PEAK9 Dog Training

01/22/2025

My Brew! I always say I hit the jackpot with him as a rescue. He required minimal training—mostly just patience to overcome his fears.

He doesn’t jump on people (Bronx, take note!) and didn't need leash training, he’s pretty much perfect. I taught him "touch" and "sit" just as a foundation.

Now, he needs a bit more training, which is on me. When I initially planned our training priorities, I focused on what fit with my schedule—like skills that were more urgent. One of those priorities wasn't teaching "wait" while I open the back hatch of the Bronco.

Brew doesn’t know this skill, and Bronx gets so excited when Brew jumps out that he forgets to wait, even though he knows the skill. Since trips together usually mean something fun, I let them jump out freely.

I recently enrolled both dogs in an Intro to Barn Hunt class, where only one dog goes in at a time. Can you guess what happened in the first class? Yep, they both jumped out each turn!

But I don’t feel guilty. Training is about prioritizing what's important at the time, with the time you have, and not every skill is necessary for every dog. My mother refers to them as the shoemakers kids.

Dogs can learn at any age! Brew might take a little longer now since we’re counter-conditioning something he's been doing for a while.

So, here I am, writing a training plan for Brew, and later adding Bronx into the plan for step two.

Side note: I was really impressed by the other attendees. When it was Brew’s turn in the first class, he was a little nervous, especially when he noticed some ladies waiting behind a short wall. They picked up on his uncertainty and left the room without me needing to ask. They were so in tune with his body language, and one of them even mentioned she’s doing the class to bond more with her dog. Honestly, I wanted to high five them both! It’s always amazing to see such understanding in other dog guardians.

If you read this far, then here's a laugh. The instructor tells me to get Brew excited. If you know Brew, you know how this goes...I'll try some video in upcoming classes.

Cheryl

01/13/2025

I’ve noticed a lot of dogs recently pulling, biting, or hanging on to their leashes during walks. This can be frustrating, embarrassing, and even unsafe, especially in slippery conditions. As humans, we often react by yanking the leash or saying “no” firmly. However, this can unintentionally encourage the behavior, making it seem like a game or adding frustration for the dog.

So, why are dogs doing this? The first step is understanding the why. What’s the underlying cause of the leash biting or pulling? Identifying the antecedent (the reason for the behavior) is key to finding a solution.

For example, when Bronx was a puppy, he was initially unsure about wearing a collar or being attached to a leash, he kept looking back at it and would chew it. He’s also a master of redirection. While he doesn’t bite the leash anymore, this is a common reason some dogs do. Bronx, being a working breed, LOVES to carry something in his mouth—usually a big stick, though a ball works too. Is your dog like this? Does the breed tend to enjoy carrying things?

Sometimes managing the behavior can be as simple as offering an alternative item to hold on to, or redirecting their energy. Each dog is different, and a qualified trainer can help work with you on a solution.

Remember, always take a step back and ask why before rushing to figure out how to change the behavior. Understanding the cause is the first step toward successful training! 

01/04/2025

Happy 2025! This is our Saturday after vacationing. I'm cold after a 50-degree temperature change, and the dogs are resting after their kennel vacation.

As I look at Bronx, my mind tells me I should take him for a walk since we were out early this morning, and it’s been 7 hours since the last one.

I’ve been becoming more mindful of what I call my "dog guilt." That feeling of not giving enough walks or enrichment to my reactive and senior dogs. The "I should" thoughts sneak in—like I should walk them more, or brave the cold weather to do it, or make sure they’re never bored.

I'm shifting my perspective: I’m doing my best, and they’re well cared for. Some days it's more walks or hikes, and other days less. Some days I have time to teach a new trick or do nose work, and other days I don’t. And that’s okay.

If you're feeling guilty, remember: you're doing your best too.

12/10/2024

I saw this question on another post, I thought it was a good one.

"From your dogs point of view, what is the purpose of their walk?

