Team K9 Training (2025)

21/04/2025

You’ve probably seen the advice…
“Give your dog a massage.”
“Try calming chews.”
“Just add enrichment and long walks.”

And while those tips can be helpful, they’re just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to regulating your dog’s nervous system.

What social media often promotes are trendy, surface-level strategies.

They sound nice (and sometimes look aesthetic), but they aren’t the foundation your dog truly needs to feel safe, calm, and confident.

🎯 If your dog is struggling with anxiety, reactivity, overstimulation, or stress-related behaviors…you need to look deeper than a snuffle mat or calming music playlist.

Nervous system regulation in dogs is built on meeting their biological, emotional, and relational needs consistently.

That means:
✅ Predictable routines
✅ Structured decompression time
✅ Clear communication using consistent cues and markers
✅ Physical exercise that’s appropriate for your dog’s breed, age, and energy
✅ Safe socialization and frustration tolerance training
✅ Supportive training that prioritizes trust and safety
✅ And YES, meeting their most basic needs: food, water, movement, quality rest, and access to a calm handler they feel securely attached to.

✨You don’t have to ditch the snuffle mats or ditch the idea of a “calming corner.” But they’ll only go so far if the foundation isn’t there.

If you want a dog who feels secure, relaxed, and responsive to training, nervous system regulation isn’t optional, it’s essential.

📌 Save this pyramid for reference the next time you find yourself wondering why your enrichment routine isn’t “fixing” your dog’s behavior.

👋 Let’s stop romanticizing the surface and start supporting what truly makes a difference.

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🧠 Want to learn how to build better regulation in your dog’s training? Comment “VGC” to get the details on our 5-week Virtual Group Class.

✍🏽 What else would you add are “trends” that are surface level?

16/04/2025

Dog ownership is much like parenting for human children.

There’s multiple ways of doing it and everyone believes their way is the correct way.

And of course there are people who are not parents who believe they have the answers to parenthood.

For many parents - they’re doing the best they can with the knowledge they currently hold.

In my opinion, I believe that 99% of dog owners love their dog and do what they do because they’re trying their best with the information they have.

There are layers and layers of misinformation out in the world.

So that provides a spectrum or bell curve of where dog owners stand.

Many of us start at the far end and find our way to the middle.

But that only happens when we are presented with new information, life changes, and are open to new ways of living with our dog.

Sometimes you may find yourself at a far end of the spectrum because if live circumstance or the type of dog you got.

If you have a dog aggressive dog due to a bad incident at a dog park - you’re going to end up at the spectrum of “all dog parks are bad and they shouldn’t exist. No dogs benefit from them”

If you have physical impairments maybe you require then use of a head halti or prong collar. But those that have not lived your experience will not be able to fathom your situation and instead react and judge.

It’s all a spectrum.

And we’re all moving up and down that spectrum based on how life moves us.

We’re all doing our best ♥️

Where do you fall on most of these? Middle? At the ends?

13/04/2025

(April 1st thoughts) Social media algorithms push out content at different times.

There’s been some content on my timelines, across all platforms, that was originally posted on April 1st but is just now being served to me on a delectable platter of hilarity and double takes.

At first glance, they’re good for a laugh (or at least one of those soft exhales through your nose that feels like uproarious laughter in your mind).

But then… I read the comments.

Fitness influencers joking about how water is dangerous and “real athletes only drink soda.”

Pickleball enthusiasts falling for a joke about overhead hits being banned due to an epidemic of eyeball injuries.

Dog trainers sharing a completely fabricated “study” claiming sunshine causes aggression in dogs.

And yet, the comments on these obviously satirical posts?

UNHINGED.

People arguing, debating, defending, and (worst of all) believing.

It makes me wonder: Has media literacy become a lost art???

If we can’t pause for a moment to check the date on a post…

If we can’t recognize sarcasm or satire…

If we’re basing our outrage, opinions, or even our decisions on fake content…

That’s not just embarrassing…it’s dangerous.

👉🏽So here’s your friendly reminder: Not everything you see online is real. Not every video is true. Not every opinion is worth absorbing. And not every headline deserves your attention.

Think twice. Read more than the caption. Check the date.

