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http://www.laurentssiriusk9direction.com/

Laurent's Sirius K9 Direction, South Beloit, IL (2025)

08/30/2025

Your reactive dog is not protecting you.

Your dog is actually feeling anxious, insecure and sensitive and lacks positive confidence. Dogs like this are trying to help themselves cope with stressful situations and end up doing so in forms of exhibits bad behaviors.

Let's face it. Living life with a reactive dog is never easy. It can be completely draining not only for you, but for your dog as well.

Too often owners find what they believe is a "protective natural instinct" over them from their dog is cute and makes owners laugh, make excuses for this behavior and brush it off.
They do this until the problem gets to be an overwhelming and consuming part of their lives and ends up getting out of control and out of hand. Pretty soon these dogs don't want to be out of sight from their owners. This leads to anxious behaviors and separation anxiety. The dog may constantly whine when crated or even as they follow their owner around and not having interaction or attention from them.
This often leads to stressful situations for both owner and dog. It's no longer cute, funny or enjoyable but a nuisance having dogs who constantly need and seek out attention. It makes daily house chores more exhausting because the dog is in the way or when crated paces, whines or barks the entire time. And if left alone unsupervised may even begin unwanted behaviors like soiling inside the house, chewing and destroying items and other destructive behaviors such as digging, counter surfing and dumpster diving. It's not because your dog is seeking out to be a bad dog, it is because they are trying to find a way to release the stress that is pent up and building.
It's not that your dog is giving you a hard time, your dog is HAVING a hard time.

Small dogs unfortunately get a really bad wrap for this so called "protective nature."
Owners tend to think that little dogs are not capable or able to, well be a dog and be well trained. They think these brilliant little dogs need to be babied and carried around and have the world brought to them on a platter.
Size has nothing to do with a dogs abilities and capabilities. Dogs will only be as well behaved and trained by how much time owners invest in them.
Dogs are not born understanding obedience or how to have good behavior and be well mannered. This is something we as owners must provide to training them.
Small dogs are not ornaments or decorations to be shown off in hand bags or just to have around because they are cute. They are animals with animal instincts and if left to their demise, will let those instincts take over because they don't know any better. If they are not trained to learn how to cope being alone, they will end up with anxiety that leads to separation anxiety. No matter how cute your tint pup is, it is still belongs to the animal kingdom. It's species is a dog and dogs have teeth. Nips and bites are never cute and should not be provoked to be cute. No matter what size a bite is a bite and it hurts! It can leave someone on the receiving end become fearful and anxious to be around the dog and if they are living in the same house, the dog picks up on this energy and learns that that person's fear can be used to keep them at a distance. A bite can also leave terrible marks and scars on the body. Aggressive behavior is never cute or something to be proud of.
Big dogs can be especially dangerous as they can do a lot more damage.

Did you know that in order to have a reliable protection dog you actually need years of training?
Some dogs can have that "natural ability" yes, however it needs to be a skill that is stable.
A good protection dog is actually a well behaved in society and public settings. They learn and understand basic obedience and commands the first time they are told to them. They have advanced obedience skillsets and amazing recall. They know how to release and leave items and are never anxious or pushy.

Dogs that tend to show the symptoms that I previously mentioned such as nervousness, anxiety and separation anxiety often begin with resource guarding food, toys and even their people. From there when left with no help and no training, the aggression gets worse.
Dogs do not want to be stuck in this mindset and trapped with all of these fears. They need help from their families to overcome the mental stresses they are facing. A dog would rather spend 10 minutes being taught hwo to properly manage and deal with stressor than live a lifetime living with them.
How much fun is it for your dog to suffer during thunderstorms or fireworks? How much fun is it for you? How much money is spent on medicating your dog from the vet or buying thundershirts or replacing toys on the daily because your dog had destroyed them due to trying to relieve their stress? These are all just bandaid solutions. Its a quick fix but doesn't solve the problem. And if storms pup up suddenly, you don't have enough warning and tike to medicate your dog in advance. And we all have those neighbors who no matter what day it is, like to light off fireworks.
Or how about big trucks that rumble down the streets?
Think about how you feel having to deal with daily fears of your own. Whether you are stressed financially and worrying about money, scares of spiders or bugs, have claustrophobia or other phobias.. The difference is, we as humans can work to try and talk ourselves down. We can process these things a little bit more mentally than our dogs can. Dogs don't premeditate. They live in the moment and react in that moment.
So our own personal phobias don't measure or compare to the way dogs suffer. Theirs is much worse. They are trapped.

