Play, Learn, Connect with Merry Movement Mania

 How Movement Becomes a Powerful Training Tool

Part of our December Play, Learn, Connect Challenge!

The holidays bring joy, laughter, and… a whole lot of movement. People coming and going, packages arriving, kids running, decorations rustling, doors opening constantly.
For our dogs, this can be a lot to process.

That’s why this month’s Merry Movement Challenge focuses on one of the most powerful (and most overlooked) training tools we have:

Movement as Reinforcement

Many dog owners picture training as a dog sitting politely or holding still for a “stay.”
But here’s the truth:

Dogs learn just as much, if not more, from movement as they do from stillness.

Movement builds:

• Confidence

• Focus

• Emotional regulation

• Body awareness

• Connection with you

And best of all?
Dogs LOVE it.
Movement itself becomes a reward, not just part of the lesson.

This week, we’re kicking off with a joyful, confidence-boosting puzzle:

PLAY: Reindeer Ridge Hurdles

This is the first official challenge of our December Play, Learn, Connect series, and it’s a favorite because it mixes holiday fun with functional real-life skills.

How to Set It Up

You’ll need:

• A doorway

• Streamers or ribbon

• Optional: reindeer antlers for adorable photos 

Streamer Doorway: Tape festive streamers across the bottom of a doorway to create a “Reindeer Jump” entry. Be sure to use a soft landing surface!

Practice the Pattern: Walk your dog up to the doorway → ask for a pause or wait → step through the door → invite your dog to follow on cue.

Repeat it with:

• Slowly building up the height of the hurdle by adding more streamers

• Start with slow, thoughtful steps, gradually adding in more excitement, speed, and fun.

• Alternate between pause → move → pause

🎉 Every successful repetition teaches your dog that movement with control earns more movement; one of the strongest reinforcers we can offer!

LEARN: Why Reindeer Hurdles Teach Real-Life Skills

Movement inside this playful setup mirrors the real-world challenges dogs face during the holidays. Let’s break down what your dog learns each time they hop, step, or wait through the puzzle:

1️⃣ Movement Builds Focus

Stepping over obstacles or waiting politely at a doorway requires your dog to shift into “thinking mode.”
Each repetition reinforces: “When I move WITH my human, good things happen.”

2️⃣ Movement Strengthens Door Manners

Doorways are hot zones for excitement, rushing, jumping, and curiosity.
This activity teaches your dog that:

• Doorways are pause points, not launch pads

• They get to move through when they’re calm

• Waiting actually leads to the fun part

3️⃣ Movement Helps Dogs Regulate Big Feelings

Holidays mean surprises: ding-dong! squealing guests! packages dropping! rustling bags!

Reindeer Hurdles teach your dog to manage arousal by practicing small bursts of motion layered with tiny pauses.

Movement becomes a tool to regulate, not escalate, their emotions.

4️⃣ Movement Builds Confidence

Tip-toeing over wrapping paper rolls or walking through streamers builds:

• Body awareness

• Environmental comfort

• Spatial confidence

• Willingness to try new things

Even hesitant dogs often brighten up when movement becomes a game.

5️⃣ Movement Becomes the Reward

Instead of always giving treats, the “reward” for waiting at the door is…
➡️ getting to go through
➡️ running the next part of the puzzle
➡️ exploring
➡️ moving with you

When movement becomes the reinforcer, you get more natural, lasting behaviors.

CONNECT: Build Joy and Teamwork This Week

At the heart of this challenge is connection—you and your dog moving as a team.

Here’s how to deepen connection while doing the Reindeer Hurdles:

• Make eye contact before releasing them through the door

• Match your pace to your dog’s confidence level

• Celebrate their successes with gentle praise or playful movement

• End with a cuddle, sniff walk, or goofy dance together

Every step you take together builds trust.

Every doorway wait builds communication.

Every streamer hurdle builds joy.

This is the magic of movement-based training:
It teaches skills while strengthening your relationship.

Mini Homework for Patrons: Reindeer Hurdles Doorway Challenge

This week, you’ll combine Reindeer Hurdles with practical doorway manners to help your dog build impulse control, focus, and calm movement in one joyful micro-session.

Set Up Your Reindeer Hurdles Path:

• Place 2–4 low hurdles (wrapping paper rolls, foam pool noodles, or towels rolled into “logs”).

• Hang a light “tinsel streamer curtain” in the doorway, or tape a few ribbons across at dog-height.

• Mark a simple “wait spot” on each side of the door (mat, towel, or taped box).

Your Goal:
Teach your dog to pause, think, and move politely through a normally exciting space—the doorway!

Pawsitively Including Your Dog in the Holidays!

Don't Let the Busy Season Leave Your Best Friend Out

The holiday season is a whirlwind of shopping, decorating, and parties. We all tend to get busy, and sometimes, that means our beloved dogs are left out of the festive fun.

At Yooper Paws, we want to encourage all our friends to find meaningful and joyful ways to include your dog in the magic of December! After all, they deserve to share in the cheer.
🗓️ Your December Dog Checklist: 30 Festive Ways to Celebrate!


