Balanced Solutions Dog Training

09/12/2025

🐾UPDATED PACK WALK RULES🐾

This is a structured training walk, designed to recreate working pack migration elements, foster proper social and leash behaviors, improve neutrality to distractions, and manage and work through triggers and reactivity in an inclusive, supportive pack environment for both dogs and humans.

In other words, this is no regular walk!

RULES:

*Dogs must be in control of the handler at all times.
*All dogs must arrive on leash and stay leashed for the entire duration of the walk.
*All dogs must walk in a heel position at all times, in pack formation (single or double file, staying in pace with the pack). Dogs can of course relieve themselves as needed, but they should not be allowed to roam freely out at the end of the lead for any extended period of time.
*Improper behaviors must be corrected: excessive barking, lunging, reactivity, etc.
*No cross-body, waist, bungee, or flexi-leashes are permitted. Haltis and Gentle Leaders are also not allowed. All of these pose significant safety risks for dogs and people. If you elect a wearable leash, the leash must still be held in your hand for proper control at all times.
*Leashes must be properly used: No wrapping of leashes around or under legs, abdomen, etc for "control" of the dog. (That is a training issue that can be addressed with proper leash handling and training. Using leashes improperly is a safety hazard and not permitted.)
*No face-to-face interactions between dogs are permitted (this includes pack walk member dogs, and other dogs alike).
*No interactions with passersby, including allowing people to greet and pet your dog while participating in the pack walk.
*No political or otherwise potentially sensitive discussions, please. This is a safe space for all.

All of the above rules ensure the educational and developmental efficacy of the pack walk, as well as the safety of all pets and people involved. Allowing social interactions at the pack walk defeats the purpose of the working migration concept, and creates social pressure and anticipatory charge for the dogs when coming to future pack walks. (We will create opportunities for social engagement and introductions at other times, as well as in training sessions.)

Any violations of the above rules will result in the dismissal of the handler and dog from the pack walk. In some cases, violations will result in a permanent ban from future pack walk participation.

09/11/2025

📢🐾🐾Paws up, Packmates! Neshama has a very important message for you!

🐾We have been working hard behind the scenes, and there are some exciting changes coming to BSDT! Stay tuned for new offerings and more opportunities to build your (and your pup's ) training skillset, take on new challenges, have new adventures, and build community with the Pack! Our mission is to help you live your best life with your best friend, and we are just getting started. (And don't worry, the Pack Walk isn't going anywhere! We knew you would ask... 😉)

🐾Keep an eye out for all the pawsome developments in the coming weeks! Neeshy says she'll see you there! And if you haven't joined the Pack yet, what are you waiting for? You belong in the Pack. 🐾🐾

08/26/2025

Happy National Dog Day to the best friends we could ever have. ❤️🐾❤️🐾

08/24/2025

This pack, though. 😍🐾🐾

Not only did we have one of our biggest pack walks ever, but also one of the best. Here's to all of these good dogs and their amazing handlers who came out to work on leash skills, socialization (neutrality), reactivity and obedience - and to build community. It is absolutely incredible to watch you go, and to witness the Power of the Pack in action! 🙌🐾❤️

07/08/2025

“If you correct a dog for going nuts in the crate it’ll hate the crate”

“If you correct a dog for staring at another dog with intent to harm, it’ll think the other dog did it and make things worse”

“If you correct your dog for anything they will shatter like fine china and you will go straight to hell!!”

They’re definitely smart enough to know the consequence is directly connected to whatever behavior they are displaying in the moment.

Anyone who thinks otherwise isn’t giving dogs enough credit.

06/13/2025

06/13/2025

At BSDT, when you're in the Pack, you're never alone. 🐾♥️

So happy to be giving evening training walks to BSDT packmate Callie! We are working on leash skills, reactivity, and engagement while her mom recovers from surgery. They are BOTH beautiful survivors! 💪

Way to go, Callie and Sylvia! So happy to have you in the Pack (2 years and counting)! 🐾♥️🐾♥️

06/09/2025

Amazing pack walk yesterday with these incredible dogs and their guardians! Once again we proved the Power of the Pack! 🐾🐾

05/25/2025

Look at this pack! Great walk today Carrie Fry and a special thank you for your help Jason! 🐾🐾

04/08/2025

CLIENT SUCCESS STORY: If you've ever struggled with your dog on leash, read on for some HOPE!

