Sensitive Dog

Sensitive Dog ✨Holistic Dog Behaviorists, Julie Forbes & Darcie Boltz. Sensitive Dog's mind-body-spirit approach is refreshing and effective.

Celebrating 20 Years of Balanced Training Guidance & Mind/Body/Spirit Approach to Behavioral Wellness for Dogs in All Life Stages.✨ Sensitive Dog offers private, in-person sessions & programs. Established in 2004, Sensitive Dog uses a holistic approach to dog training and behavioral wellness, creating an in-depth and elevated experience for dogs and their families. Julie Forbes and Darcie Boltz gu

ide clients toward clear communication, stable leadership, and a foundation of trust for a thriving human-canine relationship. Their style is professional, passionate, respectful, and sensitive. Clear communication, stable leadership, rule-setting, and boundaries built on self-awareness help clients and their dogs thrive. Sensitive Dog's comprehensive understanding of dog behavior, considering factors such as health, genetics, emotional life, and family dynamics, greatly impacts their approach. They offer private consultation and training for dogs of all ages, with a focus on enhancing your quality of life together. Julie and Darcie are members of NADOI - National Association of Obedience Instructors, IACP - International Association of Canine Professionals, and are ACK Canine Good Citizen Evaluators. For more information about Sensitive Dog, please visit our website.

At Sensitive Dog, we operate from the perspective that dogs have just as much, or more, to teach humans as we have to te...
03/08/2025

At Sensitive Dog, we operate from the perspective that dogs have just as much, or more, to teach humans as we have to teach them. Boris is thrilled to have his intelligence witnessed, nurtured and celebrated. Puppies can have sophisticated minds, while also being immature. This boy has just started teething and while on the brink of adolescence, is learning rapidly and showing us what he’s made of. He’s so fun to work with and he loves to think, learn and connect with humans. Go Boris, Go!

03/07/2025

Humans need to breed and train more puppies like service animals.

Navigating relationships with our dogs can be tricky for parents, especially with varied advice from trainers on both en...
03/06/2025

Navigating relationships with our dogs can be tricky for parents, especially with varied advice from trainers on both ends of the spectrum and the outdated “alpha” concept. Instead of focusing on dominance, we emphasize respect, nurturing authority, teaching boundaries, increasing communication and integrating teamwork and fun in the relationship.

We were thrilled to help clarify this for Goose’s dad at Sensitive Dog. He deeply loves Goose and wanted to establish boundaries and structure without being a harmful or resorting to outdated alpha methods. Good news! It’s not necessary.

03/03/2025

This cannot be repeated often enough. It is so important that families research breed characteristics before deciding on a family pet.

02/28/2025

The Socialization Myth: Are We Forcing Our Dogs to Fail?

Society has made a drastic shift in how we expect our dogs to behave. Once valued and bred via genetic selection for their working abilities, independence, and loyalty to their family units, today’s pet dogs are increasingly pressured to be overly social, to a degree they were never bred for. From dog parks to daycare centers, playgroups to leashed greetings, the modern dog is constantly placed in situations where forced socialization is the norm. But at what cost?

The Illusion of Social Success

Many owners mistake initial excitement for friendliness. A wagging tail, bouncy movements, and curiosity might seem like signs of a happy, well-socialized dog. But underneath, there’s often an internal conflict brewing—fear, uncertainty, and overstimulation. Just like people, dogs can experience excitement and fear at the same time. When those conflicting emotions reach a tipping point, the response can be instinctive and defensive—growling, snapping, lunging, or worse.

Fortunately, dogs and their owners who have been professionally trained are equipped to handle these scenarios. They have invested in their dogs’ education, ensuring they can navigate interactions appropriately and avoid unnecessary conflict. The real danger lies in those who don’t—owners who allow their dogs to invade the space of others without understanding body language, boundaries, or proper public etiquette. These situations create high-risk encounters, leading to fights and injuries that could have been prevented with education and awareness.

The Consequences of Forced Interaction

Dog fights happen in a matter of seconds, and they can be devastating—not only for the dogs but also for the people trying to break them up. Many well-meaning pet owners lack the experience or reflexes to prevent or de-escalate conflict. Worse yet, a single bad interaction can shape a dog’s behavior for life, making them more fearful or defensive in future encounters.

