http://www.orovilledogtraining.com/

For the Love of Dog Training, Oroville, CA (2026)

12/15/2025

Here’s the thing most people never get told about dogs. Once you understand it, you can’t unsee it. Behavior stops feeling random. Frustration drops. And suddenly your dog makes a whole lot more sense.

Dogs are not making moral decisions. They are not being stubborn, dominant, or trying to get away with something. They are responding to internal motivation systems shaped by genetics, early development, learning history, and the environment. Those systems are what we call drives.

A drive is the engine behind behavior. Not obedience. Not training level. Drives exist whether we acknowledge them or not. Training doesn’t create drives and it can’t erase them. It can only influence how they show up.

This is where people get stuck. They try to train the behavior without understanding the drive producing it. That’s like trying to steer a car without looking at the road. Sometimes you get lucky. Most of the time, you get frustrated and blame the car.

Prey drive is the biggest troublemaker. It’s triggered by movement, not aggression. Joggers, bikes, squirrels, running dogs. The nervous system fires before the thinking brain has a chance to weigh in. High prey drive doesn’t mean bad dog. It means strong genetics meeting a human world.

Food drive is motivation to work for food. These dogs often look “easy” until the environment outweighs the reward. That’s not disobedience. That’s motivation shifting.

Toy drive is engagement through play. For many working dogs, toys beat treats every time. Yes, you can train with toys. No, it doesn’t make dogs crazier when done correctly. It often gives them an outlet they desperately need.

Defense drive is emotional and rooted in self preservation. Barking, lunging, freezing, avoidance. Punishing a dog in defense may quiet behavior, but it often increases stress. That’s how shutdown happens.

Social drive is the desire to engage. Pulling and screaming to greet isn’t always friendliness. Sometimes it’s insecurity dressed up as enthusiasm. We call that fawning.

Here’s the important part. Drives stack. They shift moment to moment. A dog can be in prey and defense at the same time. This is why one size fits all training fails.

Good training doesn’t eliminate drives. It understands them, channels them, and teaches an off switch. Drive without direction leaks. Suppression without understanding creates bigger problems.

When we stop asking “how do I stop this behavior” and start asking “what drive is producing it,” everything changes. Training gets clearer, kinder, and more effective.

Dogs aren’t broken. They’re driven. And when we understand that, training stops being a fight and starts being a conversation.

12/15/2025

Me and my bestie did something super fun today. We walked into a brand new venue I knew absolutely nothing about and decided to just roll with it. I didn’t get to attend the seminar when it originally ran, so we were flying a little blind and jumped straight into the Detection Dog Regional Championships.

And of course, Ryu did what Ryu does.

He blew past my expectations, placed first in one of his searches, and earned an invite to Nationals in January. This dog never stops surprising me. I can put him in almost any situation, ask him to jump, and he just assumes the net will be there. No hesitation. No doubt. Just full trust.

I also love this venue because it allows detection dogs that work cadaver, narcotics, or explosives to all compete on an even playing field, alongside dogs trained on civilian odor who typically compete in venues like AKC. Everyone runs the same searches. The work is the work. And that’s really fun to see.

Honestly, it’s exactly how I teach my students to search. Clear criteria. Honest problems. Let the dog do the job without fluff or shortcuts.

Ryu showed up, worked his heart out, and handled the day like a total professional. That kind of partnership is something I hope every owner gets to experience with their dog at some point. It’s special. It’s earned. And it definitely doesn’t happen by accident.

I couldn’t be more pleased with him if I tried. I’m just along for the ride at this point and very grateful to have a front row seat.

12/08/2025

Let’s talk about the Predatory Sequence, because some of yall are out here wondering why your dog suddenly hits Mach 3 over a leaf like it personally offended them.

Every dog has a predatory sequence. Even your doodle. Even your tiny fluff with the emotional range of a toaster. Genetics do not care how cute your dog looks in a sweater. This wiring is baked in.

The sequence goes like this: Search, Stalk, Chase, Grab Bite, Kill Bite, Dissect, Consume. Your dog may not hit all the stages, but they absolutely have favorite parts. Pointers love the Search and Stalk. Herding dogs live for Chase. Retrievers were born for the Grab Bite. And my working dog people… well, yall brought home the entire sequence with a subscription plan.

