Kimberly Artley

Kimberly Artley Author | Formerly PackFit Dog Training and Behavior | Industry Mentor | Founder, Dog Mom University
Training dogs. Empowering people. It's a working message.

Changing lives.(tm)
Check out my latest release, "The Human End of the Leash: Dog Training's Missing Link" Pack Fit was born out of necessity. You see, I, too, had a "problem dog". Lobo was his name, and- little did I know- he would become one of my greatest teachers and alter the trajectory of my entire course of life. After thousands of dollars spent, the inability of a number of different "trai

ners" to help, much stress and anxiety, misunderstanding of him and his behaviors (https://packfit.net/lobos-story/), and a grim ending to our story, I set out to learn everything I could about dog psychology, behavior, communication, and how to create and nurture balance and relationship so no one else had to live this reality again. Lobo still very much lives on through each client I work with and everything I do today. Pack Fit specializes in behavioral prevention and modification (e.g. aggression, social anxiety, separation anxiety, fear, nervousness, destructiveness, leash pulling, leash reactivity, nuisance barking, bullying, "selective hearing", containment phobia, etc), and you can learn more about us here:

www.packfit.net

We have 3 books out for purchase, as well as 5 online courses:

My Dog, My Buddha (Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and all other major outlets)

The Zen of Dog Training: Behavioral Impact Series (eBook: https://payhip.com/PackFit)

Puppyhood: What to Expect When Expecting (Canine Edition)

Online Courses (K9 Essentials, What to Feed Your Dog... and Why, Training the Whole Dog, Nosework for the Home Dog, and My Dog, My Buddha- expanded version of the book)

http://packfit.thinkific.com

PackFit is truly more than a business. A mission. And a movement.

Love without structure isn’t love.It’s a performance.A coping strategy.An unconscious attempt to control, to compensate,...
09/25/2025

Love without structure isn’t love.

It’s a performance.

A coping strategy.

An unconscious attempt to control, to compensate, or to avoid what’s really there.

We often give the most when we’re feeling the guiltiest.

When we’re ashamed of the past.

When we’re unsure of our place.

When we’re trying to buy love, buy acceptance, or buy connection.

When we’re trying to control the relationship—so we don’t lose it.

And it might look like love.

But underneath?

It’s often anxiety.
Guilt.
Shame.
Even manipulation.

None of that creates safety.

None of that builds trust.

None of that earns respect.

Because love without truth isn’t love.

And love without structure becomes dysfunction.

We don’t help dogs—or people—by overindulging them.

We don’t cultivate trust by avoiding discomfort.

And we don’t build connection by controlling or manipulating it.

What we often call “love” is actually guilt.
Or fear.
Or shame.
Or an attempt to compensate for what we didn’t get.

That kind of love isn’t love.

It’s attachment.
It’s obligation.
It’s performance.

True love isn’t excessive permissiveness.

True love says:

I care enough about you to lead you.

To guide you.

To say no when I need to.

To hold you to a higher standard.

To protect the relationship with structure, honesty, and intention.

When we overgive without balance, without boundaries, without any ask— it doesn’t create security.

It creates instability.
It creates confusion.
It creates entitlement.

And often?

It creates resentment on both sides.

Because love without structure isn’t love.

It’s a setup.

We see this (so very often) in parenting.

We see this in partnerships.

And we absolutely see this with our dogs.

Dogs need more than food, treats, cuddles, and freedom.

They need clarity.
They need leadership.
They need a human who’s emotionally grounded enough to offer them guidance, consistency, and accountability.

Not through control.
But through care.

Not through force.
But through integrity.

Because dogs—like kids—feel when love is coming from an inauthentic place.

They sense when it’s tied to performance.
They feel when it’s rooted in compensation.
They know when it’s coming from anxiety, shame, or guilt.

So the work here isn’t just about *doing* more.

It’s about BEING more.

More honest.
More congruent.
More self-aware.
More discerning.

THIS is love that guides.
Not love that grips.

This is love that liberates.
Not love that enables.

This is *love with a backbone.*

Love that honors the dog in front of us.

Love that says:

“I see who you are. And I’ll show up accordingly.
Not because I need to control you—
But because I’m committed to protecting the relationship we’re building.”

Because the goal isn’t just affection.
It’s connection.

And connection needs clarity.

It needs truth.

It needs healthy boundaries.

And it begins with you—me—the human end of the leash.

---------

Chapter Twelve: When Love Needs Boundaries.

