Bay Area Balanced Dog Training

18/05/2023

I am really active on instagram, but decided to pop in here and post! Be sure to follow me on IG !!!

29/05/2022

Have you signed up yet?

21/05/2022

I am very excited to say that I was selected to become a brand representative for one of my favorite companies, Point Blank Powder!

Please use my very own personal discount code for all of my amazing friends and followers: BITEOUT10 for 10% your entire order!!!!

I am absolutely in love with my new powder coated fur savers and prong collars. They are Herm Sprenger collars and the powder coating and color selection is great. Every time I put this gear on my dogs I smile, and we get compliments everywhere we go and nearly every time I post photos of my dogs in their powder coated equipment.

12/05/2022

Maverick ♥️

12/02/2022

Marcello came to me for a 3 week puppy headstart board and train only knowing how to sit and never having left his home except to go the vet for vaccines and he’s had car rides.

Marcello now knows: down in front of me and in a heel position on a verbal cue (no longer needs a lure), place, recall, how to properly loose leash walk, how to pivot in both directions on the touch pad and how to pivot into heel position both on and off the touch pads.

29/06/2021

Sophia has improved SO much in these last 4 weeks, I just had to highlight her! I wish I had some before video (have to get better about that). She was just out of control. Extremely leash reactive to dogs even at a large distance, pulled like a freight train, lacked engagement, and general OB. She has done a full 180 and is one of the nicest corsos I’ve ever met and trained. Her owner really hit the jackpot when he got her, as she is a rescue dog! She plays tug like a monster too. I’m going to miss this sweet gorgeous girl!!!

The goal for all the dogs I train (aside from obviously addressing the reason owners send them) is to build a happy and motivated dog that performs behaviors with enthusiasm and clarity. I’m not trying to create suppressed little robots, but am trying to teach dogs how to control impulses, regulate arousal, while still being passionate in the work!

09/05/2021

Enjoying this beautiful Sunday with the dogs

23/03/2021

What’s the new service I’m going to start offering? Well, I am going to be offering boarding for past b/t clients starting in August/September!!! Many of you have asked but until recently I haven’t had the capacity in the car, and I won’t house more dogs than I can evacuate if needed. I ordered a brand new Ford Transit which should arrive sometime in May-June! Boarding dogs will be exercised twice per day (walks, playtime, treadmill, etc.) and will all have their training brushed up on during their stay! I’m really hoping to get this going over Christmas, so if you’re planning on traveling over the holidays and don’t have a spot for your dog yet please email me! They’re predicting way above average numbers of travelers this holiday season so boarding will go fast.

11/03/2021

We work hard, but we also have a good time with the board and trains here!

Hero the golden befriended our colleague and best friend’s plush coat Malinois Cyrus, Cruz is really making strides and came to me knowing sit and that was all and now can hold a down stay in place even with dogs around, DJ loves relaxing in the sunshine on place, and Finch is pictured showing off his “middle” position.

I truly believe that as much as possible training should be enjoyable for your dog. Good obedience work enhances your relationship with your dog. I do everything I can within the genetic potential of each dog that comes here to make sure they’re enjoying the training.

I’m booking into July/August for board and trains, so reach out soon if interested!

I will be offering BOARDING for all former board and train clients starting sometime this summer or fall so keep me in mind for any future traveling or holiday plans if your dog has been here before! They’ll get playtime, exercise, and their training brushed up on a bit during their stay.

03/03/2021

Should you and when should you neuter/spay your dog? Something I’m asked about often.

These photos are of Marco at 4 years old, 1.5 years old, and 1 year old respectively. You’ll see a massive difference in his overall size, stature, muscle tone, head size, etc. A lot of that has to do with the influence of testosterone. Personally, for all breeds I recommend waiting at least a year. For larger breeds, I generally recommend waiting longer as their growth rates are usually slower. Why does this matter?
S*x hormones have a huge impact on both behavioral and musculoskeletal development during growth. When you remove them before a dog is mature, you are basically keeping them in a state of adolescence. Things such as obesity, thyroid issues, anxiety, TPLO and other joint issues, etc. are also associated with early spay/neuter.