And what happens when dog-related incidents rise? Restrictions follow.
• More breed bans
• More leash laws
• More areas where dogs are no longer welcome

If we continue down this path—forcing dogs into uncomfortable social situations without respecting their natural instincts—we may find ourselves with fewer freedoms as dog owners.

A Call for Change: Respect Over Expectation

So how do we stop this trend? How do we shift our expectations before it’s too late?
1. Respect Personal Space – Just as we wouldn’t force a stranger into an unwanted hug, we shouldn’t assume every dog wants to interact with others. A dog ignoring another dog is not “anti-social”—it’s natural.
2. Ditch the “All Dogs Must Play” Mentality – Some dogs enjoy canine companionship, but many prefer to stick with their own humans. That’s okay.
3. Listen to What Your Dog is Telling You – If your dog is uncomfortable, allow them the space to disengage. Learn body language from an experienced professional dog trainer.
4. Advocate for Responsible Breeding – Breeders should consider temperament and adaptability when producing future generations, especially given the unrealistic social demands society now places on dogs.

The Future of Dog Ownership

If we don’t start bending our expectations, there will be a breaking point. Whether it’s through stricter laws, increased liability, or a rise in behavioral issues, the signs are already there.

The question is: Will we listen?

✨Every dog is a teacher.✨Georgia reminds us that genetics can impact dog behavior. This girl is skilled at controlling h...
02/26/2025

✨Every dog is a teacher.✨Georgia reminds us that genetics can impact dog behavior. This girl is skilled at controlling her environment. That’s what her genetics tell her to do, as a cattle dog/Australian shepherd mix! Georgia’s humans learned how to give this working girl a constructive outlet for her talent, as well as how to curb some of her challenging behaviors like demand barking. LOOK HOW CUTE SHE IS!!!

Arlo is serving us a couple different expressions. Both of a dog content with his job well done and also happy to have o...
02/21/2025

Arlo is serving us a couple different expressions. Both of a dog content with his job well done and also happy to have observed his ball-of-energy sister have the opportunity to release all that energy out of her body, through her mind! We loved all that too, Arlo! 🙌🏼 Thanks for coming to Sensitive Dog!

❤️ Happy Valentine’s Day! ❤️
02/14/2025

❤️ Happy Valentine’s Day! ❤️

Ollie was pleasantly surprised by how fun being in a new environment can be. He learned lots of new things at Sensitive ...
02/13/2025

Ollie was pleasantly surprised by how fun being in a new environment can be. He learned lots of new things at Sensitive Dog - got to be with his family and connect through deepened communication and meaningful work. Then everyone got to relax and feel tired and content - after a big expenditure of mental energy. What a great time! A for Attitude, Ollie!

If you know you know. And Kobri knows… Kobri is 14 and showed everybody today what a mature lady is capable of. She rock...
02/13/2025

If you know you know. And Kobri knows… Kobri is 14 and showed everybody today what a mature lady is capable of. She rocked scent training and then rocked waiting at doorways. She let her little brother work on Place because, frankly, she thinks he needs it more than she does. (She’s not wrong.) Kobri wants you to know that it is never too late to improve your communication with your dog, give them new ways to engage their minds and connect with you!

Leonard has one thing to say to you: Not only can old dogs learn new tricks, but they can ROCK training! 💥 ...
02/07/2025

Leonard has one thing to say to you: Not only can old dogs learn new tricks, but they can ROCK training! 💥

Parker and her family visited Sensitive Dog because she’s new to the family and needs help adjusting to her new life. We...
02/07/2025

Parker and her family visited Sensitive Dog because she’s new to the family and needs help adjusting to her new life. We love helping families start off on the right foot with dogs of all ages. Parker has been in her new home for four weeks, and we were thrilled to meet her and her family to show them ways to aid her transition. Thanks for coming to see us! You’re a good girl, Parker!

We love working with pack dynamics! These two adorable masterminds have figured out a way to get undivided attention fro...
01/27/2025

We love working with pack dynamics! These two adorable masterminds have figured out a way to get undivided attention from their humans by getting into tiffs with each other. Pretty smart! However, there are better ways to give our dogs the connection they crave, and we’re grateful for the opportunity to teach their parents about this!

