Team K9 Training

12/11/2024

🚨3 Big Mistakes that are accidentally made and what to do instead! Compete with video examples 🤌🏼

I used to train behaviors with low arousal and excitement because the end result I wanted was a low arousal behavior.

While yes, for some dogs that may need to be the case or in certain situations - but I was seeing some of the dogs not WANTING to do the behavior.

Slow movement. Hesitancy.

Taking a look at the training, it became clear that when the behavior was first developed, there wasn’t a lot of happy emotions the dog was experiencing.

It was neutral at best.

Upon testing and expanding my knowledge - for several years now I now start behaviors with as much enthusiasm and happiness I can bring out from the dog.

It’s easier to reign a dog in that does something very excitedly and chisel it down into the end behavior

Vs a dog that is slow, unmotivated and has a negative view of the behavior to build them up later one. Because sometimes you can’t! (Or at least it’s very hard)

Now in the video examples I provided - you don’t have to be that extreme in your excitement and enthusiasm with your own dog, but Forest is:

- hesitant
- nervous
- skittish
- apprehensive
- sensitive to social cues/behavior

So I need to compensate and bring energy through my own behavior.

Not make it serious and draining.

I hope these tips can help you if you’re working with a dog who is similar to Forest in some degree!

Do you have a dog that can be nervous, timid and shy? Do you help them with your own behavior?

31/10/2024

Trick or Treaters present an EXCELLENT and unique opportunity!

How often do you get the opportunity to get your doorbell rang a whole bunch?!

If you have a dog that struggles with the doorbell and starts to behave anxiously or gets nervous - use this as a training session!

However, don’t forget that Halloween is the 2nd highest day of the year for dogs to go missing!

So - keep those collars ON & make sure they’re on SNUG!

Not only that but keep a leash on your dog or put them into SECURE locations!

Medications are ok btw! If your dog is having a really rough time, make sure you provide medication before the festivities begin.

Do you have any other Halloween tips or advice?

If not, happy Halloween my friend! 🎃🌙🕸️🕷️🦇

01/10/2024

20 (technically 21) REASONS TO CRATE TRAIN YOUR DOG

Even if you don’t use a crate regularly, it’s important that at least your dog has the capacity to be in a crate.

It’s not just natural disasters like the horrific scenes we are seeing play out here in my state of North Carolina.

It’s other things like evacuations from a chemical plant exploding in Georgia.

As always, your dog - your choice.

I am simply presenting to you (IMO) what are some very compelling reasons to use a crate.

23/08/2024

How should dog’s have structured meeting/play?

Life is always a risk analysis. Everything that you do inherently comes with risk.

For some, they feel confident in taking certain risks because they’ve “always done it this way” and develop a false sense of security.

For others, they’ve bared witness or have experienced the devastating fallout of what these activities:

☹️On-leash greetings
☹️ Dog parks
☹️ Doggie daycare
☹️ Unstructured play dates
☹️ Off-leash dogs

…can produce in dogs.

Reactivity.
Fear.
Aggression.
Anxiety.
(Or a combination)

So….how SHOULD you do minimize certain risk factors?

✔️ follow the decision tree above

So, you’ve run the risk analysis and asked the questions above.

Now you should follow the framework for how to actually introduce dogs successfully.

Sure, some of you will whine and complain “tHiS iS tOo mUcH jUsT lEt tHeM mEEt”

But, idk, my dog’s life and mental/emotional wellbeing is far more important and I’ll take as much time as possible to make sure she is safe. The other dog and owner can F off if they aren’t willing to go through these steps to have successful interactions tbh.

Note: obviously you need to tailor the interaction tree to your dog. Gates won’t be the best solution for a barrier aggressive dog.

Did you do on leash greeting or dog parks in the past? Do you wish you had done things differently?

30/11/2023

Theres a difference between simply sticking a dog on place vs using it as a bridge behavior

If the dog never truly learns how to navigate real life without the presence of the elevated dog bed, your training isnt very functional.

Many times owners and trainers teach place as the end all be all command and there’s nothing after that point (which is the overarching point im trying to make)

Dont get me wrong, place is very useful and it can help dog owners and dogs alike - but at some point you need to be able to move away from a dependency on the elevated dog bed/place mat.

Sometimes that can take only a few weeks, sometimes a few months depending dog to dog.

However in my opinion (you can go make your own video if you disagree), theres more to life than just always putting a dog onto place 24/7 for their entire life.

