Walking with a Friend

01/02/2026

This is one of the very first questions I ask in an initial behavior consult:

“How much does your dog sleep during the day?”

And every time, people look surprised.

They were ready to tell me about the reactivity on walks, barking at the window, separation anxiety, pacing ...

Sleep feels unrelated.

But behavior is NEVER isolated.

What your dog does is not happening in a sterile bubble.
It’s shaped by everything they experience throughout the day.

That’s why I always ask about sleep.

Almost always, the answer is some version of:
“He’s actually awake most of the day.”
“She’s always on the go.”
“He doesn’t really nap.”

Often this gets framed as a personality trait.
Some people even see it as a badge of honor - a true working dog who’s always alert, always ready, always moving.

But that’s not how dogs are designed.

Dogs don’t have the same day–night rhythm that humans do.
We can be awake for 16 hours straight and still function reasonably well.

Dogs CANNOT.

Dogs need to sleep or nap every three to four hours.
When they don’t, we start to see the fallout:

Lower patience.
Reduced impulse control.
Shorter fuse.
More reactivity.
More stress.

And here’s the trap:
An overtired dog often can’t settle by themselves anymore.

They get wired, cranky, restless.
They react more.
They struggle to calm down.
Which means… they still don’t sleep.

That’s how dogs end up in a cycle of chronic stress and chronic sleep deprivation.

If a dog never naps, it’s not because they “don’t need sleep.”
It’s because they’re too dysregulated to get it on their own.

That’s why I don’t wait for dogs to figure this out themselves.

I actively "prescribe" naps.

That means:
- A quiet room away from household activity (eg a bedroom)
- A genuinely comfortable bed (not just a thin blanket! Think extra plush bed with walls they can snuggle up against)
- Toys put away
- Other pets separated
- No access to self-triggering, eg at the window
- Background sound like white noise, a fan, or soft music

Then we start with scheduled nap times.
Two naps a day, around two hours each.

And the shift can be remarkable!

Well-rested dogs are:
More patient
Less impulsive
Better learners
Less reactive

Sleep is also when learning consolidates.
So if you’re doing behavior modification or reactivity training, sleep isn’t optional. It’s part of the process.

If your dog doesn’t nap, that’s important information.
This is not "who your dog is".
It's not a sign of being extra energetic or driven.

It's a sign that they really need your help to get the restful sleep they need to live their happiest, least stressful lives and make progress in their training!!

12/30/2025

Is your dog ready for NYE celebrations? Fireworks are fun for people, but they can be very scary for dogs!!! The loud noises, flashing lights, and busy crowds often cause anxiety, and some dogs may even run away out of fear. Taking a few simple steps can help keep your dog calm, safe, and comfortable for the night!

12/30/2025

BOOMS AND BANGS
THOSE DREADED FIREWORKS!

I’ll be spending New Year’s Eve at home, in my pajamas, cuddled up with my dogs, as I always do.

Personally, I detest fireworks. Not only are they terrifying for so many different animals, but are also dreaded by many people, who have to watch, often helplessly as their dog suffers the trauma of the deafening, relentless bangs, all because of fleeting human entertainment.

Shelters become overrun with lost dogs, dogs are knocked over by cars or go missing in their attempt to escape, they jump through glass windows, over high walls, have heart attacks, seizures or worse.

As there’s very little we can do to prevent other people from doing what they do, the best solution is to do all we can to minimize the impact this has on our dogs.

All dogs are different and there’s never a guarantee that any of these methods will work, but we owe it to our dogs to try and make it better.

For more detailed information, here are some useful links –

Dr Karolina Westlund - ILLIS Animal Behaviour
https://illis.se/en/eliminating-firework-and-thunder-phobia-in-dogs/

Dogs Trust – various resources to help dogs cope with fireworks
https://www.dogstrust.org.uk/search?q=fireworks .tab=0&gsc.q=fireworks&gsc.page=1

Noise of fireworks for desensitization training –
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7FANXaanG4

Calming dog music – Pet Calming Maestro, Lisa Spector (Lisa’s music helps me relax and fall asleep quicker too!)
https://lisaspector.com/dog-gone-calm

Thundershirt / anxiety wraps information -
https://www.dutch.com/blogs/dogs/thunder-shirts-for-dogs?srsltid=AfmBOoquuaLUOrdLldnBrAsDT5wDByrW4Ax8XpTx3u0RZ8izhwJEWc8w

Wishing you and dogs everywhere a calm, peaceful, uneventful beginning to 2026.

12/29/2025

🐾 Train Your Dog Month begins January 1!

January is dedicated to educating the world about humane, science-based dog training—because how we teach matters just as much as what we teach.

Throughout Train Your Dog Month, we’ll be sharing:
✔️ Educational resources
✔️ Real training stories
✔️ Tools to support dogs and the people who love them at trainyourdogmonth.com

Join us in setting the standard for kinder, more effective training.
📣 Follow along and be ready to share starting January 1.

12/29/2025

As New Year’s Eve fireworks approach, many dog parents are told not to comfort their dogs when they are scared because it might “reinforce fear.” Let’s clear that up.

• Fear is an emotion, not a behavior

• Emotions cannot be reinforced

• Comforting a scared dog helps lower stress hormones, supports the nervous system, and builds emotional safety over time

When your dog is afraid of fireworks, loud noises, or sudden sounds, offering comfort is not coddling. It is meeting a real emotional need and helping your dog feel safe in a moment of stress.