I take my dogs for an hour-long walk before work to keep them entertained and tired throughout the day. After work, they get another walk since they've been indoors for eight hours. This is my routine, but is it their purpose of a walk?

I think my dogs would say sniffing, digging, and playing.

Thoughts on your dogs point of view purpose of their walks? Is it different than yours?

Are they receiving that purpose?

11/22/2024

Word of Mouth: A Powerful Tool for Choosing Dog Trainers

Word of mouth remains one of the top ways people find trainers or training facilities. I often hear, "A friend recommended this place because it worked for their dog."

While recommendations can be valuable, it’s important to dig deeper. Here are key questions to ask when considering a trainer or facility:

🔹 How does it work?

Are shock collars, choke chains, or other aversive methods used?

Is food or positive reinforcement part of the training, or not allowed?

Does the dog seem to enjoy the training, or are they simply avoiding punishment?

🔹 What about the dog-human relationship?

Is the bond between the dog and their guardian improving through training?

Does the dog remain engaged and eager to participate?

🔹 Trainer’s qualifications:

Have they pursued continued education or attended recent conferences to stay updated?

Now, some food for thought:

When I was a child, punishments like being spanked or having my mouth washed with soap were common forms of my discipline. It worked in the sense that I "obeyed," but it was out of fear, not understanding. That approach shaped my behavior—and my relationship with my parents.

Times have changed. Research and science have shed light on the long-term effects of punishment-based methods, and more humane, evidence-based practices are now encouraged. So why hasn’t this shift fully reached the dog training world?

Our dogs aren’t soldiers in an army or police force. They’re companions who deserve to be trained with kindness and respect, not fear and force. Just like we upgrade our technology, we must upgrade our training methods.

💡 The next time someone says, "This worked for my dog," ask how it worked. Look beyond big training facilities or social media fame. A large following doesn’t always mean effective or ethical methods.

Take the time to research. Just as you would when buying a car or a house, ensure the person training your dog shares your values and treats your pet with the compassion they deserve.

👉 Training your dog is about building trust, not fear.

11/19/2024

Occasionally someone pops along here with the idea that I have no practical experience with dogs, couldn't handle a working dog and that's why I don't understand why 'tools' are needed for some dog breeds.

I was in a bite suit and operationally searching for live explosives with dogs decades ago. Working breeds are easier to train with positive reinforcement because they are literally born to work. Dogs don't need prong collars - poor trainers do - because they haven't learned or skilled up enough.

And if you can't teach a companion breed to volunteer something, by using a marker, you have a long way to go with your training. I would say you're not a dog trainer, because that's brain work. A prong collar is not brain work.

If you think you need to expose an innocent dog to a prong collar you don't. You need to learn more.

It really is as simple as that.

And here endeth the lesson.

All dogs deserve safety.

It's a welfare right.

Don't poke the bear.

I am the bear 🐻😅

11/19/2024

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10/29/2024

Halloween decor gets bigger, brighter, nosier, and better every year!

Keep in mind that this decor changes our dogs environments out on walks. You may notice fear, uncertainty, and reactions of flight, fight or freeze.

Dogs don't know what halloween decor is. They only notice now there is a new strange object that could be moving, making noise or worse, hard eye staring at them.

Also, remember it looks different in the dark. Dogs may be OK in the day, but feel differently about this weird decor at night.

Keep a distance and move away if you find your dog uncertain. Help them feel safe. Not all dogs need to go right up to something to boost confidence. You can do it from further away.

Happy Halloween, and stay safe.

Cheryl

10/21/2024

My lovely boy Bronx met a porcupine this weekend.

Quills in a face must be uncomfortable and some pain. Keep this in mind while I tell the story at the vet.

First off, the vet staff were great. However, the veterinarian could have approached Bronx in a better way than how he did.

Waiting in a new unknown waiting room with quills in his face a large man with a deep voice confidently walks in and stares at Bronx in the eyes and says in a deep voice "what did you do?"

