Hi Guys!! It's been a long time but what feels like a VERY short summer, anyone else?

I just wanted to pop on here and say hello, and let everyone know that we will be back to scheduling sessions as soon as Ellis gets back from fishing. He is playing the long game this year and may be out until as late as the end of September/Early October.

Please make sure to like and follow us on our social media pages to see updates on when we will start scheduling sessions. They will fill up quickly, so we hope to see you guys and your doggos very soon!!
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I'll leave you with just a few pics from our summer on the boat. Thanks!

This brilliant sunshine we have been having in March thus far is deceiving! It is still so cold! But we are enjoying the extra daylight and the anticipation that soon yes, even here, it will be Spring. 

It has come to my attention that I have not added a blog post for several years (not my strong suit) but that yes we are indeed still in business, operating at full scale and are welcoming any new clients. Please reach out to us using the Contact Us page on this website, or email us at [email protected] to inquire about scheduling. Thanks so much!

Hi guys! 

I wanted to make sure to update you with our plans for the next few months in regards to some adaptations we have had to make due to Covid-19.
As some of you may remember, Ellis used to own and operate his own commercial fishing vessel in Bristol Bay, and every summer we would take a 2-month sabbatical so he could go fish the Bay. Well, about 3 years ago we decided to sell out of that industry so we could focus entirely on The Good Dog. A decision that has paid off immensely and we have never regretted.
However, this year is a little different. In trying to make the best decision for our family in this time of economic uncertainty (especially for a "luxury" - aka non-essential - service like Canine Behavioral Consulting) Ellis will be taking a short summer sabbatical over June and July to take a contracted tender job on his Dad's boat in Bristol Bay.
We want to assure those of you currently working with him that he will set you up with a plan for your case and how to keep making positive changes while he is gone. It is a 40-day contract with some boat work beforehand. His last day of sessions will be Friday, May 29th. I have a few spots left for virtual sessions for current clients only.
We are currently unable to take on any new clients until he returns at the end of July/early August. Thank you all SO MUCH for your massive support of us during this crazy time. We have come out on the other side of this having found success in this new normal and learned so much of how to better help you guys than we ever thought possible. Thank you so much!

​Hi guys!

First of all, thank you so much for considering donating to our small business. As you know, small businesses are being hit hard during this Coronavirus Pandemic, especially the service industry.  And we want to just take a minute to recognize that each and every one of your donations makes a HUGE impact for not only our ability to continue providing the services we do, but for our family as well.

The Good Dog is a family business run by Kate and Ellis Gugel. Kate has a B.A. in Psychology with an emphasis in development and learning from Western Washington University. Ellis has a B.S. in Canine Studies with an emphasis in behavior from Bergin University. We are your average Alaskan people with two kids (R&R) and two dogs, "Bill" and "Karen". We are avid outdoorsmen. When we are not running The Good Dog, we spend our hours adventuring and playing in our great state.  

Our goal is to assist our clients to develop the skills required to modify problem behaviors in their dogs by altering their environment as is required for long term success, and to fill the behavioral niche with positive alternatives. We strive to use simple, real-world techniques to empower normal people to live a normal life with a good dog. We address your dog's emotional experience as the underlying motivator for their behavior, and work to empower dogs with alternative healthy coping mechanisms rather than attempting to suppress the problem behavior. We work with handlers to help create an environment that makes calm and rational behavior normal.

Our main service, that which makes up our entire livelihood, is private, in-home training sessions for our clients. We are a mobile service that come to our clients because we have found that is the best way to get great results, as well as make everyone, including the dog, the most comfortable and at peace. Because of the quarantining that we all must be doing right now, we are unable to provide our clients with our normal service, and henceforth, make an income for ourselves.

We are supplementing in-home sessions with virtual ones, and are getting some really great results, but the fact of the matter is, people are scared. Scared to spend their money because heck, they don't know if they will have a job next week either. We are doing all that we can to keep this business operating, but I am worried it won't be enough.

