Join the Fun and Help Out Our Community!

With our upcoming hike this Saturday, I wanted to give a pat on the back and a big thanks to our great clients.  All proceeds from our hikes go back into our community and with your help, last year we were able to purchase Pet Oxygen Masks for the Aledo Fire Department. They were so thankful and told us how badly they needed them. We purchased several different sizes for the fire department and now they have them on their trucks and are ready to help pets in need! Previously, when the fire fighters encountered pets in need of oxygen in house fires they would physically blow in their noses. The masks will make their job a little easier and help in returning these pets to their families!

For more information on our upcoming hike, please click the following link:  FWNC Hike

Classes are Filling Fast!

We are a week away from our new classes starting and our hike on Saturday! Recall and the Compound Behavior classes are now full. We have 2 openings left for both the Beginner class and the Puppy class! Puppy starts next Sunday at 3:00 and Beginner starts next Monday evening at 6:00! We also have 2 openings left for the hike at the Nature Center on Saturday!! Come join us!!

For more information on our classes and hike, please click the following links:

Puppy I -The Puppy class is now full.  To be put on the waiting list please email us by clicking the following link:  Puppy Class Waiting List

Beginner Family Dog

Fort Worth Nature Center Hike

Emergency Distance Downs!

January is "Train Your Dog" month! Click and treat your dog for downing and you will be on your way to this great emergency down!

Dog in the Spotlight!

Congratulations to Keegan for passing her Delta Therapy Dog Renewal with a complex rating! Keegan is a current student at Taming the Wild Side, and has been training with Terri for over four years. Keegan is also certified as a R.E.A.D. dog and visits children at Cook Children's Medical Center. The Delta Evaluators said the following about Lynda and Keegan - "Good team, wonderful dog!" and we agree! Great job guys!

NEW CLASS: Rock Solid Recall II

Ready, set, go!!! We started enhancing our relationship with our dogs in Recall I and we learned lots of games to teach our dogs to come when called. We made our distraction list, and now it time to play more games - this time with medium level distractions! Class is limited to five dogs and we only have two openings left. If you think your dog has a pretty good recall with low level distractions and you want to add some bigger distractions then you may be a candidate for this class! It is fun, fast paced and you and your dog will love the homework!!

Date: Wednesday, January 25th - February 29th

Time: 6:00 - 7:00 pm

Location: Taming the Wild Side Training Facility

Cost: $100 for a six week class. Cash or checks only please.

Equipment: Easy to eat treats for your dog, water, water bowl, long leash (no flex leashes please), whistle (whistles can be purchased at the time of class)

To sign up for this class, please click the following link:  Rock Solid Recall II

NEW CLASS: Rally

Can your dog sit, stand, lie down and then stay in any of these positions while you walk a circle around him? Can your dog come to front, finish to the left or to the right, and move along on your left side when you walk or run? Can your dog maneuver around safety cones, jump on command, and back up a few steps at a time? If so, why not use these skills, along with the teamwork you and your dog have developed, and attend a Rally obedience class? Rally-O is a fun way to integrate known commands, continue learning, and build teamwork. Dog and handler teams follow a course with numbered signs indicating different exercises to perform. This is a fun way to polish off obedience!

Prerequisite: Beginner family dog or instructor evaluation.

NOTE: This class will be limited to 6 dogs.

Date: Tuesday, February 21st - March 27th

Time: 7:30 - 8:30 pm

Location: Taming the Wild Side Training Facility

Cost: $100 for a six week class

Equipment: Easy to eat treats for your dog, water bowl, six foot leash

To sign up for this class, please click the following link:  Rally

NEW CLASS: Loose Leash Walking with Distractions

This class will begin teaching you and your dog where heel position is through the use of platform and recall games! You will also learn techniques to teach your dog not to pull and to understand that being in heel position is very valuable to them! You will learn where the reward zone is and how to use it and what walking equipment to use and what equipment to stay away from! When the foundation is set we will begin to add low level distractions. We will work inside the facility and when weather permits we will do some work outside. This is not a reactive dog class, if your dog has issues with other dogs or with his leash, please contact me about private sessions and the possibility of acclimating into a class at a later date.

NOTE: This class will be limited to 6 dogs.

Date: Tuesday, February 21st - March 27th

Time: 6:00 - 7:00 pm

Location: Taming the Wild Side Training Facility

Cost: $100 for a six week class

Equipment: Easy to eat treats for your dog, water bowl, six foot leash

To sign up for this class, please click the following link:  Loose Leash Walking

NEW CLASS: Beginner Family Dog

Six week course designed for the family companion. Family dogs will learn basic cues (sit, down, stay, leave it, come, and mat training) through targeting, shaping and fun and games!

NOTE: This class will be limited to 6 dogs.

