Meet Katie McGuire

From a young age, Katie McGuire had a passion for animals that couldn’t be denied. She spent her formative years riding and jumping horses. But ultimately, she looked for and latched onto dogs wherever she could find them. As a child, she wanted a dog so badly that she could often be spotted asking her neighbors if she could walk their pups.

Training cats and dogs

Years of begging for a dog gave way to eventually acquiring a cat, which quickly became two and then three. Katie cut her teeth, training and teaching her furry friends tricks. As you can imagine, it didn’t all go as planned (it turns out cats can be quite finicky), and at the tender age of 11, her relentless determination eventually paid off. Katie’s parents finally caved and allowed her to bring a rescue dog home, a Shetland Sheepdog mix named Joey.

From there, it was game on. Katie started fostering dogs, consuming training books, and experimenting with different techniques whenever she had the chance. Katie essentially became a board-and-train foster and quickly started building a name for herself.

Words to live by

After a small stint as a horse trainer and on-set safety rep for the American Humane Association, Katie commuted to her college classes while training dogs in the evenings and on weekends. Katie and her dedicated Pyrenean shepherd Andreu (pronounced ahn-druu) would go on to compete in the UKI, AKC, and USDAA agility championships, making it to the finals in each one. She and Andreu were finalists in both the 2019 UKI National Championship and the 2022 Agility National Championship.

To say Katie is determined is an understatement. Her favorite Latin quote is “Aut Viam Inveniam Aut Faciam,” which translates to “I will either find a way, or I will make one.”

And has she ever.

One shared idea

Every dog trainer imagines a place that’s safe and well-managed where humans and their pups can interact and enjoy being together. So when &Pup approached Katie, she had one thought: “This is going to be fun.”

As &Pup’s Chief Pup Officer, Katie collaborated with &Pup creators and developers on the initial concept of the parks. She set out to help build an environment that provided both mental stimulation and enrichment for dogs because exercise and running around simply aren’t enough. Modern science has proven that mental stimulation is more exhausting and beneficial than physical exercise–a 20-minute sniffari is more exciting (and tiring) for pups than 60 minutes of walking.

Let’s have some fun

At the end of the day, Katie says her favorite part of her job is watching people get excited by seeing their dogs have fun and learn. In a world where everything is human-centric, &Pup and Katie are striving to create a place that is dog-centric, and she says keeping the focus on the dog is her primary responsibility.

At &Pup, certified trainers will host workshops introducing nose work and agility. Natural elements like sniff trails and dig pits will allow pups to frolic at ease. Dog yoga and loose leash walking skills will give humans a chance to interact and experience the fun firsthand. The enrichment opportunities for people and their pets at &Pup are endless.

Katie and &Pup believe that making dogs’ lives better, in the end, will make ours better.

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Katie’s top three tips for effective training

Use positive reinforcement techniques. Using rewards for good behavior teaches your dog what you want them to do and creates a positive association with you and training in general.

Be consistent. Set clear rules and boundaries and always follow them! Make sure that your cues are clear and consistent to avoid confusion.

Train little and often. Training sessions are most effective when they are short; you want to end the session with your dog wanting to train more! Practicing often will help to instill the skills you are teaching.

Katie’s favorite tricks

Roll yourself up in a blanket

Backward leg weaves

Open and close my crate

Private Sessions

One-on-one session with a trainer for one hour at the park. Sessions range from “basic skills” to “advanced” and “tricks.” Members can purchase single sessions or discounted packages.

Group Classes

The &Pup Training Program is split into three classes: The Novice, The Apprentice and The Pup Master. These classes are designed to be taken in order, with each level building on the previous. Any pup can complete this program; they don’t need to be a training aficionado to succeed. Classes are four consecutive weeks with an average of five to eight pups per class.

The Essentials

The Essentials covers all the basic training skills that every pup and their human should know. Build the foundations for creating a positive relationship with your pup while teaching crucial commands like sit, stay, and come when called.

The Next Level

Building on the foundations taught in The Essentials, The Next Level introduces challenges like duration, distractions, and distance to strengthen skills. The difficulty gradually increases each week to strengthen behaviors and improve reliability effectively. New skills like stand, give a paw, wait at doors/gates, and heel position are also introduced.

The Master Class

With exercises designed to replicate real-world scenarios, The Master Class gives you and your pup the ability to effectively utilize your training skills in everyday life. The class also covers exercises that help to prepare pups for the AKC’s Canine Good Citizen and Urban Canine Good Citizen tests, therapy dog testing, and service dog work.

Specialty Workshops

Specialty workshops are led by an in-house or guest trainer on topics including tricks, nosework, obedience, recall, loose-leash walking, and more.

&Pup offers a variety of grooming services to help your pup look and feel their best. Our rates are based on your pup’s skin condition, coat, and hair type. All haircuts are performed using hand scissors. Prices vary depending on your pup’s weight, level of difficulty, and the time spent by our stylist.