I know my dog very well. I knew in that second Bronx would respond with barking and lunging. Which he did. My priority was moving Bronx, where he felt safe and protecting him.

The veterinarian asks if he's aggressive because he obviously is acting in an aggressive way. My response: "Well ya, when you walk into a room over him, stare him in directly in the eyes and raise your voice, yes he will be, and I don't blame him." I also know that pain can change behavior. Sometimes, I assume others in animal industries know how our body language and tones can affect animals.

The moral of this story. Always be your dogs advocate, even if it has to be with professionals in an industry. Remember, pain affects behavior.

Bronx is fine, wild, and crazy again. I'm not sure he learned his lesson with those porcupine's though.

2 skunks and 1 porcupine for the win so far. Good thing I love him 💙

Cheryl

10/02/2024

While Brew takes a senior nap on our walk, I admit I scroll through social media. Some groups that were "suggested" for me were dog behaviour advice and dog reactivity groups.
I'm certain there is good info in these as well with short video posts of training. Even I post those.

The reality is though that all dog training needs a training plan. A step by step plan created for your dog. A summary of a behaviour or skill doesn't help teaching your dog. One of the many crucial things I took away from graduating from the Academy for Dog Trainers is how important it is to create and follow a step by step plan. Even teaching sit has a plan, recall has a plan (without a shock collar! What?!), resource guarding has a plan, reactivity has a training plan.

As lovely as these groups and tidbits of videos are, they will never be as effective as working with a qualified trainer who can create and help you follow the steps of a plan.

Plans help you know when your dog is ready to move forward, where they are struggling, or if you're moving too fast.

Consider how dogs learn and how to set them and yourselves up for success while watching these videos and reading responses in those groups.

Cheryl

09/23/2024

Bronx ventured on another hike this weekend that was pretty busy despite early snow. He was remarkable for the size of the path, and number of people and dogs. Keeping people's privacy in mind I took 2 videos of us on the path. The first video our crew was ahead of and he may have been trying to catch up to them. The second you see him doing a bum sniff with another dog and moving along his way with neutral body language. We finished off with seeing how he would do at the Pomeroy hotel relaxing outdoors while I rewarded myself.

This did NOT happen overnight and did not happen with a 6-8 week class. Working with reactivity is a time commitment outside of a class and when the class or private sessions end.

I had to ask myself if I had the time or was able to make sacrifices for time to work with Bronx.

Was I able to have a balance of my own mental health and being able to help him? I had days where I had thoughts of rehoming, questioning if I could help him, and some days resenting him.

One thing that I did for Bronx's reactivity to get him here.

Worked with my vet to start him on meds just over a year ago.

There is a stigma on behaviour meds unfortunately. I am the first one that will stand up and say I don't want my dog drugged to the point he isn't himself.

Why I chose meds. As soon as Bronx got outside he was wired. I tried to work with him on my steps and in front of the house but he was so worked up and would become triggered stacked that he wasn't able to take food and wasn't able to learn. There is science behind this with cortisol levels and stress that I won't be digging into this post.

If you work closely with your vet and be your dog's advocate through it meds can be such a useful tool for behaviour modification. We started Bronx on a low dosage of fluoxetine while I was training him with desentization, counter conditioning, management of his environment and importantly rest. We ended up increasing the dosage over time and adding in gabapentin. He was on meds for under a year and I monitored his health and state during it all. He was still the same silly Bronxy and I bet no one knew he was on meds. We worked on a plan to take him off and here is he today.

This post is not to endorse all reactive dogs needing meds and what meds are best for each, these happened to have worked for Bronx. Meds are nothing to be ashamed about and if pet guardians, trainers and vets work together it can be helpful. I do recommend working with both a trainer and vet together with a plan to be successful.

09/16/2024

This weekend was a major breakthrough for Bronx's reactivity.

