Maligator Kennels

06/16/2025

We know there’s been some uncertainty lately, and we want to thank you for your patience and support.

This is the original and official Maligator Kennels account. Our top priority is protecting the integrity of this brand and the community we’ve built together. We’re continuing to serve clients, train great dogs, and uphold the standard you’ve come to expect from Maligator over the past decade.

For any questions about scheduling, group classes, or private training, please text us directly at 801-896-7671 — we’re here and happy to help.

We’ll share more updates soon. In the meantime, we’re focused on doing what we do best: supporting dogs and their people.

Thank you for being part of the Maligator community.

06/11/2025

Hi everyone! Kenna here - I’m one of the owners of Maligator Kennels, and helped start the company as a trainer with Russ 10 years ago.

You may be aware there’s been some confusion online. Just to clarify: this is the original and official page for Maligator Kennels. It has not been hacked, and our commitment to supporting dogs and their people hasn’t changed.

We appreciate your patience while we sort through things behind the scenes. As always, feel free to message us directly with any questions.

Thanks again, and give your dog a hug from all of us at Maligator!

06/09/2025

We are loving our Level II group class. They are out there killing it with their dogs focus and control!

05/31/2025

Subordinate vs. Fear Behavior in Dogs – Know the Difference!

At Maligator Kennels, we’re all about reading your dog’s body language—and understanding the difference between submissive behavior and fear behavior is a must.

Here’s the breakdown:

🔸 Subordinate Behavior (Submission)
Purpose: Social politeness, saying “I respect your rank.”
Body Language:
• Lowered body with soft muscles
• Tail tucked or low wag
• Ears back, but relaxed
• Soft eyes, no hard stare
• Rolling over or licking face
• Quick recovery when tension is gone

🔸 Fear Behavior
Purpose: Avoidance or escape from a threat.
Body Language:
• Tight, tense body
• Tail tucked tightly
• Ears pinned flat
• Wide, darting eyes (whale eye)
• Trembling or frozen posture
• Possible urination or escape attempts

🔸 Similarities That Can Confuse:
• Both may crouch, tuck tails, or avoid eye contact.

🔸 Key Differences:
• Subordinate dogs = relaxed muscles, soft eyes, bounces back.
• Fearful dogs = tense muscles, hard eyes, may escalate if cornered.

Misreading the two can cause big problems. Punishing fear = more fear. Allowing faux submission = reinforced bad behavior.

Learn how to read your dog right. Join us at www.maligatorkennels.com.

05/31/2025

TRAINER TIP: Subordinate vs. Fear Behavior in Dogs – Know the Difference!

At Maligator Kennels, we believe that understanding canine body language is foundational to building a balanced, respectful relationship with your dog. One area where owners (and even trainers!) can easily misread a dog is the difference between subordinate (or submissive) behavior and fear-based behavior. While these behaviors share some surface similarities, their underlying motivations—and the body language that expresses them—are distinct and crucial to identify.

Let’s break it down:

Subordinate Behavior (Submission):
• Purpose: Dogs display subordinate behavior to communicate deference and to reduce social tension within the pack structure. It’s a polite “I respect your position” signal, not necessarily driven by anxiety or fear.
• Common Body Language:
• Lowered body posture with relaxed muscles
• Tail tucked or gently wagging low
• Ears back but relaxed
• Exposing the belly or side
• Avoiding direct eye contact, but with soft eyes
• Licking at the air or the face of a more dominant individual
• Often accompanied by slow, appeasing movements
• Key Message: “I’m deferring to you, let’s keep the peace.”

Fear Behavior:
• Purpose: Fear behavior arises from perceived threat or discomfort. The dog is not merely deferring but is attempting to avoid, escape, or minimize perceived danger.
• Common Body Language:
• Tense, crouched posture—muscles tight
• Tail tightly tucked under the body
• Ears pinned back tightly against the head
• Rapid, darting eye movements with dilated pupils
• Whale eye (showing the whites of the eyes)
• Trembling or freezing
• Possible submissive urination or attempts to flee
• Key Message: “I’m scared, and I don’t know how to make this stop.”

The Similarities That Can Confuse You:
• Both behaviors can involve lowered posture, tail tucking, and averting eye contact.
• Both may include licking or submissive gestures.
• Both may appear “passive” to an untrained eye.

The Clear Differences:
• Tension vs. Relaxation: In subordination, the dog is generally more relaxed and fluid. In fear, muscles are tight, and movements may be jerky or frozen.
• Facial Expression: Subordinate dogs have softer eyes and facial muscles. Fearful dogs have wide eyes, dilated pupils, and may show the whites of the eyes (whale eye).
• Context: Subordinate behavior usually appears in social situations (greeting a more dominant dog or person). Fear behavior can appear in any situation perceived as threatening, including environmental stressors (loud noises, unfamiliar people).
• Recovery: Submissive dogs usually bounce back quickly once the dominant individual acknowledges their signal. Fearful dogs may remain tense, anxious, or escalate into defensive aggression if they feel cornered.

