Online Dog Training Courses
Achieving the Essence of Take, Hold, and Give
Our Mission
Helping You and Your Dog Become the Best Team Possible
SQUIRREL!® Dog Training offers online land-based dog training courses focused on foundation behaviors needed in water rescue work.
THG Foundations Course
This course takes you through the process of training a solid retrieve behavior and the basic skills to prepare you and your dog for further training. This course is designed to help novice learners who are beginning to learn about dog training develop basic skills. It helps experienced trainers refine their skills and try new approaches.
Enroll Today as a Working Team and benefit from personalized instruction of your training! Or watch and learn as an Auditor.
No matter where you are as a trainer, you and your dog will learn a retrieve behavior and something new to take on your adventure with your Best Mate!
THG Go-Out, Around, & Directionals
This course focuses on the foundation behaviors needed for you and your dog to work confidently and harmoniously at distance from each other. We cover everything from mechanics to motivation to ensure that you and your dog are prepared for any situation.
Enroll Today as a Working Team and benefit from personalized instruction of your training! Or watch and learn as an Auditor.
THG X Prep Course
This course prepares you and your dog to work at the prestigious X level in water rescue work. We guide you through how to teach the necessary behaviors and help you advance your handling skills needed to succeed at this elite level. By the end of the course, you and your dog will not only be better prepared for challenges but will also have a stronger, more harmonious partnership built on trust and understanding.
Enroll Today as a Working Team and benefit from personalized instruction of your training! Or watch and learn as an Auditor.
Why Choose us
Building a dog training community, one relationship at a time.
We believe that Taking the opportunity, Holding the bond sacred, & Giving praise & love liberally creates the necessary foundation for you and your dog to develop your relationship to confidently and optimistically pursue any endeavor. Our courses are designed to be fun, engaging, and effective. You and your dog will love our courses and the results they bring.
What our students are saying
Throughout the years, the SQUIRREL!® Dog Training courses have helped me and my dogs with the building blocks and higher level skills we need for water rescue, obedience and draft work. Deanna goes the extra mile to provide helpful resources (like an amazing water rescue caller audio track) and personalized assistance when facing challenges (hello dreaded Take a Line).
Deanna has built a community of positive and incredibly supportive dog people, and has honed her materials so courses are well thought out, broken down into very detailed and manageable steps for easy and successful learning at all stages.
I feel like anyone who takes a course will improve their relationship with their dog and learn a lot along the way.
We have taken multiple classes SQUIRREL!® Dog Training has offered, and enjoyed each and every one of them. Deanna has a way of breaking down exercises into pieces, and making it fun to learn! After successfully learning each piece, the dogs then put the pieces together into one cohesive exercise. The dogs have a great time learning this way! And it is very effective.
I have been training dogs for over 25 years, and still have learned new techniques offered by her classes! Both my newfoundland and golden had a great time learning and improving on their skills! I’m looking forward to seeing what classes she offers next!
My goal is to eventually attend one of her water training seminars! I would absolutely recommend her classes to everyone!
The online THG Foundations Course is terrific. Not only was Ada able to acquire the foundational skills for water work, but these skills have also transferred to her obedience and draft work training.
At Ada’s first water test, the judge said, “She very clearly understands take, hold, give.”
The online aspect of this course makes it extremely easy to fit into a business schedule, and the course community provides support and guidance.
I strongly recommend this course to anyone who wants to train their dog for water work and, at the same time, build a strong partnership with their dog.
