Freed by Training: Certified Dog Training and Behavior

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Freed by Training: Certified Dog Training and Behavior Behavior Dog Training | IAABC-CDBC, CPDT-KA | In Person Training in West Chester, PA - Virtual Training Worldwide

29/05/2026

I really want you and your dog to succeed. This series is for real life busy schedules and nervous dogs to celebrate the small wins that add up, together. Let’s get into it ⬇️

Set your timer, and try 7 intentional minutes a day to build calmer car rides.

Minutes 1-2: Keep it “boring.” Practice getting into the car, with a verbal cue, when it’s not moving using whatever safety set up you would normally use.

Minutes 3-5: Rest and Digest in the car. Pair time in the car with their FAVORITE treat. When you release your dog out of the car, the snacks stop. See what we did there?

Minutes 6-7: Slow and steady add in some triggers. I mean SLOW. Start the car and turn it right off. Slowly build from there.

⬇️ Let me know in the comments what behavior you want a 7 minute training session for next!

Leaving this post here so I know where to come back when I need some reminders.I know what a gift it is to be a part of ...
29/05/2026

Leaving this post here so I know where to come back when I need some reminders.

I know what a gift it is to be a part of this season of Remi’s life and it’s really reminding me to slow down, and be present.

I have trained hundreds of senior dogs and this is just one of those things that sneaks up on you and I am so grateful I have been so involved in his training and life so I could see clearly when things needed to shift.

If you love an aging dog and want to learn some new ways of enriching their lives…let’s chat! We’re in this together.

28/05/2026

When a dog barks, lunges, or explodes at triggers, it’s easy to think the behavior is the issue.

But often, it’s just the tip of the iceberg.

Dogs who display reactive behavior may also be struggling with:

– Fears and anxiety

– Nervous system dysregulation

– Low confidence

Reactivity is your dog’s way of coping. It’s communication.

But when we only try to “fix” the outburst without addressing the underlying situation… nothing really changes.

I see the most progress when we start with understanding your dog’s emotions and needs. And what your dog needs might just be a boost of confidence or help regulating their nervous system.

You’ll both be a lot less frustrated if you can see reactive behavior as a symptom, not a problem to be fixed.

And if you’re overwhelmed and unsure how to get started, you can book a free consult on my website 🥰

27/05/2026

I’ve used this recipe over and over in lots of different ways over the last few years…
Pumpkin, applesauce, even tuna!

Here’s the recipe for the treats I made in this video:
1 egg
1/4 cup peanut butter
1/3 cup chickpeas (I cooked and then blended them with water)
1 cup tapioca flour
water

I get over 900 treats from this recipe, usually for less than $3.50!

26/05/2026

My personal “favorite” is when they jump on you when you’re already over stimulated and you just need a moment to yourself… 😅

Here’s how to change that:

Set your timer, and try 7 intentional minutes a day to teach your dog to keep it together when they say hi.

Minute 1: Burn energy to get out all the silly wiggles

Minutes 2-3: Working the basics here: “sit”. Before we sprint, we gotta crawl.

Minutes 4-5: Lock in the sit through a “loop game”

Minutes 6-7: Add in the excitement (if they’re ready)

2026 is the year of four on the floor! You got this!

⬇️ Let me know in the comments what behavior you want a 7 minute training session for next!

This isn’t easy to write about 😢I don’t know anyone who likes talking about the fact that their dog is getting older (ok...
25/05/2026

This isn’t easy to write about 😢

I don’t know anyone who likes talking about the fact that their dog is getting older (okay, maybe if you have a teething puppy 😅). And the truth is, I have no idea how old Remi is. He was an adult when he came into my life, and the shelter had his age at around 6 (5-8 was their guess).

And for a while I was sure they had over-aged him. Because it was always going to be mostly just a guess, based on teeth and a few other clues.

But now I’m thinking, 6 was probably right on the money. Because lately, I’m noticing how much he’s slowed down over the last year. Nothing dramatic. Nothing to be alarmed about. His vet check came back clean! But they did point out a few signs that he is probably now in the 10+ age range.

