Devil Dog Training LLC

04/05/2023

Got logged off of this account for a while. Theo on our hike last week ❤️

12/16/2022

Meet Turner! I actually picked him up from an animal shelter near me. I believe he is an approximately 7 month old Doberman Pinscher. He’s such a cool dog, passing all temperament tests with flying colors and extra bonus is that he is so cuddly. He may be available at a later date!

11/29/2022

Washing a dog is hard. It’s not a decision that can be made lightly and isn’t a decision that someone should have to make alone.

Unfortunately there is an up to 70% wash rate for service dogs, including owner trained and program dogs. Service dogs are the elite dogs, more dogs are suitable for a given bite sport than there are dogs suitable to be a service dog.

Part of this reality is due to breeding. Few programs have their own breeding programs that produce future service dogs. Instead many programs outsource from other breeders who may not necessarily breed solely for service work.

Another part is due to the fact that service dogs are on duty 24/7. It takes a very special dog that can work all the time. We don’t expect people to be on call 24/7, so it’s hard to expect that of an animal.

Programs have it easier because we have less invested in these dogs. But owners pour their hearts and souls into training their dogs and are heartbroken when they wash. It’s the nature of the game.

The point of this post is that I want you to know that if you are considering or have washed your service dog in training, you are not alone. And I can say with some degree of certainty that you are likely correct in believing that your dog was not up to the task. Because so few are. If you aren’t able to keep your previous service dog and had to rehome it, you ARE valid. The reality is that not everyone can hold onto every dog and you wanted to began to train your service dog for a reason.

There is a problem in the service dog community where we shame handlers who make the decision that is ultimately best for their dog to rehome them. If you are unable to provide the best life for your washed service dog, REHOME IT. Every single dog deserves to be someone’s entire world. If you cannot provide that for a dog then find someone who will.

There is no shame in having to rehome a washed service dog. There is no shame in having to rehome multiple washed service dogs. It’s a sad reality that owners and programs face every day. But shaming people in the community for doing what they believe to be right for their dog is one of the biggest things wrong with the community.

11/19/2022

Hugo has a meet up with a potential handler to see if he might be a good fit. Wish him luck! He’s such a sweet man.

11/17/2022

Hugo tonight at our photo shoot to try out my new camera body. He’s such a looker but also so goofy looking. Still taking applications for this amazing guy!

11/01/2022

Introducing my new board and train Roux! He belongs to .w.roux

He’s a wonderful SDiT that needs a little tune up on obedience and public access skills. So far he’s been a pleasure to have around the house.

Currently we are working on natural engagement, since he is a bit of a teenage golden boy and is very enveloped in the smells around him.

09/24/2022

I’m sitting here writing this, still reeling and in shock. On Monday I said goodbye to Zion, my best friend. No words can describe how much this amazing dog meant to me.

Zion was my little spoon, my hiking buddy, my comfort, my working partner, my service dog, my everything. Without her here I feel so lost, I have no idea how to recover from her being gone. She was my rock for the past year and a half. And she was taken far too soon.

She touched the lives of so many people, and brought joy to all those who knew her. I can’t express how much it pains me to say that she will never again brighten someone’s day. I can’t believe I’ll never see her again.

I love you so much baby girl, my mama, I will miss you till the end of my days.

1/28/2021-9/19/2022

09/06/2022

Glad that I’m not home right now and am instead camping, it’s 115° where I live!

09/03/2022

Best buddies!

Hugo has been having a hard time with Arlo leaving, they were always out together. Hoping that things brighten up for him!

09/02/2022

Congratulations AJ and Arlo on graduation!

Today Arlo had her final transfer day where she was tested on public access. She did great! A few hiccups with how far I parked from the testing site but AJ handled her so well!

I cannot wait to see their partnership grow ❤️

08/26/2022

Exciting things are happening! Arlo went to her new home with and is doing great. We are slowly transitioning her over with daily training days! Because Arlo has gone to her new handler, Zion is being brought back into work and is loving life!

08/13/2022

After the last group of board and trains that I have going home this next week Arlo’s transfer begins! Then Zion, Hugo and I will be headed out on a road trip to hit some national parks!

So excited to take some space from working like crazy and spend some time with the dogs.

07/07/2022

We have been on a hiatus due to moving and some time off with only 0-1 board and trains but we are now back in full swing! More content to come soon!