Pattern train the behavior.
Teach the dog in various other ways how to have clarity under high arousal and stress.
Give them opportunities to learn WITHOUT place.

29/11/2023

04/10/2023

Your "excited" dog may actually be extremely anxious and not excited.

Context of the environment, situation and a baseline of the dogs "normal" behaviors plays a key role in being able to determine anxiety vs excitement (most times)

Professionals who take the time to observe and learn dog behavior will be able to more easilv see the difference between the two.

As explained in the video (0:36 if you want to skip ahead in the video) - so many dog owners confuse the two because they both operate under high states of arousal.

There's a very thin line that separates the two.
Most people think of anxious dogs as the most extreme representations of anxiety when almost all dog behavior always starts out subtle.

What most people think of very anxious dogs is most likely very fearful dogs (not that you can't have a fearful/anxious dog). The point remains that signs of anxiety are overlooked and instead mistaken as "excitement"

Additionally, even if the dog is truly excited - continuously exposing a dog to high arousal environments and situations in uncontrolled manners often leads them to reactivity which then turns to anxiety later on (too much of a good thing ya know)

Learning about dog behavior, body language and their emotions can go a LONGGGGGGG ways in ensuring they stay happy and healthy.

Did you know this about dog behavior and dog body language?

Is there any instances where you can now reflect back and say "oh my dog was actually anxious?"

15/01/2023

Will training my dog change its personality?

No.

But only if you're not a dick while doing it.

Regardless of method or technique.

13/01/2023

Growing up in North Idaho, I had a few dogs but primarily a Yellow Lab named Buddy.

Buddy, for the majority of his life, knew the basement of our home, the backyard, and the garage.

That's it.

He was an "inside dog" for all of a few weeks until he pooped in the house and my high-strung Filipina mother said "NOPE! Dog goes outside!"

I have never remembered, not once, ever taking that dog on a walk around the neighborhood. I never remember, not once, taking that dog to the vet.

He didn't meet people when they came over. He didn't have play dates. He roamed the back yard and he lived in a dog house that was insulated and cooled/heated during the seasons in the garage. (The garage had a doggie door).

Today?

People get dogs FOR the sole purpose of taking them places and bringing them to the dog park and taking them on play dates.

Am I saying that how Buddy lived was great? No.

I'm surprised he didn't have more behavioral issues. But growing up in the woods of North Idaho, it was more common to have an outside dog than it was common to have an inside dog.

People talk a lot about how there are more cases of aggression and reactivity. They contribute it to backyard breeders.

And yeah, they have FOR SURE not helped the current state of how genetically sound dogs are.

But let's also not forget that only 20 years ago dogs didn't go on walks. They weren't regularly taken to the vet. Doggie play dates and dog parks weren't mainstream things to do with your dog.

The landscape of dog ownership has vastly and greatly changed.

Pet euthanasia was a lot more common. Our first dog that I can barely remember was euthanized because it bit my stepdad. immediately he was put down and that was that.

It's not necessarily that dogs have changed all that much (they have, but it's not all in the dogs)

It's that the idea surrounding pet ownership has changed DRASTICALLY.

Did your dog growing up as a child differ from how you raise and treat your dog now?

13/01/2023

I need more people to want to train the current dog they have before getting a new dog.

Novelty and distraction can only get you so far.

30/06/2022

Purely Positive/Force Free vs Balanced Training: A Conversation

A much longer post than I’ve ever put out, but I really think that this is something that needs to be talked about.

I’m primarily talking about the terms used.

Language can (and is) necessary because we have to be able to communicate, describe, categorize and understand.

However, what has happened is that these terms have created this false dichotomy or false binary.

Which means that we distill down complex set of opinions into two options.

That’s it.

This binary view of training has then been given emotional attachments where whichever you choose you’re going to be wrong.

I don’t have the solution.

I wish I did.

Because the language we use and the understanding and openness in which we choose to use them is creating such a rift where choices and options are being taken away from owners in various parts of the world.

I would love your well thought out and critically thought upon opinion on dog training terms.

The key here is to not be reactive and knee jerking in your response. Not including emotionally manipulating language is also key.

Let me know if you actually watch the whole thing😂

26/06/2022

Obedience vs Applied Obedience. What’s the difference?

When working with a dog that has behavioral challenges: anxiety, reactivity, fear, hyper activity, etc obedience can be a tool that quite literally changes the life of the dog and owner.

However, the TYPE of obedience matters.

You see, I have a lot of conversation with owners who are struggling with things like reactivity.

