Gentle Touch Pet Training

The simple answer …. Because it’s fun! But aside from being “fun” to train, tricks can be quite useful.

Summer's here! Let's get training! Our dog training classes are designed to strengthen the bond between dogs and their owners while building skills and having fun - we'd love to have you join us!

Don't miss this important window with your pup! The critical socialization age for puppies is approximately 8-12 weeks old...

Gentle Touch Pet Training: train, play, and have fun with your dog in San Luis Obispo! Summer's on the way! Let's get training! Our dog training classes are designed to strengthen the bod between dogs and their owners while building skills and having fun - we'd love to have you join us!

Client Spotlight - Nose Work unlocks Brody's confidence and independence. Brody is a 7 year old Cocker Spaniel who was declared blind last summer...

New Year, New Skills for Every Dog! Start the year with confidence and connection. Our dog training classes are designed to strengthen the bond between dogs and their owners while building skills and having fun.

At Gentle Touch Pet Training, we’re honored to witness countless stories of transformation—but few have touched our hearts quite like SweetPea’s. When he first arrived, SweetPea was a four–year–old Shih Tzu who had endured far more than his small size suggested. Reactive, uncertain, and struggling with his health, he faced the world with fear instead of confidence. His family loved him deeply but felt overwhelmed and unsure how to help. What happened next was nothing short of

Ah, back to school….. I remember that wonderful feeling of “Oh Thank Goodness, it’s finally back to school time” when my kids were growing up. All summer long spent keeping the kids (and dogs) busy in that constant chaos we call Summer! It was a relief when the kids were back to school and my own personal routine became my own again. From our dog’s perspective however, they’ve gone from kids being home, lots of crazy energy, constant play, and constant companionship to empt

Hand targeting is one of the easiest behaviors to teach your dog. Your dog targets everything with their nose, we simply give their nose something to run into - the palm of our hand. Our hand goes down, the dog runs their nose into our palm, we mark and reward the “touch” Great, we have a dog who will happily target our hand. But now what? Why are we teaching our dog to target our hand? It’s cute, it’s fun for the dog, it’s easy. But what’s the practical purpose? Here’

What’s in a name? We spend a lot of time naming our puppy. Whether it be a name that reminds you of a happy place, or a name you think is cool, or a sport you love, etc., you spent considerable time coming up with the perfect name for your dog! Your dog honestly doesn’t care what you call him - he doesn’t speak English, or for that matter, human. He hears sounds and syllables, and sometimes those sounds and syllables have meanings. But his name is important, whatever that

The Crucial First Year: Setting Your Puppy Up for Success! Training your new puppy is a journey for the first year of your puppy’s life. The first 4 months of your puppies life is the most critical socialization period. Take time to socialize your puppy with other puppies, friendly adult dogs, and people! Tall people, short people, heavy people, skinny people. People with glasses, people wearing hats, carrying purses, tote bags and (from personal experience) surf boards!

What on Earth do I mean by dog sports? Simply put, dog sports are a variety of judged competitions designed to engage the abilities of our canine companions. These sports include Agility, Nose Work, Tracking, Obedience, Rally Obedience, Barn Hunt, Coursing, Earthdog, Herding, Flyball, Disc Dog, Conformation, etc. The list continues from there and new ones are being developed often. These sports offer titling opportunities or just fun days with your best friend. Numero

Having a new puppy is one of the most exciting, exhausting, and sometimes downright confusing chapters of your life. You may get a flood of information from all kinds of sources that is hard to sort through, or you may find yourself with absolutely no idea where to start. Fear not! We are going to answer five of the most Googled questions that new “pawrents” need to know. Q: At what age should I start training my puppy? A: The short answer is: right away! Your puppy is alread

Potty training is about creating predictable routines and rewarding good behavior. This is not always easy! Here, I will cover six of the be

When I got my first dog as an adult, I had dreams of a perfectly trained partner in crime. I wanted her to do everything and go everywhere with me. I spent hours, weeks, and even years teaching her to sit pretty, spin (still her favorite), shake, pray, double high-five, and other super fun but admittedly incredibly unnecessary tricks that she could do when asked. We bonded over learning together, and I cherish every moment of that time now that she is an “old lady.” I don’t r

To “enrich,” as defined by Merriam-Webster, is “to make rich or richer especially by the addition or increase of some desirable quality, attribute, or ingredient.” When we talk about enrichment for our animals, this is the goal! We hope to fulfill their species or breed-specific needs through games, toys, and other various activities. But what are those needs? Luckily, we can make some pretty good inferences about the kind of activities that may help our dogs to feel fulfille