PAWSitively Calm

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PAWSitively Calm

PAWSitively Calm is a fully licensed & insured Family Dog Training business focused on State of Mind Helping families live CALM, happy lives with their dogs.

A Central Florida Family Dog Training business focused on Balanced K9 Training. So why so much focus on creating CALM? Aren’t our dogs supposed to have fun and round around like maniacs? Do you have a dog that reacts on walks, reacts in the house to the dog on TV, is fearful or stressed out, creating calm can have a major impact on arousal issues. Does your dog pull on the leash, rush the door, wh

ine all the time, guard his food bowl, jump up onto the counter to grab what’s cookin, act crazy in your car, and is constantly misbehaving? Well you’re not alone. Most dog owners suffer from bratty pets due to the lack of structure and consequences needed to stop unwanted behavior. Slowing these guys down will help them make better decisions that would otherwise seem impossible. Whatever your problem may be, I am here to help you create the framework needed to ensure your dog is the calm, balanced pooch you have always imagined. I started PAWSitively Calm with the intent on helping struggling families live a more balanced and calm life with their overly excited, stressed out, bratty pets. Most of my clients say “I just want to take my dog out in public with me without him going bananas”. You see, if you could have stepped into my world a couple of years ago, you would have seen an out of control, overly aroused pack that would not stop barking, freaking out at the slightest sound, growling at visitors if they came too close, and separation anxiety at its finest. I was literally embarrassed to go out in public on leash with any of them. Packing up my three dogs in the Jeep for a beach vacation was always a nightmare with all of them barking as soon as the parking brake was engaged and the keys jingled. So there I began my research on overcoming and tackling these issues by watching and devouring any Cesar Milan book or video I could get my hands on. Something struck a nerve for me when I saw that in every episode, the owner played a significant role in creating that very behavior their dog was exhibiting. Could I really be the problem? Could too much loving and not enough structure really create this kind of madness? It sure can! And I’m here to tell you that it can all be turned around. If you want your relationship with your dog to change, you first, must change. It just takes a little bit of hard work on the dynamic of the household, and I’m here to steer you in the right direction. Rules, boundaries, and consequences are what is needed to create that balance between affection and leadership. When one of these aspects out-weighs the other, a whole slew of bad behaviors can arise. Your relationship with your dog should be permission based. Everything your dog is allowed to do, is because you gave him permission to do so. I am here to help guide you through some basic core skills in establishing your role within the pack so that you can truly have the peace of mind you’ve always imagined.

$Oh boy, have I seen couples grapple with this, and have even fallen victim to this myself...The fractured, cockeyed fami...$

25/01/2025

Oh boy, have I seen couples grapple with this, and have even fallen victim to this myself...

The fractured, cockeyed family dynamic where one person holds higher standards and expectations for the dog, while the other prefers to indulge, share affection, and play.

Whether it’s you, your partner, brother, sister, cousin or grandma, the side that feels rules and structure are mean and restrictive, are unfortunately prioritizing their own selfish desires over the needs of the dog. Oftentimes this not only creates a divide within the family, but it also leaves the dog confused and unstable.

I get it! It feels so good to give back the joy our dogs unconditionally bring us. Unfortunately peeps that struggle with demanding their dog offer their best, and oppose boundary setting, typically have a deep emotional void they are trying to fill. Unintentional or not, they prioritize how their dog makes THEM feel over what’s actually best for the dog.

Nothing kills continued success with your dog faster than inconsistency. A dog returning to a home filled with multiple handlers, all with varying degrees of firmness, will find itself quickly confused. It is THIS inconsistency my peeps, that is the very reason we see a quick spiral of regression.

I’ve said this a million times over... maintaining your dog’s training has to be a Team Effort made by the entire family, AND whomever has direct contact or control over the dog! This means outsourced dog walkers, grandma, and daycare facilities too!

If you want consistent behavior from your dog, you and everyone else have to return the favor.

