Some Minor Dog Training

Some Minor Dog Training Allen and Shalene Minor are dog trainers in Florida that do in-home training and board-and-trains.
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One of the biggest mindset shifts in dog training is learning not to take our dog’s behavior as a personal attack. Our d...
10/23/2025

One of the biggest mindset shifts in dog training is learning not to take our dog’s behavior as a personal attack. Our dog isn’t being stubborn to hurt us, isn’t ignoring us out of spite, and isn’t plotting ways to ruin our day. Dogs do what works, what feels natural, and what has been reinforced, whether on purpose or by accident.

The part that is personal is how we choose to respond.

When we respond with clarity instead of frustration, with guidance instead of anger, and with consistency instead of chaos, we create a dog that trusts us, understands us, and wants to work with us.

✨ What changes when we stop taking behavior personally:

We stay calmer and make better training decisions

We communicate more clearly

We become a source of stability that our dogs can confidently rely on

✨ What changes for the dog:

Less anxiety and confusion

Faster learning through consistent feedback

A stronger bond built on trust instead of tension

Our dog’s behavior is information, not an insult. How we respond is what shapes their future behavior. Lead with clarity. Respond with purpose. That’s where real progress begins. 🐶❤️

10/22/2025

A structured walk should start and end with intention.

When you begin your walk in a clear heel position, your dog learns to check in, stay connected, and follow your lead. It sets the tone for the rest of the outing. The first few minutes determine whether the walk will be calm and enjoyable or chaotic and stressful.

After that foundation is in place, you can give your dog time to decompress. Let them sniff, explore, and enjoy the world with more freedom. This satisfies natural instincts, lowers stress, and gives them an outlet to just be a dog.

Before you go back inside or return to the car, bring your dog back into a structured heel. Ending with structure reinforces the idea that the walk is a shared activity with clear expectations. You are not just letting the dog drag you home. You are leading with purpose from start to finish.

Start with structure. Allow freedom in the middle. End with structure. This rhythm builds a calmer mind, a stronger relationship, and a dog that can switch between excitement and control when it matters most. 🐶❤️

10/20/2025

DOG TRAINING VS. DOG REHABILITATION: What’s The Difference?

DOG TRAINING is about teaching skills, such as sit, stay, come, heel, place, and good leash manners. It focuses on communication, consistency, and structure so your dog understands what’s expected.

DOG REHABILITATION, on the other hand, is about changing mindset and emotional patterns. It’s for dogs with deeper behavioral challenges, such as fear, aggression, anxiety, or reactivity. Rehabilitation goes beyond commands. It works to rebuild trust, confidence, and calm through balanced structure and leadership.

In short:
Training teaches obedience.
Rehabilitation restores balance.

Both are vital, but they serve different purposes. A well-trained dog listens. A well-rehabilitated dog feels safe enough to listen.

If your dog knows the commands but still struggles emotionally, it might be time to look beyond training and focus on true rehabilitation. 🐶❤️

Impulse control isn’t something a dog is “born with.” It’s a skill that is built, strengthened and reinforced over time....
10/19/2025

Impulse control isn’t something a dog is “born with.” It’s a skill that is built, strengthened and reinforced over time.

Just like kids don’t learn patience in a day, dogs don’t instantly know how to ignore distractions, resist impulses or make calm choices in exciting situations. They need structure, consistency, and practice.

⭐ When we work impulse control into daily life, our dogs learn to:

• Wait calmly at thresholds instead of rushing through doors
• Hold positions like Sit, Down, or Place even with distractions
• Take food gently instead of snatching
• Walk politely on leash without pulling toward every scent, person, or dog
• Think before reacting, which reduces reactivity and builds confidence

Start with simple reps in low-distraction environments, then gradually increase the challenge. Keep sessions short, clear, and consistent. Celebrate the small wins and understand that progress is layered over hundreds of tiny moments, not one big breakthrough.

Teach patience, and you’ll unlock a calmer, more respectful, and more reliable dog in every part of life. 🐶❤️

This is Thalia, our Chinese Crested. She's the sweetest dog, but before you run out and get one, it's important to know ...
10/18/2025

This is Thalia, our Chinese Crested. She's the sweetest dog, but before you run out and get one, it's important to know a few things:

The Chinese Crested is one of the most unique and misunderstood breeds out there. Despite their name, their origins trace back to ancient Africa, where larger “African Hairless” dogs were bred down in size by Chinese sailors. These dogs were kept aboard ships to control vermin, prized for being alert, agile, and deeply bonded to their humans.

That history still shows in their modern behavior. Cresteds are incredibly people-oriented; they thrive on companionship and attention. Centuries of life as ship companions made them loyal and sensitive, but it also means they can struggle when left alone too long. Separation anxiety, clinginess, and excessive barking are common if they’re not taught independence early.

Their small size and expressive personalities can sometimes lead owners to treat them more like fragile ornaments than dogs. But these little ones are smart, athletic, and capable of real obedience when trained consistently.

⭐ Common behavioral issues include:

1. Over-attachment or separation anxiety

2. Barking when anxious or excited

3. Nervousness around new people or environments

4. “Velcro dog” tendencies (following you everywhere)

⭐ To prevent these:

1. Build independence. Start crate training and teach short separations early.

2. Socialize with confidence. Introduce new people and environments calmly and often.

3. Reward calm behavior. Don’t comfort fear, rather reward composure instead.

4. Create routines. Structure builds security for this sensitive breed.

A Chinese Crested’s loyalty is legendary, but their sensitivity can become a challenge if not guided properly. With consistent structure, calm leadership, and clear boundaries, that loyalty turns into one of the most affectionate and devoted relationships you’ll ever experience.

