To Dog It May Concern

He’s honestly turned into such a handsome dog. 

#TrainingTipTuesday Keep Track of your Progress! When actively working on teaching our dogs new skills, especially puppies, it is vital we have a goal, and we keep track. This isn't just so we can monitor progress but that we can see areas where we are struggling, and make a plan going forward. Even if the puppy you're raising is just going to be your best buddy, the learning process is best aided through keeping track! Make a plan, so you know what you want to achieve, and your training sessions will be productive for maximum impact, and maximum wearing out the rowdy dog you've got in your home too! . . . . . . . . . #askmehow #hikerhund #onlinedogschool #onlinedogtrainer #dogtrainer #positivereinforcementtraining #irwindogtraining #dogsthathike #trailraiseddogs #traildogs #dogsontrails #bestdogtrainers #traildogexpert #branch #englishshepherd #englishshepherdsofinstagram #dogsthathike #hikerhund #irwindogtraining #trailraiseddogs #traildogstrailbroke #mountaindogs #desertdogs #hikingwithdogs #dogsonadventures #adventuredogs #boisephotographer #onlinedogtrainer #dogtraining https://www.instagram.com/p/CKhdbebHK5J/?igshid=1a598g9z6oq7a

I am so in love with these two edits! . Something I have been toying around with is the idea of vloging. Of taking footage and photos from my wanderings and making vlogs about them in an effort to be more earnest with my social media presence and to offer up a dimension to the brand I want to develope. And because honestly Branch is kind of the best thing. At least I think so. 😛🦊 . . . . . . . #idaho #idahome #traildogstrailready #hikerhund #dogsthathike #adventurepups #mountaindogs #dogsontrails #dogsofidaho #englishshepherdsofinstagram #boisenationalforest #snowdogs #Branch #englishshepherd #trailraiseddogs #adventuredogs #workingdog #dogtrainer #dogtraining #positivereinforcement https://www.instagram.com/p/CKNC9o1HpWx/?igshid=1ptx5z2ffafmn

Toys are life when you're Wyatt. Using toys as rewards and games like tug with constructive rules helps higher energy and intelligent dogs like Wyatt here drain their physical and mental batteries. A two for one. . Tug toy from @critterharmony it is a year + old and going strong. It is my favorite tug because I can stuff it in my pockets or through a belt easily and the two handles give me safety control. And it has had some serious abuse dished out and keeps on going! This was a great design guys! . . . . . . . . #tugofwar #adoptadog #rescuedog #desertdogs #traildogs #dogbehavior #caninebehaviorspecialist #onlinedogtraining #irwindogtraining #boise #positivereinforcement #dogsthathike #hikingwithdogs #hikerhund #idahodogs #dogadventures #dogsofidaho #adoptme #adorabledogs #handsomedogs #shotonthecellphone https://www.instagram.com/p/CHQ6X_ynTaw/?igshid=zr3ysv6hd7hn

Happy Halloween from foster cat Dani! She is a available for adoption! . . . . . . #idaho #idahome #catsofinstagram #adoptashelterpet #adoptacat #halloween #halloweencats #blackcat #happyhalloween https://www.instagram.com/p/CHCDe1FnfQ5/?igshid=3ffo0pfx8o39

Thanks for all the birthday wishes! Branch and I had a really good day. A challenging hike and some homemade cake was waiting for me (Branch did not partake) when we got home! . . . . .. . #Branch #puppy #englishshepherd #adorabledogs #handsomedogs #trailraiseddogs #dogsontrails #dogsofidaho #englishshepherdsofinstagram #boisenationalforest #mountaindogs #dogsontrails #hikingwithdogs #hikerhund #idahodogs #dogadventures #moondipperhotsprings #traildogs https://www.instagram.com/p/CF_KorHnf19/?igshid=6mbf1l3agmbh