We've compiled a list of 30 distinct ideas (one for nearly every day of the month) to help you get started. We've organized them into fun categories so you can easily pick the activities that fit your schedule and your dog's personality!

Home & Hearth Activities (10 Ideas)

These activities are perfect for chilly days, bonding indoors, and adding a personal touch to your décor.

1.  Make Holiday Dog Treats: Bake a batch of special, dog-safe holiday cookies.
2.  Make Cookies for Santa Paws: Bake human treats and dog treats side-by-side.
3.  Create a Homemade Gift for your Dog: Simple DIY projects are great for bonding!
4.  Make a Puppy Ornament: A wonderful keepsake to hang on your tree.
5.  Hang a Stocking for your Dog: Don't forget their spot on the mantle!
6.  Make a Puppy Christmas Card: Get that perfect photo for friends and family.
7.  Wrap a Present For Your Dog: Let them sniff and play with the wrapped box before the big day.
8.  Watch a Holiday Movie: Cuddle up on the couch and relax together.

      (We pretty much did this all week last week while I was sick. No photos!)
9.  Read a Book to Your Dog: The sound of your voice is comforting and calming.
10. Share a Treat By the Fire: A quiet moment of togetherness and relaxation.

Festive Outings & Adventures (7 Ideas)

Get out and experience the holiday sights, making sure to consider your dog's comfort level with crowds and noise.

11.  Christmas Lights Drive/Sniff-a-bout: Take a leisurely walk or drive to enjoy the neighborhood lights.
12.  Walk with a Friend: Combine a social visit with a much-needed walk.
13.  Play in the Snow: Embrace the cold and let them burn off energy!
14.  Tree Lighting Ceremony: If your dog is calm and crowd-friendly, attend a small community event.
15.  Puppy Playdate with a Friend: Schedule some fun social time with a dog your pup already knows.
16.  Take a Photo in Front of the Christmas Tree: Capture the perfect holiday memory.
17.  Hang a Paw Print Decoration on Your Door: Show off your festive spirit!

Generosity & Connection (7 Ideas)

The spirit of the holidays is about generosity. Include your dog in acts of kindness and strengthen your bond.

18.  Donate a Dog Toy: Have your dog pick out an old toy to donate to a local shelter.
19.  Donate Dog Food: Purchase an extra bag of food for a shelter in need.
20.  Have a Gift Exchange with Another Dog Owner: A fun way to get a new toy or treat for your pup.
21.  Prepare Treat Bags for Puppy Friends: Assemble small goodie bags for dogs you meet on walks.
22.  Sing Christmas Carols to Your Dog: They might not appreciate the tune, but they’ll love the attention!
23.  Dance with Your Dog: Put on some holiday music and have a goofy, fun moment.
24.  Dress Up Together: Keep it simple—maybe matching scarves or a new holiday collar.

Safety, Reflection, & Planning (6 Ideas)

Use the quiet moments of December to focus on your dog's safety, future, and celebrate your strong bond.

25.  Check for Dog-Safe Holiday Decorations: A critical safety check of all new ornaments, plants, and lights.
26.  Make a Training List/Plan: Set some fun, achievable training goals for the new year.

        Check out the Play Learn Connect Challenge this Month: Merry Movement Puzzles!
27.  Start a New Holiday Tradition: Maybe it’s a specific trail or an annual photo spot.
28.  Pause and Reflect About the Past Year With Your Dog: Appreciate the memories you’ve made.
29.  Letter to Santa Paws: A fun, playful way to list things your dog "wants" for the year!
30.  String Dog Bone Treats for a Christmas Countdown: Create a fun, edible advent calendar for your dog!

🚨 A Note on Safety and Comfort: Always Put Your Dog First!

It's essential that you consider your dog's individual needs when you look at this list!
If your dog doesn't like crowds, you wouldn't take them to a noisy Christmas tree lighting or parade. Skip it!

If your dog doesn't like to dress up, skip list items that suggest that or keep it super simple, like a new holiday-themed collar or bandanna.

Please be smart and do all the things you and your dog can have fun doing together as a team!

📸 Share Your Festive Fun!

Throughout the month, we will be posting additional blog entries on many of these items with detailed directions and ideas on how to do these things with your dog.

Bold means we've completed the activity and pictures will be posted soon! You can also check out our post from December 2024 to see what we accomplished last year.

Want to be featured? Email your pictures to dogtraining@yooperpaws.com or send them to us via Messenger. We love seeing your dogs and may even include your photo in a dedicated blog post!

Have fun & Merry Christmas from the Yooper Paws team!

Avoiding The Cookie Cutter

Why One Size Does Not Fit All in Dog Training

A Heartfelt Look at What Struggling Dog Owners Really Need

If you’ve ever lived with a fearful dog, a reactive dog, or even just a fizzy, over-excited adolescent, you already know the truth:

you’ve probably tried everything.

And I mean everything.

Three or four different techniques… or maybe a dozen.