Comforting your dog during fireworks can:
• reduce panic and anxiety
• support faster emotional recovery
• build trust and resilience for future loud events

If your dog struggles with firework anxiety, noise phobias, or fear based behaviors, you are not doing harm by staying close, offering reassurance, or creating a safe space. You are helping their nervous system regulate.

👉 If you need support for a dog who is scared of fireworks or loud noises, our team specializes in fear free, science based dog behavior support. We create practical training plans that provide real relief for dogs and their families.

🔗 Learn more about our programs:
https://petharmonytraining.com/services/clients/

12/24/2025

🐾Why Calm Observation Matters When Desensitizing a Dog and Building Confidence🐾

One of the most overlooked yet powerful tools in behavior modification is calm observation. 🚫 Not correction
🚫 Not reassurance
🚫 Not distraction
Simply the ability to observe a dog without emotion, urgency, or interference.

When we rush to “fix” a dog’s reaction, we often miss the most important information they are giving us: how they are processing the world in real time.

Desensitization is not about forcing exposure. It is about allowing a dog to experience a stimulus at a level they can emotionally tolerate. Calm observation is how we determine that threshold.

🐾Dogs Learn Through
Emotional Association, Not
Explanation🐾

Dogs do not rationalize experiences the way humans do. They associate sensations, environments, and stimuli with how their body feels in that moment.

If a dog encounters something new or triggering and feels:
• pressured
• restrained
• rushed
• soothed with anxious energy
• corrected for reacting

the nervous system does not register safety. It registers conflict.

Calm observation allows the dog to investigate without being pulled forward or pulled away.
It tells the dog, “You are allowed to notice. You are allowed to think.”

That freedom to process is the foundation of confidence.

🐾Observation Prevents
Flooding🐾

Flooding occurs when a dog is exposed to too much, too fast, without the ability to disengage. Many well-meaning owners accidentally flood their dogs by assuming “they’ll get used to it.”

When you are calmly observing, you notice:
• subtle weight shifts
• breathing changes
• ear position
• scanning or freezing
• hesitation before approach

These early signals tell you when the dog is nearing their threshold. If you miss them, the dog will escalate because subtle communication was ignored.

Confidence is built when the dog feels heard before they feel overwhelmed.

🐾Your Nervous System Sets
The Tone🐾

Dogs are highly attuned to human energy. When you hover, tense up, talk excessively, or anticipate a reaction, the dog’s nervous system mirrors that state.

Calm observation requires neutrality.

🚫 No cheerleading.
🚫 No bracing for impact.
🚫 No disappointment if they
hesitate.

When your body is relaxed and your presence is steady, the dog receives a clear message: there is no emergency here.

That message matters more than treats, commands, or praise.

🐾Stillness Gives the Dog
Agency🐾

Agency is the ability to choose. A dog that feels trapped cannot build confidence.

Calm observation allows the dog to:
• approach at their own pace
• retreat if needed
• re-engage when ready

Each self-directed choice strengthens the dog’s belief in their ability to cope. That belief is confidence.

We don’t build brave dogs by dragging them through fear. We build brave dogs by allowing them to discover they can handle discomfort without being pushed past it.

🐾Reactivity Often Comes From Not Being Allowed to Observe🐾

Many reactive dogs were never given time to simply look.

They were corrected for staring.
Pulled away too quickly.
Redirected before they could process.

As a result, the dog learns that triggers predict chaos, tension, or loss of control. Calm observation rewires that pattern.

Looking is not reacting.
Noticing is not danger.

When a dog is allowed to observe calmly, the brain has time to shift from survival to assessment.

🐾Confidence Is Built in Quiet
Moments🐾

Progress does not always look dramatic. Sometimes it looks like:
• a dog pausing instead of
panicking
• softer eyes
• a deeper breath
• choosing to disengage on
their own

These moments are easy to miss if you are focused on outcomes instead of awareness.

Calm observation teaches us to value what truly matters: a regulated nervous system.

Final Thought….

Behavior change does not happen because we control the dog. It happens because the dog learns they are safe enough to learn.

Calm observation is not passive. It is intentional restraint. It is leadership without pressure. It is trust without force.

When we slow down enough to truly observe, we stop training reactions and start building confidence.

And that changes everything.
🤗🐾❤️

12/24/2025

Let's take a moment to think about the unrealistic expectations we put on our pets. While some pets may tolerate certain festive activities, most would likely prefer to sit them out. From crowded gatherings to loud noises, the sights, sounds, and smells of the holiday season can be overwhelming for our pets.

It's important to remember that pets have their own preferences and comfort levels. Just because we enjoy certain aspects of the holidays doesn't mean they do!

When we acknowledge that our pets might not share our enthusiasm for every festive tradition, we can make more thoughtful choices.

By recognizing their needs and stressors, we can take proactive steps to ensure their well-being. This might mean giving them a quiet space to retreat to, adjusting plans to avoid overwhelming them, or simply letting them opt-out of certain activities.

At the end of the day, the holidays are about celebrating with loved ones—including our pets. Let's make sure we're considering their needs and comfort, so we can all enjoy a safe and stress-free season together!

12/18/2025