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Jan 30, 2025

Paws On Learning

Barry Kaufman

Photography By

M.Kat
Not only trains dogs, but makes them part of the family

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It’s a time-honored cliché that it takes a village to raise a child. Those of us who have raised both children and dogs know that the dogs might need something similar. 

It’s hard to blame our four-legged friends for their transgressions – getting into garbage, digging holes, ruining shoes, marking their territory – all the things they do because some part of them is still a wild animal that someone decided was a good idea to keep indoors. 

It takes a close-knit family to raise a dog. And that’s exactly the approach that Ashley Douglas has taken at Paws On Learning. 

“We have a lot of return clients, and our goal is to have them be able to help each other out,” she said. “When I send an email to a new client, it welcomes them to the family.”

Ashley Douglas, owner of Paws On Learning, is photographed with her two dogs Cricket and Tuck, at Jarvis Creek Park. 

That approach stems from her time in the classroom. “In teaching, the big thing is building a community in your classroom. If you’re all stuck there learning the same thing, you might as well like each other,” Douglas said. “A big part of dog training is working with humans. Owning a dog is an emotional experience, and the owners want help. They want resources. They want to know other people have the same problems as they do. They want community.”

Helping the owners to help one another is a huge part of the Paws On Learning philosophy. Once they buy in, Douglas’ clients find themselves at the center of a big web of support that includes not just Paws On Learning staff, it also involves one another.

Sammy Parlegreco, who began taking her border collie, Finn, to classes with Paws On Learning to address some anxiety issues, has found that out firsthand.

“Our experience has been wonderful. Finn has become confident again and our dog-human relationship is incredible,” she said. “Being in the POL family is so special because it is made up of people who love their dogs and want to improve their lives. A well-behaved dog is the result of a well-educated dog owner, and I believe POL is a group that welcomes everyone who loves their dogs. We only get so much time with our best friends, and Ashley and her team show us how to make the most of it.”

That mentality of working together has been a huge part of the appeal for Dan Shike, whose shelter dog, Princess Kitty, is a star client. “The ongoing support from socialization from POL Saturday park group meet ups and large field socialization events give great additional learning opportunities for dogs and their people,” he said. “We’ve had trainers in other places before we moved to the island. They didn’t make much progress. The Paws On crew have a recipe for dogs that worked for us where others didn’t. Their patience and ‘we’ll get this’ attitude are a great combination.”

A group class at Jarvis Creek Park with (from left to right) PK and Dan Shike, Hannah and Susan Vick and  Sammy Parlagreco and her dog, Finn. 

Susan Vick concurs. Her goldendoodle, Hannah, not only received training and instruction from Paws On Learning but also met her boyfriend, Moose, there.

“When I got Hannah as a puppy, I realized I needed help. I was looking for a place that would help me train Hannah to be well-behaved and obedient,” Vick said. “When I went to Paws On Learning over two years ago and met Ashley, I knew immediately it was the place for both Hannah and me. You can tell that all the employees love dogs, are happy to work there, and also take pride in their work.”

Just as Hannah found true love with Moose, her owner has found a support system as the work to create a more well-behaved dog continues. At the Saturday classes in Jarvis Creek Park or at separate playdates, these clients – or family members, more accurately – have formed a tight-knit community that’s about so much more than just good doggy behavior.

Hannah the goldendoodle practices “lay down” while Ashley Douglas  and Hannah’s owner, Susan Vick, looks on. 

“I want to be more than just a dog training facility. I want to use our work for good out in the community,” Douglas said. To that end, Paws On Learning staff and clients have become a force for good. This past winter, their fundraising campaign for Hilton Head Humane Association saw clients fulfilling a wish list of items from their Giving Tree, donating all manner of gifts from blankets and dog food to toys. 

“There must have been $5,000 worth of stuff we ended up bringing over to them when it was all said and done,” Douglas said. “It was two carloads. … There wasn’t a single thing on their list that one of our clients didn’t get for them.”

That effort is just one of the many ways that Paws On Learning has given back. Last month, Douglas began to showcase a few adoptable pooches from Hilton Head Humane at Saturday’s classes. 

“I’m happy to bring some of their dogs out there, because it gets them out and about. Plus, if we throw an ‘Adopt Me’ vest on them, who knows? Maybe one of our clients might adopt them or know someone who would,” Douglas said. “It’s really about getting these dogs out in the public eye.”

Creating a community, giving back, and helping dogs enjoy better relationships with their owners is all part of what sets Paws On Learning apart. To learn more, visit pawsonlearning.com or follow them on Facebook and Instagram.  

Dan Shike, a client of Paws On Learning, works with his dog PK, which is short for Princess Kitty. 

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