PAWS-A-TIVE

DOG TRAINING

Positive Reinforcement for a Stronger Bond

Positive Training, Pawsitive Results!

Is your puppy keeping you on your toes? Does your dog ignore commands, jump on guests, or steal food? Whether you need better manners or a well-behaved companion, we’re here to help! Our expert training programs bring out the best in your dog, making life easier and more enjoyable.

Training Programs

PUPPY CAMP PROGRAM

This program includes crate and house training, foundational behaviors, loose leash walking, supervised socialization, and daily adventures, with video updates, a drop-off training session, and ongoing email support.

TEENAGER WEEKEND CAMP

This program, designed for puppies 6 months to 2 years, focuses on navigating the challenging teenage phase with patience, structured guidance, and fun, engaging experiences. We work on reinforcing good behaviors, addressing common challenges, and providing valuable socialization opportunities to help your pup become their best self.

WEEKEND PUPPY CAMP

This program focuses on leash training, crate and house training, foundational behaviors, socialization, and field trips, while addressing your pup’s specific needs. Designed to strengthen your bond, it allows you to practice methods learned during the week.

ADVENTURE DAY

This program offers 2.5–3-hour outings where we take your dog to parks, pet-friendly stores, or patio restaurants to practice behaviors in real-world settings. Perfect for dogs needing more exposure and training to enjoy outings with their owners.

DAY TRAINING PACKAGES

Our day training packages focus on building essential skills and improving behavior in real-world settings. Tailored to your dog's needs, we’ll work at a pace that suits both of you, with progress updates along the way.

PRIVATE IN-HOME

Our private in-home lessons start with a consultation to assess your dog, discuss goals, and address behavior challenges. With follow-up support included, we’ll progress at a pace that works for both of you, starting training if time allows.

Adventure Day

Limited Availability

Available for All Ages

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Our Philosophy

At Paws-A-Tive Dog Training, we believe in creating a positive and nurturing environment for dogs to thrive. Our personalized approach ensures that each dog receives the tailored care and attention they deserve. We are committed to promoting the well-being of your furry companion, making learning fun and engaging, while providing expert guidance every step of the way.

Learn About the Trainer

Temperament Testing

Have a litter of puppies to place? I offer the Volhard Temperament Test to help evaluate each puppy’s personality, making it easier to match them with the best possible homes. Set your puppies up for success with informed placements!

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Fetch Fields

Rent a safe and private dog park hosted by Paws-A-Tive Dog Training

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Even trainers make bad choices sometimes… like me this morning 😅

Wasn’t feeling great but still wanted to stick to the puppies’ routine and get them out for their confidence walks.

Walk #1: Doc and Ollie crushed it (even with Doc’s big feelings lately).

Walk #2: Who let sick-brain me decide to take two big dogs AND Luffy? 😂 Cassie and Maggie… not their best.

But Luffy? My 4-month-old rock star? Walked like a dream, stayed focused, and did everything I asked—even with chaos around him.

Moral of the story: Some days are a mess. We all make training mistakes. Just take a breath, reset, and try again. Even dogs see a new moment as a new day. 💛🐾

Happy Monday!

A little training fun while I clean the house! Today the puppies got a bit more freedom—usually they’re limited to the kitchen, middle room, and outside, but we opened up access to the back of the house and our bedroom. So naturally, we turned it into a training opportunity: practicing getting on and off the bed using the stairs. Thanks for watching our little adventure!

Ollie’s got a major case of FOMO 😅 As you’ll hear in the first video (apologies in advance for the barking), we’re working on rewarding those quiet moments while the big dogs calmly move around.

We’re not at the point where they can run just yet—too exciting for Ollie and not fair to expect quiet in that chaos. Right now, we’re building calm while the big dogs are just chilling.

