Blog Archives - SAY IT ONCE

2/11/2026

30 Day Dog Reset

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If you are struggling with your dog’s behavior, try this for 30 days and you will see a HUGE change. This will take about 1.5 hours of your undivided attention each day, broken up into smaller segments.

Start your day right. Within the first 30 to 60 minutes of waking up, set the tone for the day by doing one of three things for about 30 minutes. Take your dog on a long structured walk, do an intense play session, or practice obedience in the house. Your dog has been sleeping for the last 8 to 10 hours. Work them. We want them fulfilled and tired.

When you finish, keep the leash on your dog inside the home. For the next 30 days, when your dog is awake, the leash stays on their normal collar. This allows you to reinforce commands and stop unwanted behavior immediately and consistently, on the first try.

After exercise, allow your dog time to do something without you. Working from home has created clingy dogs. Give your dog a bone or frozen Kong and either place them behind a baby gate or tether them near their bed. This part matters. Ask questions if this is confusing.

Next, feed your dog and put them away. If you leave for work, great. Just make sure your dog does not have access to the front window if barking is an issue. If you work from home, this is a great time to kennel your dog so they can get true rest.

Lunchtime will look similar but shorter. Let them out, do a quick 5 to 10 minute obedience session, and put them back. That is enough.

The 5 to 8 PM window is the witching hour for most dogs because they are underworked and restless. As soon as you wrap up work, this is when your dog gets the biggest exertion of the day. I want their tongue hanging out so you can make and eat dinner in peace. This is also a great time to practice place or tethering so your dog is not begging.

In the evening, create one hour where your dog is not allowed on the couch. I love cuddling with my dogs too, but boundaries matter. They do not need to do anything specific, they just should not have access to the couch. Use the leash, do not repeat yourself, and do not get frustrated. Also, don't be afraid to use your crate for a one hour break in the evening too. Dog's don't sleep anywhere near enough, not true rest at least.

Throughout these 30 days, work your commands daily and focus on impulse control. Stay, place, heel, and leave it. All of this can be done inside your house and in your front yard. Stick with this for 30 days.

Consistency beats everything.
Call me if you'd like to sign up for training.

Vinnie Somma
C: 412-427-7507
Email: [email protected]

2/4/2026

Dogs Stuck in the Cold?

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I’ve seen too many dogs in the past month that have been showing very big signs of stress because their schedule and activity levels have changed so much due to the weather. Remember, dogs don’t hibernate, so when we start to do less work with them, they find new jobs, and all of those jobs are annoying as shit.
What’s the solution, especially for dogs that are not bred to be outside in this weather? (There is a percentage of dogs who will do perfectly fine; we just have to suck it up, put on a big jacket, and get outside.)

Simple things we can do to still fulfill our dogs even though the weather sucks.
- Take your dogs on a field trip to a pet-friendly store.
- Treadmill train your dogs.
- Create a room to play with your dogs inside. (Side note: I'm not a huge fan of playing with our dogs in our main living space if possible. That is where we want our dogs to be calm, and it’s always better if you have a play area in your house, though not always possible depending on your living space.)
- Quick outdoor stints to throw the ball and get the heart rate jacked.
- Obedience work inside the home, or teaching new skills and tricks.
- “Find it” and teaching your dog how to search.

Whenever we have giant shifts in our routine, it negatively affects our dog’s behavior. It’s been a few weeks of crap weather, and if your dog has been bottled up during this time, you have probably noticed a change in your dog’s behavior. Make the appropriate change, and if you need help, don’t hesitate to reach out.

This is the time to double down on your training efforts, not push them until nicer weather. By that time, your dog will have practiced and rehearsed the wrong behavior for so long that they will become a master of the bad. In-home lessons, board and train, and virtual training options are available.

Call or text for more information or if you have questions.
412-981-2207

Say It Once Dog Training

Dogs meet our needs with their unconditional love everyday. Return the favor. Call today to learn how to become not just a dog lover, but a knowledgeable dog owner! Your dog will thank you for it.

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