The part owners struggle with is that predatory behavior doesn’t look like a nature documentary. It looks like a dog rocketing after leaves, creeping on the cat like a B-grade villain, screaming at skateboards, grabbing your sleeve during play like they’re solving a crime, or sniffing the ground with the focus of someone who dropped their last edible.

None of that is personal. Your dog isn’t being dramatic or naughty. Their DNA is simply doing a trust fall into chaos, and you’re the human hanging onto the leash.

The biggest mistake I see? Trying to shut the sequence down. When you suppress what’s genetic, you don’t get “calm.” You get reactivity, frustration, outbursts, and dogs who look fine… until they absolutely lose their marbles at 3 pm on a Tuesday.

So what do we do? We channel it. We give safe outlets. Long-line sessions. Scent work. Problem-solving games. Fetch with rules. Clear permission cues. Teaching the dog that yes, they can chase and bite… just not the jogger in Lululemon.

Because once you understand the sequence, the behavior finally makes sense. Your dog isn’t “crazy.” They’re just committed to their ancestry. And your job isn’t to fight nature. It’s to work with the dog in front of you.

12/01/2025

Let’s talk liability as a dog owner, because some of y’all are out here acting shocked that your dog… does dog things.

Your dog was bred for a job. A real job. Not a “Pinterest craft night” job. And the moment they see an opening, they clock in like it’s their first day at Costco.

Guardian breeds?
They were literally designed to protect property, people, livestock, and your emotional stability (debatable). If your Cane Corso is posted at the window like a federal employee waiting for a vibe shift, that’s not “reactive.” That’s called being employed.
And if you don’t train or supervise that dog, the liability is all on you. Your dog warns the Amazon guy with a growl? That’s genetics. Your dog follows through because you let them? That’s you becoming besties with your insurance agent.

Then we’ve got herding breeds the Olympic athletes of “I didn’t ask permission, I just acted.”
Border Collies, Aussies, Heelers… they’re out here trying to gather anything that moves. Sheep. Kids. Joggers. Your Aunt Karen.
It’s not personal. It’s a Tuesday.

And when they nip a heel or body-slam someone because that person “walked wrong,” that’s not misbehavior. That’s a performance evaluation.
But again liability is on you. Because while the dog was born with the instincts, you’re the one responsible for teaching them how to live in a human world without reenacting a National Geographic special.

I love you, but your dog doesn’t care that you live in suburbia, that your HOA hates barking, or that your cousin Todd “grew up with dogs.”

Training isn’t optional. Management isn’t optional. Understanding your dog’s genetics? Also… not optional. Unless you enjoy filling out incident reports at 10pm on a Saturday and being on a first name basis with animal control.

Here’s the truth:
If your dog bites, nips, herds, growls, guards, lunges, charges, body-slams, or “just wants to say hi” with their entire body, YOU are responsible. Even if genetics started the party.

Your dog isn’t broken.
They aren’t “being mean.”
They aren’t “acting out.”
They’re doing exactly what they were bred to do with zero understanding of lawsuits, court dates, or deductibles.

So be proactive.
Learn your dog’s instincts.
Train daily.
Use management.
And stop assuming good intentions when your dog is literally built for a specific purpose.

Because if you don’t guide them… they’ll freelance.

11/24/2025

So you have not exactly been training like you meant to this year. It is fine. I am not judging you. I am also the queen of realizing a major holiday is next week and suddenly questioning all my life choices.

If you have been in my program, you know how to use place, you know how to use the crate, and you know how to politely tell relatives to keep their hands and stuffing to themselves. You are prepared. You are thriving. Proud of you.

This post is for the people who are staring at their dog right now thinking, “Oh boy. We are in trouble.”

Here are some quick wins you can put into action now so you do not spend Thanksgiving chasing your dog away from the turkey like it is a high stakes action film.

Start strong. Give your dog a job before anyone arrives. A structured walk or place duration session helps shift their nervous system into a calmer state. Science moment: structure supports the parasympathetic nervous system. Translation: dog chills out and stops acting like the doorbell is a personal attack.

Set up a quiet zone. Crate, cot, guest bedroom, laundry room. Somewhere safe where they can opt out when Cousin Kyle decides he is a dog whisperer after one glass of wine.

