Iworkdogs Dog Training Co.

06/01/2024

Yo! Sport dog friends… If you are struggling with your dog creeping fwd for position changes, you need to sign up for this!

How do the transitions affect position changes for obedience

04/25/2024

So recently, I’ve encountered a few dogs that were extremely over-aroused in the bitework. Is this who they are? Possibly, but I’d bet it was more likely that they were reinforced to be this way.

I can admit that in raising my first malinois and going from a corso to a malinois, I spent an inordinate amount of time of drive building in a dog I did not need to build anymore drive. I in essence made her antsy. Even in her ripe old age, she is still twitchy if someone gets up or moves around the house.

This topic alone of reinforcing/building traits either willingly or unknowingly is a huge thing in and of its own, but it overall got me to thinking about puppy/dog development in bitework. It made me think of the idea of a “strong dog.” Because when people see a puppy or young dog exhibit characteristics of a “strong dog” they tend to give them more fight. Build more intensity in a creature that is plenty intense.

For the dogs who are not so intense we do have to do things to help compensate. For whatever reason, I tend to get a lot of dogs that not that tough and so I spend a good amount of time creating a system that allows them to win. A system that allows them to push through incremental adversity and still win. This predictable cause and response can give the impression of a strong dog, but does not always accurately portray who the dog is both in that moment and genetically.

So this got me to thinking… at some point the dog will compete or end up on a decoy that does not deliver the predictable response to their counter. They could be met with more violence and indifference to their efforts. Or they can be met with just awkward moment from the decoy that defies their previous experiences. .

My question for you all is, at what point and how often then is it important betray their expectations in training?

I’m curious to hear you alls thoughts.

Gamba biting pic for tax
📸 Emily Nikzat

06/27/2023

Still have a couple slots open for Fernando Dosta Decoy School. It’s completely immersive experience spread over the course of 5 days. (7/10-7/14) Great opportunity for new and seasoned decoys alike.

Now, he’s not only an extremely accomplished decoy, but has also podiumed as competitor in The French Ring Championship back to back 2022 & 2023

Personally, I always learn even just watching him, but this is an opportunity to learn from one of the best if not THE best to ever do it.

DM Karin Chan Wright for more info.

Got to spend some time with my friend and decoying mentor, Fernando Dosta, at OJ's mondio trial. He ended up doing a Mondioring decoy seminar the next day. D...

10/04/2022

Working on some Halloween decor with our friend Homeslice from

06/09/2022

Training or just being cute ?

Both! Ice is quite shy and tends to take a while to acclimate to new people and environments, this morning was big for him because he willingly went and met some new people and was comfortable enough to be cutesy.

While he’s here we’ll be focusing on building his confidence to match his cuteness level so he can explore LA with his parents.

Do you guys love the split face ?

05/08/2022

I am OBSESSED with clogs , every year I hyper-fixate on a set style of shoes . Two years go : crocs, last year: platform shoes, this year: clogs of all kinds.

If I wasn’t running around training dogs all day I’d literally live in heeled clogs , I love them sm.

05/05/2022

We don’t want to believe Duke is actually aging , many years ago Karin & David over did a looong immersion program to get him ready to be a PPD for his familly.

As a young shepherd Duke was a pushy dog, definitely punked me when I began training, happy to say we’re buds now and he definitely makes the house feel safer. Aside from the graying face he is still large and charge and acts like he’s still 2.

We’re currently watching him and letting him get a few bites in while his parents are away.

04/28/2022

Well- Bell helps us a lot whenever she comes hang out at our house with our rowdy dogs, the perfect combo of social & good canine citizen, she knows when it’s appropriate to play and when she just has to ignore.

Not pictured is the wiggly puppy that was across the room learning to focus on something other than dogs while Wellie did this 😂

04/15/2022

We’ve known Duke for a few years, he came to us with some reactivity and being his size he was definitely large in charge.

Once we helped him learn some manners and what is expected of a house pet (prior he lived outdoors) he became a wonderful companion for his little girl and his mom.

These days Duke has limited mobility due to a slipped disc , when his mom is away he comes and stays at our house to relax on our couch and keep up with his PT.

We love watching our dogs come back for boarding and this guy definitely holds an extra special spot in our hearts and our home.

04/07/2022

Dog training related-ish .

A large number of you know that I (Jaz) am now in charge of iWorkdogs, most of you don’t know I was born in little Ensenada in Baja California and I guess my dog interest began there , my family always had dogs, probably because I had a thing for strays, and thankfully I was taught to love and care for them.

Unfortunately, there is a lack of information and resources in a vast majority of the area, as well as the culture is just different.

Fast forward to now, many years later and many dog related jobs and volunteer positions, our pack is now in a place where we can foster.

As dog trainers we see a lot of rescue dogs that can be wonderful companions with just a little bit of training and some understanding of dog behaviors from their owners. Sadly, we see just as many failed adoptions for a number of reasons,one of those being lack of training/ understanding.

