New Years Reflections of a Milwaukee Dog Trainer
As 2025 begins, I want to take a few moments to reflect on where our business has been over the past year, some lessons we have learned and where we are headed over the next 12 months. I love doing an end of year/beginning of year evaluation- I think it's important to remember where we have been and to focus on where we are going.
2024 Reflections
As a dog trainer, I love learning about the science behind dog training and why we do what we do. I am fortunate to have a team with me at Canine Einstein that is just as excited about the science of dog training as I am. Together, we created some really unique and special programming for shy dogs, small dogs and reactive dogs.
We decided, as a team, to lean into shy, nervous and reactive dogs in Milwaukee because we saw a gap for these special pups in the market. The truth is that most dog trainers will work with these dogs, but offerings are generally limited to private training or one or two classes. We knew we could do more- and that we needed to do more. That lesson came to me early on with Murphy, my deaf pit mix who was also people and dog reactive. His reactivity prevented my husband and I from traveling like we wanted to; after all, it's hard to travel when your dog is a bite risk with new people!
I learned that my lead trainer, Sylvie, also had a reactive dog at home. She and I both knew how isolating and emotional it can be to have a reactive dog. Most people don't understand or are judgmental of reactive dogs and their owners. Together, in 2023, we created our You Have a Friend Program with the support of a wonderful trainer in San Francisco, Alisha Ardiana. That program was wildly successful and we saw big changes in the dogs we worked with, so in 2024, we set out to see if we could add to that.
First we offered Parallel Pals, a unique program where two families work in our gym at the same time, each with their own trainer. This allowed our clients to practice skills, while be supported by a trainer, in a controlled environment. We began offering our Reactive Dog Meet ups in the summer, and will continue them again this Spring- offering non clients a chance to get together with other reactive dog owners and feel the power of a community.
We then decided to expand our offerings so that every class would be open to reactive dogs. This meant making class sizes smaller and being diligent on how class was structured. We would lose revenue, but this meant that we could offer reactive dogs more options than just a reactive rover class. So we opened up Doggie Parkour, Leash Skills, Decompression in nature, Chaos to Calm and of course You Have a Friend to all dogs- reactive or not.
What we learned was how special these reactive dogs are- and how much they can thrive if we just take the time to understand them and help them feel comfortable. We listened and learned from our clients about their struggles, how they sometimes felt inadequate or ill equipped for the dog in their home. We were inspired by guardians who refused to give up and did the work, changing their dogs lives, and we doubled down on our need to create a community for these dogs.
As we did, something great happened. Other businesses joined in! Did you know that your dog can go shopping at Canine Einstein or Salty Paws if they are reactive? Simply call ahead and schedule an appointment- isn't that wonderful? We have seen businesses begin to offer specials, and even open holiday photo shoots for reactive dogs. We are thrilled that we were able to inspire the community to open their hearts and doors!
It wasn't all sunshine and roses for these dog trainers though
Both Sylvie and myself lost our reactive dogs in 2024. I won't share Sylvies story, as that is hers to tell, but I will share this. The dog Sylvie lost was a special dog that she loved very much. She has two other dogs at home, but the loss was greatly felt. If you have met Sylvie, you know how deeply she loves all animals, but her bond with her pets is something special.
My Murphy passed away with cancer in June. He was not comfortable and in a lot of pain, which made his reactivity worse. When we knew it was time to say good bye, we struggled because he was so fearful of any vets office. We didn't want his last moments to be full of stress and pain, yet we didn't know what to do.
I reached out to Lap of Love and am so glad I did! The vet was compassionate and caring. She worked with me to develop a plan that allowed Murphy to pass at home while not putting anyone else at risk. In the end, my dog, who shaped and changed my life, was able to pass away peacefully, without stress or pain at home.
Losing Murphy was devastating for me. He was the reason I opened Milwaukee Paws and Canine Einstein. He was the reason I developed a passion for reactive dogs and why I knew we could do better for them. My team was amazing and supportive as I struggled to get my feet under me again, but when I did, I knew we would change the reality for many reactive dogs and their owners.
What will 2025 bring?
We are thrilled that we have started to build a community around the Milwaukee Dogs who are reactive. We will continue to do so in 2025.
We now offer an advanced You Have a Friend class. Our free meet ups will resume in March or April, and we are working on more ways to build the community that I wished I had early in my journey with a reactive dog.
Our sister company, Milwaukee Paws Pet Care, has trained every single employee to know the You Have a Friend protocol, they are trained in Fear Free Practices and are trained in body language and more, all so that our shy, nervous, and reactive friends can have a safe, stress free walk. We want every pet parent to know that they can have peace of mind when they are not home. Their pets will be well cared for.
Stay tuned for more updates as the year progresses- this promises to be our best year yet!