Branch hikes on leash, a lot. This isn't because of his recall, in fact he has a great recall (at mock 10 even.) The reason is because Branch is a working dog, and I knew that meant that sometimes (often times) he was going to end up in places where being on a leash on a trail was required either by law, by etiquette or by safety. And I wanted to be certain that his leash skills were practically flawless.  . Branch has actually probably spent about 75% of his trail time on a leash, even when other dogs weren't. This has been the story his whole life, he knows no different. Sometimes he's off leash, most of the time he's one. He has missed out on absolutely nothing.  . Hiking off leash is a privilege. It is something that is earned because we have worked hard to build a reliable trail dog, who recalls successfully and can be cued for behaviors from a distance to keep them out of other people's way. Hiking with a dog on leash is not a punishment, it's a means of safety, legality and on a busy trail; good manners. Having a dog with good leash skills is paramount. Dogs that have good leash skills have really big worlds. Branch has seen and done a lot in his short life, and will see and do a lot more (national parks, travel, etc.) Most of that will be on leash. But his world is very big.  . Got leash skills? Want some? We can help with that. Send us a message.  . . . . . #idaho #idahome #traildogstrailbroke #adventuredogs #workingdog #dogtrainer #dogtraining #positivereinforcement #hikerhund #Branch #puppy #englishshepherd #trailraiseddogs #mountaindogs #dogsontrails #dogsofidaho #englishshepherdsofinstagram #boisenationalforest #hikingwithdogs #hikingdogsofinstagram #dogsthathike #adventuredogs https://www.instagram.com/p/CFLHAAdn8c4/?igshid=pzl82v2e51nf

It's monday. The smoke around here has aettledninto the valley and my asthma is displeased. But I find myself dreaming of that camp vibe you get by a fire after a long trek. So I am planning our next backpacking trip down into the Owyhee Canyonlands. . This is a shot of Branch taking a nap as the sun was going down after we had trekked 6 miles and 1900 feet elevation gain. He was a rock star on his first backpacking trip. This is the result of raising a dog to be a good trail companion and knowing what I needed to bring and do to make the trek as smooth as possible. This was Branch's first night in a tent as well and he did an excellent job. Hikerhund can help you learn to teCh your dog proper trail manners and camp manners. . . . . . . #idaho #idahome #traildogstrailbroke #adventuredogs #workingdog #dogtrainer #dogtraining #positivereinforcement #hikerhund #Branch #puppy #englishshepherd #trailraiseddogs #mountaindogs #desertdogs #traildogs #englishshepherdsofinstagram #loonlake #backpacking #backpackingwithdogs https://www.instagram.com/p/CFHnfgZnw7d/?igshid=1kg11485f8j6n

"Pine, what do you do for fun?" . Oh ya know...stuff.... . . . . . . . #chickentraining #chickens #backyardchickens #chickensofinstagram #barredrock #derrygirls #dogtrainer #dogtraining #positivereinforcement #hikerhund #dogtrainersbetrainingeverything https://www.instagram.com/p/CE6yK45HXAe/?igshid=1r8gv5qzlcobx

"The Mountains are calling, and I must go"  - John Muir . This is a very well known quote, it appears all over the place. Home decor and more. It's a great saying, I even have it as a sticker on the back of my jeep. And while it's a phrase that has always spoken to me, I am just as happy climbing through the canyonlands of the Owyhees as I am up the side of a mountain. I am just as happy walking down a level trail that borders a large body of water, or trudging through the sand along a beach. So honestly I don't think it's the mountains that call me... it's the feel of dirt under my feet. It's the trail, any trail, anywhere.  . What out in nature calls to you? . . . . . . . . #idaho #idahome #traildogstrailbroke #adventuredogs #workingdog #trailraiseddogs #dogsontrails #dogsofidaho #englishshepherdsofinstagram #dogsthathike #hikingwithdogs #hikerhund #englishshepherd #Branch #puppy #traildogs #mountaindogs #desertdogs #dogadventures https://www.instagram.com/p/CE0gSTtH_En/?igshid=4nxnb3qod534