The Human End of the Leash: Dog Training's Missing Link by Kimberly Artley

Grab your copy now: https://a.co/d/bWV34JK

Signed Copies available here: https://dogmomuniversity.thinkific.com/courses/the-human-end-of-the-leash

We can’t train the dog we hoped for.We have to build the dog in front of us.Not the one from our childhood.Not the one w...
09/24/2025

We can’t train the dog we hoped for.
We have to build the dog in front of us.

Not the one from our childhood.
Not the one we imagined when we first brought them home.
Not the one from the last Disney movie.
Not the one who just passed away.
Not the one our neighbor, friend—or social media—thinks we should have.

The one right in front of us.
Right here.
Right now.

Because every dog is different.

Each has their own story.

Their own learning style.

Their own thresholds and timelines.

Their own sensitivities and strengths.

And when we stop comparing—
When we meet them with curiosity instead of expectation—
We get the chance to co-create something real.

Dog training isn’t about “fixing a problem.”
It’s about preventing the problem in the first place.

It’s about learning what the dog truly needs from us—
Before things go sideways.
Before reactivity sets in.
Before anxiety builds.
Before they’re labeled “bad,” “stubborn,” or “too much.”

Because here’s the Truth:
Most people are winging it.

Not because they don’t care—
But because we live in a culture that chases fast, easy, cheap, and effortless.

We’re sold quick fixes, surface-level solutions, and instant results. (Yes, even dog trainers and veterinarians can play a role in this.)

But dogs don’t respond to shortcuts.

They respond to substance.
To energy. To intention. To consistency.

And when that’s missing—
It’s the dog who ends up paying the price.

Yes, people suffer too—
From unnecessary stress, frustration, fear, and shame.
But dogs carry the weight of this.

Behavior isn’t the problem.

It’s the symptom of the real problem.
And it’s also the invitation.

The call to pause.
To question.
To reflect.
To reframe.
To show up differently.
To level up.

Instead of filling in the blanks with assumptions and stories—
it's learning to slow down, observe, and listen. Really listen.

This work isn’t just about teaching “sit,” “stay,” or “come.”

It’s about understanding the whole being in front of us.

The whole dog.

It’s about discovering and living into Truth.

The Truth of who they are—
As a dog.
As an individual.
As a breed (or beautiful mix of breeds).

Not who we hoped, fantasized, or imagined they'd be.

It’s about speaking to who they are on the deepest level.

And becoming the kind of human they can trust, lean into, and feel safe with.

Not just for the sake of obedience—
For the sake of RELATIONSHIP.

The goal here isn’t perfection.

It’s Connection.

And the path begins by learning what WE need to learn...
to build the dog in front of us.

--------

Chapter Five: Building the Dog in Front of You

The Human End of the Leash: Dog Training’s Missing Link by Kimberly Artley

Order on Amazon: https://a.co/d/iMWWx5Z

Signed and Personalized copies: https://kimberlyartley.com/books-and-ebooks

🚨 Foster Needed ASAP for Ava 🚨Friends, I need help. Ava is currently in a foster home with a wonderful woman in her 70s ...
09/24/2025

🚨 Foster Needed ASAP for Ava 🚨

Friends, I need help.

Ava is currently in a foster home with a wonderful woman in her 70s who is doing her best, but it’s becoming too much for her.

Ava is an extraordinary dog, and she deserves a chance to thrive in the right environment.

I’ve been working for 9 months to find her a forever home, but it hasn’t happened yet. And I cannot—will not—let her go to a shelter. She would not survive that environment.

About Ava:

Sweet, affectionate, and loyal — she bonds deeply with her person.

Active, smart, and loves structured walks and adventures.

Best as the only pet in the home (while she developed a wonderful relationship and bond with my dog, Ronin, he has a complementary personality and this was built strategically and over time. Most people will not take the time or make the effort to do this, so I'm recommending she be the only dog)

Ava is truly one of the most remarkable dogs I’ve ever known. And I really don't say this lightly.

She needs someone who can meet her where she is and give her the love, structure, consistency, and leadership she needs.

If you or someone you know might be able to foster (or even adopt) Ava, please reach out to me right away. Time is critical, and I want to set her up for success — not failure.

**Please share this widely. Ava’s person is out there. I just REALLY need help finding them.

**DM me or comment below if you can help or know someone who might.

Zipped down to San Diego and Coronado yesterday to celebrate my 51st trip around the sun—and wow, it did not disappoint....
09/23/2025

Zipped down to San Diego and Coronado yesterday to celebrate my 51st trip around the sun—and wow, it did not disappoint. It was my first time down there- shocking given how close it is.