If your dog is suffering, don't hesitate to get an evaluation scheduled for then. Message me today and get more information on how you can help your dog be the bestest boy or girl that they need to be and more importantly that they deserve.

*the picture provided is my chihuahua, Toula.
If you have been following me for some time, you may remember that in previous years I worked with an animal agency for roles in the entertainment world. Because of this I have had to train many commands and tricks and behaviors as well for some specific roles. One of these led to being able to show teeth and to look aggressive in order to play the part. Dogs on screen are not aggressive. It is a trained behavior that is treated like a game. In all reality these dogs are actually super friendly and understand that it is a part of their training.
Toula is 8 years old and knows so many tricks and obedience. This includes but is not limited to:
Sit, stay, place, jump up, down, give 5, sit pretty, smile, look, wave, long distance and duration work, hand signals and more.

Also teaching these specific things helps me to be able to create posts showing behaviors such as this. 🙂

08/27/2025

Wishing a Happy Birthday to the co-owner of Laurents Sirius K9 Direction, my hubby!
Happy Birthday Jordan Laurent!

08/27/2025

I just read a message about someone walking their dog and a couple walked by and asked if they could pet the dog. The owner responded, "No, she will nip." The gentleman refused to listen and reached out. The dog sniffed his hand, licked and gave a nip.

What is the moral of this story?

Sure we all like dogs. I personally like the quote
"I'm just here to pet all the dogs".
However, it is not always acceptable to pet strange dogs. Especially if the owner does not give you clearance to do so.
Does this mean the dog is vicious? Or that the owner should refrain from walking the dog out in public or rhink it's abuse to have the dog muzzled?
Absolutely not! Not to any of the above.
The dog may be working, have just finished work, is in training or perhaps an abused rescue (as was the case) who is learning how to handle a brand new world.

If the dog is on a leash and being kept away at a safe distance from the public and the handler handles the proper way as they pass by people on the sidewalk or such, then there is no reason for the dog to be kept at home. The only way a dog can over come their fear and or aggression is by learning how to handle daily situations. I think we can all agree that we need less aggressive dogs in this world, so please, rather than judging someones reaction to not letting you pet their dog, simply smile and say "Ok, thank you anyway." There is no need to debate owners who are taking proper precautions while out with their dog(s).

Today, it is not just children but adults as well who need to know and understand dog safety.

While the topic of muzzles was brought up, just because you see a dog wearing a muzzle, does not always mean that the dog is vicious. It could be because the dog will eat and pick up anything and everything it finds. Or perhaps it is being muzzle trained for certain reasons, not always because of aggression.
As long as the muzzle has been fitted properly, a muzzle is not an abusive tool.

08/26/2025

Do you solemnly swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth? So help you God...

Let us begin...
You have been brought before this page because your dog has brought a complaint against you.
Did you forget today is National Dog Day?
I have before me that your dog is upset that on this day they have not received their proper dues that you as an owner have the responsibility to.
The complaints that thr plantiff, your dog has brought before this page are as follows:
That you, the defendant, have not alotted extra playtime and attention today in order to help the plaintiff celebrate National Dog Day.
That you, the defendant, have not given any extra treats in order to help the plaintiff celebrate National Dog Day.

There is a bigger charge being held against that the plaintiff wishes to have addressed.
The plaintiff has filed this suit against you because the plaintiff, your dog, is tired of not being able to have the certain same rights as other dogs get.
These are as follows:
Being allowed to go on walks to certain places,
Being allowed to stay out of a locked room and also be ae to visit with Company when company comes over,
Being allowed to accompany the defendant on car rides that are not always just to go to the vet,
Being allowed to be more sociable with you around society,
Being able to have confidence through all the scary without having to be forced to take pills or wear sweaters during thunderstorms or fireworks.

The platiff has told us that they have the desire to be everything good, but a lack of training which is through no fault of their own, is what is keeping
them closed, shut down, fearful and carrying anxiety. The plantiff holds you, the defendant, accountable for their actions.
So I ask you...
Does your dog have all the training they need in order for you to avoid having a legal dispute brought into court?

The evidence is apparent.
It's time for counsel to lay the foundation.

Strive not just to be a success, but rather to be of value.
Laurents Sirius K9 Direction can represent you and show you how you can avoid having disputes with your dog. Message us today to learn more on how our Training Programs can be of value to you.

And don't forget,
Happy National Dog Day! 🐕❤️

08/25/2025

Our dogs deserve the very best in life that we are able to give them. This also includes proper training for them. So many dog behaviors are ignored and this leaves dogs locked daily in a mental prison. Whether its anxiety, fear, aggression, over excitement with pent up energy and more. What dog wants to live in a lifetime of fear and anxieties? What dog wants to be left out of family activities because they misbehave and can potentially hurt their humans by jumping up them causing a fall or being scratched up?
There is so much more freedoms we can open up for our dogs if we only invest in all of their needs.