All experiences are curated for each &Pup member and their preferences. Your pup’s grooming journey could begin with a personalized consultation with a stylist. From there, he/she will get a bath with our high-quality, signature &Pup organic shampoo and conditioner, ear cleaning, anal gland expression, nail cutting/filing, and teeth brushing. The stylist will brush out, blow out (by hand), and cut, all while giving extra love and attention.

What Makes &Pup Different?

The well-being of pups is our priority. With members-only access, &Pup ensures you and your pup will be surrounded by others who share your inclination to prioritize holistic well-being and socialization. We are more than a dog park–we are an environmentally friendly community focused on behavior, enrichment, and positive reinforcement-based training and play to nourish our pups’ social interaction. The benefits of off-leash experiences and pup-to-pup interaction that we strive to create at &Pup are also proven to create positive and long-lasting effects on their overall health and wellness.

What Is The &Pup Process?

When it comes to dog play, we implement a unique approach based on providing positive feedback, rather than focusing on corrections. While it may seem easier to correct inappropriate play, this can cause confusion for some dogs. It may even result in a reluctance to interact with other pups altogether or cause a buildup of frustration which can result in problematic behaviors like aggression.

Our highly trained team leads pup playtime by teaching pups a scientifically proven foundation of appropriately playing and interacting with others rather than just managing issues as they arise. Our goal at &Pup is to help your pup learn how to interact successfully with others for the rest of their life to ensure longevity and happiness for them and you.

Wellness

&Pup offers wellness exams and general checkups to keep your pup healthy. We recommend a wellness exam every six months to help treat and catch any issues early on. Wellness exams can include the reviewing of allergy and vomit/diarrhea workups, treatment of ear infections, eye issues, lameness, and lethargy.

Preventative Medicine

To keep your pup healthy, &Pup veterinarian team can perform preventative diagnostics such as annual vaccinations, parasite prevention, annual lab work, diagnostic imaging (x-rays), oxygen therapy, nutrition consultations, and genetic testing. Members will have direct access with their &Pup medical professional for issues or questions that arise between appointments.

Essential Park Vaccinations

In order for all dogs in the park to be safe, we require that members provide proof of a negative Giardia test every six months and mandatory, core vaccinations for rabies, bordetella, and DHPP. We also offer non-core vaccines for influenza, leptospirosis, and Lyme.

The Puppy Package

At &Pup, we offer everything that your puppy will need to ensure a long, healthy lifestyle including vaccinations, parasite prevention, microchipping, nutrition consultations, and spay and neutering.

Urgent Care

For issues that require immediate attention but are not life-threatening, &Pup offers urgent care appointments for all members. If your pup is experiencing an emergency outside of open hours or if matters require immediate medical intervention, please visit an emergency clinic.

Diagnostics

&Pup has the latest up-to-date veterinary equipment to better help diagnose your pup. Our doctors are highly skilled at diagnostic interpretation and can easily discern which tests to run to construct the best treatment plan for your pup. From preventative testing to sick patient diagnostics, we offer a state-of-the-art radiology suite, lab work, urinalysis, fecal testing, parasite tests, and cytology.

A Zone for Any Pup

The park has been curated to fit the needs of a range of canine temperaments as well as a variety of needs of our human guests. Whether your dog is high energy and likes to run around the park or is low energy and prefers to take in the view, we have designed an environmentally friendly zone for them to mingle. Areas for you to work, eat and socialize have also been designed into each of the spaces to meet your needs too.

Relax

A low-energy zone geared for relaxing or working while your dog engages. This area is off-leash, allowing your dog to socialize with dogs in the area and enjoy the enrichment provided within this zone. This area is ideal for lower energy and smaller pups.

Play

This zone is geared toward our social pups who love to play. This off-leash area is ideal for higher-energy dogs who want to chase around, play rambunctiously, and check out the sniff zones.

Bond

This zone is used for activities, workshops, and private events. This area can be blocked off from other park areas and made private. The multi-purpose area may be used for behavior assessments, pair or small group play, individual toy play, smaller events, training sessions & classes, agility, and interactive experiences. This area may be on-leash or off-leash, depending on use.

We Are Hiring!

Let’s Grow Together.

&Pup is building a culture of amazing people (and pups!). We are creating an environment that encourages our employees to perform their best and grow within our organization. If you are interested in joining our team, we’d love to hear from you.

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Monthly Events

With &Pup, your pup can now join you for your next night out. Our calendar of events will include a variety of opportunities to socialize with our community. These events range from movie nights to scavenger hunts and everything in between. There will also be holiday events, such as a Canine Costume Party for Halloween.

Private: Event Rentals

Is it your dog’s birthday or the anniversary you met your pup companion? Rent our space, throw a party, and invite your friends. Our Bond Zone is designed to give you a private space to host any event you can envision for your Pup.