Redeeming Dogs - Dallas/Fort Worth Dog Training

07/24/2025

I don't interact with dogs the way most people do. When I come into where the dog is when I've been away I usually just open the crate and immediately walk into the yard with zero interaction. I walk around and the dog goes to the bathroom. When the dog looks calm I call it to me and begin interaction, if I need to collar up and leash the dog I do it then. There's absolutely no reason to get your dog all worked up and create some over the top greeting ritual. That is overwhelming to many many dogs. If I need to take the dog out on a leash from the start I reach into the crate and collar the dog up without a word or eye contact and then we are off into the world.

01/31/2025

If you were to think of your dog as weighing all stimulus in terms of opportunity and safety you'd be far closer to understanding how your dog actually works.

12/30/2024

We are starting to get the calls from people who got a puppy for Christmas. That's a good thing, we like to start our relationship early and get people off to a strong start. It's so much easier to avoid a problem than to fix it later. The puppy socialization window ENDS at 16 weeks old, it a crucial time to do some important things that don't take all that much time. Give us a call or visit us at redeemingdogs.com. :)

11/04/2024

One of the worst things you can do to your dog is to not crate train it, or to not keep that training up for the life of the dog. It severely limits things you can do and places you can take your dog. In the inevitable situations where it does have to be confined the dog suffers a great deal of stress.

10/31/2024

The most brittle temperaments I see in dogs are the dogs that have the least boundaries put upon them. Dogs that have human company 24/7, dogs that aren't ever crated, dogs that are fed on the dot at the exact same time each day. A small world contributes to that a lot too. To me a small world is just that, a dog that rarely leaves it's own house or yard, and rarely is within proximity of other dogs or humans not part of it's family. Bits of stress here and there, intelligently introduced, are what inoculates a dog against stress.

10/15/2024

Training a dog to hunt does not begin with hunting. Training a dog to do protection work does not begin with biting. Training a dog to run with you does not start with taking the dog on runs. Training a dog to walk with you does not begin with taking the dog on walks. You cannot start at the finish line.

09/14/2024

Dog owners are often very eager for us to see the dog at it's worst. They want to show us how the dog explodes on the leash, or freaks out when people arrive at the house, or the terror it feels in situations that don't warrant fear.

We already know what a dog operating out of fear or adrenaline looks like. We've seen a thousand of them. Seeing your dog lose it's cool won't provide any information to us. The whole point of dog training is to help the dog manage it's emotions and stay out of adrenaline and fear.

So training for your dog doesn't start with your dog at it's worst, it should start with your dog at it's best. Dog is comfortable, feels safe, triggers aren't present. This is where the foundation is created that will allow you to work on triggers later. Get victories over little triggers and the big triggers will shrink in impact as well.

If you have a dog that is having moments at it's worst contact us at Redeeming Dogs and we can probably help. We will come to your house, or if you're out of our area we offer zoom calls now. Let's move towards a future where your dog is at it's best more and more. :)

07/24/2024

More than one dog trainer will tell you they often see overweight dogs have more behavioral things going on. I think it's because the simplest discipline you can follow with a dog is food discipline. If owners haven't followed food discipline with their dogs they typically haven't followed other types of discipline. When I say discipline in this context you can equate to structure or control.

07/13/2024

Sometimes if it isn't broken you shouldn't fix it but you can improve it. My historical approach to dog training had me doing all the in home consultations, and using a firm rule that dogs for board and train don't come until they are six months old. I didn't do Zoom calls because I didn't see much value in it.

Some changes have leveled up the above solutions, which were already tested and solidified by experience over the last 18 years.

Jon Van D**e, a trainer friend of mine who cut his teeth training dogs for TV, movies, and Hollywood folks, is now working closely with me. Adding his 35 years of training experience to mine we have over 53 years of dog training experience. Changes as follows:

Jon is doing 100% of my in homes now. He came with me many many times over months to be sure there's a Redeeming Dogs spin on what he does, and he's getting very good reviews from clients. I've thrown some doozies his way and he's handled them all. This gives us more flexibility as to consultation times. I only did in homes Monday - Friday during the day. Jon will come out weekdays, Saturdays, or evenings to help people.

Jon has had a lot of success doing zoom calls to help dogs, so we are adding that to the mix. We can assist folks outside of our geographical area if you need us, or if you just need some insights on an issue that may not require an in home.

Finally, I've been experimenting with having dogs already signed up for board and train at 6 months come stay for a week as younger puppies (4-5 months old). Not in training but getting used to living in a group of balanced dogs and adapting to the routine. I'm seeing how those dogs are turning out now and I'm very pleased. So you don't HAVE to send the pup early before board and train but I'm recommending it strongly. I'm also offering a week of brush up for existing Board and Train grads. A client requested it for their dog and they were very pleased with the results.

I think the above changes allow Redeeming Dogs to help the most clients in the best way. Let us know if you need help.

07/11/2024

You are the primary influencer of your dog's response to stimuli. There are some things that are outside of your influence but you drive most of the dog's behavior.
There's a faucet on the exterior of my dog barn, I use it to fill up the outside water bowl and wash off the porch. When I use this faucet, although the dogs inside hear it, there is no response. The reason is I'm careful to only use the faucet AFTER I put the dogs up, I use it after I leave the barn. If I were to begin by using the faucet THEN go into the dogs it would be a predictor of my imminent appearance and would create excitement. Similarly, there is a sprinkler head that sprays the metal barn wall. The dogs never respond. It is a loud recurring noise but it holds no significance.

When you come home and the dog is super excited - do you immediately let him out? If you do you are driving the behavior. He feels that being excited is part of the process of being let out. Leash reactivity and so many other behaviors are being initiated and driven by you. If you'd like to learn more about this we are available for in home consultations, and we have recently added Zoom calls which can work through a lot more than you might think!

07/10/2024

There's a popular saying some dog trainers say - "Your dog didn't get this way over night and we can't fix it overnight". I can kind of understand that, but it's dead wrong. It's wrong because the minute you start to understand your dog better, how it's brain works, how it differs in world perspective from you, the dog can change. There are trainers out there selling long term services for simple behavioral and obedience issues that leave the dog unchanged - because they focus on the dog.
Our three hour in home consultation is primarily about seeing the relationship as it stands and then introducing the dog psychology information you need to know, then practicing with those concepts in mind. Jon Van D**e, a trainer for TV, movies, and Hollywood sorts has 35 years experience. He can fundamentally change your relationship with your dog for the better - in three hours. The dog is responding to your behavioral cues. When your cues change the dog will in response change.

Take a look at our Google Reviews, give us a call, we'd love to talk to you about what is going on with your dog. You could be three hours away from a far better friendship with your dog.

5.0 ★ · Dog trainer