In the second video, I’ve stepped back a bit and started tossing treats when he stays quiet and just watches—progress! 🙌

The big dogs are happy to hang around because, let’s be honest, if I’m training the littles, they know there are snacks involved 😄

Just a little behind-the-scenes of our work on Ollie’s FOMO! 🐾❤️

#DogTraining #PuppyTraining #FOMO #PositiveReinforcement #TrainingInProgress #DogsOfInstagram #WorkingWithDogs #SacramentoDogs #CitrusHeightsDogs #RosevilleCA #NorCalDogs #DogTrainerNearMe #SMPawsativeDogTraining #TherapyDogInTraining #ServiceDogJourney #DogMomLife #PuppyProgress

Been waiting for things to calm down so you can finally get your pup into training? Now’s your chance! I’ve got a few spots open for one-on-one sessions. Shoot me a DM or head to www.smpawsativedogtraining.com to snag a spot—let’s get that pup learning and having fun! 🐶✨

The puppies partied hard with my grandson last night (no pics—takes two hands and full focus to supervise a 2-year-old and two puppies who think “let’s throw stuff in the pool” is a team sport). So naturally, they woke me up at 2:45am and 4:45am… and now they’re peacefully snoozing while I work and do laundry. Something’s not adding up here… lol.

Dog training is linear—and sometimes even we as trainers need to remind ourselves of that. There’s no better proof than raising two puppies just weeks apart in age, with completely different breeds and temperaments.

Take this morning, for example. Luffy was totally fine yesterday—walks were a party, the vet was no big deal. Today? Not so much. It was windy, aircraft overhead, something interesting on the breeze—and his confidence wavered. So, we adjusted. Took a slower walk, explored new things, stopped often, and just met him where he was.

Ollie, on the other hand, was a bit unsure yesterday. So today, I brought in some backup: my Lab, Cassie. She’s almost 12 now, and I try not to rely on her too much these days—she’s dealing with some health stuff—but honestly, she’s still the best dog for the job. Cassie’s calm, confident, and partially deaf, so noises that might rattle the puppies don’t even register for her. She just vibes, and that energy rubs off. Ollie fed off her confidence and had a much better experience today because of it.

Right now, during this training phase, we’re bringing out the big dogs—literally. The experienced ones help the puppies build their own confidence and learn by example.

Just a little reminder that no two days are the same, and success comes from adjusting to the moment. Happy Friday, everyone!

Luffy’s learning to close cabinet doors using a target—and he’s totally crushing it! As he gets better, the target will shrink until all he needs is the cue “close it.” He thinks it’s the coolest game ever and honestly, so do I! 🐾🐶❤️

Took Luffy and Ollie in for their final round of shots—woo hoo, we survived! 🎉 Naturally, I got zero pictures because I was too busy handing out treats. Luffy’s rocking 33 lbs and Ollie’s holding it down at 24 lbs….no one has missed any meals here 😄

Ollie needed a little extra help today, so it was time to call in Maggie May—the support beagle. He took his cues from her and really leaned into her calm presence. And when things got a bit overwhelming, he knew he could always come back to me for reassurance. ❤️🐾

Luffy had an awesome walk this morning! We ran into people, a couple of cats, and even some loud chainsaw noise, but he stayed happy and totally tuned in the whole time. Way to go, Luffster! 🐾

Ollie-B-Tollie was such a good boy on his walk today! Like Luffy, we hit a few challenges along the way, but by staying connected and working together, he totally rocked it. So proud of him! 🐾

Took the Luffster out for a walk today and he did awesome! We had a couple of moments that could’ve been tricky, but he listened so well and let me guide him through it. Super proud of this guy! 🐾❤️

Evening training sessions are some of our favorites! Luffy is picking things up so quickly and doing such a great job. Please excuse my end-of-day look—it’s been a long one! I absolutely love working with this sweet, gentle boy. ❤️❤️

Ollie wore his therapy vest today and demonstrated a natural affinity for what I hope will become his future role. During our walk, he had a wonderful opportunity to offer affection to a nurse visiting the care home next door—an ideal moment of practice for this kind and gentle pup. 🐾❤️🐶

Luffy’s working on his favorite cue—“Place!” He jumps on like it’s his throne and acts like he’s won a prize. The real struggle? Getting him to leave it. He’s like, “Nah, I live here now.”

Here’s a quick training clip with Luffy from tonight! Please ignore my end-of-day look—real life, right? 😂 Evenings can be a little trickier for training, but he did great. We kept it short and focused on skills he’s already confident with. There’s plenty more we’re working on, but keeping it easy at night helps set us up for success.