I'm an avid hiker, and having my dogs join is important to me. Bronx first joined as a puppy in a backpack. Around 14 months, he was on his first "walking" hike. He lunged and barked at people and dogs during the whole hike. I had a hard decision to make to not put him in that environment until he was ready or even ever.

He is now 3 and a half months. He and I worked on his reactivity for around 2 years in an environment successful for him (not hiking trails) to get where we did this weekend. Reactivity is not a quick fix and is a journey that is so rewarding.

He absolutely smashed this hike this weekend. I can't even think of a way to show how proud I am of him. I spread Sloans ashes at Galatea lakes every year. This year, I decided to bring Bronx. I was alone, so I had the attention to train or if it went sideways to leave.

⭐️ He moved over and most times offered a sit for people to pass

⭐️ He ignored the people ahead of us and the ones we passed

⭐️ He ignored every dog on leash with the exception of a small reaction to a dog that reacted first. He recovered quickly and went on our way. Wasn't triggered stacked after

⭐️ He politely greeted 2 dogs that were offleash, and we were unable to avoid

⭐️ He gave Rottie love to the people who were OMG a Rottie!

He was a hiking dog superstar!

Is he "cured" from reactivity. No. I personally don't believe reactivity is something that can be 100% fixed.

Working together on this journey definitely helped him feel comfortable in the environment and enjoy the hike. I am looking forward to more this fall.

I haven't once needed to use pain, shock, jerking, bonking, or any type of physical force or forcing him near his triggers to get here. We are here to prove that those are not needed to work on reactivity. Also, I used food. Did he need food on this hike? Did I bribe him? Nope. I did reward him, though, as he deserved the praise.

Big or small, I will keep celebrating our wins 🏆

09/03/2024

What I now know about reactivity.

- I don't have to train every single moment of our walks.

It's important to include:

Decompression time
Activities we both enjoy
Environments without or far from triggers
Bonding to build trust and safety

Each good walk makes the next one better.

I would always stress with Sloan (my first reactive dog) that I had to work on counter conditioning every single walk multiple times in order for him to learn. I stopped enjoying one of my favorite things to do with him. If you find this, a good alternative can be renting a private offleash park where you both can relax.

Cheryl and Bronxy

08/27/2024

I have great intentions of posting more content than I actually do. I have many videos and photos of Bronxy for educational purposes. To be honest, I open social media and get big feelings of what I see as training methods, trainers arguing who is right and training vocabulary. The word command is an example of what triggers my nerves. Our dogs are pets, not in the army. Then, I close it right away and focus on my time with my dogs that I enjoy.

I wish I knew with Sloan my first reactive dog what I know now. I can't imagine being a dog guardian and having to go through all the content on training these days and figuring out the correct way to train my dog.

In the end, it's what each trainer thinks is the right way to train. It's their personal bias of how to train a dog. There are some great trainers that post such valuable info. And some that, in my personal bias, are uneducated, don't care to be educated, and show off for social media purposes instead of the well-being of the dog.

I understand why Bronxy gets big feelings, which are labeled as leash reactivity or barrier reactivity, or what I also learn is his breed and species. But if I didn't have the knowledge and education I have, I have thought that I probably would have thrown on a prong or shock collar to "control" or "fix" him. Or command him to stay calm on a mat while I walk his triggers around him. That one is me being sarcastic of what I see is called training.

I've decided to start offering content of what I wish I knew as a "reactive" dog guardian and what I've learned from 2 "reactive" dogs.

I appreciate what both of my Rottweilers have taught me and how I can relate to how they are when triggered with big feelings. How I so much enjoy my time with Bronx on our walks lately now that I've accepted him as how he feels.

Intuition is huge, so follow it when choosing a trainer and do what's best for you.

Today, though, here is a photo of my happy Rottweiler on a harness and a treat bag loving our walk.

Cheryl

08/12/2024

Appearances can be deceiving.

Sometimes, a seemingly well-behaved dog is actually shut down and afraid. Is that the experience you really want for your companion?

07/18/2024