Sunshine Dog Training & Behavior

02/22/2025

LET'S DISCUSS "STUBBORN" DOGS.

❌ This isn't a word dog trainers use (at least not qualified, well-educated ones).

🕵🏼‍♀️ Stubborn is not a reason for a behavior. There is ALWAYS a reason for behavior, we just need to find out what it is.

🤷🏼‍♀️ If you think your dog is just "stubborn" often you'll give up and stop trying to be detective to find out what the real reason is for your dog's struggles.
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We encourage you to ask yourself first ....

1️⃣ Does my dog know what I want from him? If yes, what makes you sure?

2️⃣ Have you properly trained your dog to do or perform what you are asking of him?

3️⃣ Have you practiced the behavior consistently (several times a day) for weeks, rewarding it properly or teaching it properly?

4️⃣ Is your dog in pain, anxious or afraid?
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🤔 You see, when most dogs don't do something when asked it is because they don't understand fully what we want. They've not been trained to the reliability that they are given credit for.

😰 Then there are times when stress or anxiety play a role and it comes off as "not listening" or "being stubborn" or "being spiteful". Dogs show anxiety in ways that can look like some or all of the above things to the untrained eye.

👉🏼 So, before you get upset and blame your dog or it's breed or whatever ... be sure you are certain of the WHY your dog is doing what it is doing (or not doing)!
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Stacy Greer, CPDT-KA

🐕🐩🐕‍🦺🦮

COPYRIGHT NOTICE
© 2025 Stacy Greer

All rights reserved. Feel free to share via the “Share” link to the original post. Downloading for redistribution online or in print form is strictly prohibited.

02/21/2025

HOW TO FIX JUMPING‼️ You can easily fix jumping with classical conditioning in a matter of days or weeks, depending on your dog's reinforcement history with jumping (e.g., if your dog has been jumping for 3 years it's gonna take some dedicaiton but can be done!)

02/20/2025

😰 WORKING WITH ANXIETY

🧘🏻‍♀️ You have to find ways to create patterns and techniques that help your dog feel comfortable in situations that normally may cause your dog to be anxious and/or stressed.

👌🏼 This is just one of the many things you can do . . . teach your dog how to eat on cue!

02/19/2025

🐾 🫱🏼‍🫲🏽 SOMETIMES A TRAINER NEEDS A TRAINER!

Today I had my mentor trainer, friend and colleague come over for a session with me and my little anxious Boston Terrier, Betty. She drove from her now home in Tennessee to Texas to see clients and I got to be lucky to be on the list!

👀 🧠 It's always helpful to get a different set of eyes and brains on a situation! She noticed some things I hadn't and we set a plan of action for several things to help with areas where she struggles.

🎥 My plan is to video my sessions and share them with you all! So stay tuned! 🫶🏼

Here is Betty konked out after today. She's 😴💤

02/12/2025

🗣️📢 HEAR ME OUT‼️ . . . This little clip speaks to whatever you want to relate it to but I'm going to relate it to dog training.

I have had a lot of clients in the past 24.5 years of me doing this for a living and I've run into more people that want a quick fix or what they think is a magic trainer that they see on TV or via a few clips on instagram.

I'm here to tell you . . . it's not realistic and it's not how the world spins. If you want the results you are seeking, the goals you have in mind for your dog, then you will have to do the work . . . or as she says in this clip, "do the reps." It's that simple.

I can coach you on the reps but I can't make you do them. Your dog's success is ultimately up to you.

02/11/2025

💤 PUPPY NIGHTTIME SUCCESS‼️
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🌞 DAYTIME MUSTS

What you’re doing during the daytime will affect what happens at nighttime with your pup. Be sure all of these things are happening during the daytime.

⏲ All meals are on a schedule, breakfast, lunch (if applicable) and dinner!

🏃🏻‍♂️🧠 Be sure pup is getting enough exercise - physically and mentally!

🌞💤 Be sure your pup is getting adequate sleep during the day.

💭 Remember, pups sleep about 1.5 x more than humans, and even more so for young puppies!

🛌 Your pup should get anywhere from 3-6 naps a day, depending on age.

🤫 Naps should never be interrupted unless there is an absolute need.

🚽 Immediate potty break upon waking!
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PRIOR TO BEDTIME

⏰ Feed last meal no more than 3 hours prior to bedtime.

🚰 Allow water to be available at all times no matter what!

✌🏼 Take 2 potty breaks before bedtime.
👉🏼 1️⃣ should be 1.5-1 hour before bedtime
👉🏼 2️⃣ should be 5-10 min before bedtime

🌛 Place puppy in crate for the night.

🧺 Use a cover if your puppy doesn’t settle well.

