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Cheyenne | High Peaks Canine

@highpeakscanine

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Creating calm, confident & capable dogs 🏔️
Real-life training • Reactivity • Service Dogs
📍 Ithaca, NY + Beyond
↓ Start your training journey

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A little bit about me and how I got into dog training 🩶

#dogtraining #servicedogtraining #upstatedogtrainer by @highpeakscanine

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a month ago

If you asked me what type of training I do, here’s what I’d say:

I’m not a “one size fits all” trainer.

Every dog requires something a little different depending on genetics, breed, age, personality, history, and environment.

What works for one dog may completely overwhelm another. One dog may need confidence building and gentle guidance. Another may need clear black-and-white accountability to fully understand right from wrong.

I train all dogs with marker words and leash pressure because communication comes first. But the tools I use may vary depending on the dog in front of me. Some dogs may work best on a slip lead. Others may need a prong collar, slip chain, or eventually an e-collar for clarity and reliability.

Yes, I’m considered a balanced trainer. I will correct a dog when needed. But I also use food, play, praise, environmental rewards, and fulfillment. Because training isn’t just about obedience — it’s about the whole dog.

Their confidence.
Their emotional stability.
Their ability to exist calmly and neutrally in our world.

I care deeply about getting dogs outside. Hiking. Exploring. Swimming. Existing in nature. Engagement toys are great, but they will never fully replace the fulfillment many dogs get from simply being outdoors and using their instincts appropriately.

Yes, I expect my dogs to listen.
Yes, I want boundaries and accountability.
But I also understand dogs aren’t robots. They have bad days too.

I don’t want shut down dogs.
I want dogs that are fulfilled, confident, clear-headed, and still allowed to be dogs.

I’m a huge advocate for calm dogs — but calm doesn’t mean lifeless.

Dog training is not black and white. Good training requires being willing to ebb and flow your approach based on the dog standing in front of you.

#ithacadogtrainer #balancedtraining by @highpeakscanine

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4 months ago

5 years ago I graduated from Cornell University with a Bachelor’s in Animal Science.

At the time, I thought I was going to become a veterinarian. I grew up on a hobby beef farm surrounded by dairy farms, and animals were always part of my life. By 8 years old I was driving a tractor while baling hay. At 15, I started working at my local vet clinic as a kennel assistant and eventually moved into a veterinary assistant role. Throughout college I shadowed large animal vets, worked in on-campus barns, and took countless classes on animal nutrition, behavior, and health.

But at 16 years old, I got Koda.

Koda, now retired (cause she’s 10 and an old lady), was my owner-trained service dog, and honestly, she changed the course of my life. Because of her, I was able to go to college independently. Because of her, I fell in love with training, behavior, communication, and problem solving.

After graduation, I had a choice to make. I could continue down the veterinary path and take on massive debt, or I could explore dog training first and see if I truly loved it. So I packed up and flew to California to work under a trainer out there for a few months before eventually moving back to New York.

One thing I knew early on was that I didn’t want to just be known as an “Instagram service dog trainer.” Even though a lot of people originally followed me because of Koda and our journey through college, I wanted to build real experience and continue learning. So I learned under countless trainers, kept my head down, and focused on honing my skills.

I’ve always known I wanted to own my own business.

Now I do. And while training dogs comes naturally to me, running a business definitely does not always come easy. It’s hard. It’s stressful. It’s a constant learning curve. But I genuinely wouldn’t change it for the world.

I still have so much to learn, and honestly, I hope I never stop learning. That’s one of my favorite parts of this industry — there’s always another perspective, another skill, another dog that teaches you something new.

Here’s to 5 years since graduation, countless dogs later, and still being just as obsessed with learning as i was back then ❤️ by @highpeakscanine

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5 months ago

My anxiety use to be so intense that grocery shopping would send me into a panic attack. But I couldn't avoid the grocery store forever... and the same goes for our dogs.

Teaching our dogs how to cope with their triggers and anxieties is a huge part of behavioral modification and will open up your dogs entire world.

#dogtraining #anxiety #behaviormodification #servicedog by @highpeakscanine

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2 days ago

Just my personal opinion

#goldstar #dogtrainer by @highpeakscanine

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4 days ago

Ecollar training = off leash freedom = happy dog = very happy owner

#ecollar #offleash #dogtraining by @highpeakscanine

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3 days ago

Ever wonder why your dog is fine at home, but when you take them outside everything completely falls apart? Swipe to find out why ➡️

#reactivedogs #dogtrainingtips taken in Ithaca, New York by @highpeakscanine

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5 days ago

I am not anti medication for serious behavioral concerns. But it's becoming the norm and that is extremely concerning as a trainer who knows these dogs just need some proper fulfillment

#dogtraining #medication #reactivity by @highpeakscanine

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8 days ago

We’ve stopped letting our dogs be uncomfortable... Is this helping or hurting them?

#dogtraining #reactivity taken in Ithaca, New York by @highpeakscanine

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11 days ago

Owning a reactive dog can feel isolating. I'm here to let you know it doesn't have to be

#reactivitytraining #upstatedogtrainer #dogtraining by @highpeakscanine

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10 days ago

Rock beats scissors, every time
#rockpaperscissors #dogtraining #reactivity by @highpeakscanine

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12 days ago

There is so much to do in Old Forge so this is going to have to be 2 parts! Here is half of everything we did on our last trip ->

#upstatenewyork #oldforge #dogfriendly taken in Old Forge, Adirondacks, NY by @highpeakscanine

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14 days ago