I’ll get into talking about the important role obedience has to play, when they’ll usually tell me about how their dog already knows how to sit, down, shake, roll over, etc.

So I’ll ask how they do outside or when guests come over.

The answer is almost always the same “he’s really great in the house! But when we get outside it’s like we don’t exist”

Like most things in dog training, even obedience exists on a spectrum.

When you are trying to help your dog overcome more severe behavioral issues, obedience that can not be APPLIED is not entirely helpful.

It’s really great that your dog can do that in the house! Because that’s where everything starts.

But you can not expect to them sprint to the end of the race where behavioral issues are gone with that level of obedience.

Applied obedience is when you can apply it to all situations and environments that you go into with your dog.

So how do you get there?

You start small:
-Inside the house and increase difficulty of distance, duration and distraction.
-You start to not use treats for every single command
-You then move to practicing obedience in your driveway/doorstep and go back to baby steps and rewarding more.
-Then you phase out rewarding so much and increase distance, duration and distraction.
-Now you go a little further than your driveway/doorstep and now maybe sidewalk or back yard.
-You repeat this process over and over of getting to a new level and starting back at baby steps.

If you’re someone that resonates with this post, I encourage you to join my webinar tomorrow.

For an hour I’ll be driving into how to not be dependent on food rewards, what types of rewards to use, when to reward and answering your questions.

Comment the word “webinar” and I’ll send you the link. Or DM me the word “webinar”.

25/06/2022

Why do dog trainers put SUCH a heavy emphasis on boundaries, structure, rules and accountability?

These basic principles create a framework in which the dog knows how to live inside of, and the human knows how to provide consistent expectations of behavior.

When you do not have a basic framework in which to live inside of, chaos ensues.

Boundaries is the space in which everyone’s needs are met. Love is created.

Structure is the space where expectations are met for everyone and security is created.

Rules is the space where predictability of consequences are acknowledged and trust is created.

Accountability is the space where violations or accomplishment of pre-set/taught expectations of behavior are met or missed. Safety is created.

These are arguably the most simple and basic aspects of dog ownership.

But just because something is simple or basic does not mean it is easy.

I am here to educate you, teach you and encourage you to implement these practices into your life.

However, I can not be the one that does it for you.

Your dog trainer can not want these things more for you and your dog than you want them.

You must be open and willing to learn, practice and implement these things into the daily life with your dog.

You’ll be surprised to find that when you create these systems for your dog to know how to live inside of, you’ll create a system for yourself.

When that happens don’t be surprised to find your own anxiety lessened. Your own levels of stress and frustration to decrease.

As you bring clarity into the fold of your life, everyone in your house will benefit.

Emotionally.
Mentally.
Physically.
—
Don’t forget on Monday (June 27th) I am bringing back my $5 webinar.

For an hour I’ll be discussing how to train your dog and not become dependent on food rewards.

If you have a dog that will only perform obedience when you have a treat in your hand, this live lesson is for you.

Replay will be available if you can not make it on Monday at 5:00pm EST.

You can sign up by going to my bio or DMing me the word “webinar”

12/05/2022

My dog training advice isn’t going to work for you and here’s why

Something that is incredibly frustrating as a trainer, is when you see owners constantly switching between different systems of training. Even tho most of the time they are doing it unintentionally and with the best intentions in mind.

You see, the hard thing about being a dog trainer isn’t necessarily learning the dog training...the hard part of being a dog trainer is obtaining and learning a SYSTEM of training that you can operate inside of.

Without a system of training, you’re going to have a very hard time getting from Point A to Point B and troubleshooting all of the smaller points along the way that will inevitably pop up.

If you don’t know what kind of system of training you are inside of, something that you implement into the training with your dog can actually create a very huge hole into your training later on.

Perhaps you can create a bandaid for the moment but it does not actually solve the problem, it will arise later on.

Understanding what SYSTEM you are in is going to be so important for the mental health of your dog and the success of your training.

I want to encourage you to think critically about the advice that you see on Instagram and if it fits inside of how you’ve already been training your dog.

Another reason why trainers can be hesitant to give out advice on ecollars because without working with you and your dog personally, we don’t know how the ecollar was conditioned or used.

If you don’t know what that is, I would spend some time figuring that out

TL;DR: Don’t be on a Keto diet and then ask a Whole 30’s coach, an Atkins diet coach and an Intuitive Eating coach for answers.

07/05/2022

The truth is...
..not everyone is working on their dog’s behavior.