It has always been our hope to work with a rescue to aid in giving dogs and people a higher chance at a successful adoption and healthier relationship with their new dogs.

When we learned about and met some of the dogs they took in, as well as how much they understand that dog training is just as important as rescuing to ensure a successful adoption we knew we wanted to work with them.

Meet Olivia , you’ll see a lot of her around , we’re going to teach her some manners to help her navigate life as a pet in the states and give her a place to decompress so she can make someone very happy .

Isn’t she the cutest?

02/28/2022

“Come on brain, think so smart”

Oscar working on some door thresholds today, as he can be a little bit of a bully with his moms. Very excited for this little pup’s future , he’s getting so handsome and learning so much.

02/12/2022

Efrafra does the stickiest down when he’s excited because his puppy body wants to defy his smart mind and get up 😂

Starting our morning with this guy and coffee is always fun , what is your morning routine on Saturday?

02/09/2022

We’ve known Moon-ers since she was a freshly rescued pupper from Bakersfield.

She has gone through a board and train program , some additional training in Oregon with another trainer for continued education.

She’s back in LA and we see her often when her parents go on business trips, we love giving our clients the option of boarding & training refreshers when they’re away to polish things or teach new behaviors.

The key to a well behaved dog is ✨consistency✨

02/03/2022

Post run imprisonment, kidding he loves the crate.

Paladin, best known as Pal is our puppy sitter, our helper dog when we have dogs that are very timid and just a wonderful companion.

His favorite activities include running fast and sleeping soundly.

Currently we’re working on getting back in shape for lure coursing as we’ve both been a little relaxed.

02/02/2022

Our dearest girl Ada is looking for her forever home.

Ada’s parents sent her for an immersion program to build some confidence and make her a better camping companion.

While she was with us her humans’ personal lives changed and they feel it would be in her best interest to place her somewhere else, we respect their decision and are supporting them through it.

Ada is a GSD mix, little bit over a year old , up to date on vaccines and has a full obedience routine.
•loose leash walking
•crate trained
•sit,down, stay & recall
•Ecollar conditioned

She’s the perfect snuggler , she can be timid with strangers but is super into food and warms up quickly.

She’s submissive with most dogs but is still super playful and full of energy.
A home with no kids is preferred, she’s never been around kids but we feel she’d have an easier transition with someone who is able to go slow while getting to know her.

If you’re in LA or surrounding areas we will do her follow up sessions to show you her obedience and help you become her best friend.

Feel free to share and send people over our way if they feel they might be the right fit for Ada, we truly love her and want her to find an adequate forever placement.

12/04/2021

Our lover boy Frijol, mostly known as Bean turned three not long ago , been so busy so we didn’t do anything crazy for him.

Thankful for the headaches, challenges and most of all the fun times he’s provided me with.

Thanks to for helping us be the team we are, he def could’ve been someone else’s nightmare dog if not for the assist, he’s a good demo boy now.

12/03/2021

Ada grew up an outside puppy with a few too many yells and overwhelming corrections, her current owners are different and want to help her be a more confident and well rounded lady.

They had her about 2 weeks and called us in for some support as they were unsure on what would be the most beneficial plan of action for her and their life. We agreed on a board and train to help her with some confidence building and overall manners.

2 weeks seems like too early to send your dog off, am I right?!

But…

It’s actually really great! It’s hard to want to send off your new dog with someone when you haven’t gotten to know them, you’re worried they’ll feel abandoned, or you’ll be a stranger.

Luckily for us, dogs live in the moment and process time differently than we do. Your dog will not forget you, AND the less time you have them, the less time they have to form bad habits, or test the rules and see what they can get away with.

It’s often easier to set clear boundaries and communication skills early on than waiting until your dog has had months, sometimes even years to learn unwanted behaviors, and form bad habits, it’s not impossible for old dogs to learn new tricks, just takes a little longer 😉

11/05/2021

Just a lil because we’re feeling emotional.

A large part of training is commitment and consistency, and Karin and David taught us that and so much more.

We got to see and hang out today, it’s always good to talk dogs and catch up.

All this to say , thanks guys . For being consistent and committed to us and teaching me to be that way with the dogs I train . You da real ones. ♥️♥️

11/02/2021

Many clients get really worried when we tell them how we feel about dog parks and why most dogs don’t benefit from them.

This being said, our dogs have friends if they’d like to and are ready. Here are a few things to ask yourself when thinking about letting your dog play with others.

How do we know if our dogs are ready for structured play?

1.Let’s begin with the simple one - does your dog even like dogs ?

2.Does your dog have a reliable recall?

3. Do you have basic understanding of doggy body language?

4. Are you aware that even dogs that love each other and know each other have doggy disagreements ?

5. Are the other dogs and owners on the same page and meet all the criteria as well?

10/19/2021

What even is a photogenic picture?