Meet Lexie and Sage. When we first started working together, Sage was so reactive on leash that Lexie wasn't able to walk her.

Now, Sage is waking next to Lexie in a perfect heel, and responds to Lexie's direction. Ultilizing a combination of leash technique, positive reinforcement and effective corrections, Lexie and her parents worked diligently with Sage and have mastered the art of the walk! In her own words "Now we are the ones who are able to walk by any reactive dog, anywhere." Lexie often volunteers to take Sage when we meet for walks, and here's the most amazing part: Lexie was only 11 years old when she accomplished this breakthrough with her dog!!!

Lexie's family and Sage are a shining example of how commitment and the right training can transform not only your dog's behavior, but your relationship with your dog as well. This picture was taken randomly, in the middle of a walk where Sage walked calmly by Lexie's side and was easily corrected if she got off track. This is the new normal.

Thank you to Lexie and her parents for letting me be a part of your journey with Sage! I am so proud of how far you've come, and honored to be alongside. And a special thank you to Lexie's parents for allowing me to share this photo and story.

And for anyone who has ever wondered if it is possible to change your dog's behavior, Lexie wants you to know: It is.

03/23/2025

Here's to the amazing dogs and their humans who came out for today's incredible pack walk! Special thanks to Mother Nature for this beautiful sky (and finally giving us a break from the rain)!
🐾❤️🐕

01/28/2025

The popular narrative is that dogs are only surrendered or euthanized by horrible humans who are unwilling to put in the work and who were born without hearts.

And while there are of course horrible humans and dogs who’ve been unlucky enough to be paired with them, the reality is, they make up an incredibly small portion of the people surrendering/euthanizing their dogs.

The vast majority is made up of kind, caring, and often heartbroken owners who are so terribly overwhelmed by their inability, as well as the trainers they’ve hired inability to stop behavior issues that have hijacked their lives.

Sadly, many of the issues are wildly easy to resolve (jumping, rushing the door, barking, running out the door, knocking kids over, bratty/attitude-based “aggression” or “resource guarding” or “reactivity” which are actually nothing truly serious but are simply the byproduct of an owner appearing as a doormat and not having the skills to change that perception.

And then you have your more serious, real-deal issues. Stuff that requires far more skill and experience. Behaviors like severe separation anxiety, resource guarding, reactivity that results in owner redirection (bites), massive destruction, human or dog aggression.

You won’t find dogs being surrendered or euthanized for not holding that down stay perfectly or that recall not having a perfect sit front finish.

Don’t get me wrong, dogs having fantastic obedience can be a huge help to the owner living comfortably with the dog, can give dogs far more freedom and fulfillment and inclusion, and will often help with many annoying behaviors and even help improve some poor relationship dynamics.

But if you can’t stop problem behaviors (you get to choose how mild and severe — just market yourself honestly), and do so in a reasonably short timespan, and then transfer these skills successfully to the owner, you’re putting a really nice bow on a package that’s often destined for heartbreak.

Of course stopping behaviors is by comparison to training fun-filled obedience — the ugly, unpleasant looking (and feeling) stuff; the stuff which puts a hit on your social virtue points and even your reputation, and thus the stuff so many trainer shy away from. And fair enough. We all get to choose our path. But the trainer who can do both — train the fun, freedom and inclusion granting obedience, as well as stop the problem behaviors which make dogs things we sometimes decide we can no longer live with — those are the trainers worth their weight in gold to owners in pain.

PS yes, we have a shortage of trainers willing to be honest about how to effectively solve behavior issues. Social pressure and ideological pull (emotional appeal) will do that. But you get to choose if you want to be the one who provides real, honest, difficult (and desperately desired) answers, or the one who provides superficial, safe, BS in the form of “wisdom” — “wisdom” that serves you, and “wisdom” who’s self-serving nature leave dogs and owners to suffer… but you unscathed.

PPS, courage is in terribly short supply. The self-serving critics on both the PP/FF and balanced side have seen to this.