Don't leave your dog trapped in their own mind causing them to make bad decisions, help them.
Message me for more details and information.

I am here to help you get your dog started in the right direction.

Remote training is available.

08/22/2025

Never feel ashamed for hiring a Dog Trainer. You don’t feel ashamed for sending your kids to school.
- Laurents Sirius K9 Direction

08/19/2025

It's Bark to School! 📚

It doesn't matter if you have a new 'student' or if your pup needs a refresher course.
At L.S.K9.D we have your basic curriculum covered!
Message us today for more information on how to register your pup.

08/04/2025

Let’s talk about tools, rewards, motivation and bribes.

That’s a pretty busy looking picture, wouldn’t you agree? There is a lot going on with different methods that can be used for training our dogs. We have many different tools available and reward systems. But when does a reward become a bribe? When does a tool become a crutch?
Let’s dive in!

Just like the picture looks overwhelming, this is how our dogs can feel sometimes when our communication is not clear. When we hurry along and expect a fast pace from our dogs, the can get over stimulated and chaos can ensue. It’s important to always start slow and use baby steps to build on. Our dogs will never know what we want if we don’t have a reliable form of communication. That’s where treats and tools come into play.

When we first begin training our dogs, we have to have a reward set up. It has to have high value to your dog in order to keep them interested. In other words, you need to pay your dog. But is this a bribe?
Absolutely not! Using treats is just the very early process of training your dog. It’s simply step one of many steps to come.
Why should you use treats?

Well, training your dog with treats can be highly effective for several reasons:

1. Positive reinforcement:
Treats serve as a form of positive reinforcement, which means that when your dog performs a desired behavior, they are rewarded with a treat. This helps to reinforce the behavior and increase the likelihood of it being repeated in the future.

2. Motivation:
Dogs are often highly motivated by food, making treats a powerful tool for training. By using treats as a reward, you can keep your dog engaged and motivated during training sessions.

3. Focus and attention:
When you use treats during training, you can capture your dog's attention and focus. This allows you to redirect their behavior and teach them new commands or tricks more effectively.

4. Bonding and trust-building:
Training with treats creates a positive association between you and your dog. It helps to build trust and strengthen the bond between you, as your dog learns to associate you with rewards and positive experiences.

5. Speed up the learning process:
Using treats as a training tool can speed up the learning process for your dog. The immediate reward they receive helps them understand what behavior is desired, making it easier for them to learn and remember commands.

6. Versatility:
Treats can be used in various training scenarios, whether you're teaching basic obedience commands, advanced tricks, or addressing behavioral issues. They can be easily carried and used in different environments, making them a versatile tool for training.

Remember to use treats in moderation and gradually reduce their frequency as your dog becomes more proficient in their training. It's also important to choose healthy, dog-friendly treats and consider your dog's dietary needs and restrictions.

Using treats helps encourage mutual understanding which increases the
human/animal bond. This is not bribery.
Dogs are animals. They can not think nor understand things the way that we can and do.
Any type of reward that helps motivate a dog to learn because it teaches the dog how to be more confident and comfortable during that learning process.
Without using rewards such as treats for training and constantly relying on pressure and force can be a very unpleasant way to learn. It’s important that we balance out our rewards and consequences equally.
The lack of no just simply means yes. When we have this balance we can slowly over time begin to remove the treats and use our good feelings and body language along with verbal praise and gentle touch to become our dogs reward.
The point of training is to have our dogs listen and do the the things we ask of them because they want to, not because we make them do it through a negative force.

So you might be saying “well that prong and ecollar sure look like a way to force your dog in a negative way.”
Any tool that is not used correctly can have negative consequences. A leash is a whip right? Of course not!!!! A leash is simply a tool we use to guide our dogs during their walks and to help keep them safe and under our control for leash laws.
You should NEVER hit or whip your dog with a leash.
An ecollar should never be used on just any high setting to get a reaction out of your dog. You need to first find your dogs working level. Not just pop a number and hope for the best.
A prong collar should never be used to yank your hard and pop them off their feet.
It’s simply a tool to help our dogs understand that their is an uncomfortable consequence that happens when they pull on the leash.
You see, some dogs are dangerous pullers. They will yank their owners around causing back and neck pain, shoulder, arm and wrist pain. They can pull so hard that they pull their owners sockets and joints out of place or create more serious injuries. Or heaven forbid they pull their owners into a busy road with passing traffic. 😱
I always use prong collars and ecollars with treats and other rewards. Because some dogs need something that’s going to help the situation out a little quicker.
Now if you refuse to use these tools in their proper form, all you are doing is training with a bandaid. It’s a temporary quick fix and in order for your dog to listen to you, you will always need to have a prong or ecollar on your dog.
Did you know that these tools can be used to help with motivation too?…AND IN A POSITIVE WAY!
It’s true. Some dogs love wearing their prong collars and ecollars because they understand that certain freedoms come when wearing them.

