Z Dog Training Academy

16/08/2024

“You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.”
– Martin Luther King Jr-

If you have a dog with behavior issues, some days can feel like a struggle. Maybe you feel frustrated or even take your dog's behavior personally.

I get it! When I adopted my dog Echo, she struggled with fear, which manifested as aggression and extreme reactivity. She was six to seven months old, and I was her fifth home.

As a dog trainer, I had to remind myself that this process was about helping her, not how anyone sees me. I knew what to do, but doing it with my dog was profoundly different, mostly because I made it about me for too long. The growth in her and my self-trust in my ability to help her has been phenomenal. She is now 4 years old, best friends with my 10-year-old son, and both loving and respectful of boundaries with my one-year-old.

Understanding her as an individual took time, dedication, and commitment. It also became some of the most sacred times in my day. I learned to focus solely on being present and supporting her in that moment, meeting her where she was instead of focusing on where I wanted to go.

When you notice your dog struggling, you easily get caught up in what you wish to change. Instead, try to see your dog for who they are and what they love. Use these positive aspects as a starting point for change. It's a more enjoyable and effective way to approach understanding them.

- Connect through play.
-Observe their body language.
-Pick a place in your home to "meet" with your dog daily.
- Pick one behavior and focus on training it in different areas of the home and different locations outside, and then add distractions.
-You can seriously change your dog's behavior by dedicating just 10 minutes a day to connecting with them.

If you are ready to step into a place of self-trust in your ability to help your dogs, know them better, and connect with them better, all while creating lasting change. Reach out to us and learn about our programs and service options. Change is possible.

https://pocketsuite.io/book/heather-mazahri/item/free-phone-consultation

07/07/2024

⭐️LOLA & CHIEF ⭐️

These pups are 8 and 15 years old and a reminder that our dogs can learn at any age ❤️ Let them be a reminder and inspiration that we should all remain this teachable 😃🩷

They’re currently in my 8-week behavior modification program, and my golly do these kids love to train. These pups were dealing with some behavior issues with one another and overall anxiety, which caused discord in the home.

I’ve watched these pups, particularly Lola, who struggled a bit more, find her confidence, and it’s honestly the most incredible feeling to be a part of that.

Their human guardians are rockstars, and I’ve watched them collaborate on the training efforts, all in the best interest of their two gorgeous fur babies.

17/05/2024

😍😁🐕‍🦺

04/05/2024

Hi everyone, Thanks for reading! This dog is not mine; I am just helping to network with and vet potential adopters to ensure that she goes to a forever home that can meet her needs.

I am a professional dog trainer and was recently contacted by a client regarding their current dog and the dynamic in the household between the new puppy. Unfortunately, their current dog is not ready to have a puppy in the home, and for the safety and well-being of both dogs, the puppy will need to be rehomed.

Meet Delilah

04/03/2024

I am super pumped about this, our business just got an A+ rating with Z Dog is growing into something beyond my wildest dreams. To all of you who have supported us along the way we truly thank you for making our dreams come true. Each family and pup we work with has a little piece of our heart.

01/03/2024

17/02/2024

Hey friends and family! I am asking for your help. After 10+ years of professional dog training, I never prioritized my social media. OOOPS! 🤦‍♀️🤷‍♀️

As Chris Bosson and I grow the business and work towards one day having a facility, a massive part of that is you!

We would love, love, love, and appreciate your support.

Here are some ways you can show us support.

1. Like our business page
https://www.facebook.com/ZDogLA

2. Interact with our posts/ Share our page and content. If you've read something that resonates for you and your dog, please share it; it may help someone else.

3. Let us know what you have questions about, what struggles you have with your dog. We want to create the most helpful content for our followers as possible. Creating helpful resources that are accessible to anyone and everyone is important to us.

4. If you have worked with me or I have helped you rescue or re-home a dog, I would greatly appreciate you leaving me a review on my page. https://www.facebook.com/ZDogLA

Thank you in advance for helping us continue growing and helping as many dogs and owners as possible.

Happy Training,
Heather Mazahri
818-812-5801

17/02/2024

So many dogs I work with have shown their owners they were unsure long before their owners deemed their problems and issue. Here is some food for thought around anxiety.

🥰Consistency in a dog’s routine, consistency creates predictability, predictability creates comfort and lessens anxiety. Consistency also supports you and your family in being successful.
Proper exercise and mental stimulation (Learn what level of exercise is appropriate for your dog’s age be sure to consider their health & fitness level) Not all exercise is created equally; no your giant backyard doesn’t count.

