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Sarah Keller

Sarah Keller

Director of Canine Athletics

Injury PreventionTraining TechniquesCanine BiomechanicsConditioning Programs

Sarah Keller serves as Director of Canine Athletics at Paths & Paws, where she combines her background in veterinary rehabilitation with practical trail experience. Her mission: helping dogs build the strength and skills they need for a lifetime of adventure.

Sarah earned her Certified Canine Fitness Trainer (CCFT) certification and spent five years working in veterinary rehabilitation clinics before transitioning to outdoor education. She's seen firsthand how proper conditioning prevents injuries and extends active years.

Her approach to training emphasizes progressive conditioning, biomechanically sound movement, and positive reinforcement. She's particularly passionate about helping "weekend warrior" dogs avoid the Monday morning limp that comes from doing too much, too fast.

Sarah develops all of Paths & Paws' training protocols and conditioning programs. Her articles break down complex concepts into actionable steps any dog owner can follow.

Trail Companion: Bodie

Australian Shepherd · Bodie demonstrates that proper conditioning pays off—at 9 years old, he still tackles technical terrain with the enthusiasm of a puppy.

Articles by Sarah

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Training Your Dog to Ignore Wildlife at Night

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High-Prey-Drive Dogs: Staying Safe on Trail

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My Dog is Afraid of Bridges and How I Helped Them Cross

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Keeping Your Dog Focused on the Trail (Engagement Training)

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Stopping Trail Sniffing When You Need to Move

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Training Your Dog to Ignore Mountain Bikers

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Managing Resource Guarding in a Shared Tent

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Why Does My Dog Bark at Other Hikers?

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Keeping Your Dog Quiet at a Backcountry Campsite

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How to Calm a Dog During a Trail Emergency

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Identifying 'Stress Signals' in Your Dog on Trail

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Helping a 'Velcro Dog' Gain Confidence in the Wild

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Handling a Reactive Dog on a Crowded Trail

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Training a Teenage Dog on the Trail (Rebellion Phase)

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Improving Your Dog's Hiking Stamina: 4-Week Plan

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Socializing Your Puppy for Future Mountain Hikes

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Night Hiking With Dogs and Managing Fear and Visibility

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Training a 'Paws Up' for Technical Navigation

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Off-Leash Recall Training for Hikers

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How to Desensitize Your Dog to Trekking Poles

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How to Stop Trail Lunging at Other Dogs

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Training Your Puppy to Navigate Their First Stream

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How to Stop Your Dog From Chasing Wildlife

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Training Your Dog to Wear a Backpack Step-by-Step

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Training Your Dog to Walk Behind You on Single-Track

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Perfecting the Wait Command at Trail Junctions

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5 Emergency Commands Every Hiking Dog Needs to Know