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Sonic’s story (coming soon)
Meet Sonic!
Sonic is a 3-year, male old Mini Australian Shepherd. He lives at home with mom, dad, 2 brothers and best cat friend – she disagrees.
Sonic is a super friendly guy, tons of energy (like most Aussie’s), super, super smart and keen to learn. He catches on to new concepts very quickly. Like most high energy, smart pups, Sonic is a bit of a worrier and doesn’t tend to switch off during your typical day. This had led to the development of some unwanted behaviors.
Problem areas:
Leash pulling and reactivity – especially other dogs, cyclists, runners, squirrels, etc…
No recall and a door bolter – especially if he sees another dog out and about.
He’s a bit of an opportunist and loves to steal food whenever possible.
When over-excited/stressed/overwhelmed he jumps, barks and humps.
Sonic is a little bit of a velcro pup – and will follow family from room to room.
Sonic goals:
Help alleviate daily stresses of current behavior challenges.
In home - creating a calm environment for family and guest reducing unwanted barking, humping and jumping.
Daily walks/out of home - reduction of reactivity and increased confidence and enjoyment for Sonic & owner.
Stop the Stress — Dog Training tips for a happy home
Is your dog driving you crazy? Does it feel like a constant battle with chewing, barking, pulling or house-training. If you’re exhausted, embarrassed or unsure what to do next, you’re not alone. Overwhelmed owners often make the same mistakes: trying too much at once, inadvertently rewarding bad habits, or copying quick fixes that don’t last.
My dog training experience spans 20+ years in both the United States and England, working at renowned veterinary centers, and Europe’s leading veterinary hospital (Willows Veterinary Center and Referrals). It has provided a unique foundation to hone my behavior training expertise delivering 1-on-1 training in person and virtually around the world.
Here’s a simple promise: small, consistent positive changes done the right way deliver big results. Every week I will share a new blog focusing on one of the common challenging areas you may be experiencing including leash pulling, potty training, persistent barking, recall.
If you’d like to explore immediate tailored help, to help remedy your own situation I’d love to hear from you Contact — Newman's PAWsitive Pups.
Quick starter: The one-thing you can do today is pick one problem and spend two 5‑minute training sessions every day using just positive rewards:
Identify the exact behaviour you want (loose leash walking, play biting, calmness with visitors).
Choose a tiny step toward that behaviour (stopping for one second, sitting on cue, offering a sit).
Reward immediately (small, tasty treat or 5–10 seconds of play) every time your dog does that step.
End the session on a success and repeat at least twice more.
Why this works: Short, focused sessions match a typical dog’s attention span. A positive approach with clear rewards helps create a stronger bond and clearer communication with your dog, and tiny steps prevent overwhelming you both.
Next week’s blog: ‘How to stop your dog from jumping’. I’ll provide helpful videos and practical steps you can use right away that drive results that last. No jargon. No guilt. Just small, positive, science-backed actions that work.
Want a faster path? Visit Newman's PAWsitive Pups to book a free consult with me and we can tailor a plan that best fits your need and busy life.
"Just want to say that my husband and I hired dog trainer Meri Newman for our 8-month-old Chocolate Labrador, Kramer. All we can say is WOW!! Highly recommend her. (Even hubby agrees - which is rare!) " Christine w/Kramer.