😃Enrichment and Play
Similar to exercise find what your dog loves to do different breeds have different needs. Play is powerful! Get on the ground and play with your dog. Stay away from things that are repetitive like fetch as this can cause over arousal creating more anxiety for your dog.

🫶Good understanding of and RESPECT for a dog's body language and social signaling.
Something to watch for is displacement behaviors; Displacement behaviors can be defined as a dog's normal behavior being displayed out of context, examples; scanning the environment with nothing around, lip licking, shaking as if they were wet and yawning there are more but these are a few common ones to look out for.

🥰Force Free Training. Learn methods that are fun for you and your dog, increasing connection and making learning for your dog enjoyable. CONNECTION OVER COMPLIANCE

😁 Respect for a dog’s autonomy and individuality. MANY DOG OWNERS COMPARE THEIR DOGS TO PREVIOUS DOGS. You feel called out. I know it's okay 😉 Every dog is different, enjoy the process of finding out what drives your dogs and respect that they may not be as social or as “easy” to understand as others. They still deserve your time, patience and love. These types of dogs are the ones I love to work with because many of them have endless potential once properly understood.

🩺 Medical care and proper nutrition: Like us dogs can't run on
Mc Donalds and processed foods. Be sure to feed your dog high quality food whenever possible as this contributes tremendously to a dogs behavioral well being. Don's skip the vet some behavior issues or seemingly out of character issues can be linked to a medical issues.

Contact us with questions, we love to talk dogs 🐶

10/02/2024

https://fb.watch/q7h-VvTvvQ/?mibextid=UVffzb

09/12/2023

Tethering is one of the most effective and efficient ways to teach your dog how to behave in your home. Most dog owners don't know you have to teach your dog to chill. If you have a new dog/reactive dog or young dog, you can prevent your dog from making the wrong choice by being proactive and using this method to gradually introduce them into the home while maintaining respect. Just be sure to be on the same page with all members of the family!

06/12/2023

Board and Train Programs
While there are some fabulous programs out there, unfortunately, there tend to be many that just aren't great. So that you know, no board or organization oversees dog trainers. Your dog is a massive part of your life, and entrusting their care and physical and long-term emotional well-being to someone is a huge decision, not to mention a pretty reasonable investment.

26/09/2023

Watch, follow, and discover more trending content.

26/09/2023

Training dogs transforming lives. From leash manners to behavior modification, with over ten years of professional training experience, we train all breeds at all ages. Whether you have a new puppy or your dog's behaviors seem unmanageable, we are excited to help you discover the joy and freedom of having a well-mannered dog.

What can you expect to learn?

House Manners
Over 80% of your dog's learning comes from daily interactions and eavesdropping. Learn how to make the best of these moments with your dog.

Meal etiquette (Waiting for food)

Threshold training (Waiting before walking through the front door/backdoor/garage door, etc)

Kitchen boundaries
Bed/couch privileges (Allow your dog to enjoy these spaces while also being in control)

Obedience Commands
Sit
Stay
Down
Come
Place
Leave-It
Off
No

The Walk

Loose Leash Walking
Heel
Auto Sit when you stop

Other

Dog body language and how it applies to your specific dog.

Proper Socialization: what is it, and how do you practice it? (Chances are it is not what you think)

Greeting skills, both human and dog.
How to apply your obedience cues in real-life scenarios.

How we teach

Patience and no judgment: we understand that many human guardians who come to us are frustrated and overwhelmed by their dog's behavior; we aren't here to judge. We are here to be your support system and help you create a training program that is realistic and sustainable for you and your family.

Demo and then client application. We use our vast experience to teach you how to work with your dog.

Scientific-based methods: we pride ourselves on continuing our education and staying current on the latest training techniques. Dog training is not a one-size-fits-all. While we have a structured and proven curriculum, some dogs need softer/stronger guidance than others. We use our extensive experience to help your dog succeed.

15/06/2023

This is what socialization looks like. Different scenarios, different locations, different smells, people, and sounds…. Allowing your dog to view the world in a relaxed and happy state shapes positive associations with the outside world.

24/05/2023

Welcoming a new dog into the home? Here are some quick tips to set you and your pup up for success.