Steve’s daughter and son treated me to a fabulous birthday dinner at an incredible **authentic** Italian restaurant (so, so good! https://www.ciaoelvira.com) before we headed over to Coronado. The beach sand felt like soft powder beneath my feet, and the sunset was pure magic.

Even sweeter was seeing *so many* people out walking their dogs—responsibly.

Grateful for good food, beautiful places, thoughtful people, and a brand-new year to savor it all.

FINALLY made it down to San Diego. Surprisingly easy drive from where I live.
09/22/2025

FINALLY made it down to San Diego. Surprisingly easy drive from where I live.

One of the biggest blocks to dog training and behavioral change isn’t the dog at all. It’s the human end of the leash.Ov...
09/22/2025

One of the biggest blocks to dog training and behavioral change isn’t the dog at all. It’s the human end of the leash.

Over the last 15+ years, this has been the one constant I’ve seen — not just in my own work, but across the field. We cannot reach the dog if we can’t first get through to the human.

So why the block?

People want support, but not the gaps in their understanding exposed.

They want help, but not feedback.

They want advice, but not direction.

They want change, but not to change.

They want growth, but not to do anything different.

And so the cycle repeats.

I’ve seen clients withhold important information just to avoid feedback. But here’s the truth: feedback and criticism are not the same.

Criticism tears down.
Feedback builds up.

Criticism is judgment.
Feedback is growth.

Criticism says, “You’re wrong.”
Feedback says, “Here’s how this could work better.”

When people can’t tell the difference — or when past wounds convince them that feedback equals criticism — they shut down. They hide the truth. They hold back the details that matter most. And when that happens, progress stops. The tragedy? Avoiding feedback doesn’t just cost the human. It costs the dog.

But how a person receives information also has everything to do with what they bring to the table. Their filters — shaped by past experiences, beliefs, and wounds — determine whether something lands as feedback or as criticism. The very same words can build one person up and shut another down.

And it’s not just about the receiver. How information is shared matters just as much. Intention, tone, delivery — all of these influence whether advice is experienced as an invitation to grow or as an attack to defend against.

This is one of the reasons I wrote "The Human End of the Leash: Dog Training’s Missing Link."

Because dog training is 90% human training. It’s communication, awareness, patterns, habits, unconscious thoughts, nervous system regulation, energy management, time management. The other 10%? That’s when we use all of this to teach, shape, and condition the dog.

Most people don’t realize the real work happens outside a 30-minute session. Outside the classroom. Just like raising kids — it’s in the daily reps, the quiet moments, the structure, the follow-through. All of it.

And this extends beyond training into rescue, too.

Rescue is overflowing with high emotion — and while that’s understandable, it can also be destructive.

Chapters 8 (The Nervous System Doesn’t Lie) and 13 (Emotional Health: The Forgotten Frontier) speak to this:

If we can't regulate our nervous system, we trigger resistance.

People go into protection mode, not because they don’t care, but because they don’t know how to hold chaotic or oversized emotions that aren’t theirs to carry.

I see it all the time. Especially in rescue.

Typing in ALL CAPS.

A million exclamation points.

Emotional fire everywhere.

The problem? Intensity doesn’t inspire. It overwhelms. And when people shut down, the ones who lose are the dogs.

If we want to help dogs, we must first learn to regulate ourselves.

To soften enough to be heard. To trade intensity for influence. To make space for others to lean in instead of clam up.

THIS. This is the work (Chapter Fourteen).

For us.....for them.

-------

Grab your copy of "The Human End of the Leash: Dog Training's Missing Link" here:

https://a.co/d/5gU34Oc

Signed and Personalized Copies here:

https://kimberlyartley.com/books-and-ebooks

Dogs speak energy fluently—even though we rarely talk about it.It’s one of the most under-acknowledged elements of canin...
09/21/2025

Dogs speak energy fluently—
even though we rarely talk about it.

It’s one of the most under-acknowledged elements of canine behavior and communication.

We focus on "commands", tools, protocols, and all —
but often overlook the state we’re bringing into the room.

I’ve long said, “Behavior is information.”
Energy is information, too.

And it’s one of the most potent and powerful forms of it.

Dogs feel everything:

The sadness behind the “cheerful” voice.

The anger you’re trying to suppress.