🛏 Place crate in your bedroom so you can hear if she wakes up.
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Stacy Greer, CPDT-KA

🐕🐩🐕‍🦺🦮

COPYRIGHT NOTICE
© 2025 Stacy Greer
All rights reserved. Feel free to share via the “Share” link to the original post. Downloading for redistribution online or in print form is strictly prohibited.

02/10/2025

Where is a cool place you've taken your dog?

Betty went to my daughter's horse show today. Of course I brought my treat bag and was sure she was treated properly and rewarded appropriately!

02/07/2025

02/06/2025

Would you love to know how to get your dog to relax and chill?

02/04/2025

💯🐶💞

How do you think your dog would react to their food becoming a treasure hunt? We're listening 👂 ⬇️

02/02/2025

💥 SO MUCH BANG FOR YOUR BUCK! 💵

My online class isn't just an easy go-at-your-own-pace course that has videos on how to train your dog, it also has a private member-only Facebook group where you get extras and tips not in the online course! It's really an awesome bang for your buck!

🔗 t.ly/superpupcourse

02/01/2025

If your dog is crazy if it misses one day of exercise
then your dog doesn't need more exercise, it needs relaxation protocols!

01/30/2025

😱 BIGGEST MYTH OF ALL . . .
Probably the most widely spread myth is that you should put your hand out to let a dog sniff so they know you're a friend.
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⁉️ WHY IS THAT A MYTH

🧫 Did you know that some dogs have been used to sniff out cancer cells in a petri dish? They can do this because olfaction in dogs is their memory system, their primary sense in dealing with the world.

👃🏼 Dogs have 20 times more scent receptor cells than humans, and the scent-processing section of their brains is larger than ours.

🍔 Where we might say, "Mmm, I smell burgers!" a dog would say, "I smell: fried ground cow muscle; imitation cheese made with vegetable oil; wheat bun; a dozen sesame seeds; one day-old lettuce; partly green tomato; spices in a tomato-based sauce, all touched by the hands of a human!" Dogs smell in minute detail!

🧼 It's safe to say that dogs can smell you before you enter their personal space. You putting your hand up to their nose only lets them smell what you had for lunch & what type of soap you used to wash your hands!

🤜🏼 What a hand in the face of a dog can do is appear threatening. It can sometimes be a good way to get bit if you do it in the "just right" circumstances.

🤔 Dogs that don't appear to care might care once you start to pet them. Likely this indicates a misunderstood body language cue that was not taken into account.
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⭐️🐕 Read the dog's body language ‼️

❓Is the dog giving signals of wanting to be approached?

❓Is the dog moving toward you?

📸 Learn more dog language, here: http://bit.ly/2qXZowE
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🤷🏼‍♀️ SO, HOW SHOULD I GREET A DOG?

👉🏼 If the dog wants to be pet she'll start coming toward you.

👉🏼Then the dog might sniff you, then you may pet her, on her side or under her chin.

👉🏼 If she moves away or shifts she may not be comfortable with the greeting. Stop & allow her to move or walk away.

👉🏼 Some dogs just don't care to be greeted by others. This is ok!
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🎥 Watch this wonderful video on how to properly greet a dog! https://youtu.be/Bu1n1mPCCOo
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Stacy Greer, CPDT-KA

🐕🐩🐕‍🦺🦮

COPYRIGHT NOTICE
© 2025 Stacy Greer
All rights reserved. Feel free to share via the “Share” link to the original post. Downloading for redistribution online or in print form is strictly prohibited.

01/29/2025

❌ 🏃🏼‍♀️ MORE EXERCISE AIN'T WHERE IT'S AT‼️
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Lack of exercise is not why your dog ....

🔹 Jumps on you (or everyone or everything)

🔹 Steals things

🔹 Chews inappropriate things

🔹 Doesn't listen to you

🔹 Runs out the door

🔹 Won't settle down

🔹 Anxiety

🔹 Reactivity
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✔️ 🏃🏼‍♀️ While exercise should be part of every dog's life ... exercise alone is not a solution to your dog's challenges.

👉🏼 Most often dogs are under-stimulated mentally and sometimes physically.

🤔 However I find that most owners are quicker to over-exercise their dogs than they are to hit the problem head-on with proper training, relaxation work and play ... aka, proper mental stimulation.

📖 Read my intensive blog post about this topic and what to do!
🔗 https://t.ly/stopwalkingblog
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Stacy Greer, CPDT-KA

🐕🐩🐕‍🦺🦮

COPYRIGHT NOTICE
© 2024 Stacy Greer
All rights reserved. Feel free to share via the “Share” link to the original post. Downloading for redistribution online or in print form is strictly prohibited.