27/03/2023

Luna, being Luna 🐾😂🐶

Happy Monday 🐾❤️

23/03/2023

Welcome Cookie 🍪
Age: 1 1/2
Breed: Purebred
Fixed: No
Reason for training: Dog/people reactive, leash manners, jumping, nipping and overall obedience skills❤️

20/03/2023

Meet Maisey she is a mixed with a ❤️ We are in week two of her training and she has made tremendous progress. Her human guardians include 3 young boys who are all learning to handle and work with their giant pup. Maisey’s owner met with another trainer before we started working together and was told her only hope was to send her away to a board and train and even then they went sure she would ever fit into their family😕The truth the family was 100% willing to do the work they just needed the skills and confidence to learn how to engage such a powerful dog. I'm excited to see them all continue to grow and learn together.

Today Maisey’s owner said “This process has changed our life”

I couldn’t ask for more ❤️

14/03/2023

Come see us this weekend at Bark in the Park 🐾

11/03/2023

Meet Luna, most of these pups are sooo easy to train, and Luna is no exception, except she’s picked up some habits early on that made her believe she was a hot shot 😂 Really, she under-socialized like most dogs, and that leads to her being over stimulated VERY easily.

Why? Because everyone is told to keep their dogs in the house till their shots are complete. I get it. Here’s the deal, though, if you’re dog has had two sets of shots, don’t waste any time getting them out into controlled settings. Be responsible and find safe places to take your pup. Start with friends' houses, trips to a park on a long line, coffee shops and be sure to bring a toy and some treats. Start building a relationship with them, and teaching them your expectations, that you will help them navigate the environment and that the world is not a scary place. Creating healthy rituals with your dogs is JUST as important as obedience training because those are the things you do with you dog everyday 🐾

11/03/2023

Love this ❤️

02/03/2023

💕

23/02/2023

This 💯

I’m a dog trainer.
I teach people how to teach their dogs.
But I also - just as much or maybe even more - am a “dog manager”.
Teaching people how to manage their dogs.
Management is faster, and for many owners more accessible and realistic than training.
Sometimes this management is short-term, and sometimes it is a long-term solution.
The balance between training and management is individual to each family.
You know what makes management really hard?
Dogs that are stronger than their owners.
I am starting to see this more and more, and it worries me.
Dog owners are reaching out because they are small-framed (I am, too!) and their 80 lbs adolescent Doberman is pulling them over on every walk.
They tell me their dog got in a fight because he got loose when they couldn’t hang on to the leash.
When they try to wrestle their dog away from the opening front door, the dog easily wins and darts out and gets in trouble …
This is not good.
If owners acquire powerful working breeds, they need to be able to keep them under control (through training and/or management) or this quickly gets out of hand.
I want to be clear that I am not making this about body types.
There are a lot of amazing dog trainers out there who have a small frame, who are not physically strong or who have a medical condition or disability and their large dogs are *fantastically* trained.
It's a joy to watch. I highly respect them.
I am by no means a strong person either.
BUT let’s be realistic: If you get a dog that is stronger than you, your training game needs to be on point.
Because if a dog’s behavior is neither regulated by management nor training we have a problem.
In my in-person training I have seen many situations in which the training ability & physical strength of the dog owner was grossly mismatched with the dog’s level of drive and power.
There is so much frustration on both the human and canine sides of these teams.
Those cases are really difficult for a trainer to resolve - and they quickly become sketchy for others around, too (such as the dogs that are charged when the strong dog gets loose).
If you love training fast, driven & strong dogs - fantastic. I love that, too.
If you are looking for a companion and don’t have a huge interest in training - choose a dog that does not overpower you. You and your dog will be MUCH happier with this arrangement.

25/01/2023

Strolling around

No matter what your goals are for your pup, one of the best thing you can do for your dog is to spend time with them without a zillion distractions. 🚫📱

Go out in the and just be in the moment. I don't care if it's 5 minutes or 2 hours. You can learn so much about your by simply taking the time to with them.

This is especially important if:

🐾 you have a multiple-dog household

🐕🐕 You have dogs that are siblings

🐕‍🦺🐕‍🦺 You’re not sure what your dog enjoys… ? ?

❤️🐾🐕 Your dog is naturally energetic; if you don’t get that energy out dogs store it and it often becomes or other

25/01/2023

Meet Luna an 11 week old 😍 She is in training to become an
Isn’t she lovely 🤩

20/01/2023

https://fb.watch/i9UFItJKZ9/