Ready for action!💥Can you see the energy radiating from this boy? Providing dogs with a constructive outlet for their in...
01/23/2025

Ready for action!💥Can you see the energy radiating from this boy? Providing dogs with a constructive outlet for their intelligence and drive to do meaningful work is at the core of what we teach so many dogs and people, for so many different reasons! This boy was SO relaxed after he had the chance to show off his intelligence and work ethic!

✨Dogs are magic!✨ This angelic boy reminds us what a profound and positive difference clear communication can make to do...
01/21/2025

✨Dogs are magic!✨ This angelic boy reminds us what a profound and positive difference clear communication can make to dogs. It may seem simple, yet a lot of people we meet are confused about how to clearly communicate with their dogs. We love resolving this confusion for our two- and four-legged clients!

We’re sure going to miss seeing this incredible girl and her mom at Sensitive Dog. Daisy is a character! Such a comedian...
01/16/2025

We’re sure going to miss seeing this incredible girl and her mom at Sensitive Dog. Daisy is a character! Such a comedian, so full of love, and such a mastermind. Daisy’s favorite game is coming up with new and creative ways to outwit the humans around her—always with the biggest smile on her face. We love you, Daisy, and we are incredibly proud of the huge strides you and your mom have made. We know you knew the name of the game the whole time, so thanks for playing along. Your life-is-a-ball outlook is contagious, and you are a light in this world. Happy trails, friend.❤️

She's ONE! True to cattle dog form, Tansy is all the things — smart, sweet, loyal and pushy with big feelings and big id...
01/14/2025

She's ONE! True to cattle dog form, Tansy is all the things — smart, sweet, loyal and pushy with big feelings and big ideas. She's our third cattle dog so we knew exactly what we were signing up for. Tansy was the perfect addition to our pack & Sensitive Dog. ❤️ Happy Birthday, Tans! You’re such a cool dog!

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3006 S Brandon Street
Seattle, WA
98108

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✨Wishing you and your dog a lovely & safe holiday season.✨ #dogsofinstagram #holisticdogbehaviorist #doglover #dogbites #happyholidays

Sensitive Dog is in full bloom. The flowers, berries and animals are loving the light and warm of the season. With family and friends visiting from different parts of the world, and all the expected and unexpected events life brings, we’re being intentional about taking it all in enjoying the ride. We’ve had so many amazing dogs come to Sensitive Dog this summer all with important things to teach their humans. Wishing you a wonderful season, wherever you are. #seattle #sensitivedog #dogbehaviorist #dogbehavior #dogtraining #dogtrainer #doglovers #obediencetraining #dogstagram #puppytraining #puppy #dogs #dogsofinstagram #dog #doglover #dogoftheday #dogsofinsta #doglife #teamdog #rescuedog #rescuedogsofinstagram #rescue

Fun in Cle Elum with my Pixie girl ✨

Our little cowdog,Tansy, learning to mind her manners in the “shoplifting” section at @allthebestpetcare. She’s learning that treats come from mom, not the bins! At least until we’ve purchased them. 😉

It was good to have the band back together yesterday. Tansy (Australian Cattle Dog) and her boyfriend, Sammy (Golden Retriever) are just two months apart!

We have a new nephew! 😍 This was day one of crate training for little Sammy. Such a breeze! #holisticdogbehaviorist #seattle #sensitivedog #dogbehaviorist #dogbehavior #dogtraining #dogtrainer #dogs #dogsofinstagram #dog #doglover #dogoftheday #dogsofinsta #doglife #teamdog #goldenretriever #golden #puppies #puppy

Meet Yotee! (As in, “coyote”.) No, he doesn’t actually have coyote in him. Thanks to Embark, we know that this boy is Malinois, Malamute, German Shepherd, and a few other breeds. Yotee is skittish around people he doesn’t know and wary of things that look weird, like big backpacks on people. He started learning how to think while walking on-leash today, and he and his human did great! Good boy, Yotee. You’ve got this!#holisticdogbehaviorist #seattle #sensitivedog #dogbehaviorist #dogbehavior #dogtraining #dogtrainer #dogs #dogsofinstagram #dog #doglover #dogoftheday #dogsofinsta #doglife #teamdog #coyote

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