The Sophisticated Dog

22/01/2025

I am hoping this is real because it’s adorable! Anyone with rats in their home care to comment?

For anyone feeling a bit sad, here's a picture from a woman who makes Teddy Bears for her pet rat.

20/01/2025

🎉 Meet the Team at The Sophisticated Dog! 🐾

🐶 Irith Bloom, Team Leader
Irith, the owner of The Sophisticated Dog, is a biologist, educator, and co-founder of Carefree Companion. She has decades of experience working with animals, and is passionate about teaching kindness-based training methods and oversees our incredible team.

🐾 Paul Bujold, Trainer
Paul combines a lifelong love of dogs with over 30 years of leadership experience. A CPDT-KA certified trainer, Paul specializes in helping pets thrive. He works with clients in Ventura, Montecito, Santa Barbara, and worldwide online.

🐕 Vic Gasser, Trainer
Vic, who has degrees in animal behavior and applied animal welfare, brings a thoughtful, compassionate approach to every session. A CPDT-KSA certified trainer, Vic serves clients in the San Fernando Valley, West Side, and beyond through online training.

From puppy basics to challenging behavior cases, our team is here to help you and your pets live your best lives together.

15/01/2025

🎄🐾 Welcome your Christmas puppy home with confidence—and the right supplies! Here are some of our favorite items as certified professional dog trainers and behavior consultants.

Are you ready to grow a confident and secure puppy who flourishes in life?

Comment "training" to learn about our flexible training services to fit your lifestyle.

10/01/2025

Got Puppy Woes? 🐾 It's Normal, But You Don't Have To Do It Alone!

Oh, and by the way, did you know that I co-authored a book on this topic? 😏 It’s called Your Puppy & You - A Step-By-Step Guide to Raising a Freakn’ Awesome Dog. It’s the ultimate guide to help you navigate puppyhood with ease—and handle all the chaos in between the adorable moments. 🐶✨

👉 Comment "puppy guide" to grab your copy today and get ready to raise the dog of your dreams.

08/01/2025

🎤 Are you looking for a guest speaker for your next pet professional event or conference?

With over 30 years of experience, expertise in animal behavior, and a passion for teaching with kindness, Irith Bloom is the speaker your audience will love. From engaging talks to actionable insights, Irith’s presentations are tailored to inspire and equip pet professionals for success.

📧 Let’s connect! Comment "speaking" to book Irith for your event.

05/01/2025

I want to take a moment to honor the memory of the remarkable Karen Pryor, who passed away yesterday.

Others have written beautiful tributes to Karen -- search her name to find them -- and I will not attempt to put into words how amazing and inspirational a person she was other than to say the following:

Karen Pryor changed the world. She changed my life. It was a privilege to know her.

The world is poorer for her loss.

02/01/2025

These are the conferences I’m most excited about in 2025! As someone passionate about helping people teach with kindness and creating choice-rich environments for animals, I’m honored to be given changes to share insights from over three decades of training experience. I'm also excited to keep learning more. 🐾 From dogs and rabbits to humans, my mission is to foster connection and understanding through compassionate, science-based methods.

Hosting a conference in 2025? Let’s collaborate! I’d love to speak on animal behavior, training strategies, and the science behind positive reinforcement to inspire and equip your audience.

📧 Interested in having me speak? Send me an email—I’d love to join your lineup!

Interested in attending these conferences in 2025? They are linked below!

https://www.vsdogtrainingacademy.com/dog-behavior-conference/

https://iaabcfoundation.org/animal-behavior-conference/

https://www.apdtconference.com/

01/01/2025

Happy New Year to all who celebrate it! 良いお年をお迎えください！

26/12/2024

These commands are not just fun to teach but can also enhance communication with your dog and manage excessive barking positively. As a trainer, it’s always rewarding to help dog owners discover their pup's unique genius through simple yet impactful cues.

If you’ve ever struggled with barking—or wanted to teach your dog to “speak” on command—this article has some great tips to get started!

Follow these dog trainer-approved steps on how to teach your dog to speak (aka bark) on command.

23/12/2024

💪 You’ve got this! 💪

Raising a puppy can feel like a wild ride, but “Your Puppy and You: A Step-by-Step Guide to Raising a Freakn' Awesome Dog” is here to help you navigate it with confidence. Whether you're teaching your pup basic commands or working through challenges, this guide is packed with tips and strategies to help you and your puppy thrive together. 🌟

Join the thousands of pet parents already learning the secrets to raising a happy, healthy, and well-behaved dog! 🐶❤️

The best selection of dog training books, dog nutrition books, and dog competition books anywhere!

