Cashiers Canine Connection

An inside look at what e-collar training services are offered at Mountain Dog Spa with trainer Katie Darling.

A list of the commands we teach, and an overview of the services we use to teach them. Which service is right for you: Private Lessons, Daycare & Training or Board and Train? Listen to find out!

A Staff Training Episode on the Rules of the Groom Room!

This is a podcast episode where we explain the many rules for our staff to supervise dog playing together. We never leave our client's dogs unattended without a staff member supervising their play, and this podcast episode explains how we make sure everybody is safe and comfortable during playtime!

This week on the Cashiers Canine Connection, Katie explains what a Board and Train at Mountain Dog Spa is and tells us how we can sign up for dog training services.

Everything you need to know for boarding your pet at Mountain Dog Spa. Answers to all our most frequently asked questions: What do the dogs do all day? How long are they outside? What should I bring for my pet's boarding visit? Answers to all these questions and more!

Dona interviews Katie so we can all get to know her better, and then Katie tells us why she loves dog training at Mountain Dog Spa!  If you have any questions, reach out to us on social media to ask! We'll be sure to cover your questions in future podcast episodes.  Thank you all for your ongoing support!

Dog trainer Alissa Short tells us her tips and tricks for puppy training!

In this episode, Alissa explains how to train dogs to do one of the longest, most complicated obedience command training processes: recall. Recall is when your dog comes back to you every time that you call him/her, regardless of distractions in the surrounding environment.  Alissa says that recall is one of the most common reasons that people seek out her training services. Off-leash recall relia...

In this episode, Alissa and Dona explain the E-Collar that Mountain Dog Spa uses for training. These high-quality remote collars are from E-Collar Technologies, and they give dog owners the ability to control the level of stimulation. The levels range from 1-100, and most dogs are taught commands on levels in the single digits - the very lowest level that the dog can perceive. The patented blunt s...

Learn the benefits to teaching your dog "Place," step-by-step instructions for how to teach "Place," and situations when "Place" comes in handy.

Learn how to stop leash pulling, lunging and other unwanted leash walk behaviors - today!  Alissa explains how to use a Herm-Sprenger prong collar to stop leash pulling once and for all. She also tells us how to avoid buying knock-off prong collars that don't work. Other harnesses and flexi-leashes are also discussed in this podcast. Stop struggling with your dog on a leash walk. Start to enj...

Threshold training is the process of teaching your dog to pause at each threshold and wait for your permission before walking through. In this episode of Cashiers Canine Connection, Alissa Short and Dona Ampova provide step-by-step instructions to achieve this skill at home with your dog today. Threshold training is one of the Four Foundations of dog training.  To learn more about the Four Foundat...

In this podcast, Alissa Short explains how a professional dog trainer feeds dogs their meals. To achieve permission-based eating at meal times, Alissa describes a technique that will get your dog's attention. Your dog will see you as a food-provider and respect you as a leader at the same time. This episode is a continuation of the Four Foundations of Dog Training series.

Crate Training is the first of the Four Foundations that Alissa Short and Dona Ampova are going into in greater detail.  The crate starts the day of a dog in training, because the dog will wake up in his or her crate. The day will start with a leadership exercise in the crate. Alissa gives her advice as a professional dog trainer, explaining how to use a crate properly to achieve our training goal...

This episode of Cashiers Canine Connection is an overview of the Four Foundations of dog training.  Alissa Short tells us what the Four Foundations are and why they are important when we are training our pet dogs. The Four Foundations are: 1. Crate Training 2. Feeding Protocol 3. Leash Walk in "Heel" 4. Threshold Training This episode is an overview, and the next four episodes will go in...

In Episode 2, Alissa Short and Dona Ampova of Mountain Dog Spa explain the most clear ways to communicate with pet dogs. From verbal commands to a wide range of nonverbal cues, Alissa explains how she, as a professional dog trainer, is able to avoid confusing dogs when training new skills and manners. The goal of clear communication with a dog is to achieve an optimal relationship between the dog...

In this episode, Alissa Short and Dona Ampova of Mountain Dog Spa debunk myths about what a happy dog looks like. Cashiers Canine Connection explains how to achieve a rewarding relationship with your pet.  Topics covered include how to positively reinforce behaviors that lead to a happier dog, and how to avoid unintentionally rewarding separation anxiety. Alissa tells us more about the widespread...