Kyla's Pawtastic Dog Training LLC

11/24/2025

This has nothing to do with "training".
It also has everything to do with it.✅

Reactive dogs typically have a far lower tolerance for change.
They thrive on consistency.
They love routine.

We can have a weird view of what predictability actually means though.
Some people take their reactive dogs to work with them, they always have and yes that in itself is predictable.
Does your work involve meeting new people and travelling to new worksites?
Is what you believed is predictable really not?
New machinery?
Couriers unexpectedly popping in?

We may walk at the same time of day, but where?

Are you swapping where you walk too often and too soon?
Have you tried just walking in a low stress area for a few weeks?
Are there predictable triggers that you can safely "use" in that area?
Are your responses reliable or are you unpredictable in your response?

Predictability can help lower stress.
That starts to flow into all other areas of their lives.
Over time it can have a positive affect with their reactivity.

Predictability isn't boring for a reactive dog.

It's safety.

11/22/2025

This is why it just never stops.♾️
The reason it keeps happening.
It's working in that very moment and it's remembered.

A pattern has formed, a history and it worked!

Running and barking in front of the gate when the courier arrives.
Nudging your hand when you're relaxing in the lounge.
Barking through windows at that dog walking past.
Even pulling and dragging you along when they are desperate to reach that tall grass around that tree.
All of those are examples.

The reasons behind the "why" sometimes look complicated to us.
We can't quite figure it out.
It's almost "mystical" because we cant quite grasp why.

When we shift from "why won't they stop" to "what's in it for them" those patterns can be obvious.

Are you, "just over it", frustrated and "tried everything" ?
Take a deep breath, step back and look at things in a simpler way.

How were they rewarded?

11/21/2025

People see her goofiness.
They don’t see the CCD, the TPLO, the infections, or the tough days we’ve pushed through together.
But that’s what makes her story powerful.
That’s what makes her Elsa. 💛🐾

11/12/2025

TREAT TRAINING. I've heard this term several times in recent years, and it always makes me pause and wonder what exactly is meant by this phrase.

It also makes me wonder what might be going on in the mind of the person using the term.

Rather than going down that dark and deep rabbit hole, I'm going to make an attempt to explain basic animal training and how we get an animal, such as a dog, to do what we are trying to teach them to do.

There are different ways to approach this, and generally we use small bits of food, aka "treats," to reinforce desired behavior. To reinforce literally means to strengthen. In the context of learning and training, it means to do something, e.g., give food, to increase the likelihood of a behavior being repeated.

Speaking in the most general terms, behavior that is reinforced will be repeated. Behavior that is not reinforced will not be repeated.

Food is what we call a primary reinforcer, meaning, it meets a biological need and does not need to be associated with anything else to be reinforcing.

Food has another advantage in animal training, and that is that it can be delivered in discrete amounts. This allows us to maximize the reinforcement rate, which facilitates learning. It also allows us to easily calculate success rates, which is important in properly increasing the criteria for performance.

The way we use food is important. It takes understanding and skill. Where, when, and how the food treat is delivered all factor into effective training.

Trainers in the best practice camp talk about first getting a behavior, then naming it. To *get* a behavior, we can use several different approaches or a combination of approaches.

Lure-reward training involves holding a small piece of food in front of the dog's nose to *lure* him into position. For example, to teach a dog to sit, you would hold a treat in front of the dog's nose, and slowly move the food back and over the dog's head. As the nose goes up, the rear end goes down. When the dog sits, the treat is delivered to the dog's mouth to reinforce the behavior of sitting.

Shaping is another way of *getting* a behavior. If you want to teach your dog to go to a bed and lie down on it, you would first reinforce him for looking at the bed, then for walking toward it, then for putting a paw on it, then 2 paws, then 4, and so on until the dog is lying on the bed. At that point, you would give him a "jackpot," which is one treat after another in rapid fire.

"Clicker training" is a type of positive reinforcement that involves use of a marker signal made by a small, hand-held clicking device. The marker signal is used during training to communicate to the dog at an exact point in time, exactly what he did to earn the treat that follows. This makes it easier for the dog to learn what to do again to earn reinforcement, and it is also helpful for developing precise and complex behaviors.