IMO the main downside to keeping dogs intact, especially with males (and when females are in heat but that’s only twice per year) is that other dogs are often different behaviorally toward intact dogs. Many dog boarding and daycare facilities do not allow intact dogs for this reason. Being intact does NOT cause aggression or behavior issues, however it is sometimes true that a dog with a genetically unstable temperament may have less intense issues if altered. That being said I’ve worked with many dogs who developed issues only after a neuter.
Ultimately, it is just true that intact dogs physically develop differently than dogs altered early, but it is a personal choice depending on your lifestyle when to do it. Vets often still push it at 6 months, but please do your own research and make a choice that you feel comfortable with as there are pros and cons to each decision.

16/02/2021

Welcome to the crew Finch! Finch is a 4 month old puppy who is a service dog in training. Even though he has an extremely talented and dedicated young handler, there’s some foundation work, exposure, and socialization that I’ve been entrusted to get started! Finch is a confident little guy and is definitely starting off nicely!

While rescue dogs and off breeds (meaning non traditional for service dog work) are amazing pets, I very rarely come across them that have what it takes to be a service dog especially if it’s their primary job. Finch’s owner did his research and in my opinion got the best breed for the job in order to be as likely as possible to achieve his goals. It’s never a guarantee, but he set himself up as well as you can by getting a good dog and hiring a professional to help along the way.

Keep checking back to see Finch’s progress!!!

12/02/2021

Engagement: what is it and why is it so important?

Engagement is the dog’s desire and willingness to pay attention to the handler and show enthusiasm in what is being asked of them despite the environment and/or distractions.

To me, engagement comes before anything else. It is irrelevant if a dog can perform a bunch of tricks and knows various commands if they’re too distracted outside their living room to perform them. The classic line of, “he knows it at home” comes to mind.
What can you do to build engagement?

- Hand feeding: your dog should work for all of their meals, and if they refuse to engage or don’t want to work, skip that meal. Be sure not to start this around the heaviest distractions, but work up to being able to work your dog in increasingly difficult environments.
- Play with your dog: a good play relationship can do a lot for your overall relationship. If your dog won’t play outside the home, slowly work up to it by going to the front yard, then maybe a quiet park, etc.
- Stop letting your dog meet people and other dogs you don’t know, especially on leash. Dogs will value what we provide as reinforcement. YOU should be their primary source of reinforcement, not other people or dogs.
- Use a crate at home: if your dog is running around the yard all day, self satisfying with toys, following you around, etc. they will not value the time out to train and be with you like they do if you implement some crate time at home. It makes a huge difference.
- Be fun and interesting to your dog! Learning what makes each dog “tick” is part of being a good handler/trainer.

These are just a few tips, get some professional help if you need it.
👀 the classic heeling drool stain 😂

02/02/2021

Some dogs in our board and train programs the last few weeks!

18/01/2021

Are drive and energy the same thing?

Nope! I often hear clients describe their high energy, often times a bit neurotic dogs, as “needing a job”, but there’s a difference between energy and drive. A dog that is high drive is a dog that wants and NEEDS to work, and does so with focus and intensity. A dog that is high energy is a dog that has trouble relaxing, doesn’t ever settle on its own, and is described as needing a lot of physical exercise every day. They’re generally very busy dogs. While high drive dogs are usually at least moderately energetic, there are lots of dogs with very high levels of drive that outside the work, are happy to relax and don’t actually need tons of physical activity. I work with a lot of very high energy dogs however, that have no real drive. I work with a lot of bird dogs from non hunting lines as one example, that are very high energy but don’t actually have any desire to work with intensity and focus on any specific task (not even birds).
Personally I like dogs that are moderate energy, higher drive. I like dogs that like to work and are always eager to do so, but that don’t need to be constantly moving and don’t have trouble relaxing.
When looking for a working dog, don’t be fooled and think that the highest energy dog in the group is necessarily going to be the best worker. Some of the best working dogs I’ve seen are not crazy high strung dogs when out of drive. I’ve seen dogs that seem like total energizer bunny crackheads get spooked off a bite by a stick and unable to recover. Of course sometimes they go together, but they don’t have to.