The impatience and frustration under the calm exterior.

The pain you pretend isn’t there, but leaks through your tone.

The fear beneath the confidence.

The anxiety driving the constant movement, noise, or need to please.

They don’t follow words.
They follow congruence.

You can’t lead until your energy says, “Follow me.”

Because leadership isn’t something you command—
it’s something you *embody.*

Presence comes before performance.

Presence informs the performance.

And authenticity?

That’s what defines the quality of the performance—
and how it’s received.

You can’t expect a dog to follow what you haven’t yet claimed within yourself.

---------

From Chapter Eleven: Energy Talks. Are You Listening?

The Human End of the Leash: Dog Training’s Missing Link by Kimberly Artley

Signed copies here: kimberlyartley.com/books-and-ebooks

Amazon: https://a.co/d/cOVoQHG

Fostering and rescue can be some of the most rewarding — and also the most heartbreaking — work.One of the hardest lesso...
09/20/2025

Fostering and rescue can be some of the most rewarding — and also the most heartbreaking — work.

One of the hardest lessons in this world is learning to let go.

A lesson many of us never wanted to learn — and one that never gets easier.

When a pup leaves your arms for their new home, you pour your heart into believing you’ve chosen well — that they will be safe, honored, and deeply loved. But when updates slow… or stop altogether… it’s unsettling. “Adopter fall-off” is real, and for those who give their whole hearts, it’s devastating.

With Cowboy (now Buckley), this has been my reality. In the beginning, his adopter stayed connected — asking questions, sending updates, valuing the support. But lately, my messages have gone unresponded to. The silence is hard not to take personally — especially when you’ve poured your heart and soul into a life.

I know Cowboy had been struggling with separation anxiety, which doesn’t surprise me. He was one of the most sensitive pups out of the entire crew. And knowing the strength of our bond — and knowing canine behavior in general, why and how separation anxiety starts to take form — I can only imagine how traumatic it’s been for him to be ripped away from everything familiar and safe: me, Ronin, Winnie, the Huskies… even Frank.
Again — I hate, absolutely hate, that I was forced to do this. If my conditions and circumstances had been different…

Last night, I had a dream that jolted me awake at 4 a.m. and kept me there. If you’ve followed me long, you know I’ve always had premonition dreams — truth dreams, clarity dreams, forewarning dreams. In this one, Cowboy came to me. He told me he was alone and afraid, hiding in the bushes in the dark. It was so real.

It’s hard not to let that gnaw at me. Because I know him. I know his emotional world. And I know how misunderstood — and how often disregarded — the emotional lives of animals are. Especially our dogs.

We avoid and ignore our own emotions — and we do the same with theirs. This was one of the driving reasons I wrote "The Human End of the Leash: Dog Training’s Missing Link."

Cowboy’s story is one many rescuers will recognize. He came into the world tiny — a fifth the size of his littermates — and survived against the odds. Bottle feedings. Round-the-clock checks. The constant fear he might not make it.

I was there and celebrated when their eyes first opened.

When they first realized they could hear.

When they discovered their feet.

When they started finding their balance and their mobility.

Gosh — once they found their mobility, it was on from there.

But he fought.

And I helped him fight.

He caught up... and then some.

His will to live was unmistakable.

And through it all, he carried a soulfulness that mirrored my beloved dogs who came before him — specifically Todd and Chip.

He chose closeness over freedom, always. Whenever I let Ava and the puppies out back in the morning after feeding, he stayed behind when the others ran ahead. He always waited for me. And he was never far from wherever I was.

This is the paradox of fostering: these dogs take pieces of you when they go. And no matter how much time passes, you carry them always. The letting go never gets easier.

Cowboy, I love you.

I pray you’re safe.

I pray I did right by you and that you’re in good hands.

I pray your separation anxiety is easing.

I wish I could explain to you why you were taken from Home and placed elsewhere. That you didn’t do anything wrong. That I did my best to ensure it wouldn’t happen again. Ever.

To anyone who has fostered, adopted, or been part of this world: never underestimate the power of a simple update. A single photo can comfort a heart that has given everything — and remind us all why the tears of goodbye are worth it.

Enjoy “just a few” pictures of Cowboy’s time here. Just a few of the million pictures and videos chronicling this incredible journey… and one I’m so thankful this community supported. We couldn’t have done this without you.

www.kimberlyartley.com

Most of the behaviors we label as “bad,” “annoying,” “stubborn,” or “aggressive”…Aren’t the actual problem.They’re the s...
09/18/2025

Most of the behaviors we label as “bad,” “annoying,” “stubborn,” or “aggressive”…
Aren’t the actual problem.
They’re the symptom of the problem.

