New Instincts K9 Training

24/11/2025

Day Training lesson with Lainey ☀️

She’s an easily overstimulated girly that can also be reactive so our focus was handler engagement and calm neutrality around distractions!

17/11/2025

The dog that literally changed the course of my life 🫶🏼

13/11/2025

Dog fulfillment is all about providing dogs with activities that satiate their innate physical, mental, emotional, and genetic needs to allow them to feel purposeful and satisfied. These activities should also closely relate to each specific breed’s natural instincts.

These activities help fulfill the biological need to run, jump, play, stalk, chase, kill, dissect, consume, rest, and so much more!

If YOU don’t give your dog an appropriate outlet for these needs, your dog will find an outlet themselves…
And that usually looks like being destructive in the home, being reactive on walks, struggling to settle, and overall chaos.

And if you don’t fulfill your dog’s needs but still expect them to “behave”, you’re setting you and your dog up to fail!

05/11/2025

03/11/2025

It’s simple: teaching your dog that their default should be neutrality will create a well-balanced, well-behaved dog!

Think of it this way: proper socialization is simply teaching an individual being how to function in society appropriately.

If you socialize your dog by allowing energetic free-for-alls every time they see other dogs, people, etc. (on-leash greetings, dog parks, doggy daycares, etc.) you’re creating the association that those things always = excitement and no boundaries. And this is how reactive, overstimulated dogs that struggle to listen are created!

This doesn’t mean your dog shouldn’t interact with other dogs. It just means their default should be neutrality!

Instead, first show them that they should engage with you above all other things!

From there, teach them to just simply let the world go by without any expectations other than calm neutrality. Once this is your dog’s default, watch as the world becomes a lot more enjoyable to you and your dog!

And if you want your dog to interact with other dogs, set up structured play dates with known and trusted dogs and their owners!

29/10/2025

Dogs should certainly be able to enjoy the privileges in life… as long as they can do the opposite!

For instance, my dogs are only allowed on my furniture when given permission. And they are almost always given permission simply because they have been taught to get off when told.

They can do the opposite!

Another example: I sometimes allow my dogs to have off leash privileges because they can do the opposite and come when called, no matter what (off of other dogs, animals, smells, etc.).

IF YOUR DOG CANNOT DO THE OPPOSITE, THEY HAVE NOT EARNED THAT PRIVILEGE. This is not only common sense, but it ensures your dog is safe and making the right choices while also keeping others around you and their dogs safe.

If we willingly allow our dogs to enjoy certain privileges without teaching them to appropriately handle them, it can create a strain in the owner/dog relationship. Additionally, it can lead to behavioral issues like resource guarding, separation anxiety, reactivity, and more.

25/10/2025

Create a predictable, safe world for your anxious pup and give them the confidence to navigate it! 🥰

17/10/2025

Let’s chat ☺️

(Also, there is a LOT of nuance to these topics let’s not forget!)

What’re your thoughts? 🤔 💭

16/10/2025

If you have a reactive dog, you know it’s all about being proactive!

With Jack, I made sure to:

- Make space from other dogs if needed
- Start with a calm mindset before even getting out the car
- Brought lots of rewards and paid him for good, desired behaviors
- Encouraged him to stay focused on me rather than hyperfixating on things around us
- Allocate time to practice settling and allowing his nervous system to regulate in a busy environment
- Made training fun!!