Manage the food thief tendencies. Counter surfers wait for their moment like tiny, furry ninjas. Gating off the kitchen or crating during meal prep could save your bird and your sanity.

Give them a legal outlet for all that energy. A safe chew reduces stress by releasing dopamine. Better they chew that than steal hot rolls and sprint into the sunset.

Advocate. If your dog is nervous or reactive, you are allowed to protect their space. You can say no pets. You can say he cannot try your casserole. Boundaries are free and save relationships.

Once the chaos ends, do a decompression walk. Sniffing resets the nervous system. Consider it the dog version of changing into stretchy pants after dinner.

Thanksgiving should feel good for everyone. A little planning right now can make the day peaceful and dare I say, enjoyable.

Which part of Thanksgiving does your dog usually struggle with the most? Tell me below so I can help you get ahead of it before Thursday. 🐾🦃

11/17/2025

Sniffing is amazing… when it’s actually calming. But here’s the thing people don’t talk about enough. Not all sniffing is soothing. Sometimes it’s a dog trying to investigate the whole zip code at once, and that has nothing to do with relaxation.

Calming sniffing is slow, soft, and rhythmic. The body is loose, the breathing is steady, and the dog looks like they’re just enjoying a casual stroll through the world. This is the stuff that helps them regulate and settle their nervous system.

Hypervigilant sniffing is a whole different sport. This is the frantic, scattered, “who was here, who IS here, and how do I secure this perimeter” energy. It’s adrenaline talking. Stress talking. Sometimes insecurity talking. And if we mistake that for calm… we actually feed the reactivity instead of reducing it.

A lot of dogs use sniffing as displacement too. Just like we check our phones when a conversation gets awkward, dogs drop their nose when they’re unsure. Not wrong, but not calm. And if you keep letting them rehearse it, that uneasy energy builds.

This is exactly why I am picky about giving sniffing advice online. One dog may need more freedom to sniff. Another needs structured patterns. Another needs a lot less because their nervous system is already redlining. Without seeing the dog, guessing can make the behavior significantly worse. Sniffing is the perfect example.

And look… I’m not speaking from a place of “I read a blog once.” I spent ten straight years training cadaver dogs, narcotics dogs, and diabetic alert dogs, on top of competing in scent work. I understand sniffing on a level that probably annoys my friends. I’m not anti-sniffing. I’m pro-purpose.

Sniffing should support your dog, not send them into an adrenaline spiral. So if your dog looks frantic, scattered, unable to check in, tail tight, scanning the world like it owes them money… that’s your sign to interrupt, reset, and help them regulate.

When sniffing is calm, thoughtful, and intentional? Let them enjoy it. It’s one of the healthiest outlets they have.

If you’re not sure which one you’re seeing, send me a video in a virtual coaching session. I’ll translate it for you faster than you can say super sniffer.

11/11/2025

People see search and rescue dogs and bite sport dogs and think it is all intensity and muscle. They see the bite suit, the helicopter, the epic rubble pile. What they don’t see is the calm thinking underneath it.

Search and rescue dogs are dropped into the worst moments of someone else’s life and expected to stay clear headed. Sirens. Smoke. Strange footing. Fear. Adrenaline. And the dog is over there calmly running a scent cone like a tiny four legged scientist. They are not just sniffing. They are problem solving. They are making decisions. They will stay in the task long after a human would have quit.

Bite sport dogs get labeled as aggressive. They are not. They are controlled power. They wait. They listen. They think. They have to hold intensity inside their body while staying clear enough in the brain to release the second they are asked. If you think that is easy, try sitting in front of fries and letting someone else eat first. I’ll wait.

Here is where pet dog land gets confused.

A lot of people come to me and say “My dog is so high drive” when what they are actually seeing is over arousal. There is a difference. Search dogs and bite dogs have high drive. They can channel energy into a task and still access their brain. Over arousal is when the brain leaves the chat. Spinning. Barking. Jumping. Zoomies of the soul.

Drive is energy with a plan.
Arousal is energy with no idea what it is doing.

And the number one sentence I hear from overwhelmed owners is “I just need to tire the dog out.” So they run the dog more. They add daycare. They play fetch for an hour. They create an athlete with zero regulation skills. The dog gets fitter. The humans get tired. Nothing gets better.

