BadWolf K9s

BadWolf K9s Dog training and behavior modification services in the San Fernando Valley of Southern California.

We provide each dog and owner team with individualized, positive reinforcement based treatment plans for their unique needs.

If we’ve ever had a session together, you’ve heard me say “there’s a function behind every behavior. They’re trying to m...
07/03/2022

If we’ve ever had a session together, you’ve heard me say “there’s a function behind every behavior. They’re trying to meet their needs the best way they know how”

Also, this is a great example of how sometimes the witching hour zoomies are a sign of an overtired pup!! Naps or earlier bed times can make all the difference!

Puppies are just babies. Babies behave the way they do to ensure their needs are fulfilled. There’s always a function behind behavior.

As I’m writing this, at 11pm, Willow is growling at me. Her intentions aren’t malicious, she’s trying to get my attention. She’s agitated, grouchy and very, very sleepy. She thinks she’s bored, she’s fighting off sleep by squeaking her toys and rolling around the bed, but I know she’s just overtired. She may be a year old, but she’s still a baby.

Sure enough, a minute later, she’s curled up and fast asleep.

As you spend more time with dogs, experience different personalities and immerse yourself into their lives, it becomes easier and easier to understand what they’re saying. But to somebody less experienced, to somebody who knows dogs just at a basal level, a growl can only mean one thing: aggression. And how do you stop aggression in dogs? You show them that you’re the boss.

Willow, feeling all antsy and full of sleep, doesn’t need to be told who the boss is. She’s a toddler on the brink of a tantrum, growling “but I don’t WANT TO GO TO BED!” Meeting that grouchiness with aggression on my end will only end up in a full blown palaver. I’m the grown-up, I know better than to tell her off, pin her to the ground or prod her in the ribs and hiss “tssh” at her. I’m the grown-up, she’s the baby, so I need to cultivate a condition where she’s more likely to succumb to her tiredness and go to sleep.

So I let her get all her grouchiness out, I let her squeak her toys and dig the bed in protest, offering her some calming strokes and a gentle “shh, night night.” Babies fight sleep. It’s what they do. You can either be the grown-up and encourage them to relax, or you can “challenge” the baby in front of you, until they’re so pumped up on adrenaline and fear that sleep is no longer on the cards.

Willow growled because she was cross at being tired, not because she was mad at me. It wasn’t personal, just a baby doing what babies do. I feel like people often read too much into the little facets of our pups’ communication, trying to pin it on something like dominance, when the reason is often far more obvious.

This isn’t to say that puppies cannot develop behavioral problems, and it certainly isn’t to say that we should ignore all growls and grumbles, but sometimes… it’s just a baby being a baby.

If you are looking for a group class in the San Fernando Valley, my next sessions start March 19th! Head over to MyBestF...
03/12/2022

If you are looking for a group class in the San Fernando Valley, my next sessions start March 19th! Head over to MyBestFriendObedience.com to find the right class for you. From beginner to advanced obedience, there are also puppy head start classes, groups for reactive dogs, even classes for tricks and rally! Hope to see you there!!

Methods matter! We can’t control everything, especially when it comes to the behavior of another living animal. What we ...
03/09/2022

Methods matter! We can’t control everything, especially when it comes to the behavior of another living animal. What we CAN control is ourselves and how we choose to teach those we love and live with.

If you jerk your dog’s lead backwards hard enough and often enough, they will probably stop pulling.

If you smack your dog sharply on the nose when they jump up, they may quickly learn not to do it again.

Unfortunately, these examples show that, in the moment, punishing your dog can work.

The question is, why?

Quite simply, it’s because your dog is scared to behave that way because of how you will react or how much you might hurt them.

Punishment works on fear.

Not only does punishment often hurt your dog physically, but it damages them mentally too. It can irreparably damage the bond you share with them. If your dog fears what you might do, he will live in anxiety, desperately trying not to do anything ‘wrong’ so they can avoid being punished or hurt.

In the long term, punishment does not work and should never be an option. Yes, it may get you the result you want, but this is guaranteed to be at the detriment of your dog’s welfare and wellbeing along with your relationship.

Did you know that not just candy and gum have xylitol?? Even some peanut butters!! I don’t know about you but our pups l...
02/13/2022

Did you know that not just candy and gum have xylitol?? Even some peanut butters!! I don’t know about you but our pups love peanut butter in their stuffed and frozen treats. Be sure to avoid any foods that contain this! And when it comes to peanut butter, look for natural and smooth and keep those pups licking in good health!

When you live in a dog trainer household… everyone gets in on the learning. Gryffindor wanted to listen to the lunch tim...
02/11/2022

When you live in a dog trainer household… everyone gets in on the learning. Gryffindor wanted to listen to the lunch time panel at The Lemonade Conference about mental health for dogs with reactivity. Not pictured are the two human learners and Pyrenean Shepherds 😉🤣

If you, like a lot of people, are dealing with a reactive dog at home, join us in watching this FREE and LIVE panel on m...
02/11/2022

If you, like a lot of people, are dealing with a reactive dog at home, join us in watching this FREE and LIVE panel on mental health for the reactive dog. Panelists Amy Cook, PhD, Sarah Stremming (of Cog Dog Radio), and Sophie Liu, DVM will be talking at 1pm (PST) with the Lemonade Conference, so be sure to check it out!
https://youtu.be/HDZjJQsU_hg

Join Host Melissa Breau with panelists Amy Cook, PhD; Sarah Stremming; and Sophie Liu, DVM to talk about Mental Health for the Reactive Dog during our lunch ...