21/12/2024

Our team member Vic lost a beloved family member earlier this month. This video gives a little taste of what a special cat Pavel was.

Condolences to Vic and everyone who loved Pavel!

Send a message to learn more

20/12/2024

🌟 Help your anxious dog feel more secure by teaching them what to do! 🌟

Instead of trying to stop anxious behavior, guide your dog toward a positive alternative. This approach doesn’t just reduce stress—it builds their confidence, too. 💪🐾

15/12/2024

⏰ Last Chance – Registration Closes TODAY! ⏰

Today’s the final day to join my Fenzi Dog Sports Academy course! This is your last chance to learn powerful counterconditioning and desensitization (CC&DS) techniques that can help your dog feel calm and confident, no matter the challenge. 🐶

Whether you’re working on grooming tolerance, reducing barking, or helping your dog settle around new people, this course will give you the tools and knowledge to make real, positive changes.

Don’t miss out on this opportunity—register by midnight and start building a happier, more resilient future for your pup! 🌟

Let’s make this a turning point in your training journey!

Online dog training classes for obedience, rally, agility, tracking, nosework, dog behavior, freestyle, and foundation skills.

12/12/2024

🚨 3 Days Left to Register! 🚨 Time is running out to secure your spot in my Fenzi Dog Sports Academy course! If you’re ready to learn the ins and outs of counterconditioning and desensitization (CC&DS) to help your dog feel calmer, more focused, and happier, don’t miss this chance.

We’ll dive deep into how emotions drive behavior and give you practical tools to transform your dog’s response to challenges like grooming, doorbell anxiety, and more. 🐾

Gold students get to build a custom training plan targeting real-life goals! But hurry—registration closes soon!

🔗 Register now: Course Link below!

Let’s make positive change happen for you and your pup!

Online dog training classes for obedience, rally, agility, tracking, nosework, dog behavior, freestyle, and foundation skills.

10/12/2024

Recognizing their name is one of the first steps in training a dog and establishing trust. This article provides actionable, positive reinforcement strategies that dog parents can easily implement.

Whether you're training a new puppy or a recently adopted dog, these tips will help you connect and communicate more effectively with your four-legged companion.

Let’s celebrate the little wins in training and share your best name-training stories in the comments! 🐾

Having trouble getting your dog’s attention? Find out how to teach a dog their name with step-by-step instructions from a dog training expert.

08/12/2024

🐶✨ Ever feel like you’re at a loss on how to help your dog feel more comfortable in the world? Registration is OPEN for my course at Fenzi Dog Sports Academy – and I’d love to see you there!

This course is all about counterconditioning and desensitization (CC&DS), helping you improve your dog’s emotional state to tackle common challenges. You’ll learn why these techniques work and how to apply them for situations like:

✔️ Reducing barking at strangers
✔️ Staying calm when the doorbell rings
✔️ Getting used to grooming and handling tasks

Whether it’s in the ring or around the house, you’ll leave with new ways to help your dog feel their best and perform their best. 💙

Only ONE WEEK left to register - Let's go!

Online dog training classes for obedience, rally, agility, tracking, nosework, dog behavior, freestyle, and foundation skills.

07/12/2024

Is your dog struggling with their behavior? Renowned canine behavior experts, veterinarians, trainers & more share strategies to help you find Dog Behavior Solutions. (Spoiler alert: I'm one of the speakers.) Save your seat for this online series now: https://irith--avaiya.thrivecart.com/dbss-special/ .

AVAIYA University Presents 30 Veterinarians, Experts & More Sharing Solutions For Your Dog's Behavior Challenges.

05/12/2024

✨ Now Open – Your Path to Better Dog Training! ✨

If you’re ready to dive into how emotions impact behavior and how counterconditioning and desensitization (CC&DS) can improve your dog’s reactions, this course is the perfect fit.

Throughout the course, we’ll focus on practical ways to help your dog get into a better “headspace” for training success. Gold students even get to create a tailored training plan, working on specific issues like grooming fears, doorbell anxiety, or settling around other dogs.

Don’t miss this chance to make training more effective—and more enjoyable for you and your dog! 🐾

Online dog training classes for obedience, rally, agility, tracking, nosework, dog behavior, freestyle, and foundation skills.