes, ears, mouth, tail, etc) but creating such a minor change that it's easily missed. Often dog trainers will refer to these smaller actions as micro signals, meaning small or almost barely noticeable actions.

Azul's nose is his first thing to change when he notices a change in the environment. His biggest distractions are other dogs, deer, farm animals, and burrowing animals. When Azul smells things of interest, his nostrils flare a bit faster which is really hard to see since his nose is generally facing away from me or buried in the ground. Often the first thing I see is his nose point up towards the sky or down to the ground followed by the rest of the body freezing in place. How long that freeze position lasts will depend on how high Azul's arousal level is in that moment; the more excited he is the longer he freezes. Azul generally carries his tail high, often curled to the point of touching his back. However as his arousal starts to climb, his tail goes straight out like a pointer. If his tail drops below his back level, then whatever he is smelling is a bit scary going even lower for extreme scares. If Azul's tail points out then curls back up quickly, it's likely he's spotted something that he wants to chase. 

Sometimes whispers or micro-signals happen so fast that owners miss them entirely not recognizing a pattern for their dog. This is especially true for owners who ask their dogs to stay in heel most of the walk. If your dog is walking by our sides, yet our gaze tends to be out in front of us along the path, we simply can't see many of those signs. This is one the great advantages of getting comfortable with walking using a longline of 10-15ft as this places your dog out in front or off to the side far enough for you to easily watch their whole body as you walk.

Singing

You may have guessed that this is when you and your dog have spent countless hours walking, training, engaging with each other and now you seem to have hit your stride where you are just in tune with each other. This would be my comparison to an opera singer or someone with great talent. But there are also dog/owner moments where perhaps you're both singing the same song, but perhaps in different rhythms or at different volumes. This would be the case if you've been able to get to a routine walk that both you and your dog enjoy together, but perhaps there is still a hiccup or an unpredicted tempo change every now and them.

I've always considered this to be like dancing with your dog with some give & take, changing out who is leading for a nice back and forth silent conversation as go through your daily activities. Another trainer refers to this as tracking, or paying attention to movements and motions of another being. It doesn't really matter what you call this form of communication between you and your dog, but it should be every dog owner's goal; to spend more time in a singing or dancing mood state and as little time in the screaming state as possible. Recognizing the whispers helps us to sing in better harmony.

My job as a Canine Coach is to help you reach a point where you and your dog can meet each other's needs, communicate clearly, and enjoy moments in time together. I love helping dog owners turn the screams into whispers. And if we can spend enough time together, I love seeing you hit that magic point where you and your dog are singing together!

If you're not thrilled with your dog's behaviors, let me help you! 

1. The blogs in this website are easily searchable from a web browser, which leads to a whole bunch of free information.
2. Several specialty FB Groups are available to help you depending on what you need. You can always message me to see what group(s) might be best for you.
3. Virtual classes & workshops can help with learning to understand your dog, communicate better as a team, build confidence, increase focus around distractions and work on advanced training.
4. Monthly memberships are one of the cheapest ways to get help with your specific issue, mixing webinars, workshops, printed text, video demonstrations, and live group sessions.
5. Private session packages are a great way to save a bit a money when we need to build up skills as your puppy grows up or to work on a challenging behavior. I have several package formats available right now including in-person and virtual sessions, 1 hr sessions, 2 hr sessions, & 4 hour sessions.

Be sure to check out the Black Friday Sales that run through Nov 28th! 

Most of these allow you to mix & match a few services to get the most bang for your buck!

And be sure to check out the Yooper Paws Patreon Page where you can select memberships, including a free option that is going to have a Creating a Calm Christmas Collection available beginning Dec 1st!

The Value of Feeling Safe

Today is the start of my Confident Canine Class!

During the course of the 6 weeks of creating a Confident Canine, we will be looking at the 5 different types of confidence we can build in our dogs to help them become more resilient in the world they live in.

The first of these confidences we are going to explore is the Safety Confidence - the belief or feeling that they will be safe, calm, and comfortable in regular day-to-day activities. 

This one is very important because you can’t begin to train the other confidences unless your dog feels safe in the training area. 

 In order to learn how to develop their feeling of safety you have to be able to read their basic signals. So this class is going to involve elements of basic canine body language as how that can look different in different breeds. We will also be looking at desensitization to scary items using distance and high rate, high value reinforcement.  Then we will look at how you can support your dog by helping them feel safe with you as their teammate working through challenges together.

Sign up for the Confident Canines Classroom here!

ON SALE for $50 now through Memorial Day!