Compassion for Canines: Behavior Modification and Training

06/02/2025

Message the page to secure a spot today!

Sick of your pup pulling you around? Let's get those pups ready for summer adventures together, by teaching them leash manners! For the month of June we are having a limited time price of $30 sessions for our local areas.

This price is for basic leash manners only, other sessions will be priced as normal. We specialize in reactivity but reactivity is NOT included in basic leash manners.

Message the page today to secure your spot!

05/13/2025

Sick of your pup pulling you around? Let's get those pups ready for summer adventures together, by teaching them leash manners! For the month of June we are having a limited time price of $30 sessions for our local areas.

This price is for basic leash manners only, other sessions will be priced as normal. We specialize in reactivity but reactivity is NOT included in basic leash manners.

Message the page today to secure your spot!

05/09/2025

A great video that explains why Compassion for Canines started as a force-free company, and will forever remain force free.

Every day dogs are subjected to shock and prong collars under the guise of better control and more reliable behavior. The Price Of Pain exposes the behaviora...

05/02/2025

Get ready for that summer heat!

Dog summer safety tips are common sense steps that can keep your dog safe over the hot and sunny summer months.

04/07/2025

The face your dog makes when you sign him up for force-free training 🐶

That’s right, friends, we at Compassion for Canines believe that dog training should be done with the intention of learning more about your canine and learning to understand and communicate with them - not by asserting dominance over them.

If you’re looking for a force-free positive reinforcement dog trainer, we service Northwest VA, Northeast TN, and North Western NC.

We specialize in complex behavior modification on behaviors such as anxiety and reactivity. We will not turn a dog away for its bite history.

Private message the page or contact (276) 494 9660 today to get started!

03/14/2025

When transitioning from aversive, traditional dog training methods (methods involving pain, fear, stress, discomfort) toward modern approaches, one of the most critical shifts is in our MINDSET.

Rather than focusing exclusively on external obedience or immediate compliance, we must prioritize nurturing the dog’s emotional and mental well-being.

Think of BEHAVIOR as a reflection of a dog’s internal emotional state, desired behavior emerges naturally when a dog feels safe, secure, and motivated.

Our goal as trainers and guardians should be to promote this positive emotional state, effectively bringing desired behaviors from the inside out. When a dog feels good on the inside, great behavior naturally follows on the outside.

Instead of asking, “How can I stop this unwanted behavior quickly?” we should first ask, “Why is my dog engaging in this behavior, and how can I help address their underlying needs?” “What can I do to safely manage them while I address these underlying needs?”

By prioritizing our dog’s emotional and psychological well-being, we can create conditions under which they naturally offer behaviors we want to reinforce.

Here are some of my best tips for those who are evolving beyond aversive methods.

Pay attention to your dog’s body language, energy levels, and environment to understand their emotions and motivations. This awareness lets you proactively address their needs, preventing unwanted behavior before it even starts.

Secondly, every interaction is an opportunity to build or erode trust. Opt for interactions that reinforce safety, comfort, and predictability, steering clear of those that cause stress or fear.

Next, give your dog opportunities to make decisions and offer consent when possible, such as stepping away if uncomfortable. Choice builds confidence and reduces frustration.

Instead of strict obedience as your ultimate goal, consider success as your dog’s growing comfort, engagement, and happiness. A dog who feels safe and connected is naturally more receptive to learning.

Shift your methods to focus on reinforcing behaviors you want through rewards like food, play, and affection. Consistently rewarding desired behaviors enhances learning and maintains emotional well-being.

Remember, changing methods doesn’t imply a personal failure, it’s an evolution toward kinder, more effective strategies.

Prioritizing emotional health is not only ethical; it leads to more profound and sustainable behavior changes.

01/15/2025

Dog bored at home in this cold weather? Get creative with fun enrichment ideas!

Get a cardboard box and fill it with kibble or treats and hide it for your dog to find and shred! To build confidence at the same time, make it a game you’re playing with your dog by giving them some sort of cue to find the treat. Personally, I like keep Gunner in a sit-stay and to ask “where is it?” as a release. As they successfully find the rewards, give verbal praise and be excited with them!

Advance the difficulty level by adding other shareable materials in the box, such as treats or kibble wrapped up in paper.

This is an activity to be done only with supervison and non toxic materials! Happy shredding! 🐶🗡️

12/31/2024

This is why we believe if force is being used, the dog is not actually learning what you want from it and is instead learning to emotionally shut down.

Electric collars rely on pain or fear to suppress unwanted behaviours. They deliver an electric stimulus that is intentionally unpleasant to deter the dog from repeating the behaviour. For the dog to associate the discomfort with their actions, the sensation must be sufficiently aversive to create a negative emotional response, such as fear, anxiety, or pain. Without this emotional impact, the dog is unlikely to alter their behaviour, as there would be no motivation to avoid the stimulus.

10/07/2024

🐶OFFERING 1/2 PRICE TRAINING TO BADLY IMPACTED AREAS OF THE COMMUNITY! Message page for more details!🐶

I also would like to offer help with dog walking and in home dog daycare, as my main job at Happy Tails Country Club in Asheville, is currently closed and I am unable to get there. I want to help as many pups as I can during this time. 🩵
(this service is available to TN and VA residents only, as they are advising no one travel to WNC unless urgent)

Stay safe and remember life is precious, walk outside and sniff the grass!

09/30/2024

My heart is so heavy with the disaster damages that have been struck in our area.

Unicoi/Erwin got hit especially hard. This area quickly became a second home to me, as this area was the most helpful in growing this business and spreading the word of positive reinforcement into the Appalachian Mountains.

My mind is running rapid, worrying about all of the people I’ve met along the way.
Some I may have had a single session with, some I may have worked with for months.

Clients stay in my heart forever, even if I’ve lost contact with the majority of them. If you are a previous client and you see this, regardless of if you’re in TN/NC/VA, please let me know if you and your dog(s) are okay.

I am trying to come up with ways I can help the community.

⭕️If you are fostering a dog for the Unicoi Animal Shelter or any other shelter who had to relocate animals and are having any issues with them in your home, I will offer one free session and discounts for remaining sessions if more work is to be done. I hope the animals being fostered are able to find their forever homes in this tragic event.⭕️

04/29/2024