Although we begin training with food, we don't continue to give a dog a food treat every time he sits - or at least we shouldn't! At some point, we add in and rely more on secondary reinforcers, such as praise, petting, play, etc.

Also, once the dog has learned any given behavior and we have put it on cue, we don't need the clicker to communicate with the dog about that behavior.

So, there is no such thing as "treat training." Can dogs learn without food. Well, sure! But if you want to train your dog to perform with precision and reliability, food is advisable, as well as a marker signal.

Cindy Ludwig, M.A., B.S., R.N., KPA-CTP, CPDT-KA
Owner, Canine Connection LLC
Willard Missouri

10/29/2025

10/26/2025

Your dog is not a machine.

10/24/2025

Positive dog training focuses on rewarding desired behaviours rather than punishing unwanted ones, fostering trust and a stronger bond between dog and guardian.

This method enhances learning by using treats, praise, or play as motivation, making training enjoyable for dogs. It reduces fear and anxiety, promoting better emotional well-being.

Positive reinforcement also encourages quicker, more reliable behaviour changes and strengthens communication, helping dogs feel confident in their actions. Suitable for all breeds and ages, this approach nurtures a cooperative relationship, ensuring a well-behaved and happy dog while creating a positive, respectful environment for both pet and owner.

10/24/2025

It's not always sunshine and roses...

How do you cope with your multi dog home?

📸 unknown

10/18/2025

It's not all about us I'm afraid.

We can try our absolute hardest when rescuing a dog to "pick" one that seemingly fits what we WANT. Often, the message if you don't get the "dog you want" is that you get the "dog you need".

But that's rubbish often, too. Sorry, but it is.

It's not all about us.

The dog you get is the dog THEY ARE. And when we remember rescuing dogs is about fulfilling THEIR needs and wishes as an individual that they are, and not about getting something that is meant to fully compliment our home or life, we are setting us up for far less disappointment and far less stress on the dogs part.

It's a massive gamble. But so is buying a puppy. We've just got to remember it is not all about us. They're a unique being who deserves to have their true self heard and respected 🐾💜

09/27/2025

In this photo you see two species, a human and a dog. The human has approximately 1 billion neurons in their brain while the canine has appoximately 500 million. This is a comparison of the two species and the silly expectations people place on dogs:

1) Human - Given two plus years to accomplish potty training.
1) Canine - Human wants canine potty trainined in two weeks or they will have to rehome the dog....Please take the diaper off your eight month old human and let them crawl around your floor, lets just see the results....

2) Human - Gives human babies pain relievers and various numbing agents to help appease the pain of teething.
2) Canine - Punished for chewing on things that they find that eases their pain.

3) Human - Encourages young humans to run and play with endless forms of mental and physical stimulation.
3) Canine - “I have got to teach this dog to calm down!!!”

4) Human - Given 20 plus years to complete an education and become a productive member of society.
4) Canine - Expected to behave flawlessly for life after taking just one six week obedience class.

5) Human - Given sick and personal days from work and endless excuses for poor performance.
5) Canine - Expected to perfom perfectly 365 days a year with no questions asked. Canines are also not allowed to feel bad or forget.

6) Human - Expects a pay raise anually for the job they perform.
6) Canine - Humans demand their dog perform better every year without continued education and also don’t believe they should reward the dog for the work they perform.

Canines are used everyday to keep us humans safe in a multitude of ways.
-They are our eyes when ours go dark~
-They are our ears when ours fall silent~
-They are our noses to help find bombs, drugs, cancer, and allergens to keep us safe from harm~
-They are trained to alert us to an oncoming seizure or low blood sugar attack~
-They help find missing victims of natural and man-made disasters~
They protect us from harm everyday, without expecting healthcare, a raise, a title, a better car, a bigger office or one with a view, and….they do this for us all because of their innate desire to please.
Their unconditional love is without bounds.
They deserve that in return and so much more~

Dear human....If you don’t train, don’t complain, you’re to blame.

Written by,
Deb Nabb

09/25/2025