When we hiked out tuesday morning it was so cold I struggled to out Branch and I's packs together because my fingers were ice. We were blanketed in fog and the whole thing and weirdly "hero's journey" feel to it. Happy to report to creatures came out of the mist to snatch us up, and eventually it went away and we warmed up (just in time to sweat and trudge on with heavy packs on steep hills.) . For his first ever backpacking trip Branch did phenomenal. He rocked it. Especially cuddling in the tent at night with freezing temps. . . . . . . . #idaho #idahome #traildogstrailbroke #adventuredogs #workingdog #boisephotographer #dogphotography #dogsontrails #dogsofidaho #englishshepherdsofinstagram #loonlake #backpacking #backpackingwithdogs #hikerhund #Branch #englishshepherd #trailraiseddogs #mountaindogs #hikingdogsofinstagram #boisegoodboys #dogsgonelocal #dogsofidaho #dogsthathike #adventuredogs #shotonthecellphone https://www.instagram.com/p/CEqHhDfHkFS/?igshid=1l290fxqnmgzn

We had an adventurous couple of days. Which I keep wanting to call "weekend" but were actually monday and Tuesday. LoL. But while I compose my thoughts have a shot of Branch. He is growing up so handsome. . . . . . . #idaho #idahome #traildogstrailbroke #adventuredogs #workingdog #dogtrainer #dogtraining #positivereinforcement #hikerhund #Branch #puppy #englishshepherd #trailraiseddogs #mountaindogs #desertdogs #traildogs #englishshepherdsofinstagram #loonlake #backpacking #backpackingwithdogs #hikingwithdogs #dogsofidaho #boisephotographer #dogphotography https://www.instagram.com/p/CEqG-0dncH9/?igshid=1nvqarh6s4mpp

We are heading out! Taking a couple of days to do what I love best: backpacking. Can't go for long but I am so excited to feel exhausted on my feet and see the world through my camera lens. Branch is also going to be doing this for the first time! . . . . . . #backpacking #backpackingwithdogs #hikerhund #Branch #puppy #englishshepherd #trailraiseddogs #dogsontrails #dogsofidaho #englishshepherdsofinstagram #dogsontrails #mountaindogs #hikingdogsofinstagram #dogsthathike #hikingwithdogs #idahodogs #idahome #traildogstrailbroke https://www.instagram.com/p/CEjl2NHJR1h/?igshid=yt5utqkyry13

One question I get asked again and again is about pulling on a leash. So many people struggle and many want to know the secret... the answer to stopping a dog from pulling on leash? Training. . No gadget, gizmo or trick will ever ensure a good heel or loose leash walk. Only training can do that. . "A harness will just make them pull!" Here Branch demonstrates my madman philosophy of teaching dogs to both heel and pull on cue while in a harness. All through training. . DM to enroll in a leash skills workshop! . . . . . . . #idaho #idahome #traildogstrailbroke #adventuredogs #dogsofidaho #hikerhund #dogsthathike #Branch #puppy #englishshepherd #trailraiseddogs #mountaindogs #desertdogs #traildogs #dogbehavior #caninebehaviorspecialist #onlinedogtraining #irwindogtraining # https://www.instagram.com/p/CEVmCytpeY0/?igshid=p0f4znhfnhni

It is Sunday! Normally our hiking day. But we have had a pretty wild week...well I have. The dogs probably didn't notice much. Work has been busy which is a good problem to have but it means very little time to get things done around here. And even less time to just decompress. And I need a decompression day. Or a vacation. So in the infamous words of every exhausted backpacker: I'm taking a zero day. I'm running the farm this week, and have a crazy busy work schedule. Along with trying to get the school officially launched. So today I am going to listen to podcasts. Read the latest Dresden Files book. Watch some tv and do some house chores. The dogs are going to hang. And we will do all of it in comfy clothes with a cup of tea in hand. . Have a beautiful picture of Kaylee who remains the prettiest for no reason other than she can. . . . . . . . . #causeimpretty #idaho #idahome #traildogstrailbroke #adventuredogs #dogsofidaho #hikerhund #dogsthathike #ohgodkayleeno #adventurepups #mountaindogs #dogsontrails #silverlab #labrador #labsofinstagram #hikingwithdogs #idahodogs #dogadventures #irwindogtraining https://www.instagram.com/p/CEPWE4CpqCK/?igshid=hln2zfo2saq1