06/07/2022

Meet Little Roo! I get the lucky chance to foster this girl through her recovery after Surgery tomorrow. I’m so happy that she’s getting the help that she needs from

06/06/2022

https://gofund.me/9130ffbd

Hello, my name is Catherine. I was contacted by an acquaintance yesterday, June 5th, and was told that a young Belgian Malinois puppy was going to dropped off at a shelter. I promptly jumped in the car and drove an hour and a half to pick up the puppy from San Francisco. Upon arrival, I realized that there was something seriously wrong with her right elbow and immediately contacted Emergency Veterinarians in the area to get her looked at. After an $860 vet bill, I was told she needed emergency corrective surgery to repair a chronic complete elbow fracture. The injury happened on May 31st, five days prior. The emergency vet told us that it would have had a better prognosis had the puppy been taken to the vet immediately and had it repaired. I now write this message in hopes that her story will lead you to donate to our cause. She needs emergency surgery that I cannot afford on my own, so I am reaching out to animal lovers to help her. I want to do right by her, and she doesn't deserve the life of pain she has been living. Anything will help this sweet girl who needs a loving home and family. I will keep her until I find a suitable adopter for her, but in the meantime am asking for help to save her life.

Hello, my name is Catherine. I was contacted by an acquaintance yesterday, June… Catherine Mason needs your support for A homeless puppy with a huge vet bill

05/21/2022

Devil Dog Training LLC is hiring at our Woodland CA location. We are looking for reliable individuals who would be interested in our assistant trainer position and overnight care attendant position. We are willing to hire one individual for both positions, or two hardworking people.

Our assistant trainers responsibilities would include:
- Learning our balanced training methods
- Training board and train dogs with our methods
- Helping keep our workspace clean and organized
- Taking dogs to potty
- Exercising and walking dogs

Our overnight care attendant would be able to:
- Come to our Woodland CA facility and stay for a period of time taking care of the dogs

We are seeking out candidates who:
- Loves dogs and is also good with people
Has dog training experience (preferred)
- Reliable and consistent
- Physical ability to be walking, standing, lifting heavy things, be out in the heat, and clean
- Must live near WOODLAND, CA or be willing to commute
- Reliable transportation

04/07/2022

On this day one year ago head trainer Catherine flew across the United States and picked up her working dog Zion. She’s been such a great addition to the team. Scroll for some baby Zion pictures.

04/05/2022

Exciting things to come from our trainers. This month we are taking a month away from board and trains to work on some exciting plans!

01/02/2022

Arlo is now available to be matched with a handler as a started or finished service dog!

Some information about her:
⠀⠀ ↠ chocolate lab
⠀⠀ ↠ half show half field line
⠀⠀ ↠ female
⠀⠀ ↠ 1.5 years old
⠀⠀ ↠ 62 lbs
⠀⠀ ↠ 24 inches tall

In order to inquire about her please submit a contact form on the website. We are not a non-profit and therefore she will not be donated. The cost of raising and training a service dog is quite substantial.

11/29/2021

The business took a little holiday for Thanksgiving but is now back and ready to receive the dogs coming for training. Here is a photo of my dog Zion last week at schutzhund club. She is perfect meanwhile I need so work on position, time to start training in front of a mirror again.

11/05/2021

The Company:
Devil Dog Training L.L.C. is a newly started professional dog training company in Yolo County looking for highly motivated individuals who would like to earn living training dogs. Training experience is preferred, but not required. But good dog sense is a must. We are looking for someone with great people skills, a willingness to learn and who prides themselves on being responsible and reliable. This business isn't just about training the dogs, it is also teaching the owners.

Qualifications:
- Good dog sense
- Good communicator
- Ability to board at least 2 dogs at residence after internship
- Strong work ethic and independence
- Flexible work schedule
- Reliable transportation
- Responsible
- If you have not professionally trained or interned before and you have your own dog, your training ability should have produced a dog that has: good off leash skills, good recall, engagement around distractions, responsiveness to commands.

Compensation:
While interning: Begins at $16/hr with opportunity for raise (more pay for more experience)
Once trained: You will take your own clients with an estimated salary of $75k-$100k

10/15/2021

Why do I use electric training collars (e-collar)?

These are often given the worst reputation of all training tools, and commonly are referred to as “shock collars.” Which is already putting the conversation in a bad place.

Yes, the collar produces a sensation that could theoretically be described as a “shock.” However, the described “shock” is actually muscle stimulation- something that is regularly used in physiotherapy (think of a TENS unit.) The prongs of the e-collar use electricity to stimulate the muscles in the neck to contract, thus turning the dogs head to one side.

