Chuck’s Balanced Dog Training

25/01/2024

No walk today due to the rain. Brutus still gets us structure. 30 minute down stay during my workout.

23/01/2024

If you want/need a pic of your pet you can’t got wrong with contacting Megan Purtell Photography.
The pic speaks for itself.

21/01/2024

Brutus and I just had a blast hiking around Lake Linganore with Megan Purtell Photography. We had a mini-session and we had fun playing in the snow at the Caves and in the woods. I can’t wait to see what she was able to capture.

19/01/2024

So this happened today.
Thanks Jamie at Drawin' Attention Tattoos

06/01/2024

January 6

25/12/2023

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!🎁🎄

14/12/2023

Hmmm…

I see countless social media dog training “help” pages where owner after owner share the struggles they’re going through with their dog, and which they then proceed to list all of the politically correct, “science-based”, emotionally comfortable, morally superior, always positive-focused approaches they’ve attempted to use to remedy the issues…to no avail.

What’s wild is, they’ll share how long they’ve been at it, the money spent, the damages incurred (materially, physically, and emotionally), and they’ll proudly list all they’ve tried, almost as if it’s a banner, or a signal. Well, after all, it is a signal. A signal that says “I’m on the good team.”, “I’m one of the kind, caring, humane, smart, science-y ones.”

And every time I read these posts (don’t ask me why I torture myself), I’ll then read them to whoever happens to be close by—which is usually my wife or my team. (Sorry! 🤣) And then I’ll list all the incredibly obvious ways the owner could actually stop the problem—if stopping the problem was actually more important than feeling morally superior, emotionally comfortable, or belonging to the right group was to them.

Of course these suggestions I make would not only never fly on these pages, but even if they did remain, the chance that anyone would act on them would be an almost guaranteed zero.

Why? Because although these solutions would almost certainly solve the problem, they would most inconveniently not align with the current PP/FF ideology/cult/religion, AND they would involve countless interactions that these owners would find unpleasant, uncomfortable, unenjoyable—and morally unacceptable.

And so the issues, struggles, stress, and pain shall remain. Not because there aren’t solutions, but because real, honest to goodness solutions aren’t at all what any of these people are actually looking for. Solutions garner no attention, sympathy, or belonging—only chosen suffering, for dog and owner garner these prized benefits.

And so eyes and minds will remain closed and the suffering will roll on.

02/12/2023

Last reminder: Santa’s getting ready for pics at Dublin Roasters Coffee from 11-1 today (Saturday 12/2)

27/11/2023

Can we really blame our dogs for the confusion when their entire world is enveloped by mixed messages? Why mixed? Because we knowingly or unknowingly teach them that they and us are precisely the same. And then we become upset when they respond to what we’ve taught by challenging us, pushing us, disregarding us, stressing us, overwhelming us, and sometimes even injuring us.

If you’re going to teach your dog that you and they are the same—meaning the social structure, and the differences between human and canine aren’t clearly articulated—you can’t be upset when they run with what you’ve taught them.

It’s not the student who’s at fault, it’s the teacher.

PS, I know many bristle at the fact that I point out that there should be a clear distinction between dog and human—with the human in charge, and above, and the dog subordinate, and below. Feel free to bristle away. But when you’re struggling with your dog, refer back to this post, and attempt to digest it with an open mind. The answers as to why you’re struggling are likely here when you’re ready to find them.

27/11/2023

27/11/2023

Friendly reminder that Brutus and Santa will be at Dublin Roasters Coffee on Saturday (12/2) from 11-1.

BYOC (Brinig Your own Camera)

Free to all. Donations appreciated.

23/11/2023

Brutus says Happy Thanksgiving!

20/10/2023

Brutus and his The Go Team - Frederick, MD friends had a good time at Wolfsville Elementary Literacy Night.

13/10/2023

Bru and his Go Team Therapy Dogs friend enjoyed our visit at Walkersville Library Paws2read

11/09/2023

September 11

06/09/2023

Yup.

A 5 month old pampered, overindulged, spoiled puppy denied knowing his social rank within his family becomes the adult DOG that pulls, barges, barks, growls, lunges, or even bites when things don’t quite go her way.

If you share the seat of the throne with your dog, you cannot expect his desires to harmonize with your own. Your dog will always selfishly seize every opportunity to self-gratify. Most bad behavior is a crime of opportunity, and a lack of knowing what’s right from wrong.

Dogs do precisely what they are allowed to. They do what they want, when they want, selfishly seeking pleasure along their path, unless guided elsewhere.

Dogs are speaking to us all the time through the behavior we directly experience. And, they are always listening. They live in the present moment, and are interpreting their environment, and you, all while seeking opportunities to self-serve. The more something works to bring pleasure, the more frequently it will occur.

And so it is the human’s job to provide the guidance and management necessary for healthy, balanced, good behavior until the dog can be trusted to make sound choices on his own. If you think for a second that your new puppy is capable of unselfish, thoughtful curation, you may want to think again;)

The quality of YOUR guidance directly effects your dog’s happiness and helps him become a better dog.

01/09/2023

Anyone have any insight for using this to stop rising off leash dogs? I’ve never used it.

28/08/2023

After reading another story of an out of control dog causing serious harm I want to say this: Ethical breeding and good genetics along with quality training is how to stop this. I absolutely believe there is a place for rescues (unfortunately) but that’s not going to solve the dog behavior issues that are running wild (pun intended).

03/08/2023

Lotta white dog hanging out this evening.

02/08/2023

Pixie is capable of a double down on command in the right situation. She’s a very smart dog. On our walk she still wears a flat collar, a HS prong collar, an mini-educator ecollar, and a Good dog leash from Sean O’Shea that connects the prong and fiat collars for safety.
Why? Because she’s dog reactive and she needs it. Is she improving? Absolutely. Is she near perfect in the house? Also yes. Crate trained, feeding schedule, boundaries and limitations? Yes, yes, yes.

Provide for the dog you have and not the dog you want. Eventually they may be one and the same.

09/07/2023

Brutus and friends. This was Bru’s first visit with the Go Team Frederick. He did well but we still have a lot to learn.

06/07/2023

Now that’s funny.

02/07/2023

Brutus was in a down stay as we shopped at Lowe’s today. Another dog came around the corner and approached Bru (I don’t think the other owner noticed Bru and quickly pulled their excited dog away). Bru didn’t move other than to lift his head and look at me for direction.

Good boy, Bru.

24/06/2023

Brutus got his cards today. I pick up our ID and certificate for Go Team Therapy Dogs this week and we can start visits!!!

24/06/2023

Brutus working on his “paws up” command in new settings.

13/05/2023

Not a lot of pics from about 13 hours of testing over two days. Mock TSA and assisted living, getting about a dozen dogs on and off buses quickly, meeting people in a mall along with practicing elevators and steps, meeting firefighters and working around engines with lights and sirens, and much, much more.

Always more to learn and practice but overall a successful weekend.

Looking forward to beginning our work with The Go Team Therapy Dogs-Frederick.

18/04/2023

What I hear when someone is shouting “they’re friendly” from behind an unleashed approaching dog is “they won’t listen to my commands”.

Here’s the two things I know for sure.
1) You have no idea how my dog will react, and
2) I have no trust in your ability to control your dog if anything goes sideways.

02/04/2023

Working in down stay as I walk away

29/03/2023

Brutus putting in the work