Allegiant Canine

12/20/2024

WOW - 2024 has been amazing, and I am so grateful to all of you who have continued to show love during this weird transition time.

This year, I experienced a breakup, started a recovery program for relationships, completely changed my programs and calendar, tried working for another company, stopped working for a rescue partner, and started to gain some perspectives on how my whole life strategy was kind of messed up.

I do not have enough capital to hire a business coach or mentor. But I am investing more than ever in my continuing education.

If there’s anything at all that you think would be beneficial for me to START, STOP, or CONTINUE doing in the new year, I greatly appreciate the feedback.

Preferably for clients only, but I am also open to feedback from friends and loved ones and supporters.

Also I could use Google reviews, so if you haven’t left one or haven’t done one lately, we’re under Allegiant Canine on Google.

#2024 #2025

12/07/2024

Jonas Black – thanks so much for all you do brother. Next time you’re in Nashville, hmu! 🤙

11/22/2024

Top 10 Dog Training Myths

1. WORDS - say the command right, and the dog will do the behavior right
2. LEASH - hold the leash short and tight for more control
3. SPACE - get closer to the dog for more control
4. FREEDOM - give the dog the freedom to rehearse behavior and then correct them
5. EXERCISE - dog need to get their physical energy out. A tired dog is a good dog
6. PAY/PUNISH - always correct the bad and always pay the good
7. CONFLICT / CODEPENDENCY - their emotions can always be trusted at face value. They’re either wrong or right. The nicer thing is usually the better thing.
8. CORRECTION - these either destroy the relationship or define the relationship.
9. TOOLS - either tools are evil or they are everything. Not true but those are the extremes.
10. SOCIALIZATION / EXPOSURE - it’s really important to let my dog meet a ton of people and dogs of all varieties as a puppy or adolescent.

All of these misconceptions are designed with control in mind, not with the long-term happiness and fulfillment of the dog.

Connection is the alternative which places the dog’s natural, sometimes breed specific needs and tendencies at the forefront. Before I can start training a dog, I need to know who they are really.

Stressors can come into play like physical ailments, emotional stress, familial instability, and pack dynamics. All of these factors can affect a dogs arousal surrounding a given behavior.

Instead of ignoring these things, why don’t we return their environment to a state that is healthier and less prone for arousal bombing, where they are on a rollercoaster of peaks and valleys?

Once we have addressed the first phase of PREVENTION & REHAB, we can speak accurately to the mind of the dog.

1. WORDS - start by building a clear and simple list of understood marker words. Only use commands when you’re getting the behavior 100%, or when you can lead them with the…
2. LEASH - the leash is there to keep the dog from doing “other things” - running off, biting something they shouldn’t, or getting distracted. The leash can also be used to create guiding pressure, but in both scenarios, the dog should understand that if they’re feeling pressure there’s a reason.
3. SPACE - in the dog world, space is sacred, so it conveys respect. As we become more familiar with our dogs’ suspicions and superstitions around space, we can figure out how to progressively respect and claim space without creating unnecessary conflict.
4. FREEDOM - dogs should be given freedom in rations that they can handle it. For example, don’t let a dog that has simply “never run from you” off the leash with no back up plan. Unless they are off leash trained, this is a liability for everyone involved.
5. EXERCISE - a tired dog who got tired doing crappy things is not a good dog. They found their own reinforcement doing whatever they wanted to do. Instead, we can work the brain and body in a way that changes how they are reinforced and increases your relevance!
6. PAY & PUNISH - there are times when I am the one who needs to be punished, not the dog. To what extent were they powerless to that trigger or stimulus? There are times when reinforcement happens naturally like taking a nap - I don’t need to bother the dog with going over and paying for staying in a down. Arousal has a lot to do with this. Eventually this allows me to fade out my payment and punishment.
7. CONFLICT & CODEPENDENCY - not all of my dogs emotions are rational, just like mine are not. They are information from the body. Sometimes we need to acknowledge when a trauma response is just a maladaptive coping mechanism. Triggers can be a resource eventually that we can work thru by generalization, letting a situation be boring.
8. CORRECTION - delivering a well timed appropriate correction gives a dog the opportunity to be right, thus avoiding correction in the future and increasing your collective freedom. If you build your training program properly these should not define your whole relationship, and they definitely will make your connection clearer.
9. TOOLS - in the beginning of my career, tools were a necessary evil, then they were used on every dog because of liability and fear. Today, I acclimate the tools to the dogs who need them and then show the owners the use cases where they’re appropriate. Education is power.
10. SOCIALIZATION / EXPOSURE - getting my dogs around other people and dogs is extremely important because they are social creatures like us. Also like us, I’ve seen a lot of people immediately stop the exposure as soon as there’s a “negative experience.”this is like mistaking agoraphobia for trauma recovery. My dog needs to know at a young age that I will advocate for them so that when it is appropriate to meet (usually off leash in a yard with no resources), they aren’t having to make a huge show of aggression to create space because they have never experienced this.

You see - if I am able to connect, then I get stability, safety, and security as a byproduct. You are a human. They are a dog. But you’re in a relationship with a living being with a heart and soul that changes and is affected over time. Therefore, the work on the relationship never ends!

What I am realizing 6 years into training is that my dogs, now seniors and mature adults, still make decisions that perplex and baffle me. This is part of life with a dog. I have to accept my part and not take the resentments out on the dogs!