Pause before you repost. (Or worse, take it as fact and start regurgitating it to anyone and everyone)

a little skepticism can go a long way in keeping the internet (and your brain) a little less chaotic.

09/04/2025

Honestly, I don’t typically even recommend starting here - in fact if at all possible I recommend starting inside the house with just the SOUND of other dogs/people walking by.

However - many dog owners see that this issue is while the dog is:
- on a leash
- walking in the neighborhood

So naturally that’s where dog owners want to work on the issue.

Totally understandable!

But that’s too head on! Many dog behavior issues need to be address AWAY from the actual issue.

The outward manifestation of many dog behavior issues is the SYMPTOM that is showing…not the root cause.

Getting YOUR timing down, keeping your dog below threshold and teaching your dog how to take rewards takes
- time
- perfect practice (not just practice)
- patience
- dedication/consistency

These sessions that you do need to be in conjunction with your everyday activities you’re doing with your dog (biological enrichment, mental exercise, physical exercise, sleep, nutrition, etc)

Do you practice inside the house, yard or driveway for “Reactivity Specific” training with your dog?

28/03/2025

Dog barking: many dog owners nightmare.

(PS: I have a free guide on my profile if you want free help with dog barking)

There’s many reasons for the behavior.

In some ways the protocol to resolve barking will be the same

However, the reason we want to know the TYPE and WHY it’s happening is because, well….

Barking isn’t the issue.

To YOU it is. But to the dog it’s a symptom.

The type of barking helps you approach your training holistically and get to the root cause.

Does your dog bark a lot? What kind is it?

24/03/2025

We matched dog breeds to car brands… and it’s uncomfortably accurate.

Because let’s be honest — a Malinois is not driving a Prius😅

Whether you’re a loyal Lab (Toyota) or a bougie Poodle (Mercedes), every breed has its quirks — just like every car has its personality.

The better you understand your dog’s “drive,” the better you can support their needs.

🐕💡Choosing a dog isn’t just about looks. It’s about lifestyle compatibility — just like choosing your ride😉

What’s your car brand and breed of dog? Do you think your dog matches your cars energy?🤨

14/03/2025

IMO the last one is more my style 💁🏻‍♀️

Too bad I can only have so many carousel slides 😩 there are so many doggie breeds I’m missing!

Or I couldn’t find a graphic for certain breeds ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Do you have a friend with one of these breeds? Send it to them and be like “this is you” 😂

07/03/2025

The MOST important thing to keep in mind👇🏽

👀 dog body language is HIGHLY contextual.

This means that you must must must look at the dog as a whole to determine how they’re actually feeling and what action they will take next.

“Kisses” are many times a request for space.
Rolling over is often an appeasement behavior.
Wagging tail can sometimes signal aggression.

There are other factors at play (as mentioned in my photos)

And there are other body language cues not included.

But this is beginner friendly and designed to be broad.

Share this!

27/02/2025

They say dogs are a reflection of their owners, is that true?

Actually, yes in many cases I do find certain traits that a dog displays align well with the owners.

In fact, that’s what leads to dog owners to seek out dog training.

When the displayed traits of the dog do not align with the humans personality.

The reserved and more anxious prone dog owner seeks training for the overly energetic dog that participates in embarrassing rowdy behavior.

The more “Type A” dog owner whose dog is chaotic and at times unpredictable and unruly.

Not all the time, obviously, but we see it frequently enough as professional dog trainers.

Anyway, a lighthearted and fun post today!

Tell me, what was your dog breed?!👀👀👀

Do you think it fits you?!

10/01/2025

I know it’s not dog training! But I have many dog trainer business owners who created content on the other app and are worried about all of their content they developed.

I’ll probably delete this later depending on the Supreme Court ruling - but for now:

Please share to your fellow content creators and save it for instructions on how to do it for free.

- with love

26/11/2024

Human nature often leans towards binary thinking.

It helps us make quick decisions that aid in survival. But now that we have graduated from the caves and our hunting gathering roots - we should take more time to expand our ways of thinking.

Dog training in specific seems to bring out this trait in us and we toss things into only two buckets:

• “Good”
• “Bad”

However that’s not how the world works and the majority of events, circumstances, tools, methods, techniques and more will operate on a spectrum.