Date: Monday, Jan 30th - March 5th

Time: 6:00 - 7:00 pm

Location: Taming the Wild Side Training Facility

Cost: $100 for 6 sessions. Cash or checks only please.

Equipment: Easy to eat treats for your dog, water, water bowl, 6 ft. leash, flat collar

To sign up for this class, please click the following link: Beginner Family Dog

Did you know we also have a Beginner Family Dog FLEX class that meets on Friday?  For more information on that class, please click the following link:  Beginner Family Dog FLEX

NEW CLASS: Puppy I

NOTE:  This class is now full, please email us if you would like to be put on the waiting list by clicking the following link:  Puppy I Waiting List

Six week course in which puppies will learn sit, down, leave it, recalls off of distractions and loose leash walking. You will also learn crate training, teaching your puppy bite inhibition and getting them comfortable being handled. Puppies will be able to socialize and play with other puppies. This is very important towards good manners as they grow through adolescence. We will also teach targeting exercises and confidence building exercises.

Please Note: This class will be limited to 6 puppies. This class is only open to puppies 8 to 16 weeks old. Proof of vaccinations will be required - please bring your vaccination records to the first class session.

Date: Sunday, January 29th - March 11th (Please note: We will not have class on February 5th. Enjoy the Super Bowl!)

Time: 3:00 -4:00 pm

Location: Taming the Wild Side Training Facility

Cost: $100 for a six week class. Cash or checks only please.

Equipment: Easy to eat treats for your dog, water, water bowl

To sign up for this class, please click the following link:  Puppy I

HIKE: Fort Worth Nature Center

Join us for a hike! We'll work on loose leash walking, eye contact, management of our dogs around high level distractions, doggy manners (pulling off the trail for other hikers while staying under control) and most of all, just enjoying our time with our dogs and our Wild Side friends!

Day: Saturday, January 28th

Time: 10:00 am

Location: Fort Worth Nature Center

Cost: $10 / person; this covers any entry fees for the park, drinks and snacks. All other proceeds will be used to support dog related services in our community. (Currently we are purchasing pet oxygen masks for the Aledo Fire Department.)

Equipment: Easy to eat treats for your dog, water, water bowl, six foot leash

To sign up for this hike, please click the following link:  Hike:  Fort Worth Nature Center

NEW CLASS: Advanced Family Dog

Proofing your dogs basic obedience (sit, down, stay, come, leave it, etc) using real world distractions. Learn new games to play with your dog while moving from low level distractions to high level distractions.

NOTE: This class is limited to 6 dogs.

Date: Sunday, January 22nd - March 4th (Please note: We will not have class on February 5th. Enjoy the Super Bowl!)

Time: 4:30-5:30 pm

Location: Taming the Wild Side Training Facility

Cost: $100 for 6 sessions. Cash or checks only please.

Equipment: Easy to eat treats for your dog, water, water bowl, 6 ft. leash, flat collar

To sign up for this class, please click the following link:  Advanced Family Dog

It's "Train Your Dog" Month!

January is "Train your Dog" Month! Here is a great video about clipping your dog's nails to help you get started. I love how she describes everything she tried before using the clicker. You will reap the benefits of being patient and starting with small steps. Love the expression on this Airedales face as he is figuring things out!

Click the link below to watch the video:
CIA Casefile: "Tucker" Nail Trim - Canis Film Festival Canine Prize Winner 2007

Lake Superior Training - Biking with Glacier!

Glacier's training takes another turn! The weather was perfect so we went bike riding together! To help build Glacier's muscles for the hike when I walk him a steady trot would be best. Bike riding makes it easy! This is fun but is totally about your dog! My bike stays in low gear for my workout, I only go fast enough to keep him in a gentle trot and I stop when he begins to tire. Watching his breathing and his panting is very important. I stretch Glacier before we begin, do a warm up and then a cool down when finished. It is best to teach your dog left and right also. When I say "Over Gee" he moves slightly to the right and "Over Haw" he moves slightly to the left. This is very important when you are cycling around other people! It is a great sport and I would love to help you train your dog to cycle, they really love it!!


Biker Dog attaches to your back bike frame. If your dog does pull you to the side, the bike bounces instead of falling to the side! With training they won't pull to the side. The clip on the strap hooks to a side link on a special biking harness.

The red rubber stick coming off of the bike attachment is flexible and moves with your dog. Great feature!

The flex stick attaches with a pin, so you can remove it when you don't have your dog with you.

After you have stretched WITH your dog, you're off! This is a great way to build teamwork. Before I brake to stop I cue Glacier "slow" and then he slows down and then I begin to stop. When I stop, I cue Glacier to "wait".

It is a good idea to change the terrain during your workout and the dirt trail is easier on his knees than the concrete. Off road is our favorite.

Off the bike and now it's time for a nice walk to cool down!