And when I met up with a friend for a casual stroll with our dogs on last week, after about an hour Remi was struggling to keep up with her 12 year old dog. Again, no signs of pain or a desire to stop. Just a slowing down.

Which means, it’s time for me to set some new boundaries. Like Remi not coming with me to Farm Camp when the temps will be over 90. And cutting our walks and hikes down: we don’t need to do 10 miles, we can do 1 mile and sniff 10 times as much stuff along the way.

I’m not saying Remi’s ready to retire. He isn’t. But what I am saying is that it’s time for me to start conceptualizing what that might look like.

And sometimes that means he won’t come with me to camp. And sometimes that means content will get pushed out because he doesn’t have the energy to train on the day I want to record. And all of that is perfectly okay.

I’m a dog trainer, but I’m a dog mom first. And that means putting what Remi needs above what me or my business needs sometimes. And I wouldn’t have it any other way 🥰

25/05/2026

When I see a reactive dog being made to hold very still while another dog walks by, I’ll tell you exactly what I see:

A tightly coiled spring being dropped into a pressure cooker.

It usually ends one of two ways:

One, an explosion (what most people want to see less of).

Or two, suppression of that explosion (which teaches the dog absolutely zero coping skills)

Because that kind of stillness doesn’t provide any outlets or alternative behaviors. It just communicated required tolerance, which I have never seen produce long-term recovery from reactive behavior.

What I have seen work, over and over again, is giving reactive dogs options that involve, above all, movement.

Stillness only adds tension to a tense situation.

You can teach your dog to release it themselves through movement.

24/05/2026

Progress doesn’t come from the long, exhausting sessions. It comes from short, intentional reps that your dog can actually succeed at.

What you’ll need:

-Food/treats

-Speaker

-Sound clips

-Calming tool that you dog loves (lick mat, bone, bed etc.)

Here is your 7 Minute Behavior Builder to support your sound sensitive dog

Minutes 1-3: Work with your dog on a “food scatter” (with or without a snuffle mat)

Minutes 4-5: Play a clip of whatever they are sensitive to at 1% volume and give them a food scatter. Increase the volume by by 1% and being mindful of their body language; the goal is for them to stay relaxed. If they tense up, go down in the volume and stay there.

Minutes 6-7: Prepare “sound masking” to make the real-world event less stressful. Spend a few minutes pairing calming music with a settle behavior on your dog’s bed. You can use physical affection, a lick mat, or whatever is most calming to your dog.

This is a powerful combination of three different skills in a simple 7 minute training session.

Follow for more 7 minute behavior builders!

23/05/2026

I think one of the most important things you can learn as a dog owner is your dogs thresholds.

Because when they go over, they can’t learn. Their brain is literally firing different. But when they are under…that’s where the magic can happen!

And if I could leave you with one little hot tip on this topic is that it’s okay to walk away from a trigger when you and your dog have both hit the end of your rope. Because you can’t communicate in that state anyway.

Hi, I’m Mattison, a certified dog behavior professional, and I absolutely love nerding out on dogs and their nervous systems while giving my clients the tools to show up for them in every moment.

We should chat about your dog! Book a free consult on my website.

22/05/2026

Do you think we should shift our vocabulary from “socialization” to “exposure”?

This change puts the focus on observation before direct interaction. It’s about letting young pups process the world around them at their own pace.

What are your thoughts?

22/05/2026

Consistency > perfection works every time, friends.

You don’t need hour-long training sessions to address the constant barking at the door.

Set your timer, and try 7 intentional minutes a day to build calmer, more confident door greetings.

Here is your 7 Minute Behavior Builder to decrease barking at the door:

Minutes 1-2: Release the tension

Minutes 3-5: Introduce a station

Minutes 6-7: Add the “door moment”

⬇️ Let me know in the comment what behavior you want a 7 minute training session for next!

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