But most importantly what do you think is the most useful behavior to teach your dog and why? Tell us in the comments.

10/15/2021

Our dearest girl had a big day, she got to see her parents and was very brave with her human sibling.

Sometimes after visits there’s some regression for timid dogs, happy to say she hasn’t missed a beat.

Her parents also got her DNA results back, any guesses?

10/11/2021

Late night hide and seek with our stripey boy.

Can’t see him, can you?

10/10/2021

We love looking back at our camera roll and looking at pictures like this.

Not staged, not planned, but it shows exactly what we love to teach and a big part of what we stand by.

✨ Dog ownership should be a healthy relationship ✨

In our training , we don’t alpha role dogs, we simply teach them a clear system of communication so we can relay information effectively and clearly, just like you would in a healthy relationship!

It’s great to have a dog that can perform a sit, down and stay but what good is it really if they’re only doing it out of fear or worry?

Make training for your dog fun today!

10/09/2021

Duke was trained by Karin & David as a PPD, a few times a year he stays with us for some training and spa days, being tough is tough !

10/07/2021

You guys ever read that meme that says “it ain’t much but it’s honest work”

That’s basically Bean, together we do frisbee, dabble in bitework, nosework & he helps me at work, we have yet to conquer the water.

Everything that I’ve worked with him he’s tried very hard at even though we’re both equally clumsy when working together.

Apart we’re fine but we make a pretty goofy team, thanks Bean.

Also he’s completely fine!
No surprise here, an immature Dutchie who doesn’t know when to quit 🤦🏻‍♀️

10/06/2021

The reason why our behavior modification programs are long is because we give our dogs time.

Time to adjust & trust.

Time to learn & generalize.

Time to become comfortable and confident in their new skills when presented with day to day situations they might find challenging.

If not given enough time to do all of these things dogs can become withdrawn, timid of the training itself even because it’s an added layer of worry.

Example, take Scarlet here who is scared of traffic, if we were to rush through teaching her to walk on a loose leash around traffic, not only is she scared of the traffic now but also scared of being penalized for not walking nicely.

Instead, we play eye contact games, noise desensitization, luring into a heel, teaching her loose leash walking is fun and keeps her safe, when she’s ready we add the traffic and she might still be scared but the fear is manageable because she understands the obedience keeps her safe and she enjoys it.

It just takes time.

10/04/2021

Zelda is 8 and aging beautifully!

Zelda came in for a board and train a few years back and her parents have done a wonderful job at maintaining the training!

We’re helping her new little sister learn some manners through private lessons.

She’s a little squirrelly, but stay tuned for some August pictures in the coming weeks!

10/03/2021

It’s the last night of Efrafra’s sleep over and we’re excited to go over some new things with his owner once he’s back home.

He thinks we’ve been playing all week but he’s actually started an “out” and “drop” command to help alleviate some naughty behaviors.

Shhh don’t tell him he’s been learning stuff, he’s going through the “I’m too cool for school” phase of adolescence 😂

10/02/2021

This sweet dude is looking for a home!

Moose is about 2 years old, has been through a full board and train program and knows all his basic commands.

The good:
-he is clean and quiet in a crate
-has wonderful obedience and loves his people
-plays with toys and is food motivated

His quirks:
-He can be timid but tends to warm up for some food
-He can be skittish around kids younger than 10 that run up to him but does very well when managed, he currently lives with children and really loves them but they are very polite with him
-he must be an only dog as he lacks confidence around other dogs but is very neutral on walks (not a dog park dog) did have some reactivity when we first met him but they say he’s doing well as far as his training goes

His family is looking to rehome as there was an altercation with their older lab while unattended, possible resource guarding is what they think caused it, this is a first time offense, no punctures but that dog is older and his family is concerned .

Moose is the perfect couch potato but also loves to go on long walks and adventure with his people.

Let us know if Moose sounds right for you! We will require a few handling lessons with his prospective home, these will be free if you’re anywhere in LA!

We adore this guy and are rooting for his success !

09/27/2021

Training “strays” is always an experience.

Not only do strays come in every shape and size physically but also mentally.

Because of the way most people live with their pets here in the states, it’s sometimes easy to forget that genetics have a huge role to play in our pet’s behaviors, and former strays, especially from outside the states are a perfect example of it.

Strays are all about survival, which does mean they might be a little bit skittish, because hey guess what cars and traffic are loud and us usually doesn’t end well, because not every person is going to treat kindly.

Or they might be bold around food, because they didn’t have three meals and a peanut butter Kong waiting at home.

Grimes has a lot “problem” behaviors such as some resource guarding and reactivity to strangers, it’s easy to point at things he does as really “bad” things but half of them he can’t even help, it’s our job to understand him to work on the “problem” areas!