Training is not about how fast you can make things happen. It’s about taking the time to help your dog process and understand what it is exactly that you expect of them. This won’t happen unless you are consistent with training your dog every day and using the proper tools in their correct forms and making sure that you are using a good and valuable reward system for your dog.
Once your dog has that understanding, you can begin removing the tools and rewards and have that strong secure bond and a well behaved dog that listens because they understand how to.

08/01/2025

🐾 Build Confidence Through Agility & games! 🐾

Agility isn’t just about speed and jumps—it’s about confidence.

Each tunnel conquered, each weave pole mastered, each leap taken builds your dog’s trust in YOU and in themselves.

💪 Nervous or shy dogs learn to take chances.
🎯 Energetic dogs learn to focus their drive.
💡 Every pup learns that trying something new can be fun!

Agility helps dogs problem-solve, stay connected to their handler, and most importantly—believe in themselves.

If you're looking for a new way to have fun with your dog, agility helps to create a bond like no other. And the confidence your dog gains will spill into every part of their life.

Ready to help your pup shine? 🌟
Let’s get started—message me to learn more about agility-based confidence building!

07/29/2025

Training a dog takes as long as it takes.

There is no such thing as an overnight quick fix. Your dog cannot magically transform overnight.
Remember, learning is not an event. It is a process.

Not all dogs will learn at the same pace and what works great for other dogs, may not work for your dog. Every dog is an individual and "breed standard" doesn't mean every dog of that breed qualifies. It's important to look at beyond your dog when you are having the same reoccurring problems. Is it truly your dog or is it possible your dogs environment? Some training issues can be a result from an underlying health issue.
Perhaps the style of training you are doing isn't a clear enough communication for your dog to understand. Perhaps the reward value doesn't meet your dogs needs. Maybe your dog is bored and using certain behaviors as a stress relief.

At Laurents Sirius K9 Direction we are committed and dedicated to help you solve the issues you are experiencing with your dog.
Message us today to begin paving the road of a lifetime of happiness with the dog you not only deserve but for the dog your dog is meant to be.

If you are out of area, there are still do many ways we can work together. Online training with our A.R.T. Guides, phone consultations, facetime/zoom and even taking programs week by week via email lessons.
After all, your dog is your dog. They will be living with you and you as their owner are the one who will need to have a relationship and control over your dog. Dog Trainers are here to lay a foundation while it is the owners responsible to maintain and continue building on that foundation.

We are committed to helping dogs and their owners stay together and we understand that especially in today's economy, times are "ruff". There is a financial burden for everyone. However that shouldn't keep you and your family and even your dog in a constant state of struggling.
Not only are programs designed to fit each specific need of individual dogs and their families, but we can also create programs that fit into your budget as well.
Never hesitate to ask questions about any concerns you have between training, time and money.

So the question really is, how committed are you to training and working with your dog to help the both of you reach and grasp for your goal?

07/18/2025

Lately I see tons of people wanting to show off their “protection dogs”.
The unfortunate thing is, many of these posts are untrained dogs.
When it comes to
Personal Protection Dogs, did you know that dogs must actually be friendly?
Protection dogs are not weary of strangers and feel threatened at all times. They are stable and sound members of society.
It’s sad that so many training videos on YouTube will go on for 15 minutes or so about why dogs need to sit and why it’s important to teach your dog to sit and then in 3 minutes they show you how to lure your dog into a sit.
Then you have these “protection” videos where they explain nothing. They may talk for a few minutes but that’s the most! Then go right into teaching you how to get your dog to react. 🤦‍♀️

Handlers/Owners and even trainers need to understand the psychologically behind it. It’s much more than just teaching an attack or hold or protecting an item.
Dogs MUST be able to perform and execute basic obedience. This means a solid and perfect “out/release” and “recall”. If your dog can’t be dependable on these two, then PP (personal protection) is not for the dog.

This sport is NOT for all dogs. Even if you have a German Shepherd or Malinois.
They have to have a drive for it. Forcing this drive on your dogs can result on some horrifying actions and behaviors.

