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Boarding and Training

Train smarter. Board Better. Lead with Love.

Daily Paw Prints

Daily Paw Prints – A short word about all things dogs.

From herding to agility, Border Collies to Jack Russells, leash and crate training, puppy vs. rescue—small yet insightful snippets of wisdom.

Addi shares lessons from 30 years of life with dogs, 10 years of active training, and 4 years of sheepdog work.

A group of recently shorn sheep stand in a barn with straw-covered flooring. One sheep is eating hay through a metal fence, while others stand nearby. The background includes wooden pallets and barn walls with various farm equipment.

A group of recently shorn sheep stand in a barn with straw-covered flooring. One sheep is eating hay through a metal fence, while others stand nearby. The background includes wooden pallets and barn walls with various farm equipment.

March 25th, 2025

I’m keeping a close watch on my pregnant ewes in the barn while moving the training sheep into their first field rotation. Since there isn’t

Mar 25, 20252 min read

A smiling woman in a navy winter coat and a beige knit headband holds a small white and brown dog while wearing red gloves. The background showcases a scenic winter landscape with rolling hills, bare trees, and a clear blue sky.

A smiling woman in a navy winter coat and a beige knit headband holds a small white and brown dog while wearing red gloves. The background showcases a scenic winter landscape with rolling hills, bare trees, and a clear blue sky.

March 24th, 2025

But in reality, that promise would likely be a lie. Will your dog be perfect for two weeks? A month? Maybe, if I’ve done my job well enough,

Mar 24, 20251 min read

A collage of four images showcases a black and white Border Collie herding a small group of sheep in a snowy field. The dog maintains a focused stance, watching and guiding the sheep while the winter landscape with trees and fencing sets the rural scene.

A collage of four images showcases a black and white Border Collie herding a small group of sheep in a snowy field. The dog maintains a focused stance, watching and guiding the sheep while the winter landscape with trees and fencing sets the rural scene.

March 23rd, 2025

I think, generally speaking, I’m pushy and highly critical because I want everyone—including myself—to be better. If I could sum up my life,

Mar 23, 20251 min read

A brown and white Border Collie mix trots through a lush green yard with a yellow ball in its mouth, followed closely by a black and white Border Collie. The background features a wooden fence, dandelions, and scattered outdoor items, creating a playful and natural setting.

A brown and white Border Collie mix trots through a lush green yard with a yellow ball in its mouth, followed closely by a black and white Border Collie. The background features a wooden fence, dandelions, and scattered outdoor items, creating a playful and natural setting.

March 22nd, 2025

For Emma, it’s watching sheep. Bella finds value in balls and anything that involves throwing. Rylee values her freedom more than anything e

Mar 22, 20251 min read

Four dogs joyfully running and playing in a snow-covered field. The dogs are following a path through deep snow, with a wire fence and trees in the background. The scene captures the dogs' excitement and energy in the winter landscape.

Four dogs joyfully running and playing in a snow-covered field. The dogs are following a path through deep snow, with a wire fence and trees in the background. The scene captures the dogs' excitement and energy in the winter landscape.

March 21st, 2025

I clip Bella first — she’s my biggest liability — then Emma, and Rylee last. Rylee typically doesn’t wear a collar but responds quickly to a

Mar 21, 20251 min read

Two dogs enthusiastically playing tug-of-war with a person holding a rope toy. One dog, a white and brown Jack Russell Terrier, is standing and pulling on the toy, while the other dog, partially visible and laying down, also tugs on the other end. They are playing on a grassy area outdoors.

Two dogs enthusiastically playing tug-of-war with a person holding a rope toy. One dog, a white and brown Jack Russell Terrier, is standing and pulling on the toy, while the other dog, partially visible and laying down, also tugs on the other end. They are playing on a grassy area outdoors.

March 20th, 2025

Bella is all intensity. She can go from zero to one hundred in a second! She needs me to be strong, fully engaged, and really challenge her.

Mar 20, 20251 min read

A small tricolor dog, likely a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, sitting attentively on a textured mat. The dog has long black, white, and tan fur, with expressive brown eyes looking up at the camera and a fluffy tail slightly blurred in motion, indicating a gentle wag.

A small tricolor dog, likely a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, sitting attentively on a textured mat. The dog has long black, white, and tan fur, with expressive brown eyes looking up at the camera and a fluffy tail slightly blurred in motion, indicating a gentle wag.

March 19th, 2025

Boarding dogs and board-and-train dogs have an interesting time here. They usually go home both more exhausted and more rested. What do I me

Mar 19, 20251 min read

A close-up of two dogs snuggled together on a cozy, textured blanket. One dog, a small white dog with black ears, is sleeping peacefully, while the other, a brown and white dog, lies facing it. Their paws are gently touching, creating a sweet and tender moment.

A close-up of two dogs snuggled together on a cozy, textured blanket. One dog, a small white dog with black ears, is sleeping peacefully, while the other, a brown and white dog, lies facing it. Their paws are gently touching, creating a sweet and tender moment.

