Canine Coaching with Debbie K- Modesto

07/07/2024

Today I am so proud of Ziggy! Ziggy was pulled from the Turlock Animal Shelter a couple of years ago. He was languishing and in danger of being PTS. We rescued him and he was adopted but it didn't work out. He was returned a couple of weeks later for possibly killing a cat. He and my son Joey became friends and eventually, Joey adopted him.

My friend Crystal and I have been teaching group training classes together. As we prepared, she noticed Ziggy and thought he could be a good demo dog for our classes. Ziggy is a fast learner and really wants to please people.

I have a client with a fearful German Shepherd that likes to express himself with his teeth. Because I can't handle his dog yet and the dog decided he wasn't going to work in the heat, we kenneled him up and I got Ziggy out. I wanted my client to know what he could expect from his dog and to develop leadership & training skills to practice with his dog at home.

Today, we worked on two emergency techniques, the perfect sit, hold/wait, release, loose leash walking & the first 3 items on the AKC Canine Good Citizen list. Because Ziggy knew what he was doing, we were able to cover all of these items quickly despite the heat. It gave my client the ability to know what to expect from his dog, to know what to practice this week and develop some muscle memory to continue building his leadership skills. I followed up by sending links to our YouTube training page.

Training is such a positive investment in the welfare of a dog and the entire family. I'm really proud of my client and Ziggy and can't wait to see the progress that is made with my client's dog as he grows in his handling skills!!

YouTube Training Channel: https://www.youtube.com/-and-Dexter

02/02/2023

Bailey was trained to be a K9 but misfortune struck her when she was injured and then her handler was injured. Bailey's new family knew she was smart and wanted to get her in working mode again. We started with the the basics and, of course, it only took her a few tries to learn anything! Aside from common commands, Bailey learned to wait at the door and wait in the garage when the garage door went up. We also worked on boundaries on the sidewalk so she wouldn't run off! It's a joy to work with families that invest in their pet's wellbeing!

02/02/2023

Do you have a reactive dog? This might help:

REACTIVITY REDEFINED
Although reactivity has other causes, many types of reactivity are triggered by the core emotion of fear.
The fear of whatever is making a dog feel unsafe, the fear of a valuable possession being taken away or the fear of a strange person or animal coming into their territory. Anxiety, stress, over excitement, over stimulation, feeling overwhelmed, trigger stacking, or a dog that is tired, in pain or even has chronic itching will often feel irritable and may be reactive in certain situations. When being reactive is successful in making the scary thing go away, it becomes a rewarding behaviour because it’s something that works and makes them feel better.
Reactive dogs are often misunderstood. A dog that is reacting is not trying to be difficult, they are having a difficult time coping with that particular situation and are trying their best to make the thing go away in the only way they know how.
It’s not easy to be the owner of a reactive dog. One of my dogs is reactive and I know how dogs like this can leave you feeling embarrassed, ashamed, angry or frustrated. Why do they have to be so difficult, why can’t they just behave normally? Everyone is looking at me, judging me, thinking that I’m a bad owner, have no training skills, can’t control my dog or have a unsocialised, vicious dog that shouldn’t be taken out in public.
As hard as it may be, we need to take the focus off how we as owners feel about their reactivity and focus on how our dogs are feeling and what is causing their reaction. Whatever it is, it’s not something our dogs can overcome on their own and we need to take steps to help them cope. Reactive dogs need compassion, understanding, management, force free, positive reinforcement interventions and decompression – a return to a normal, more relaxed state after a period of intense stress, psychological pressure, or urgent activity. These interventions take time and patience but are so important in helping our dogs feel safe and learn more acceptable ways of coping.
I have learnt through many mistakes, to recognise what triggers my reactive dog and take steps to either avoid those situations, provide enough distance, or provide her with an alternative choice where she feels safe and more in control. There will always be unexpected triggers around the next corner that are not within our control, but doing all we can to manage reactive triggers has so many benefits.

02/01/2023

I met Moto last fall. A friend had recommended me as a trainer. When I met Moto, he certainly lived up to his name . . . constantly in motion, had NO manners and didn't know any commands.

He greeted me by jumping all over me and wrapping his paws around my hips LOL! We started with the basics, "sit", "stay", "come". As he mastered those skills we added others.

We took a break from training over the holidays and I was excited to meet up with him and his advocate yesterday. I was HAPPILY surprised to meet a relatively calm boy who was happy to see me but kept all 4s on the floor!! He sat nicely and was an overall calm boy! I was so proud of him and his family for committing to his well being.

We went for a walk and rather than being pulled down the street, Moto calmly walked on leash appropriately sniffing along the way. We still need to work on his excitement when he sees new people and dogs but overall, he's an amazing boy!

It took a small investment in his well being to teach Moto how to be a good dog and his family is so happy to have a dog they can all enjoy.

Great Job Moto & his family!!

01/31/2023

🐕‍🦺Attention Central Valley CA Dog Owners!

😍I’m looking for a few local dog owners who need help with their dog(s)!

⭕️Do you feel like a kite with your dog pulling you down the street when you go for a walk?
⭕️Does your dog jump on everyone who enters your house
⭕️Maybe your dog runs and hides with fear?
⭕️Has your dog grown from a cute puppy to an unruly adolescent?
⭕️And now you don’t have much time to work with your dog?

🧡No judgment here! You’re not alone! I will teach you proven, positive reinforcement, techniques that will help you and your buddy understand each other!

🤷‍♀️How would you like to actually ENJOY walks again and having company over without them being accosted by your dog? Wouldn’t be wonderful for your shy and fearful dog to stop growling or hiding behind the furniture?