Energy and drive are not the same!

13/11/2020

Controlled and structured social interactions can absolutely benefit puppies. This is NOT the same as a dog park or letting your puppy greet dogs on the leash, two things I never recommend. Early on I noticed Mako was not playing nicely with other puppies, and was sharp in a way I didn’t love in such a young dog. I’m lucky that I have a constant stream of puppies and young dogs in for training which has enabled me to correct and interrupt inappropriate behaviors, especially relating to becoming over aroused. He has changed and improved SO much. I’m seeing much more reciprocal and balanced play, he is backing off when other puppies are overwhelmed, and is really not getting over aroused in play anymore. If you have a young puppy, especially one that is showing some fearful, over excited, or aggressive behaviors with other puppies, consider looking for a trainer that has either puppy day school or puppy board and train. While we as trainers can’t totally change who your dog is, a good knowledgeable trainer early on can absolutely help!

09/11/2020

House full of cuties

14/09/2020

Puppies in the house! Max the cockapoo and a Remi the cavalier King Charles are here for a puppy headstart program!

26/07/2020

Can your 10 week puppy do all this? Cute little Arlo demonstrating his skills.

15/07/2020

One of our board and trains hanging out on his bed and posing for the camera 😊

22/05/2020

Boarding dog Billie hanging out with Meryl’s working dog, Marco

19/04/2020

Boarding dog Bosco gets some sunshine at the horse ranch with Meryl’s working dog, Marco

15/04/2020

Let’s talk about obesity in pets. This is unfortunately a common problem that impacts the health of a lot of pets. Studies show that adult dogs that are overweight have shorter life spans, and puppies who are overweight while growing have a higher risk of developing musculoskeletal diseases such as OCD, dysplasia, etc. This especially applies to large breed dogs and puppies. When looking at your dog, compare to the body condition score pictured. Our trainers have working dogs, and keep their dogs at about a 3.5-4, but even your pet at home will benefit from being at a healthy weight, which is a 4-5. The first pictures are Meryl’s working dog and the 10 week old puppy she’s raising who has a visible waist. The rest are examples of overweight and obese dogs. Is your dog fit or overweight? If your dog is heavy, you can cut the food back and increase exercise, just like in people! .

15/04/2020

Lets talk about the crate! Crate training is something we are firm believers in for ALL dogs. Dogs can be crate trained at any age. We advocate crate training for a number of reasons, here are the main ones:
1: Safety: there are many things around the house that can be dangerous for them. If they’re in a crate, they can’t get into anything, nor can they damage your property.
2. Potty training: Most puppies will not willingly go potty in a small crate, so it is a way to confine them when they’re not being supervised and prevent accidents
3. Boundaries/structure: If dogs and puppies are just loose all day hanging out and acting on all of their impulses, what motivation do they ever have to listen to you or to follow the household rules?
4. Management: If you’re having people over and either don’t want your dog around, or your dog doesn’t like strangers, the crate is a great tool.
5. Emergencies: In the unfortunate event such as a natural disaster or serious illness/injury, the crates keep the dogs safe and confined if you all had to stay in a shelter, or if they had to stay with friends or family.
6. Traveling: Crate training enables you to stay in hotels and such without worrying your dogs will destroy property.
There are many reasons to crate train your dog, these are just our top ones! In this video, is using shaping to teach 10 week old Kita how to happily go into the crate on her own! We are offering board and train programs, and our 3 week program, which is our most common one is 20% off! Virtual lessons available too, DM for more info!

15/04/2020

Chief shows off the classic GSD head tilt

09/04/2020

When working with fearful and timid dogs, especially puppies, we find a lot of value in having solid dogs around as role models. “Kea”, the teacup Australian Shepherd is a very flighty and nervous dog, and at 9 months was already down a bad path. She was reactive to people and was beginning to actually lunge forward progressing towards nipping, and had no ability to cope with stress and make good choices. She’s been with our trainer Ken for almost two weeks and while she will never be a bold or relaxed dog by nature, she has learned better coping strategies and in turn, better decision making skills. We often see dogs with a nervous genetic temperament, it is rarely do to trauma or abuse. Make sure to choose reputable breeders who value the same things you do in terms of temperament in a dog when choosing a pet!