March 18th, 2025

Do you know why? Rylee. Rylee is turning 11 this year, and she is so tiny. At a solid 12 pounds, she’s smaller than any dog who might come

Mar 18, 20251 min read

A young black and white Border Collie sits behind metal bars in a barn, looking through the rails with its tongue out in a playful expression. The dog is on a leash, with wooden walls and a blue metal door in the background, and bits of straw scattered on the ground.

A young black and white Border Collie sits behind metal bars in a barn, looking through the rails with its tongue out in a playful expression. The dog is on a leash, with wooden walls and a blue metal door in the background, and bits of straw scattered on the ground.

March 17th, 2025

I start by zoning in their surroundings. The space they have access to is safe, happy, and — most importantly — where I play, train, and cud

Mar 17, 20251 min read

A black and white Border Collie lounges on a windowsill, gazing outside, while a small white dog with short legs and floppy ears sits beside them, looking at the camera. Around them are dog beds and a soft blanket, with plants, fairy lights, and a bright window view of leafless trees in the background.

A black and white Border Collie lounges on a windowsill, gazing outside, while a small white dog with short legs and floppy ears sits beside them, looking at the camera. Around them are dog beds and a soft blanket, with plants, fairy lights, and a bright window view of leafless trees in the background.

March 16th, 2025

They respect the rules—everywhere—almost. If they don’t, they go on a leash, and we start again. James Clear, the author of Atomic Habit, sa

Mar 16, 20251 min read

A black and white Border Collie lays in the snow, gazing directly at the camera. Snow is lightly dusted on the dog's muzzle and fur, with its fluffy tail curled around its side. The background is a snowy, wintery landscape.

A black and white Border Collie lays in the snow, gazing directly at the camera. Snow is lightly dusted on the dog's muzzle and fur, with its fluffy tail curled around its side. The background is a snowy, wintery landscape.

March 15th, 2025

Thank you for forming friendships, never judging, always being eager to please, and for finding sheep so fun that I can leave you comfortabl

Mar 15, 20251 min read

A red tri Border Collie crouches low to the ground while herding three sheep across a partially snow-covered pasture. The dog is focused and working intently behind the sheep, with farm fencing and a barn visible in the background.

A red tri Border Collie crouches low to the ground while herding three sheep across a partially snow-covered pasture. The dog is focused and working intently behind the sheep, with farm fencing and a barn visible in the background.

March 14th, 2025

Most of the work my dogs and I do is close-up work in the barn. This includes holding sheep off feed, getting them out of the barn, working

Mar 14, 20251 min read

A collage of four images featuring a black and white Border Collie sitting on a paved surface with snow and a rustic building in the background. The dog is wearing a blue leash and looking in different directions in each photo.

A collage of four images featuring a black and white Border Collie sitting on a paved surface with snow and a rustic building in the background. The dog is wearing a blue leash and looking in different directions in each photo.

March 13th, 2025

We haven’t had a breakdown of our correction yet, so this was the first time Emma tested me to see if I meant it and would follow through.

Mar 13, 20251 min read

Two dogs standing on a stone patio, with a red and white Border Collie looking directly at the camera and a small white dog looking down and away.

Two dogs standing on a stone patio, with a red and white Border Collie looking directly at the camera and a small white dog looking down and away.

March 12th, 2025

Training never stops. As my mentor says about sheepdogs: "One year for each leg, and sometimes you count the tail too."

Mar 12, 20251 min read

Border Collie sitting in snow in a fenced area.

Border Collie sitting in snow in a fenced area.

March 11th, 2025

But where it becomes unfair is when we add puppies or dogs to our home and expect them to instantly know the rules.

Mar 11, 20251 min read

Border Collie sitting on cracked cement looking at the camera while on a blue leash.

Border Collie sitting on cracked cement looking at the camera while on a blue leash.

March 10th, 2025

Establish your parameter first. Before giving your dog more freedom, make sure they can handle it and that you can keep them and everyone el

Mar 10, 20252 min read

Border Collie herding a group of North Country Cheviot sheep through the snow in a fenced pasture.

Border Collie herding a group of North Country Cheviot sheep through the snow in a fenced pasture.

March 9th, 2025

It is incredible but herding is nothing like that. Emma has been a little tight on her flanks, and I had to really communicate with her to

Mar 9, 20252 min read

Two Border Collies, one black and white and one red and white, lying down and resting indoors near a doorway.

Two Border Collies, one black and white and one red and white, lying down and resting indoors near a doorway.

March 8th, 2025

Rules include not jumping, a one bark limit, no being in the kitchen except to eat or drink, and probably a dozen other boundaries that help

Mar 8, 20251 min read

A dog pushing sheep into a field in the snow. The field is surrounded by shadowed trees, and one tree line that is touched by light.

A dog pushing sheep into a field in the snow. The field is surrounded by shadowed trees, and one tree line that is touched by light.

March 7th, 2025

think it helps them pay attention to me, making walks fun and an activity we do together rather than them just going for a walk while I lag

Mar 7, 20251 min read

Two dogs - one sitting the other howling and bowing.

Two dogs - one sitting the other howling and bowing.

March 6th, 2025

Unconditional Love? I keep coming back to this... No matter what conversations I have with my clients or mentor, we all love our dogs,...

Mar 6, 20251 min read

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