There are a lot of misconceptions about the e-collar:

↠ the only purpose is to punish or for recall

↠ the e-collar is always aversive

↠ the vibrate is less aversive than a low stim

So, let me explain. I use the e-collar majorly as a reinforcer, not a punishment. And while I do use it for enforcing recall, it is so much more versatile. Having the e-collar allows me to reinforce and clarify behaviors such as heel, postions (sit/down/etc.), and speed up most commands.

Now, this is because the way that I use the e-collar is meant to be a motivator- it is NOT meant to be aversive.

If I use a low stim on the dog it is NOT painful (when you use a good e-collar such as one for e collar technologies.)

And thus I can use it to motivate the dog to do the behavior more enthusiastically and faster rather than depleting the dogs excitement with aversion.

When I speak to clients about how they have been using their e-collar before contacting me, they say that they use it to punish their dog… “but ONLY with the vibrate setting!”

This to me means that: if the vibrate setting is aversive enough to punish and stop a behavior then it is more aversive than the low stim.

There are no levels that are hardly detectable to the dog on vibrate, meaning that it is FAR more stimulation than a low stim (which most dogs begin to feel around 5-7 on a range of 0-100.)

When used correctly the e-collar is a fantastic tool to COMMUNICATE correctly and clearly with a dog on and off leash. Correctly being the key word.

09/30/2021

Back from vacation and beginning to pick up the board and trains again! I will be replying to emails, messages and contacts as quickly as possible

09/20/2021

The Company:

Devil Dog Training L.L.C. is a newly started professional dog training company in Yolo County looking for highly motivated individuals who would like to earn living training dogs. Training experience is preferred, but not required. But good dog sense is a must. We are looking for someone with great people skills, a willingness to learn and who prides themselves on being responsible and reliable. This business isn't just about training the dogs, it is also teaching the owners.

Qualifications:

- Good dog sense

- Good communicator

- Ability to board at least 2 dogs at residence

- Strong work ethic and independence

- Flexible work schedule

- Reliable transportation

- Responsible

- If you have not professionally trained or interned before and you have your own dog, your training ability should have produced a dog that has: good off leash skills, good recall, engagement around distractions, responsiveness to commands.

Compensation:

While interning: Begins at $16/hr with opportunity for raise
Once trained: You will take your own clients with an estimated salary of $60k-$100k

09/08/2021

We welcomed two new board and trains today! This is Remi, he’s a puppy that has come to me for a board and train to work on some basic obedience and freshen up some manners. He sure is a handsome boy!

09/06/2021

Welcoming Monk, a service dog in training owned by here for board and train! During his stay I’ll be working on basic to advanced obedience, task training, and public access. Really excited to see this pup progress, so far he seems like a super guy.

08/25/2021

08/04/2021

What’s all the hype around 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀?

First things first, what exactly is a marker? Markers are a form of operant conditioning, which is the idea that an association is formed between a behavior and a consequence.

When the dog exhibits a behavior that we like, the following consequence is a reward. If the dog does not exhibit the behavior the consequence is a lack of reward. In order for a dog to associate the behavior with a reward or punishment these things must come immediately after the behavior.

General rule of thumb is that the reward should come half a second after the behavior so that the dog associates. Instead of following this time frame, however, we connect the behavior and the consequence. This connection is a word, what trainers call a “marker”, or clicker. This word can be any word or sound as long as it is consistent.

The idea of this word is that it creates a snapshot of the exact moment in time that the dog did the desired behavior.

For example, you are letting your dog out of the crate. You open the crate, it waits, you release the dog, it comes out, it sits, looks at you, and then you reward. How is your dog supposed to figure out what the desired behavior was? If instead you open the crate, it waits, you release the dog, it comes out, it sits, 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘬, looks at you, the dog now understands that the sit was the desired behavior.

The basics of marker training is the teaching of a few core words. These words are an activator such as “ready”, a terminal positive marker such as “yes”, a negative marker such as “no”, a positive duration marker such as “good”, and a “done” marker that lets the dog know when training is over.

What I mean by “yes” being terminal is that when the dog hears that marker, they are released from the behavior. In the video you can see C**t is released from his lured down with the “yes” marker. For a duration “good” we expect the dog to stay in position, also demonstrated in the video.

Just about any word can be a marker for different things though. I have learned to use “toy” as a marker that means get the toy from me, “go” as a marker that means get the toy from somewhere else, “get it” as a marker to get food away from me, and many more.

08/03/2021

Devil Dog Training is proud to announce we are now a dealer for E-Collar Technologies. Contact us for all your E-Collar needs!