Ellis and I have two small children at home. A 6 year old daughter and a 3 year old son. We don't require much, but every dollar we make in our business goes directly to buying food for our family, covering our mortgage, paying for school supplies for our daughter, etc. 

We have chosen a career path that does not by any means make us rich, but we do it because we want to be able to make positive and effective changes in the lives of our clients, their dogs, and help them find peace and happiness with each other. It is our passion. We care immensely about the well being of our species-symbiotes and want to continue sharing the knowledge they need us to know, to truly help them find peace in this fast changing world. If you are willing to donate to our business, so we can keep providing the service we love doing, know that every dollar will be going to first of all, keeping our business open, and second, to our family.

Thank you so much for your support. May you have health and wellness throughout these trying times!

​Covid-19 update:
In keeping with the Eo-03 'Hunker Down' order, and the spread of Corona into the community we will be suspending in-person sessions until further notice. We will, however, continue to offer the following services.
Virtual Initial Consultations: 30% off (105$ for 2 hours)
- Initial consultations are all about discovery, I listen to the issues that you are having and what you are doing to solve them. I observe your dog’s responses to various stimuli and situations to test hypotheses and to discover underlying causes of the behavior. Then together we compare your symptoms and environment to the clinically established causes, working from most common and probable to least. Once we have agreed on hypothetical causes for your dog’s behavior, based on your descriptions and observations, I will create a training plan; in which I will describe life-style changes, management protocol, and enrichment exercises, based on clinically established methodology, that will help you and your dog to live your best life. Very little of what I provide is lost by doing this session remotely, in fact, for many dogs and clients, it is easier to communicate and retain information without the stress of my presence. I can walk you through testing various hypotheses and demonstrate handling with Bill from our office.
Virtual Private Sessions: 30% off (70$ per hour)
- Using video chat through Zoom or the Facebook Messenger app I can observe your dog's behavior, answer questions, modify and adjust training plans and even go on a virtual walk with you, provided your data plan can handle it.
Social Distancing Sessions:
- For some of my cases, practicing social distancing is nothing new. If your dog is socially reactive, interacting with Bill from across a parking lot could be valuable and healthy. On a case-by-case basis, I would be willing to meet you in a parking lot, or on the street in front of your house and practice exercising healthy social skills, escape and avoidance, and regulatory skills at a distance.
Webinars?
- In my career I have taught classes for various organizations, would there be interest in providing some of those online?
Facebook Live Q&A?
- If there is enough interest, I would be happy to provide a free live Q&A. Please leave a comment with a time that would work for you if you’re interested.
This is a scary time for all small business owners. Since Kate and I work together to run The Good Dog, we are having to practice some regulatory skills ourselves. This is a new economic ecology and we are going to have to learn and adapt together to survive. I assure you; we are not going anywhere. In fact, this period gives me an opportunity to read, research, and continue to improve our methodology. For my clients, this is a great opportunity to explore a world that is finally moving slow enough for your highly sensitive dog or to spend a week gradually desensitizing your dog to the bathtub or kennel. Please give us your feedback and suggestions. If there is a service you would be interested in, let us know, your creativity is a commodity! Thank you all for your support.
Be Well
Ellis and Kate

We recently partnered with The Journey Photography by Cris, to bring you a "business spotlight" on The Good Dog for her blog "Tails from the Trails." To read the article, click below! Thanks Cris for including us in your blog!

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Book 4 private sessions and get that fourth one for free! That is a $100 savings!

• Must book all four sessions at a time. 
• Offer Ends December 6th at midnight. 
• Payments are still made per session, after each session has been completed.
• Not all sessions have to be scheduled to happen before Dec 6th. I am currently scheduling through December right now.

Refer a booking friend, get 50% off your next private session!

• Your friend must book for you to receive the discount.
• Offer ends December 6th at midnight.