Over the course of the last couple of weeks, loads more people have been out.

This includes dogs and children.

The weather is turning nice and naturally people want to enjoy a casual walk with their dog.

So, these dogs that haven’t been out regularly because of the cold, are suddenly out in the world.

Kids that also haven’t been out because of the cold are outside as well.

However, not everyone is working on their dogs behavior.

I would say the majority of dogs have a reactivity or sensitivity to: -children
-bikes
-scooters
-roller blades
-running/fast movement

So these dogs who have reactivity issues to these things, coupled with owners who are not actively working on these issues, can lead to disaster with kids who don’t understand that screaming, yelling and roller blading extremely close to a dog could lead to disaster.

I’ve been witnessing this first hand over the past few days🫣

Please, parents. If you have a child, educate them on the importance of giving dogs space even if they look friendly.

To not invade a strange dogs space, go up to them or rush them.

If they’re on bikes, scooters or running to be careful that a dog could become nervous and lunge at them.

Dog owners, if you have a dog that is wary of children, is reactive to moving objects, be extra vigilant and careful.

Have you guys noticed an uptick in dogs and children being out?

Share this for your friends with children to be aware of the potential situations that could arise out of owners who are not working on their dogs behavior.

03/05/2022

Food handling and food luring!

Food is a tool.

Like all tools it’s all about how you use them.

You won’t get much out of your tool if you don’t use it with intention.

A couple of notes:

-Food luring is something that most dogs are not going to be natural at.

The majority of the time we are rewarding the dog in position and the dog moving towards us for the reward can be a very different picture.

Additionally, if you taught your dog to be “soft mouthed” from an early age, they may be hesitant to take food reward from you enthusiastically.

-Food handling. This is something that you should practice without your dog present. It takes reps and reps to get fluid at reaching into your treat pouch and grabbing your food reward with proper food handling skills. But it can be learned, just takes practice.

Don’t forget to check out my previous video on where you should have your treat pouch on your body!

Did you know this about food handling?

01/05/2022

Progress often feels like a ballon.

In the sense where it will expand and feel like you are at your maximum, the height, the very best at what you are trying to achieve.

Other times, it will feel flat and somewhat empty, floating just a few feet off the floor.

However…there are times where you feel the delicacy of progress.

Where a single pin prick explodes all progress you have made.

It’s the highs and lows of dog training.

However, hard as we might try, all of us are susceptible to the moments of feeling that pin prick and our ballon popping.

It could be the days, weeks or months without a reactive outburst.

It could be the unfailing off-leash recalls to suddenly have it disastrously fail and your dog run off over the horizon no matter how desperately you call to them.

It could be the steady and upward climb of working on a new trick or behavior to then suddenly question if your dog really ever knew the command at all?

It could be the several days without intense separation anxiety in the crate, to suddenly go back to howling, screaming and barking in a panic when you leave.

The good news tho?

Unlike a physical ballon that once shattered is gone for forever, relationship is not so easily broken.

The relationship you have with your dog, even when training goes sideways, will always withstand as long as you have the fortitude to keep on trying.

The only way that your training will ever fail, is if you stop.

So tell those “bad” training days to come for you.

Stand up straight with your shoulders back and your head held high.

Face it with determined eyes and a full heart.

Because you love your dog, and your dog loves you. You want the best for them and you’ll stop at nothing to provide the life you both deserve.

It’s an unbreakable force to be reckoned with, that love.

So accept that bad days along with the good.

Your dog training isn’t a ballon.

30/04/2022

Your knowledge alone isn’t enough.

There’s a large discrepancy between KNOWING and the DOING.

The knowing is ,for the most part, easy.

It involves commitment, time, interest and obtaining the knowledge.

The doing however…that’s the hard part.

It is the grind.
The hustle.
Unwavering steadfastness.
Time under tension.
Frustration again and again and again and again.
Failure.
Nuance.

With dog training it is the hours spent doing “nothing” with your dog.

It is the walks in the hot sun, treacherous down pouring rain, sleet or hail, howling wind, biting cold winter snow and so much more.

The doing in dog training is the thousands of repetitions of the same behaviors day in and day out.

Slight variations, slight tweaks and changes. Some go smoothly…other times…not so much.

It’s the reactive walks that make you come back home and you cry.

Though other times its the reactive walks that make you jump for joy because it feels like it’s finally starting to come together.

There’s so much more to dog training that just being able say the information.

Dog training is the merging of the knowing and the doing.

After all, isn’t that why dog training is an art?