While this is considered a game.. it is not just a game. This should be treated with a high level of respect and knowledge.
Real life situations should NEVER be a field test. Instead your dog should be tested with a trainer who knows about this kind of training.
This is not a sport that should be practiced with you and your dog. A trainer should always be sought out.

Let’s continue reading with a blog I wrote over a year ago...

Can my dog be a protection dog?

I feel it's very important to discuss IPO, Schutzhund, Protection and building drives for such work.

Very often I see people asking for information on how they can make their dog more aggressive for protection work. I have many owners come to me for training who are seeking protection training for their dogs.
To date I have never trained a single dog for anybody. And here's why..

What most people do not understand is that a good protection dog is first a friendly dog.
There are many skills that your dog must first be able to do and perform before you can get into any bite work.
First your dog has to be reliable. This means executing every command that you give your dog the first time that you give the command. If you say sit your dog automatically sits.
If you tell your dog down,then your dog should automatically go into a down. Your dog should know the difference between wait and stay and be able to hold these positions for an extended period of time. Your dog must be 100% reliable on the recall command. Recall means coming to you when you call the dog. The dog must be able to leave an item and to give you an item.
This also means that you're able to do off leash work with your dog. That in different environments and while being off leash your dog sticks to your side and obeys your every command.
The most important and critical thing that your dog also needs to learn is how to be properly socialized and how to be friendly towards strangers.
A good protection dog does not make decisions on their own. They do not launch or growl or bite just because somebody walks by. When having a protection dog it is the owner, the handler, who needs to be able to turn the dog on and off.

With that being said, your dog doesn't have to happily meet and sit for pettings with everybody they meet. However they do need to learn how to tolerate different situations.
If someone is passing by you, stops and wants to talk with you, then your dog is expected to be able to sit patiently by your side while you have this discussion. The dog should never engage on its own.

Way too often people want their dog to excel and protection training within a month or two.
Everybody sees what German Shepherd or Malinois can do and what they are capable of when it comes to bringing down the bad guys.
It is absolutely impressive to watch these dogs work. I will not lie I am hooked on these working dogs.

I had two German Shepherd's in the past that I started some bite work with.
Now that I have Aruba I am working harder with her so that she can excel in IPO and protection. Libby will be following in the same path. I have learned a lot over the years and I will keep learning and educating myself.
I have also had the opportunity to work closely with a trainer who does this kind of training for a living.
No sites on Facebook or the Internet are appropriate for someone who is just beginning with bite work.
You really need to work closely with a Trainer.

Many people say that their dog is standoffish with strangers and that this makes them a great protection dog... this could not be further from the truth. Most, if not all, of these dogs are full of nothing but fear. If put into a real situation they would rather flight then fight. So much needs to go into a good protection dog and it takes more than just a couple of months to get there.

07/03/2025

I'm sure somewhere down the road of training your dog you might have heard someone say or directly tell you to use a spray water bottle to help correct your dogs undesirable behaviors such as: barking, jumping up on people or furniture, reactivity and possibly more.

Here is why I am personally against this technique.

As a dog trainer, I do not like the water bottle method for dogs. not because its abuse but because on hot summer days, I like to do baths outside. I prefer my dogs not to have a negative reaction to being sprayed with water. plus, I also use a water bottle while outside at events to both spray some water on their chest, belly and paw pads along with using the stream spray for them to "catch" the water as a fun activity and also for hydration.

The method of using a spray bottle may suppress the behavior temporarily, but it doesn't teach the dog what you want them to do. Dog Training and Behavior Modification is not only about punishment and consequences. If that's all your doing then yes, that type of training is harmful and may be considered abusive training.
Absolutely, dogs need a consequences for their bad behaviors as this is how dogs learn.
However, we have to show the dogs a better solution as well. The lack of no is yes and positive only training by rewarding with treats isn't telling the dogs no. It sounds complicated and complexe but it really isn't that hard. Dogs learn so much differently than humans do. That is the first step in understanding how to help our dogs learn.
Every dog is different and every dog learns in a different way. There is a lot we need to know and understand about our dogs before we can begin teaching and helping them through stressful moments. That is another post for another time. Let's get back to the spray bottle now...
And can lead to fear, anxiety, and a damaged relationship with the owner.

Many dogs may not associate the spray bottle with the unwanted behavior, especially if the timing is off, and they may learn to misbehave when the bottle isn't present.

If we have anxious and fearful dogs and dogs with low confidence, this method can create more problems than solving them.

Some dogs can find immense joy in being sprayed, so ultimately using a spray bottle will only reward their behaviors.

To learn more about training and behavior message us today!

Laurent's Sirius K9 Direction

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