True Dog Training 101: Reactive to Relaxed Dog Training

01/06/2025

Let's be very clear: "Formatting issues" occur when the fonts, indents, spacing and other layouts on a document get jumbled. Think converting a Google Doc to another format, or vice versa, and everything is misaligned. "Formatting issues" would not erroneously paste a scientist's name and other citation factors under a research statement, even if the research did happen. The question was/is not "did the way the document listed the citations do so correctly?" The point being made is that the document listed research and citations that do not exist. No formatting issue has the ability to create and add lines that do not exist, unless a human tells it to do so, hence the reporter asking about the use of A.I. I am literally taking a pre-req in research paper writing right now and even I know this after just starting the course. It's insulting and most of the population might believe it because, to no fault of their own, how would they know more about how research is cited? Or that A.I. cannot do this on its own? The very people who take this as fact are the ones being taken advantage of the most. It's heartbreaking.

12/05/2025

17/04/2025

Lucy only has one front leg and chooses to share some ❤️

24/03/2025

What do you think? Think about getting cut off in traffic. Can we train ourselves to not jump? No. BUT, we can train ourselves to deep breath instead of yelling at the driver. Same w/ our dogs. Let's train them to use that Spark energy on playing a chase, catch, eat game with us instead of reacting! We can do this w/ our dogs in every situation in which their Spark is ignited. Trying to squelch it or erase it is an exercise in futility. Turn that energy it onto something safe, appropriate and fun! Change potentially negative, stressful, fear or anger based energy onto something useful, productive and that might, over time, help your dog feel more safe, calm and confident in their busy, bustling overstimulating lives! Skills are helpful but we need to address our dog's underlying PERCEPTIONS before we can make deep, lasting transformative change. A dog who sees a squirrel and heels away w/ their human is impressive but this poor pup will still want to chase the squirrel. Let's figure out creative ways to redirect him but through exercising the same behaviors involved in chasing a squirrel! Reach out to learn more!

04/03/2025

25/01/2025

09/01/2025

20/12/2024

"Get a Shepherd or a Husky" they said. "It'll be fun" they said. "They are so smart and easy to train" they said 😂. Keep in mind, Balto has three HUGE bins full of toys right behind me. But, seriously, I love him and he really is very smart and coming along relatively well in his training despite his puppy/borderline adolescent brain. We have trained LLW, Drop it, Leave it, Off, Recall, Chin Rest (work in progress but up to 5 seconds w/ right hand!), Retrieve with Tug and as a start button. Engagement, Focus and Consent are all ongoing, of course. And we have been working loads on getting him acclimated to the cats and vice versa. He still runs and chases them under the bed if I look away for a millisecond, but we are getting there. The two cats have actually been choosing to stay out in the same room more and more, which is a good sign (on high surfaces). And Big B's response to the "Off" and "Leave-it" cues, paired with play and a Treat & Train and Find It, are helping loads. I am listing this for myself more than for y'all! It is so overwhelming having a high energy, huge puppy and I get disheartened and need to remember how much we have progressed and accomplished in 4 weeks. He turns 5 months on Wednesday! Proud of this handsome fella.

29/11/2024

Thank you Family Dog Mediation!

29/11/2024

Best TDay gift? A client sharing that their pup is living his best life because the training is WORKING!!!! Way to go Maverick!!! 🦃🍗