Happy 2025, everyone! 🐾
This is my first update on the Diwa Dogs blog, and you’re probably here because you saw this post either on our Facebook page or Instagram feed. It means a lot that you’re still with us even after a two-year long hiatus. 🙏 Thank you, thank you for sticking around and believing in the work we do!
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The why’s behind our absence will be for a different post. For now, I’ll share my targets for the new year, so you know firsthand what we’ll be up to and can follow our journey.
We’ve been gone for too long. It’s time to get back to work.
I’ve joined PETPro
I’ve been blessed with a scholarship for the PETPro Mentorship program! Created by Pet Harmony, I’m learning from some of the best professionals in my field, so I can earn my certification as a dog behavior consultant. I’m a huge, huge fan of Allie Bender and Emily Strong, and their work to help pet parents work through any behaviors they struggle with through the Enrichment framework.
Diwa Dogs stands by the benefits of canine enrichment, and I’m determined to grow my skillset so that Filipino pet parents like yourself can address your dog’s behaviors without the need of force, pain, or fear.
Target: Complete the mentorship program.
Restore the Diwa Dogs blog
After toying with several sparkly marketing tools, I’m spending this year restoring and (re)launching the Diwa Dogs blog, Mark + Treat.
It started out as a mere extension of my Instagram feed, but I’m reversing this to make the blog the first place to publish. I’ll start publishing posts, videos, and photos about training tips, definitions, concepts, and behind-the-scenes look at the Diwa Dogs family and my learning journey as an aspriing CDBC.
If you’re already getting email updates from the blog, great! If this is your first time visiting Mark + Treat, sign up to get emails about new content.
Target: Publish 100 substantial blog posts.
Updates at the Diwa Dogs Facebook group
Did you know Diwa Dogs has a Facebook group for the Philippine R+ community? Imagine what we could achieve if our group could grow its reach to hundreds of thousands of like-minded people!
I invite anyone who believes in the power of R+ training to use this platform to ask questions, invite other Filipino dog guardians, or learn from one another’s experiences. Let’s shape it to become a safe space for guardians who’re new to raising dogs, are going through maladaptive behaviors in the home, or just want to find more ways to give their companions the best lives they can provide.
Apart from the Mark + Treat, folks can also join me over at our Facebook group to be the first to know about any upcoming events or activities Diwa Dogs will launch or participate in.
Target: Grow group membership to 250 people.
General cleanup of the website and social media channels
I know, the website is a mess. 🤦♀️ I’m spending this year cleaning up any broken links, bad formatting, and improving readability for anyone visiting diwadogs [dot] com. This includes any other work that’ll keep the Facebook page and Instagram feed easy to use.
Target: Complete the Diwa Dogs website revisions, reorganize the Diwa Dogs Facebook page, and fix any problems with the Diwa Dogs Instagram feed.
Finish creating Control Unleashed® resources
Diwa Dogs is first and only Control Unleashed® instructor in the Philippines, but we still have so much work to do to get our resource library up and running!
This is the prep work that needs to finish before I launch my first virtual CU class, so I’m hoping to finally get it done, so I can start helping new dog parents guide their fur-babies to grow confident, curious, skill-savvy, and communicative in this ever-changing world.
Target: Complete all Control Unleashed® video presentations.
Advocate for R+ training at local pet events
I’m looking forward to all the possible speaking and sponsorship opportunities here in Cagayan de Oro city. With the help of our local rescue organizations and vet clinics, I’m ready to continue my advocacy of choosing R+ dog training when raising our companions.
If you’re a member of a rescue organization, school, or small community looking for a resource speaker on R+ training or canine enrichment, get in touch! I’m eager to exchange ideas on how we can contribute to better Philippine animal guardianship.
Target: Participate in a max of five local or virtual pet events.
Let’s hit these targets
I like the analogy of hitting targets vs. achieving goals because it allows room for improvement. I may or may not hit 100 blog posts or five local events, but if we’re able to get the Diwa Dogs website running to 100% or increase our group membership to 150 people, that’s still points to progress!
Thanks for reading all the way, and I look forward to making awesome happen in 2025!
— Stef, Chief Clicker Trainer and Treat Dispenser
Diwa Dogs 
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