News flash: I own high drive dogs and I do not need to run them 6 miles a day to live with them. We don’t outrun arousal. We teach regulation.

Working dogs teach us that the goal is not exhaustion.
The goal is clarity.

If a dog bred for speed, power, drive, and bite can learn to think under pressure, your pet dog can learn to walk past a squirrel without detonation.

Your dog doesn’t need to be tired.
They need to be regulated.

And honestly, so do we.

11/07/2025

Just a quick public service announcement that I never thought I’d have to make.

I’m not a paid content creator. I don’t sit around brainstorming ways to go viral with dog hair stuck to my lip gloss. I share these videos to give transparency to people considering hiring me. That’s it.

If someone gets nasty, passive aggressive, or takes a cheap shot at me or another person in the comments, I’ll delete it and block. No dramatic exit music, no warning. Just p**f. Gone.

I’ve considered making comments available only to followers, but so many of you ask thoughtful questions that help me give more insight and education. I’d hate to shut that down.

So please, remember to be kind. This is dog training, not a summit on solving world conflicts. Yes, people have strong opinions. That’s fine. But behind this account is a real human reading the comments. And behind many of these dogs are families doing their absolute best.

We are all here for the same goal.
Better communication.
Better relationships.
Better lives for the dogs we love.

Kindness is free. Use it generously. 💛

11/03/2025

Most people think a schedule will fix the chaos.

Walk at 7
Breakfast at 8
Nap at 12
Dinner at 5

And then they look at their dog, who is still losing their mind like someone fed them a venti vanilla sweet cream cold brew and a conspiracy theory.

A schedule tells your dog WHEN things happen.
Structure teaches them HOW to exist.

There is a massive difference between a dog who knows what time dinner is and a dog who can chill on place while you answer an email, fold laundry, or contemplate why socks disappear in the dryer. A lot of dogs have a schedule. Very few have structure.

Structure is where the magic happens.

Structure is:
Rest when I ask you to rest
Walk politely instead of auditioning for Fast and Furious
Respond when I communicate
Regulate your emotions
Accept boundaries without melting into a wet noodle

When we pair structure with a predictable routine, dogs relax because their nervous system finally understands the assignment.

And here is the plot twist that nobody talks about:

Predictability is great
But too much predictability can create anxiety

If your dog can only relax when everything happens at the exact same second every day, that isn’t calm. That’s fragility wrapped in a routine.

Life will throw curveballs.
A meeting runs late.
Weather shifts your walk time.
Your toddler spills Cheerios everywhere and now the morning is a crime scene.

A structured dog can roll with it.

A rigidly scheduled dog falls apart.

I’m not aiming for a dog who only functions when the world is perfect.
I’m aiming for the dog who can still regulate when life gets messy.
Because it will.

I want your dog to:

Relax in a crate even when you’re home
Hold place while the world moves around them
Walk with you instead of walking you
Nap instead of pace
Handle changes without spiraling

Structure gives your dog emotional stability
Schedule gives your dog predictability
Together they create freedom

Freedom is earned.
Not given because the dog is cute or has big saucer eyes that say “rules are optional.”

If you’re feeling overwhelmed and thinking, “We do have a schedule, we are doing all the things, why are we still tap dancing on chaos,” chances are you added time blocks before you added structure.

Start with structure.
Layer in the schedule.
Watch your dog exhale.

Your nervous system will probably thank you too.

11/02/2025

Sometimes you just need a second set of eyes on your dog’s behavior, and you need it now.
Maybe you don’t have a great trainer nearby, or maybe you just need a quick game plan before things get worse.

In 45 minutes, we will dig into what is going on, talk through what is working and what is not, and leave you with practical tools you can use right away.

Perfect for:
• Puppy training first steps
• Tackling “bad manners”
• Basic training questions
• And those “what do I even do here?” moments

You do not have to guess your way through it. Let’s figure it out together. Comment HELP for booking link

10/31/2025

Happy Halloween from our current retreat students. They’ve been very busy today deciding whether they’re spooky, sweet, or just here for the snacks.

If your dog is dressed up, I want to see it. Drop your costume pics in the comments so we can all admire your little pumpkin, shark, taco, or “I refuse to participate in this nonsense” dog.

Let’s make this the cutest comment section on the internet today.

For the Love of Dog Training

12/15/2025

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