Dog training is progressive. It is balanced, and it should be a life long pursuit. Getting your dog “trained” is a farce. YOU need the training and coaching for a lifetime.

11/22/2024

Please for the love of dog - stop installing invisible fences. You cannot delegate training to a tool.

11/08/2024

🧘🏻‍♂️ JUST LET THEM BE ☮️

I think that we don’t need to ask much of them. Create a relationship that you want, and you’ll be surprised what behaviors follow.

We went on a 1.2 mi walk today, and Astro & Norah were exhausted! We were just learning to keep moving when we are uncomfortable, that Uncle Matty will not put us in a position of discomfort or conflict. That we will use space and energy and forward momentum, and this allows us to use every single trigger as a resource.

07/30/2024

If Allegiant Canine has helped you in any way over the last 6 years since its inception, we would really appreciate some Google Reviews to being the verification process so that we can grow!

07/19/2024

Exploring the Benefits of Crate Training video is now live on YouTube.

07/15/2024

Get the most out of your time with your dog. Leverage food reward for mental stimulation and building engagement instead of walking miles a day, rehearsing your dog putting very little relevance on you!

BEST PAW FORWARD PROGRAM WEEK ONEFirst of all, let me say congratulations for adopting a dog from Rural Animal Rescue Effort (RARE Rescue) instead of purchas...

06/08/2024

Balzey is a lab, APBT mix from and is fostered here at the rescue house in Columbia, TN.

The very first engagement I had with Balzey was with a tennis ball. 🎾

I did not teach him to fetch. He fetched the ball, I got small, he came to me for pets because I celebrated his possession of the ball.

I never had to tell him to out the ball.
I never chased him down.
I never took it out of his mouth.

I made it alive on the ground.
I let him strip it from my hand.
I celebrated the strip-away.

He did a victory lap.
He listened to my cheers.
He came to me for payment.

Keep is simple silly!

06/08/2024

Scout’s mama just shared these adorable pics with me, and I had to post them. She’s a pool jumper & swimmer, she has the agility of a squirrel and the personality of a tiger. Friggin love this little fuzz angel! 👼

06/08/2024

So grateful for and in cool springs (Sheka) for having my “back.” I have to also follow the instructions to rest to get better which most of you know I am stubborn about. Love you guys!

05/26/2024

See ya in a week!

05/12/2024

THE BEST WALKING WARMUP!
For loose leash walking

When you live in suburbia or the city, learning how to walk nicely on a loose leash is imperative and non-negotiable. Some of my clients’ dogs interface with dogs on elevators, in line at breweries, or on the sidewalk like the rest of us plebes.

Whether you’re in a high rise apartment or on a busy neighborhood street, these skills are going to come in handy for walking your dog peacefully instead of behind a nuisance.

Also, I do allow my dogs some free walking where they can stop and sniff or run around and be crazy as well. But I am the one who says “free” to release them into this style of walking.

I have walking videos all over my page and on YouTube. Just google it. You’ll see exactly what I am talking about. I want the dog to gravitate toward me, listen to directions, offer things freely, and pay attention to my body movement.

Screenshot this little guide and write it out in a notebook, then put it to good use. It’ll be awkward at first but will then be muscle memory inside a week!

04/11/2024

⚡️ EXCITING NEWS! 🤩
We have some exciting news to share with our valued clients. Starting April 19, 2024, Matt Burnett, the owner of Allegiant Canine, will be em”bark”ing on a new adventure with

Say It Once Dog Training, based out of Pittsburgh, has gained recognition worldwide. They’ve been featured on Good Morning America and World’s Greatest. This partnership allows us to bring more expertise and resources to our clients in the Greater Nashville Area.

If you are an Allegiant Canine client located in Franklin and further South, have already booked services and/or received an invoice, nothing changes! You will continue to be our valued client, and we will provide you with our exceptional in-home dog training services indefinitely. If you have not yet booked training or received an invoice, please do so on or before April 14th by reaching out to Matt’s cell. If you are not yet ready for training, you will go through the say it once booking portal at the appropriate time.

For our existing and future clients in Brentwood and further North, we kindly request you to book your training services through Say It Once Dog Training. You can do this by visiting their website at SayItOnceDogTraining.com and filling out their training questionnaire. This will ensure that you receive the same outstanding training experience and support.

If you already have appointments, boarding, or board & train confirmed with Allegiant Canine, please note that nothing changes in this regard. Your existing bookings will remain as scheduled.

At Allegiant Canine, we are committed to providing the highest level of service and care for your furry companions. We value your trust and look forward to continuing our journey together, providing effective in-home dog training solutions.

Effective Immediately, Allegiant Canine will only be facilitating Behavioral Boarding ($50/day no size limit) and Small Dog Boarding ($35/day for dogs 35 lbs and under). We apologize for any inconvenience and hope you’ll stay in touch!

03/25/2024

Some doggies I am really excited to work with soon! Every one of these bebes is insane - but in a good way. My favorite.

03/21/2024

Mirabelle…how far you’ve come little lady. From the streets of Texas to the suburbs of Tennessee. She’s going to be here for a couple weeks for board and train!

01/01/2024

Archie‘s parents shared this beautiful picture with me this morning and it just makes me so happy! So thankful to have been part of so many dogs’ lives who have just needed some understanding :-)

01/01/2024

2023 was different. Weird.
Praying 2024 will be marked with a lot of positive change, clarity, and growth.