24/01/2025

Lil Baxter had his very 1st public access field trip to Lowes, to test all of his obedience out in a real world experience!

I LOVE the second week of training! This is where we get to test all of a puppy’s newly learned skills in the real world to see where we still may need some additional work.

Boy what a difference a week can make! From being completely driven by fear & stubbornness in the beginning of last week, to holding command while new and unfamiliar triggers are presented!

Baxter LOVES everybody! How awesome is it to have a dog that is completely unafraid of strangers! With that though, comes an impulse to greet & say hello to every passerby! When a puppy is allowed to do so, all while breaking command, & is then rewarded with pets and praise, guess what happens? Yep, more pulling and even more disconnect -- devaluing any sense of relevancy their person may have been trying to establish.

Instead, we are teaching Baxter to ignore the public, and hold his handler in the highest regard. Demanding focus on our walks right past people is how I maintain relevance, and he learns to look to me for guidance and instruction. This cultivates a hierarchy of who’s in control and who is not.

Awesome job lil boo!

24/01/2025

Well Peeps... Mr Marlow, the 5.5 month old Golden, is now back home with his new family after spending 3 weeks learning how to control his over the top energy and impulses, and reliably behave no matter the level of distraction at play.

You see, Marlo came to us with one pretty big issue — hyper-arousal and an inability to emotionally regulate around people or other dogs. Impossible to get to settle down, always getting into something, incapable of processing distraction, counter surfing, and hoovering, his owners needed help with his listening skills and manners!

Now Marlo is equipped with the ability to self regulate and make better choices when distractions are at their highest. His parents now have the knowledge and experience to follow through with his obedience, and continue to shape Marlo into the everywhere dog they’ve always wanted!

They’ve got an amazing dog on their hands, and they are going to have an amazing life together!

Already miss you sweet boy!

24/01/2025

The number of issues resolved, the transformation that takes place, & the overall well being that improves over “Enforced Calm” still astounds me.

Most of us have been programmed to see a dog’s craze (running from window to window, barking & alerting to noises, non-stop licking, chewing, jumping all over people & furniture, counter surfing, all out destruction, over-protectiveness, stress, anxiety, suspicion) as a dog simply being a dog. But we all know what happens to us mentally and physically when we only operate at this constant level of high RPMs—total burnout.

Just because a dog COULD and WOULD pace, run, jump, bark, and be “active” all day does not mean that’s her healthiest headspace. Dogs accustomed to go-go-go-go all of the time are severely deprived of the benefits of stillness.

ALL. I mean ALL… of the dogs that come through our programs have neglected to be taught how to be CALM. This simple concept should be taught at the same level as a Sit, Down, Paw, Drop, or any other basic command. It is a muscle, and should be practiced regularly in order to reap its mental benefits.

Oddly enough, when CALM is taught and regularly enforced, the annoying list of rotten behaviors—up and disappear. Instead of having to address each singular bad choice (cat p**p eating) head on, most never even occur. Dogs that are commanded to be calm, learn how to emotionally regulate instead of bouncing from one impulse to the next.

The goal should be to find a balance between ACTIVE & PASSIVE exchanges that include a delegated flux of play/REST/walk/REST/field trip/REST/play/REST, all throughout our day. Without rest or stillness in our daily routine, a dog will never reach its highest quality of life, and will instead suffer the consequences of always being “ON”.

23/01/2025

What do you think happens when a poorly behaved dog has fewer options to choose from? Meaning, that we RESTRICT the choices they’re allowed to make, and put limits on what they’re allowed to do.

Less opportunity to misbehave, right?

That roster of bad behaviors — pacing inside the house, counter surfing, trash can diving, zoomies from one piece of furniture to the next, incessant barking out the front window, chewing molding, eating socks — all magically STOP because the dog hasn’t been ALLOWED the opportunity to practice being a delinquent.

The problem is, we humans feel bad or mean restricting anything from our pets, so we indulge instead — WAY BEFORE they’re ever even trustworthy!