07/04/2020

New kid on the block in a board and train with Meryl! This is “Winston”. We love solid drivey labs like this guy! 🏀 .

06/04/2020

Place command is one of the foundational commands we think all dogs should know. It’s useful when people come to the door, when you’re eating dinner, when the dog just needs to chill out, etc. We use shaping instead of luring to teach this for a few reasons explained in the video. Once your dog knows the command, then start working on duration (how long the dog can stay with you still standing next to the bed), distance (once they can hold a stay for a decent length of time, at least a few minutes, start to move farther away from the bed), and lastly add distractions such as a doorbell ringing. Let us know if you have any questions! Happy training 🐕

03/04/2020

We made this video for a client with a new puppy the other day discussing loose leash walking. This is actually Kita’s first lesson on it too.
I like to use slip leads for this, and start with a hungry puppy. I do not expect baby puppies to be able to do a full neighborhood walk and remain focused. My walks where I’m focusing on loose leash skills are very short at this age, they can only remain focused for so long.

I start by luring her into heel position (I demonstrated the most simple way of doing it here, I’ll post another video later demonstrating rear end awareness and pivoting into heel). I have two markers: “yes” which is a terminal marker meaning she can free up and get her reward, and “good” which means keep doing what you’re doing to get your reward. When Kita leaves heel position and starts to pull ahead, I do some gentle but annoying tapping on the leash, and when she re-engages with me, I mark, get her back into position, and continue walking forward. When she is walking nicely you’ll hear me mark “good” and feed in position.
I cannot stress the importance of hand feeding and proper socialization and exposure for this to be successful. Kita does not greet other dogs on leash or interact with strangers. She learns all food comes from me, all affection, etc. so other people and dogs simply become objects in her environment, not toys or play mates.
We are offering board and trains and virtual training, please shoot us an email if interested, or a PM [email protected]

Meryl Cohen Ken Carpenter

25/03/2020

Some of you asked us about using a dremel for their dogs, here’s a short clip about it!

18/03/2020

Hey everyone! We are offering 20% off of all board and train programs for new bookings. This is a scary time for us all, and while private lessons are impacted, board and trains are not! We offer behavior modification for aggression, fear, etc. including dogs with bite histories. We also train puppies, offer basic and advanced obedience, service dog training, and off leash work as well.
Please PM us or email us for more information.
Thank you so much to our clients who have kept their board and trains on the books. You are appreciated so much, We are grateful to have such dedicated clients .

17/03/2020

Hey everyone! We are still here and training dogs. Stay tuned and keep an eye on our social media accounts as we announce some discounted packages and board and trains this week, as well as content on how to keep your dog mentally and physically fulfilled during the shelter in place period. Stay safe everyone! . 📸

25/02/2020

We are honored to sponsor the High Tracking-Cane Corso at the first Working Molossers United IGP trial!

Immortalize your kennel, name, or business by sponsoring an award at WMU's IGP Trial and Campionato show!..or just feel good about supporting the dogs and the event!
https://form.jotform.com/200553694069157

15/02/2020

Some of our current board and trains.

Roscoe the GSDxRottie mix is here for some e collar layering for a few different commands. He is a very confident driven dog.

Bentley is here for off leash recall, a place command, to learn a down, and how to heel on leash. He is a very nervous dog who is taking some time to build motivation to train.

Two very different dogs!!!!

22/01/2020

What is balanced dog training? Balanced dog training is simply the belief that while positive reinforcement is the best way to teach new behaviors, the use of other quadrants of operant conditioning is important if you want those behaviors to be reliable regardless of environmental distractions. It is also important when attempting to fully modify behaviors such as aggression, especially when working with dogs that already have bite histories (which we do). .
@ Pleasant Hill, California

22/01/2020

Our trainers’ working dogs, Ryker, Wren, and Marco. They compete in different protection sports (among other dog sports) with their personal dogs. .