10/17/2025

As children, we're heavily supervised until our teenage years, with over a decade of structured confinement to our homes, our schools, or our parents' watchful eyes.

Think about that when you're frustrated about how long dog training takes. It doesn't happen overnight with kids OR puppies. 🐶❤️

Shepherds are going to try to herd. If we don't provide an outlet for that (even through play), that can easily turn int...
10/16/2025

Shepherds are going to try to herd. If we don't provide an outlet for that (even through play), that can easily turn into reactivity. Terriers are full of energy and are bred to dig. If we don't provide a physical outlet for that, and give clear boundaries, that can easily turn into digging in the garden. Huskies are runners with boundless energy. If they are not given adequate physical exercise, they can become escape artists who run away. And so on...

This is not to say that we need to sign our shepherds up for sheep herding, or that we need to build a digging area for our terriers. That's simply to say that certain breeds were bred to do certain things for hundreds of years, and that instinct doesn't just go away because they've never performed that activity. It's with them from birth. So, if we don't give them a way to release that energy, they'll often find their own way, which might not be the most appropriate.

This is why it's important to research our breeds, so we know how much physical exercise they need and what kind. Even if it's through play, we want to let them do what they were bred to do. 🐶❤️

10/15/2025

A lot of people try to understand their dog by understanding their past experiences, but we don't take into consideration that we're actively creating new "past experiences."

If we focus too much on the past, it changes our behavior. If the dog is fearful, for example, many people will be more timid, offer less structure, and, consequently, the human starts to APPEAR fearful, as well (the reason doesn't matter to the dog). So it's confirmation to the dog that they're right, and there IS something to be afraid of.

So we unintentionally end up forcing the dog to stay in that fear mindset. This means that the new "past experiences" that the dog will have mentally and emotionally will be the same as the ones that we're so concerned about.

Yes, knowing a dog's history can help us make informed decisions on how to react to them, but we have to be careful not to make that the focal point of our own mindsets and behaviors. A dog that has a traumatic past needs structure to know that they don't have to worry about handling things on their own. If we don't offer that, because we're afraid of hurting their feelings or something, then we're actually doing the opposite of what we're intending to do. And, you know what they say about intentions: The road to hell is sometimes paved with all the good ones. 🐶❤️

Obedience training isn’t just about teaching commands; it’s about creating connection.When you train your dog, you’re de...
10/14/2025

Obedience training isn’t just about teaching commands; it’s about creating connection.

When you train your dog, you’re developing a shared language built on trust, consistency, and respect. Every “sit,” “stay,” and “come” is a moment of teamwork where your dog learns that listening to you brings clarity, reward, and safety.

The structure gives them confidence. The consistency builds trust. And the time spent together turns communication into a true bond.

Dogs don’t just obey because they have to; they obey because they WANT to, when the relationship is built on understanding and leadership.

Obedience is love, practiced daily. 🐶❤️

SHOULD DOGS BE ALLOWED TO SLEEP ON THE BED? The short answer: It depends on the dog and household. If the dog doesn't ha...
10/13/2025

SHOULD DOGS BE ALLOWED TO SLEEP ON THE BED?

The short answer: It depends on the dog and household. If the dog doesn't have potty training issues, and it doesn't chew things up, we have no problem with it.

The only times we really have a firm "No" is when the above issues are present, or if the dog is resource guarding the bed from people or other animals. Even if the dog is simply growling when we get into bed, we want to send a very clear message that this is not THEIR bed. If we don't, then we're letting the dog know that guarding the bed is acceptable.

So we'll make the bed inaccessible for a few weeks. Any time they jump on it, we'll kick them off. They have lost that privilege. After a few weeks of that, when they're no longer trying to get on the bed, we'll start asking them to sit, and then INVITE THEM up. And we'll make it a rule that they can't get up unless they sit down first. It'll quickly become a habit for the dog to "ask permission" by sitting next to the bed and looking at us. This shows their understanding that this is OUR bed, and they have no right to guard it against others.

But, as long as there are no guarding incidents, and the dog doesn't have potty training accidents, or chew things up when we're not around, we're all for it.

As you can see from this photo, I love to sleep with Jack (Dogo Argentino). He went through the above process once when he was about 6 months old (Dogos have a very strong territorial nature), and he's now 5 years old with no other issues. Sometimes he lays on me, and sometimes I lay on him. He's my favorite dog to sleep with. 🐶❤️

10/12/2025

LITTERMATE SYNDROME occurs when two puppies raised together, usually from the same litter or of the same age (they don't have to be related), become overly dependent on one another. While getting two puppies might seem like a great idea, it can actually create long-term behavioral challenges. Instead of developing confidence and independence, the puppies form an intense bond that often leads to separation anxiety, difficulty focusing during training, and trouble adapting to new situations without their sibling.

Common signs of Littermate Syndrome include distress or panic when separated, poor response to commands, shyness toward people or other dogs, and even aggression as they mature. To help prevent or manage these issues, it’s important to train each puppy separately, encourage individual play and walks, and dedicate one-on-one time to each dog. This helps each puppy build confidence and form a strong bond with their human instead of relying solely on each other.

Raising puppies together successfully takes extra time, patience, and structure. When done right, both dogs can grow into confident, well-adjusted companions. Think of it like raising twins: they both need their own space, attention, and guidance to truly thrive. 🐶❤️

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