City-Zen K9 Training

01/31/2025

Winter has been fun!

10/03/2024

DON’T FORCE ME TO BE SOCIAL!
It may be really disappointing and frustrating when our dogs are not the social beings we expected them to be.

Many believe dogs should just naturally get along with other dogs, after all they’re the same species.

Some believe the “unsociable” dog has a behaviour problem that needs to be “fixed”.

Early, appropriately timed and correct socialisation is vitally important, but sometimes despite all of this, some dogs are just not that sociable.

Sometimes this can be improved, especially if the cause is from a negative experience, but genetics, breed tendencies, individual personalities, health and age all contribute to tolerance and sociability, which also change throughout life.

If we, as a human species, don’t get along with everyone we meet, how can we expect our dogs to?

Do we label every person that has an argument, doesn’t make friends with everyone they meet, doesn’t like every other person, prefers not to socialise - as having a problem that needs to be fixed?

Why is it so easy to accept that every individual person is different than to accept that every individual dog is different?

When we have done what we can to improve our dogs’ social skills, we need to accept and acknowledge our dogs for the individuals they are, allow and respect their choice of whether to be sociable or not and never force interactions that a dog is not comfortable with.

09/08/2024

Building trust is everything.

Life with a dog is all about the relationship you build. If your training methods harm that connection, you're missing the point. Using rewards and positive reinforcement strengthens trust and deepens your bond. Training should be about understanding and communication rather than control.

09/07/2024

I agree 100 %❤️🐾🐾

07/31/2024

THIS!!!

from Nicole and Josh
🐾🐾❤️

“ Hey Kathryn. I just wanted to thank you so much for working with us on the dogs. We have continued to work with them when we moved and what do you know. They are slowly getting along. It isn’t perfect. But we take our small wins! Thank you! “

05/07/2024

Timberee River of Aedan NA,NAJ turned 12 March 19th! Photo from 2015? Diagnosed with Mega Esophagus in February, “Crash” continues his antics with great joy and a little less energy. Yesterday was Bay Adventure day😬😬😬🤯

02/20/2024

02/20/2024

THIS!!!! Stop going for that short term fix. Fallout, people, is real.

Progressive dog behaviour modification utilises positive reinforcement to modify behaviour by breaking down activities into small achievable steps and rewarding the desired behaviour with verbal praise, treats, toys or other rewards.

Rather than punishing undesired behaviour, this approach emphasises gradual learning through rewards. Punishment is an ineffective long-term strategy for training as it often leaves dogs fearful, aggressive and lacking trust in their owners.

In contrast, positive reinforcement encourages desirable behaviours in the future by providing rewards such as treats or toys when they obey instructions well. This helps strengthen the bond between dog and guardian while providing a safe environment where learning can take place without fear of punishment.

Reinforcement strengthens behaviours by making them more likely to recur over time; for example if a dog is regularly rewarded for comming when called then they will become increasingly likely to come when called due to the reward reinforcing this behaviour. Reinforcing wanted alternatives can also help reduce undesirable behaviours; e.g., rewarding alternative behaviours like sitting rather than jumping on humans may result in less jumping occurrences overall over time.

02/20/2024

Dogs kept as pets have restricted control over their lives, as they are subject to the decisions and regulations of their owners.

Their activities, diet, and socialisation are all managed by their owners. When we keep dogs, we need to meet their natural needs to ensure their physical and mental wellbeing. Meeting their natural needs helps to provide them with a sense of security and comfort, reducing stress and anxiety, as well as preventing boredom by providing them with physical and mental stimulation.

02/20/2024

Dakota and I are going to have 10 days of adventures!!!

02/20/2024

This This This!!!!

Dogs kept as pets have restricted control over their lives, as they are subject to the decisions and regulations of their owners.

Their activities, diet, and socialisation are all managed by their owners. When we keep dogs, we need to meet their natural needs to ensure their physical and mental wellbeing. Meeting their natural needs helps to provide them with a sense of security and comfort, reducing stress and anxiety, as well as preventing boredom by providing them with physical and mental stimulation.

02/20/2024

Tessa Rose first show weekend! In the ribbons on day 2🎉

02/20/2024

Awesome work with Timber and Ziva today! Heel work. Some relaxation protocol and some scent work!!! Good dogs!