Bullys Behaven Dog Training and Behavior Modification

11/06/2025

Halo and Kimber

11/06/2025

Halo is a South African Boerboel and is 175lbs. He came here reactive to dogs and some people and stimuli. After a lot of work and desensitization Halo is doing really well. Here is Halo and Diesel

10/27/2025

Desensitization Over Sit: Why Socialization Matters More Than Obedience for Puppies and Adult dogs

When you bring home a new dog, especially a puppy, it is tempting to focus on obedience training right away. Commands like sit, stay, and come feel essential, but the truth is that no one ever gave up a dog because it did not sit perfectly. Most dogs are surrendered because they are fearful, reactive, anxious, or unable to handle the world around them. That is why desensitization and puppy socialization are far more important than perfect obedience in the early months of training.

The Importance of Desensitization and Socialization

Desensitization training means gently exposing your puppy to new sights, sounds, people, and places in a calm and positive way. This helps them learn that the world is safe and predictable. A puppy who becomes comfortable with everyday things like the vacuum cleaner, delivery people, or traffic noise will grow into a confident and well balanced adult dog. Early socialization teaches your dog how to adapt to new environments and experiences without fear or reactivity.

Why Obedience Should Come Later

A dog who can handle the unexpected does not need constant commands. They naturally make better choices because they are calm and confident, not anxious or reactive. Obedience training can always be added later, but emotional stability and trust must come first. Teaching a puppy to sit has value, but it will not help much if they panic every time a stranger walks by or a door slams. Early social experiences shape your dog’s brain and influence how they respond to the world for the rest of their life.

Building a Calm, Confident Dog

A calm and adaptable dog is a joy to live with and welcome almost anywhere. Desensitization and socialization are not flashy forms of training, and you will not get as many brag worthy moments as you would teaching tricks, but they are the invisible foundation of good behavior. By helping your puppy feel safe and secure in different situations, you are preventing future behavior problems before they start.

 Some of the world’s most well behaved dogs live in NYC and that is because of two things. One people must walk there dogs because they don’t have yards. Two, NYC has the most distractions then any other city on earth and the desensitization that goes on living there is unmatched.

So yes, teach your dog to sit, but first, teach them that the world is a safe and wonderful place to be. The lessons learned through proper socialization and desensitization will outlast every obedience cue they ever learn.

10/27/2025

Desensitization Over Sit: Why Socialization Matters More Than Obedience for Puppies

When you bring home a new dog, especially a puppy, it is tempting to focus on obedience training right away. Commands like sit, stay, and come feel essential, but the truth is that no one ever gave up a dog because it did not sit perfectly. Most dogs are surrendered because they are fearful, reactive, anxious, or unable to handle the world around them. That is why desensitization and puppy socialization are far more important than perfect obedience in the early months of training.

The Importance of Desensitization and Socialization

Desensitization training means gently exposing your puppy to new sights, sounds, people, and places in a calm and positive way. This helps them learn that the world is safe and predictable. A puppy who becomes comfortable with everyday things like the vacuum cleaner, delivery people, or traffic noise will grow into a confident and well balanced adult dog. Early socialization teaches your dog how to adapt to new environments and experiences without fear or reactivity.

Why Obedience Should Come Later

A dog who can handle the unexpected does not need constant commands. They naturally make better choices because they are calm and confident, not anxious or reactive. Obedience training can always be added later, but emotional stability and trust must come first. Teaching a puppy to sit has value, but it will not help much if they panic every time a stranger walks by or a door slams. Early social experiences shape your dog’s brain and influence how they respond to the world for the rest of their life.

Building a Calm, Confident Dog

A calm and adaptable dog is a joy to live with and welcome almost anywhere. Desensitization and socialization are not flashy forms of training, and you will not get as many brag worthy moments as you would teaching tricks, but they are the invisible foundation of good behavior. By helping your puppy feel safe and secure in different situations, you are preventing future behavior problems before they start.

So yes, teach your dog to sit, but first, teach them that the world is a safe and wonderful place to be. The lessons learned through proper socialization and desensitization will outlast every obedience cue they ever learn.

10/11/2025

Why Some Dogs Need Longer Board & Train Programs

Not all dogs are the same, and that’s why not every training program is the same length. Some dogs just need structure and consistency for a couple of weeks. Others need more time to decompress, rebuild confidence, and practice calm behavior around real-world distractions.

Board & train isn’t a “one size fits all” program. The length isn’t about keeping your dog longer; it’s about giving them enough time to actually change how they think and respond.

Pushing for less time might save a week, but it can undo real progress. We’d rather send your dog home ready than rush the process.

Learn more about why different dogs need different amounts of time in our new blog post.

Looking for board and train programs in New Jersey? Learn why some dogs need more time and how Bullys Behaven creates calm, confident results that last.

09/28/2025

We had a great leash handling class today and are so grateful for everyone joining us. These classes are successful because of all of you!

We will let you know when the next one is soon!

09/28/2025

Great turnout today at our leash handling class!

09/28/2025

Good morning! We are so sorry to do this but our leash handling class is now starting at 11:00 AM.

We had something unexpected happen this morning and we had to push it back, but we wanted to make sure that we still had an opportunity to work with you and all of your dogs. We hope that you could still make it and we look forward to seeing everyone today!

09/24/2025

Here is Diego, the handsome Presa Canaro we have been working with recently.

09/24/2025

Kimber and Marshall doing their daily street patrol

09/24/2025