🥰I can help! I have several programs that can help you get the results you want so you can enjoy your best friend. You don’t have to give your dog away . . . just help them understand you better to know what you expect.

🤗Imagine how it would feel to have a dog that understands and actually listens to you? Most of my clients see improvement after the first session and once they complete their program, they’ve told me how much they now enjoy their dog. I want that for YOU too!

💁‍♀️It’s never too late to get started!

✅Click the message button or comment below to schedule a quick convo to see how I can help!

💛Let me help you enjoy your best life with your best friend! Click message now!

🥾I’ve been in your shoes! Don’t give up on your dog! I will teach you proven techniques that will help you and your buddy understand each other.

12/27/2022

I'll be teaching training classes @ K9s on the Move in Turlock on Thursday eventings and Sundays. Spaces are limited! Call or Comment today to grab your spot

12/21/2022

Stay tuned for EXCITING
Training News!

11/03/2022

😍Friends! Is this you?
🦘Does your dog jump all over your guests when they arrive?
🚪Does he/she do the famous "door dash" when someone goes in & out the door?
🙋‍♀️Begging?

Let me help you ENJOY the holidays with your dog(s)! Let's get these behaviors under control so when your company arrives they say, "WOW, What a GOOD DOG"!

CONTACT ME TODAY FOR SPECIAL HOLIDAY PRICING. SPOTS ARE LIMITED

10/20/2022

I recently pulled Lucky (aka Todd) from the Turlock Animal Shelter. Truth be told, I almost didn't take him. He showed a few concerning behaviors at the shelter but that's not unusual. Then the day I picked him up, he freaked out. The shelter isn't a great environment for dogs even in the best of conditions so I overlooked his behavior and brought him home. I was very cautious with him and have given him time to decompress and figure out everything is going to be ok. Today, we started training. Not too much, just SIT. He learned it pretty quickly as you can see. He's going to make an amazing companion for someone! He needs patience and lots of rewards to help him be the best boy he can be!

10/12/2022

🐾Update on sweet Bailey . . .
🐾When I first met her, her mom was out of options. Bailey was a shut down semi-feral girl. Her world was small and she was shut down but she has a mom & family who loves her. If you saw the other post, you remember that she was shut down at our first meeting. The goal was just to get her to not be terrified and see if she might trust me.
🐾By our 4th session, Bailey was off her bed and greeted me close to the door. She even took treats from my hand! She expressed curiosity with a family member who could only love her from afar by sniffing her when she was sleeping. Such big steps for this small girl!
🐾This past Saturday, Bailey visited our dog park. It had been a couple of weeks since we'd seen each other. I had her mom drive the car into the park so Bailey would have a safe spot if needed She was an entirely NEW dog! She hopped out of the car and checked things out. She stayed close to mom & her brother but was curious. She remembered me! We took it easy, we went for a walk on the inside perimeter of the dog park! This was a girl who would only walk far enough out of her house to do her business. We let her off leash and she stayed close to her family but was curious enough to sniff around as long as she could see them.
🐾Bailey was doing so well that we decided to see how she'd do with my Buddy boy. We took the introductions very slow and to our surprise, she blossomed before our eyes. Before we knew it, both dogs were off leash getting to know each other. Kristie was able to give both dogs yummy bacon (and kept her fingers despite an excited Buddy who doesn't get bacon very often).
🐾Now that Kristie and her family have the skills to help Bailey, the sky is the limit for this girl. While our formal training is complete for the moment, I am still here to offer support when needed.
🐾This girl stole my heart the minute I heard her story. In a case like this, I can't guarantee results but I can offer techniques that have worked for me with my own dogs and the dogs I've rescued. When a family comes together and pitches in to get on the same page to help their beloved pet is when the magic happens.
🐾What an honor it has been to be a part of Bailey's story. I hope and pray she continues to make positive strides for a long and HAPPY life💕

10/11/2022

I LOVE hearing from past clients! Each and everyone has a piece of my heart. This boy's mom was close to giving birth and had a young dog who needed some direction. Each week we worked on new tasks that would translate to him being good around a new baby. He learned place/crate, off (the sofa), playing nicely with his older brother and basic obedience (sit, stay, down, come, etc.). My goal is to give my clients skills and techniques that translate into a good dog for your life and your lifestyle! I'm so proud of Michelle, her family & Chestnut!

This is the message I recently received:

Hi there!!
We had our daughter last Saturday. We’re all home and adjusting. What I wanted to share is how impressed I am with Chestnut! He’s started doing well before the baby was here but now he’s even more amazing. Gets off couch when we need him too, he doesn’t throw himself into our space while on the couch, he’s gone into the kennel when needed when there’s guest (not from anywhere in house) but he gets in, leaves Bruno alone when we tell him with redirection, he’s calm around the baby and shows interest in a loving way.

08/17/2022

Ziggy wants to know:
1. How many dogs you have...
2. WHAT changes you want to work on making with your dog in the next 90 days.
Be specific as you can so that we can chime in, support, and point you in the right direction.

08/13/2022

08/13/2022

08/13/2022

So proud of my clients and their accomplishments with their dogs! Thank you for trusting me with your babies!!

07/14/2022

🥰Check out my Yelp reviews! https://www.yelp.com/biz/canine-coaching-with-debbie-k-oakdale?osq=canine+coaching+with+debbie+k

2 reviews of Canine Coaching with Debbie K "I have a pitbull puppy and she needed some training for jumping up on my guests that came to my home along with jumping on me. I saw an immediate change in my pup after 2 training visits. I continued with twice a week training for several weeks. My pup is....