Advice from friends, tips from social media, a class or two, a book, a brand-new tool, and of course—those late-night Google searches that leave you wondering if you’re doing anything right at all.

When I talk to dog guardians who are exhausted, overwhelmed, and desperate for something to finally work, almost every single one tells me the same story.

“I tried this.”

“And then I tried that.”

“And then I tried five other things.”

“Nothing stuck.”

And you know what?  It makes perfect sense. Because no single technique works for every dog!

No single dog responds the same way.

No single method can fix everything.

Dogs are not robots. They’re not identical. They’re individuals; deeply emotional, wonderfully unique beings. And when we’re dealing with big feelings (fear, frustration, over-arousal) we cannot use cookie-cutter methods and expect real, lasting change. So instead of “one perfect method,” at Yooper Paws we build customized, layered plans that meet the dog and the human exactly where they are.

Here’s what that actually looks like.

1. The Interrupter: A Gentle “Hey, Look Here”

The first tool in every personalized training plan is an interrupter; not a correction, not a punishment, but a positive cue that helps a dog shift gears before their emotions take over.

For some dogs, the interrupter is as simple as a piece of chicken held close to the nose.

For others, it’s movement; the handler stepping away, changing direction, and inviting the dog to follow.

And for certain dogs with bigger feelings, the interrupter becomes a practiced routine:

“Look at my handler → chase a cookie → move into heel → exit together.”

The point isn’t how fancy it is.

The point is: it works for that dog.

2. Management: Keeping Everyone Safe While We Learn

Management isn’t a failure, it’s protection. It’s what keeps your dog safe, you safe, and the world around you safe. And it’s not “cheating.” It’s smart!

My go-to starting point for management with reactive or adolescent dogs?

A harness with front + back clips and a dual-clip leash.

Why? Because even a 30-pound dog can pull a 200-pound human off balance (trust me… I know).

But management can also include:

• visual barriers
• baby gates
• muzzles
• strategic distance
• specific walking routes
• car setups
• yard arrangements

Management changes as your dog grows and learns.

You might start with strong barriers and later remove them or ease into less restricting barriers.

You might keep the harness forever; not because your dog is “bad,” but because it’s safe and humane.

3. Training for Teamwork, Confidence & Communication

This is the heart of real behavior change.

Together, we help the human learn to read their dog better.

We help the dog learn to listen to cues with confidence.

We build trust, connection, and teamwork through simple, consistent routines.

This is where owners discover that:

• their dog was communicating, they just didn’t know what they were seeing
• their dog’s behavior wasn’t “stubborn”—it was overwhelmed
• their dog wants guidance, not pressure
• they can work together as a team

This piece is often the emotional turning point for both dog and human.

4. Desensitization & Counterconditioning:

The Slow, Life-Changing Work

This is the part everyone hears about… and the part that takes time.

In simple terms:

Desensitization → “Teaching the dog that this thing isn’t weird, abnormal, or out of the ordinary.”

Counterconditioning → “Teaching the dog that this thing predicts something amazing.”

Amazing might be chicken raining from the sky, a little nosework, a favorite game, or a fun routine shared with their human.

But here’s the truth no one says out loud: Sometimes the fear never goes away completely. And that’s okay.

I’ve been afraid of mice since I was seven or eight years old. At this point in my life, I’m not getting over it. If I see one in the kitchen, I panic. But if I see one outside in a field, I've learned that I can manage because I have my own version of management. (And boots. Definitely boots.)

So no… we don’t try to force dogs to “get over” their fears either. We teach them how to live safely and comfortably with the world, not to suffer through it. We choose our environments wisely.

We pick controlled setups for training situations with known dogs, predictable helpers, and safe distances. Because the goal isn’t perfection.  The goal is a life worth living.

Dog Training Isn’t a Quick Fix, It’s a Partnership

Training isn’t a one-size-fits-all process. It isn’t a “11 sessions and you’re cured for life” package. Training packages are designed as a starting point to get you started on your journey; a flexible, evolving one, where we continually reassess:

• Is your dog ready for the next step?
• Are you ready?
• What’s working?
• What needs adjusting?

That’s why I don’t offer the kind of programs where I take your dog and “fix them” for you. Because even if I could magically get your dog to behave perfectly for me, it wouldn’t matter unless you also knew how to read them, how to communicate with them, how to support them, and how to play the games that build connection and confidence.

It takes all three of us, you, your dog, and me, working together.

A triangle of trust.

A team.

And That’s Why the One-Size-Fits-All Approach Fails

Your dog is not “just like every other dog.”

You are not “just another client.”

And your challenges are not something that can be fixed with a generic handout or a trendy video.

Your dog deserves a plan built for them.

A plan built for you.

A plan built with compassion, safety, science, and heart.

And that’s what individualized training is all about: seeing your dog as the unique being they are and meeting them with the support they truly need.

We offer a trauma informed approach to behavior modification training that supports both the dog owner and the dog, helping everyone to feel safe, calm & happy in the activities we do together.

If you're ready to get started on your training journey, reach out to us to find out where the best starting point is for you and your dog.