And if we keep reacting to the symptom—
Punishing it, redirecting it, managing it, ignoring it—
We miss the opportunity to address what’s underneath it.

Whether it’s a dog who barks constantly, guards resources, eats the furniture, or blows up at passersby...
The usual suspects?

➤ Unmet needs (essential, individual, breed-specific)
➤ Boredom
➤ Frustration
➤ An excess of unspent energy
➤ Misunderstood dogs (strong energy, sensitive systems, high prey drive, dogs in pain, etc.)

As with us, behavior is information.
It’s communication.
A form of expression.
A reflection of what’s in excess, what’s lacking, or what’s missing altogether—
What hasn’t yet been tended to.
And it speaks the loudest when there’s a lack of understanding and support.

So instead of asking:
“How do I stop this?”

We need to ask:
“What is this trying to tell me?”

That’s when the real training begins.
When understanding deepens.
When trust is built.
And everything starts to change—for both of you.

Amazon: https://a.co/d/iMWWx5Z

Signed Copies: https://kimberlyartley.com/books-and-ebooks

SIGNED BOOK GIVEAWAYAfter nearly 4 years of pouring my heart into "The Human End of the Leash: Dog Training’s Missing Li...
09/17/2025

SIGNED BOOK GIVEAWAY

After nearly 4 years of pouring my heart into "The Human End of the Leash: Dog Training’s Missing Link", I’m celebrating by giving away 6 signed copies of the book!

Here’s how to enter:

In the Comments, tell me.....

***Which of my books or courses/masterclasses has been your favorite so far — and why?***

(If you’re new here, no worries — just share which one you’d be most excited to dive into first!)

That’s it! You’re entered.

HOW WINNERS WILL BE CHOSEN

To make it fun, fair, and meaningful...

- 2 winners will be chosen at random (so everyone has a chance)

- 2 winners will be chosen for the most powerful stories — the entries that share meaningful experiences with my books or masterclasses, capture aha-moments or takeaways, and show how the work has impacted their lives or relationships with their dogs.

and

- 2 winners will be chosen by my dogs (yes, really — stay tuned for the “Dog’s Choice” reveal!)

Deadline to enter: Saturday, September 27th

Winners announced: Saturday, October 4th

Drop your entry below!

I can’t wait to hear the moments and lessons that have shaped your journey so far — and to celebrate what’s still to come for you and your dogs. Grateful to be walking this path together. This is what makes this community so very special.

Can’t wait?

"The Human End of the Leash: Dog Training’s Missing Link" is available now here:

https://a.co/d/4rCCTt9

(Already purchased? Awesome, thank you! Enter anyway — if you win, you’ll have a signed copy to gift a fellow dog lover!)

You can’t teach calm when your nervous system is screaming.You can’t build trust when your energy says “unsafe.”You can’...
09/15/2025

You can’t teach calm when your nervous system is screaming.
You can’t build trust when your energy says “unsafe.”
You can’t guide behavior when you haven’t grounded your own.

And you can’t lead when you’re still bleeding.
Or still lost.
Still chasing safety.
When you haven’t yet landed.
When you’re still hiding from the parts of yourself that most need your presence.
When fear is louder than clarity.
When your past keeps writing your present.

But here’s the good news…

Emotional fitness can be built.

It’s not fluff.
It’s the foundation.
It’s the reps you do in the dark—
the recovery after the rupture,
the pause before the reaction,
the softness inside the strength.

Most dog training skips this part.
Because most dog training focuses only on the dog.

But the truth is, we shape more of their behavior than we care to admit.

Which means we have to look at what we’ve been numbing, avoiding, or denying—
the things quietly driving our habits, patterns, and reactions.

Your dog doesn’t numb, avoid, or deny.

They feel it all.

They follow your lead.
They become what you can’t contain.
The more you regulate, the safer they feel.
The more you heal, the clearer things become.
The more emotionally fit you are…
the less “training” you actually need.

This is what they’ve been trying to show you all along.

—

From Chapter Thirteen: Emotional Health — The Forgotten Frontier

The Human End of the Leash: Dog Training’s Missing Link by Kimberly Artley
Amazon: https://a.co/d/el6yg6V

Signed & Personalized:
https://kimberlyartley.com/books-and-ebooks

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