2 Dog Trail Positive Dog Training

06/07/2026

Soak cucumbers in bone broth for 24 hours.
Then drain and store in freezer for easy, cheap, healthy dog treats 🥒🐶🦴🍖

06/07/2026

06/05/2026

Yes, of course we should ask the dog! Except when we shouldn’t...

I was at the airport the other day and there was a gorgous "therapy" dog there. The man had his leash wrapped tightly around his hand and he went around from person to person, physically positioning the dog while hands groped his body. The dog looked as though he had completely shut down.

He came over to me and I simply smiled, had a short conversation, and kept my hands to myself. There was clearly no reason for me to even ask this dog.

When it comes to touching a dog, especially for "petting" purposes, I almost always prefer to let the dog ask me, rather than the other way around. This is especially true if they are unfamiliar to me, eating, chewing, sniffing, exploring, resting, sleeping, watching something interesting, or already engaged in another activity.

Asking is important, but asking is not always neutral. Sometimes the question itself creates social pressure. It asks the dog to respond to us, manage our proximity, and make a choice in a moment when they may have preferred not to be included in the interaction at all. That is why “ask the dog” should not mean interrupting whatever they are doing to offer touch.

Sometimes the more respectful question is the one we don't ask. Their body is not an open invitation just because they are nearby.

So, first: Don’t ask. Wait!

Notice what the dog is already doing. Notice whether they are awake, relaxed, and available for interaction. Notice whether they are choosing to come closer, stay nearby, orient toward you, soften, nudge, lean, or re-engage.

When there is some indication that the dog may be asking us, or is at least fully awake and engaged with us, then yes, ask before assuming. When we do ask, it needs to be an actual question, not a polite announcement before we do what we wanted to do anyway. We can ask by inviting them into our space. By turning slightly sideways instead of looming. Soft eye contact without staring. By inviting interaction without closing the distance.

The most important part is whether “no” was easy, safe, and respected.

A dog who turns away, ducks, freezes, licks their lips, goes still, moves off, exposes their belly, or simply does not re-engage has answered.

But better yet, LET THEM ASK YOU!

Dogs ask us in quiet and not so quiet ways. They come closer, sometimes guns blazing with tail wagging widely and a loose, wriggly body. They choose to stay. They make soft eye contact in conjunction with these other asks. They press into us. They nudge a hand. They lean a shoulder or hip against us. They paw our hand, they rest a chin on us give us a soft look. They return after we stop. They make the interaction mutual.

And even then, it is still a conversation, not a contract!

The dog who wanted touch thirty seconds ago may be done now. The dog who leaned in for a chest scratch may not want a hand over their head. The dog who enjoys affection on the sofa may not want it while chewing a bone.

So yes, ask the dog and never assume! But first, ask whether this is even a moment in which the dog should have to negotiate an answer.

05/20/2026

🐾 Training Tip Tuesday: Teach Your Dog to Keep All 4 Paws on the Floor 🐾

Tired of being greeted by a flying dog every time you walk in the door?

Jumping is totally normal, but we can teach a better way for our pups to ask for attention!

Check out our tips below!

05/18/2026

What’s your dog’s “thing”?
Because it might not be the $70 enrichment toy sitting untouched in the corner.

Enrichment has become a massive buzz word lately.
Every second product promises mental stimulation, calmness and fulfilment.

But real enrichment?
It’s much simpler .

Some dogs would choose shredding cardboard over a puzzle toy every single time.
Some want to sniff every blade of grass.
Some thrive on running, jumping and movement.
Some love chewing and licking.
Some enjoy solving problems.
Some just want to quietly watch the world go by.

That’s the bit we can miss.

We start choosing enrichment based on trends, marketing or what other dogs enjoy instead of observing our own dogs and what brings them joy.

A dog walking away from a puzzle toy is not “failing enrichment”.
They may simply be telling you
“This isn’t my thing.”

So what is?💭

05/13/2026

Did you know? According to a study, zoonotic diseases that may occur from contact with dog f***s include campylobacteriosis, salmonellosis, cryptosporidiosis, and E. coli infection.

Not to mention, a variety of parasites can be passed from dog to human (most often children) if your dog isn’t properly de-wormed. Particularly problematic may be roundworms and hookworms.

Discover several dangers associated with letting dogs go off leash: https://dogdiscoveries.com/training/10-dangers-of-letting-a-dog-go-off-leash/

05/13/2026

Did you know?

When dogs are provided with stable routines, their brain begins learning patterns of familiar predictability.

Over time, the dog no longer needs to continuously monitor the environment for sudden changes or potential threats.

Psychologically, this creates a sense of control and safety. The dog develops reliable expectations about when important daily events will occur.

Discover more about why dogs love routines and how you can make their lives better: https://dogdiscoveries.com/behavior/why-do-dogs-like-routines-a-look-into-their-inner-worlds/

05/02/2026

A puppy can live in a loving, safe home and still feel overwhelmed, uncertain, or unsure how to navigate the world. And when that happens, we often see things like:

-Struggling when left alone
-Hesitation or fear around new people or places
-Reactivity or “overreactions”
-Difficulty settling when it’s naptime
-Avoidance or shutdown in seemingly normal situations

Because most of us were taught that if a dog is safe, they should feel fine. But here’s the missing piece: safety and security are not the same thing.

Check out our new blog post where Emily breaks down the difference between the two and how to create a better training and enrichment plan for your puppy: https://petharmonytraining.com/safe-vs-secure-what-we-get-wrong-about-puppy-confidence/

04/11/2026

While it might seem like a good idea to tempt a worried dogs over with a tasty treat. This is often creating conflict and putting the dog in a position they weren’t yet ready to choose.

It teaches our worried dogs the wrong message, approach the thing that scares you. Then we have a dog in a situation they can’t escape from and bites are more likely.

So what can we do instead? Treats can come from the handler, or the new person can toss food away from them. Still a nice association without the pressure and with plenty of reinforcement to make the right choices.

Find tips and trials for the sensitive souls on the App.