Luffy kills me! Where there is a fan you will find him🐾🥰🐶

Training + playing = pool time! And yes, the water is brown… I’ve already changed it twice. We’re now working with a lovely shade of “puppy tea” 😂☕🐾

The puppies were practicing their impulse control with my grandson today—no easy task when your favorite tiny human is bouncing around! Staying still is hard… for them and for him

Training doesn’t need to follow a strict schedule or feel like a chore. It can simply be part of your everyday routine. Right now, I’m sitting outside, scrolling through social media while the puppies play and explore. Every so often, I ask for a recall, a sit, or a place. They’re having fun—and so am I.

Spent the last few hours doing short training sessions and playtime…and TADA sleeping puppies🐾💤🐶

Practicing walking in our boots this morning—definitely a strange experience for dogs, so it takes some getting used to. Luffy did an awesome job today! 🐾🎉

Trainer brain: ‘Let the puppies sleep.’
Jennifer brain: ‘Heck no, poke the puppies! You woke me up at 5 a.m.—if I’m up, everyone’s up! 😈🐶’

Ollie is working on his middle position with an attention cue to help him stay focused and engaged.

“Middle” is a super useful cue for any dog you’re bringing out in public. Since Luffy might be a service dog, we’ll be practicing it in all sorts of situations.

Everyone needs a pillow by the pool to relax on🐾💧💦🐶

Crazy how fast these two are growing! The first pic is when Luffy and Ollie just got here, and the second is them now. They just keep getting cuter 🐾🥰

As the night cools down the puppies are ready to party so it was pool time followed by wet dog cuddles (😂🙊)

What do we do when it’s 103 degrees. We practice kitchen manners, chew on chews and lay in front of the fan☀️🥵

Morning training vibes: calm in the kitchen (Luffy’s got a leg in the air, clearly fishing for a belly rub). He just discovered he can reach the counter, so we’re working on keeping it classy with four on the floor!

Training success and training fail. Things are not always perfect (and I truly don’t expect them to be)🐶🐾❤️

Luffy has been with us for one month and will be with us for another before returning home to his mom. In this time, he has made impressive progress—continually learning, growing, and adapting each day. His ability to focus and demonstrate polite behavior in public settings is truly remarkable and continues to improve. We’re proud of the strides he’s made and are enjoying every moment with this sweet (and not-so-little at 25 pounds!) boy.❤️🐾🐶

You’ve gotta love that service dog energy — Luffy’s keeping me company in the kitchen while I have breakfast. 🥰🐶🐾

“The lady says it’s a holiday weekend, so we finally get to play—though let’s be real, it’s probably because she’s been off partying with other dogs (don’t lie, we can smell them on you). But hey, it’s a holiday, and you know what that means: beach party, baby!”

After Luffy it was Ollie’s turn. Look at that down/stay🐾🐶

Great training day for Luffy. First some returns at the UPS store and then some work outside of Bel Air grocery store. Lots of people and carts. He was a good boy🥰🐶🐾

They found where I keep the shredding enrichment….😂😂😂😂

Admin work with this view, the sounds of birds chirping, my dogs resting with me and the puppies sleeping. I’ll take it.💤🐶🐾

Working on “place” this morning while the lady makes breakfast 🐶🐾

Good Bath experience! I will spare you all@the water color lol

Some fun spins with some “under” practice🥰

Luffy is practicing his “place” command and holding a down/stay despite plenty of distractions—and with my wild crew around, it doesn’t get more challenging than that! He did an incredible job, especially for just 13 weeks old! #puppytraining #foothillaussies

“How many times have I told clients who complain about their dogs digging, ‘Give them a place where it’s okay to dig!’? Ollie loves to dig—but I’m not a fan of holes in the middle of my lawn. So, problem solved: Ollie now has his very own designated digging spot!”

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Testimonials

Jennifer was great with helping us train our puppy, Faucet! Our in home consultation was very informative as we were able to learn how to consistently train Faucet to be the puppy we wanted him to be while allowing him to be himself – minus stealing socks and dryer sheets.

Natalie & Marissa