Unfortunately, when we neglect to set any boundaries, or to step up and actually set limits on what’s allowed or not, we simply allow our pets to make up their own rules as they go. Overindulgence and permissiveness then compound to create negative fallout, and even regret.

Here’s the thing... Each bad choice a dog decided to make isn’t an issue in and of itself. Each bad choice is merely a symptom of an accumulation of allowances due to a void in boundary-setting.

The changes that we see in 2-3 days time, with overall disposition, wellness, and attitude, would imply a miracle has occurred. But we’ve simply restricted all FREE privilege and demand the dog earn it back, shifting their perception of WHO’s doing the rule setting.

When we RESTRICT a poorly behaved dog’s FREEDOM from making their own unhealthy choices, we literally see them transform before our eyes. When humans confuse acts of leadership and setting clear rules for our dogs with meanness or cruelty, we end up sacrificing meeting their full needs, and the dog ultimately ends up paying the price for it.

Dogs THRIVE with structure, rules, and boundaries!

Restrictions will pave the road that leads to more freedom. If we could all make this mental shift, our dogs would live much more stable lives.

22/01/2025

Well Peeps! Miss Lucy just graduated with High Honors!

If you can remember a bit back, we trained this kiddo’s housemate, Harlow. We always feel so very blessed when clients return with a new bundle, and are way ahead of the training game!

Now that Lucy is going on 10 months old, her owner just wanted her prepped to become the well behaved, stable dog we all know she’s capable of! No real areas of concern other than an inability to shut off when necessary, but that’s all been resolved! And just an owner that wanted the safety of off leash reliability, and to be able to walk her big girls in peace!

Done!

22/01/2025

Meet Arlo, Peeps!

This cutie-patootie is here to address a laundry list of undesirables fueled by over-arousal, insecurity, and a whole lot of entitlement!

You see, Arlo is a high strung, seriously pushy, insecure lil tyrant who’s been over-privileged for a solid 10 months. This has led him to believe that everyone and everything should bow to HIS desire. Slap a leash on this lil tike who’s caught wind of another dog within view, and you will be caught in a whirlwind of a barking tantrum.

Add to that, when something suspicious passes by their home, or Arlow hears random noises from outdoors, he will bark uncontrollably and cannot be settled.

Mr Man is a perfect example of a smart dog that knows some of his basic obedience, yet lives in a constant elevated state of mind where obedience is ignored, and really bad choices tend to take place.

So stay tuned as we help Arlo find that cool place of balance and respect that we all know is lurking under that cute lil hood!

22/01/2025

Calm, stable dogs make VERY different choices — those of which lean towards being safer, more relaxed, and less chaotic.

Respectful dogs also tend to make VERY different decisions — those of which are far more deferential and mindful.

Almost always, an overly-aroused, unhinged, hyped-up, excited dog will make thoughtless, reckless decisions without any consideration for their outcome or who they trample upon. Pair that with some whacky relationship dynamics, and you have yourself the perfect recipe for major behavioral fallout.

Mindset and hierarchical perception are the absolute fundamentals to living harmoniously with our dogs. If you can get these basics down, everything else becomes far easier, and those seemingly insurmountable problem behaviors may even up and disappear.

21/01/2025

When we’re terrified of hurting our ill behaved dog’s feelings for doing something seriously wrong, we are unfortunately confused about what “happy” actually means, or looks like, for the dog.

I get it! I was one of those people!

Of course we all want our dogs to know NO discomfort, and to be as HAPPY as they make us! But truly happy dogs — the ones that are emotionally stable, non-reactive, confident, and MANNERLY — aren’t created out of a void in rules or boundaries, or from having to do things that may not want to do.

But instead, we drown them in affection, grant them access to anything and everything they desire, and withhold all discipline, out of fear of crushing their fragile little spirits. Unfortunately this then creates the excessively nervy, obnoxiously entitled, intensely anxious, overly stressed, worry wort or megalomaniac, that is poorly behaved because they have no bounds.