In dog training we strive to use food. But what happens when that food becomes coercive? What happens when you accidentally turn it into a punisher? What happens when it becomes a contingency for engagement and obedience?

Everything will have a risk and everything will have a benefit.

I’m not here to tell you what is “right” and “wrong”

I’m here to tell you that there isn’t a “right” and “wrong”
I’m here to hopefully get you to THINK and think critically.

So….what is your critical and insightful thoughts?

12/11/2024

🚨3 Big Mistakes that are accidentally made and what to do instead! Compete with video examples 🤌🏼

I used to train behaviors with low arousal and excitement because the end result I wanted was a low arousal behavior.

While yes, for some dogs that may need to be the case or in certain situations - but I was seeing some of the dogs not WANTING to do the behavior.

Slow movement. Hesitancy.

Taking a look at the training, it became clear that when the behavior was first developed, there wasn’t a lot of happy emotions the dog was experiencing.

It was neutral at best.

Upon testing and expanding my knowledge - for several years now I now start behaviors with as much enthusiasm and happiness I can bring out from the dog.

It’s easier to reign a dog in that does something very excitedly and chisel it down into the end behavior

Vs a dog that is slow, unmotivated and has a negative view of the behavior to build them up later one. Because sometimes you can’t! (Or at least it’s very hard)

Now in the video examples I provided - you don’t have to be that extreme in your excitement and enthusiasm with your own dog, but Forest is:

- hesitant
- nervous
- skittish
- apprehensive
- sensitive to social cues/behavior

So I need to compensate and bring energy through my own behavior.

Not make it serious and draining.

I hope these tips can help you if you’re working with a dog who is similar to Forest in some degree!

Do you have a dog that can be nervous, timid and shy? Do you help them with your own behavior?

31/10/2024

Trick or Treaters present an EXCELLENT and unique opportunity!

How often do you get the opportunity to get your doorbell rang a whole bunch?!

If you have a dog that struggles with the doorbell and starts to behave anxiously or gets nervous - use this as a training session!

However, don’t forget that Halloween is the 2nd highest day of the year for dogs to go missing!

So - keep those collars ON & make sure they’re on SNUG!

Not only that but keep a leash on your dog or put them into SECURE locations!

Medications are ok btw! If your dog is having a really rough time, make sure you provide medication before the festivities begin.

Do you have any other Halloween tips or advice?

If not, happy Halloween my friend! 🎃🌙🕸️🕷️🦇

01/10/2024

20 (technically 21) REASONS TO CRATE TRAIN YOUR DOG

Even if you don’t use a crate regularly, it’s important that at least your dog has the capacity to be in a crate.

It’s not just natural disasters like the horrific scenes we are seeing play out here in my state of North Carolina.

It’s other things like evacuations from a chemical plant exploding in Georgia.

As always, your dog - your choice.

I am simply presenting to you (IMO) what are some very compelling reasons to use a crate.

23/08/2024

How should dog’s have structured meeting/play?

Life is always a risk analysis. Everything that you do inherently comes with risk.

For some, they feel confident in taking certain risks because they’ve “always done it this way” and develop a false sense of security.

For others, they’ve bared witness or have experienced the devastating fallout of what these activities:

☹️On-leash greetings
☹️ Dog parks
☹️ Doggie daycare
☹️ Unstructured play dates
☹️ Off-leash dogs

…can produce in dogs.

Reactivity.
Fear.
Aggression.
Anxiety.
(Or a combination)

So….how SHOULD you do minimize certain risk factors?

✔️ follow the decision tree above

So, you’ve run the risk analysis and asked the questions above.

Now you should follow the framework for how to actually introduce dogs successfully.

Sure, some of you will whine and complain “tHiS iS tOo mUcH jUsT lEt tHeM mEEt”

But, idk, my dog’s life and mental/emotional wellbeing is far more important and I’ll take as much time as possible to make sure she is safe. The other dog and owner can F off if they aren’t willing to go through these steps to have successful interactions tbh.

Note: obviously you need to tailor the interaction tree to your dog. Gates won’t be the best solution for a barrier aggressive dog.

Did you do on leash greeting or dog parks in the past? Do you wish you had done things differently?

Team K9 Training