Sarah’s Courteous Canine Dog Training

By Sarah Wright

There are many benefits to having a dog. Petting a dog can reduce stress by lowering blood pressure; they make us more social when out for a walk, which coincidentally also helps with a person’s health, and dogs can make us happy! A study in Japan found that staring into your dog’s eyes raises levels of oxytocin, the “feel good” hormone. 

However, it’s also important to have a harmonious relationship with your dog, and successful communication can be achieved through a dog training course. Sarah Frohock of Sarah’s Courteous Dog Training in Wolfeboro can help you and your dog find balance in your relationship. 

Sarah has loved dogs all her life, and originally wanted to be a veterinarian when she was a child. Her interest in dog training began years ago when she had a dog named Nacoma who had aggression issues with food. She worked with a trainer to help him with his behavior. Sarah also learned how to become a better owner for Nacoma. In addition, Sarah worked at an animal shelter for four years, and felt compelled to find a way to help homeless dogs be successful in their new homes. Soon after, she began training with Mike Robertson in Plymouth to become a certified dog trainer, while also reading every book she could on the subject. “Through that training with Mike and my experience with hundreds of dogs through the shelter, I gained so much experience that was most beneficial,” says Sarah. “There is nothing like hands-on experience to help you understand and gain knowledge about dog behavior.” 

There are many challenges when it comes to dog training, but Sarah is able to helpfully guide her clients through the process. There are also important points she wants dog owners to understand, like the fact that dogs don’t think the way humans do. Sarah says, “We often push our feelings and thoughts on our dogs and assume that they will rationalize issues or experiences like we do, and that just isn’t the case.” 

She also thinks it’s important that dog owners remember that not all dogs love other dogs. It’s even more important to think about how dogs might interact due to the nice weather bringing everyone outside and more people spending time in the outdoors due to COVID-19. Sarah explains it like this. “Ask someone if they have liked every person that they’ve ever worked with, and they’ll say, ‘Of course not.’ Well, even though I enjoy people, it doesn’t mean that I will enjoy every person I meet. Conversely, just because a lot of people like me, doesn’t mean every person will like me. The same applies to dogs.” 

When training your dog, Sarah believes that balance is one of the most important ways you can help your dog’s behavior and achieve a more successful relationship. She explains, “You have to say ‘yes’ as well as ‘no’ to your dog. If you only give your dog praise, then you will never eliminate negative behaviors. Taking the time to say ‘yes’ with a reward as well as ‘no’ with a consequence is the answer to creating the harmonious relationship most people are looking for.” 

Sarah’s favorite part of working with dogs and their owners is when the “ah-ha” moment happens and the dog and person click together and begin to really communicate. “Both the dog and owner seem so much more relaxed within their relationship,” she adds. “When an owner sends me messages of their success, I know that I have truly helped that dog have a better quality of life, because its behavior is predictable and they are well trained.” 

Sarah’s love for dog training has also evolved further with her passion for dog sports competitions. “I love the teamwork of it, and the relationship people can build working with their best friend.” For whatever your training needs are, she has a class for you. Sarah is currently offering classes in Basic Obedience, Canine Good Citizen, E-Collar, and Therapy Dog, as well as private lessons that can take place at your home for your specific needs. 

Basic Obedience works on the commands, Sit, Down, Sit-Up, Stand, Come, Heel, and Attention, with the focus on the dog and human relationship. The Canine Good Citizen (CGC) program teaches good manners to dogs and responsible ownership to their owners. The 10-step Canine Good Citizen test is a non-competitive test for all dogs, including purebreds and mixed breeds, and is a prerequisite for many therapy dog groups. Some homeowner’s insurance companies even encourage CGC testing, and an increasing number of apartment complexes and condos require resident dogs to pass the test. (The program also includes the CGC Responsible Dog Owner Pledge.) 

The Therapy Dog Class is structured to help ensure your dog is ready to make therapy dog visits. Your dog will practice manners, as well as real-life situations in nursing homes and schools. The class will also help prep dog handlers to look for signs of stress in their dogs. 

Do you want the best recall? Then sign your dog up for the E-Collar class, and teach the dog to come when called no matter what’s going on in the surrounding environment. Sarah will show you how to find the right working level for your dog, while also polishing the dog’s foundational skills. 

Sign up for a dog training class today and start working toward a more positive relationship with your dog. Training can also teach your dog life skills, increase sociability, avoid problem behaviors by providing mental stimulation, and enhance loyalty and companionship. Sarah’s Courteous Canine Dog Training can help you and your dog achieve this strong connection through a better understanding of each other.

All of the classes run for five weeks and have about seven people enrolled in each class. Sarah’s Courteous Canine Dog Training is located at 3 Grove Street in Wolfeboro. 

For further information, call 603-986-3919 or visit www.worldofpaws.net. Sarah can also be reached through the Facebook page at Sarah's Courteous Canine LLC.