Chocolate is nature’s way of making up for Mondays. But it will send your pup to the hospital!! Be safe this chocolate s...
02/11/2022

Chocolate is nature’s way of making up for Mondays. But it will send your pup to the hospital!! Be safe this chocolate season, and keep it well out of reach.

This big beautiful boy is only 9 months!! Vito is wonderfully social, animated, super smart, and ready to learn! With hi...
02/07/2022

This big beautiful boy is only 9 months!! Vito is wonderfully social, animated, super smart, and ready to learn! With his human, he’s mastering his basic obedience and we’ve been steadily adding distractions by working at different parks. Gotta love a relaxed and focused down stay!

This little lady recently stayed with us for a few weeks of training, and she is one spunky little star. Can you guess h...
01/10/2022

This little lady recently stayed with us for a few weeks of training, and she is one spunky little star. Can you guess her breed? (Hint: it’s not what you might think) Check back soon for more of her and her progress during her stay!

It's always a bit of a negotiation with a puppy!!
12/12/2021

It's always a bit of a negotiation with a puppy!!

11/22/2021

Happy Birthday to my heart dog who is now 2!!! Hard to believe, but we may not be a velociraptor any longer! As much as I love the little fluff nugget that he was, it’s hard to be sad about this stunning, mature, partner in crime.

What does consistency mean when training your dog? I’ve heard owners say a lot of things from keeping the same training ...
08/05/2021

What does consistency mean when training your dog? I’ve heard owners say a lot of things from keeping the same training schedule every day, to working on the same training task for ages before moving on to anything else, and training every day.

It doesn’t HAVE to be any of those. Sometimes I hesitate to even suggest that someone needs to “be consistent” because what that means to YOU isn’t what it may mean to someone else. It can understandably be very discouraging if you feel you’re short on time for training - how can you be consistent then?? Maybe other people in the house help with care taking and walk the dog etc. Depending on what training goals you have, consistency has a lot of interpretations.

Ultimately, I have found that the most important aspects are

1️⃣ Keeping your cues consistent
2️⃣ Staying on the same page with family or household members for house rules
3️⃣ Follow through so you can set appropriate expectations
4️⃣ Doing your best!!!

It may not be a comprehensive list, but training should and CAN be fun, easy, and rewarding. Consistency helps!

So what does consistency mean to you?? I’d love to hear your thoughts or stories so drop a comment below or send a DM! 🤓

Why SHOULD you train your dog?? It may seem a silly question but it’s a valid one. Maybe you have that perfect puppy who...
07/11/2021

Why SHOULD you train your dog?? It may seem a silly question but it’s a valid one. Maybe you have that perfect puppy who has become a happy and well adjusted dog, and maybe they’re the best companion you could hope for… if only they didn’t…… bark? Pull? Jump on people?

A lot of people don’t seek training until a problem arises and sometimes until that problem becomes almost too much to handle. It’s understandable, life gets the better of us, work gets in the way, and when something isn’t SO bad we don’t put it to the top of our priority list.

A big benefit to training BEFORE those “problems” crop up is giving your dog a clear understanding of their environment and the rules you’d like them to live by. It enables us humans to learn how to best communicate with our pets, and create a trustworthy and stable bond.

If you got the ball rolling early, AWESOME! If you havent yet, then you have fun exciting things ahead! It’s never too late to start your training journey. The benefits are truly limitless!

Dealing with a teenager at home? It could be your human kid but if you have a fur child, they may be going through a sim...
07/01/2021

Dealing with a teenager at home? It could be your human kid but if you have a fur child, they may be going through a similar adolescence. Your one year old dog is no longer a puppy (even if it seems that way at times). Much like a teen, your pup is an adolescent with unique needs. You can get through this ruff patch!! Be sure to recognize this developmental period for what it is. Don’t wait for “bad” teenage behaviors to start!!! Set your dog and yourself up for success and build your bond on a strong foundation. And never feel bad for needing help! Reach out to us if you need a hand with your teenager!

New study suggests adolescent pups don’t listen to their owners

Flashback for Friday feels. Anyone else got that pooped pup feeling today? After a long weekend, it’s a little harder to...
06/05/2021

Flashback for Friday feels. Anyone else got that pooped pup feeling today? After a long weekend, it’s a little harder to get back into the normal swing of things and the shorter week often ends up feeling longer than it should. Do yourself a favor or two.

1st - Cut yourself some slack and repeat to yourself “you don’t have to be perfect in order to be successful” ... 10 times. Seriously.

2nd - Take a deep inhale and fill your lungs with as much air as you can. At the top of that inhale, take one more sip of air and then EXHALE with a big, audible sigh. (Yes, out loud!) it will help release tension from your body.

Now go take a nap, a swim, whatever sets you up for the success you deserve and CAN attain. Puppies are wonderful terrors. Take care of you AND your pup so you can be the best team you can be.

Have a great weekend ❤️

Address

Lindero Canyon Road
Agoura, CA
91377

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 6pm
Tuesday 9am - 6pm
Wednesday 9am - 6pm
Thursday 9am - 6pm
Friday 9am - 6pm
Saturday 1pm - 6pm

Telephone

+18185939131

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