Why It Matters:

Misinterpreting fear as submission—or vice versa—can lead to inappropriate responses:
• Punishing a fearful dog can intensify fear and create a defensive response.
• Failing to correct a truly dominant dog displaying faux submission can reinforce pushy or disrespectful behaviors.

At Maligator Kennels, we teach you to read your dog’s body language accurately, so you can respond appropriately and build a solid foundation of trust and respect.

www.maligatorkennels.com

05/24/2025

PUPPY TRAINING: Why Early Training Sets the Stage for Lifelong SUCCESS

I often get asked, “When should I start training my puppy? Is there such a thing as too early—or too late?” The answer is simple: it’s never too late, but the earlier you start, the better! Starting early saves you time, money, and the frustration of trying to undo behaviors that have been ingrained for months or even years.

The ideal time to begin training is the moment you bring your puppy home—whether that’s at 8 weeks old or not. Their brains at this stage are like sponges, soaking up everything around them. You have a rare opportunity to shape their personality, obedience, focus, confidence, and outlook on life.

Puppies in this phase (neonatal through juvenile) are forming the mental maps and emotional responses they’ll use for the rest of their lives. Early training doesn’t just create obedience—it builds resilience, social skills, and the ability to handle stressors confidently.

Sure, it’s possible to modify behavior later on. But make no mistake, it’ll take more time, effort, and money to retrain an older dog. Why wait for problems to arise when you can build the right foundation from the start?

Don’t wait—start your puppy on the path to a well-balanced, obedient, and happy life today.

Visit us at www.maligatorkennels.com to learn more about our proven training programs and how we can help you and your dog thrive from the very beginning. Just click the link and check out our brand-new, comprehensive puppy training programs.

05/21/2025

MALIGATOR UPDATE — 2025 CHANGES

Hey everyone, Russ here. Hope you’re all doing well. 2025 has already brought some big changes—and we’re not even halfway through the year yet.

First things first: our new website is live! We’ve worked hard to make the transition smooth, but like any rollout, there are still a few kinks we’re ironing out. Let’s be honest—we might be the best dog trainers on the planet, but when it comes to launching websites, we’re barely housebroken. That one’s on me. My staff has been amazing through the whole process.

Here’s a quick rundown of what’s new:
• New programs. New names. New pricing.
• If you were using the old system (anything before last week), you’ll still need to use that setup to schedule and manage your lessons. Just shoot us a text to get your link if you haven’t already—we’ve kept those active.
• If you’re using the new system, the website is your buffet. Enjoy easier navigation, simplified sign-ups (no more mandatory consultations unless you want one), payment plans, and more comprehensive training programs.
• Yes, some prices look higher upfront—but you’re getting more. These new programs are designed to take your dog from chaos to calm, start to finish, with a long-term plan that works.

So bear with us—we’re still the best in the business, and no one can match what we do with dogs. If you’ve got questions, ask away. Truth be told, we’re still learning this new system ourselves, so you might even ask something we haven’t thought of yet.

Thanks for being part of the Maligator family. Now quit reading and go train that dog.

—Russ

At Maligator Kennels in Utah County, we specialize in dog training based on dog psychology. Whether your dog needs help with obedience, aggression, or socialization, we focus on building trust and effective communication. Our methods address the root causes of behavior to create lasting, positive ch...

05/16/2025

Working with your dog in the areas they are most distracted or misbehave the most, is crucial for your success in conquering those obstacles.

05/08/2025

Group classes are back for the summer baby!

05/05/2025

Group classes for puppies, obedience and behavior are ready for our 2025 season! Don’t miss out. Spots are limited and they go fast! CLICK LINK BELOW!

https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=24953611

05/02/2025

Group classes are back and start next week. https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=24953611

Don’t miss out!

04/12/2025

Farewell to a Legend

Over 10 years ago, I met a stubborn little German Shepherd puppy named Kujo—and nothing was ever the same. One of the first dogs through Maligator Kennels, Kujo tested boundaries, crushed goals, and helped shape everything we are today.

He earned his advanced obedience title, competed in events, starred in demos, and inspired his human, Kami Hurst, to become a trainer with us for nearly a decade.

Age finally caught up to him—arthritis, weight loss, and tumors made life too painful. Kami made the hardest call, giving him peace.

Kujo, you were one of a kind. You are a legend. And legends never die—they live on in our hearts, in our memories, and in the legacy they helped build.

Rest easy, my friend. Guard those gates well—though we know you’ll probably sneak off for one more adventure.