When we are incapable of actually LEADING, or being firm when necessary, out of feeling guilt, remorse, mean, or too restrictive, our dogs suffer. They grow to become exponentially more ill-behaved, imbalanced, and unstable.

At the end of the day, we have to come to the realization that excessive pampering is about the human, not the dog. We do it because it makes US happy to be the source of our dog’s pleasure, all while they slowly unravel over time.

Intelligently examining the value behind sharing believable rules, benevolent leadership, and the intricate dance between both firm and soft instruction, will reveal what is necessary to help a dog be “truly” happy.

What we really need to do is take a hard look at what’s best for the dog, and not just what feels good to us.

20/01/2025

Whether jokingly or in all seriousness, I often times hear owners assert that their dog must have some sort of “learning disability.”

Dumb, ditzy, flighty, doesn’t listen. They can’t hear me. It’s impossible to communicate — My dog must be on the slow side.

But here’s the thing... In order to get to a place of listening, focus, engagement, or learning, we HAVE TO address your dog’s worst enemy...

Arousal.

If there is one thing that will erode any attempt at communication... it is our dog’s inability to focus.

See. Feel. React… With no consideration for the outcome.

Bouncing from one impulse to the next, “bursting” at the seams with excitement, trigger-happy, hyper-responsive, and irrationally reflexive—all while creating mayhem in the wake of really poor choices.

In this unhealthy State of Mind, our dog is the furthest from stable or balanced. Dogs stuck in a steady hum of frenzy are incapable of self-regulating, makes it impossible for them to listen or make good choices.

You’ll hear me quite often talk about “Setting the Tone” or “Putting Out the Fire” in order to get to that place of LISTENING and focus. This is crucial in capping a dog’s excitement from entering astral levels. When we neglect to set the tone for what we expect for our experience, we risk having to reign in our over-stimulated, hyperactive monsters from making hair-trigger decisions.

So when our dog seems slow to pick up what we’re putting down, perhaps it’s time to re-evaluate our method of instruction. We cannot form a bridge of communication without first addressing the reason behind what seems like an impossibility.

19/01/2025

In a world saturated with disunity and polarization, we humans find ourselves desperate to connect, to be loved, and to be seen. Instead of turning to each other for this, we turn to the next best thing — our furry companions.

Overwhelmed and overworked, we lean heavily on our dogs to fill an emotional/relational void that cannot be found from our human counterparts.

What’s wrong with this, you ask...

Well, when our dogs personify so much more than simply being the family pet, Leadership, structure, and rules become nearly impossible to share. We see freedom, affection, and play as more vital than guidance or boundaries, forgoing the very thing that that makes our dogs most happy, stable, and comfortable.

Our dogs need guidance and leadership as desperately as we humans feel the need to connect. So if we could put our selfishness aside for just a moment, and Lead our dogs just a bit more by prioritizing they be well mannered and respectful, then we would inevitably create the deeper connection we all so fiercely desire.

19/01/2025

Slow is hard, fast is easy—for dogs that is.

One of the most often heard complaints I hear from dog owners is in their dog’s inability to shut down, turn off, and be chill, for even a minute. And of the most often misunderstood ways of achieving a place of serenity is through copious amounts of daily exercise in hopes of tiring or exhausting the overly rambunctious.

But let me ask you this... how do you think athleticism, stamina, or endurance are achieved? You’d work out, right? Pushing or sustaining your physical abilities consistently, day to day, so that you become stronger, faster, and even more resilient as time goes by. Your exercise routine becomes so addictive because of how it makes you feel, that you crave it the next day!

Adrenaline ju**ie.

Well peeps, our dogs are no different. We exercise them for what seems like hours, they crash for a minute, but then are juiced up, crazed, and still misbehaving an hour later.

While exercise is incredibly important for our pets, so is doing NOTHING AT ALL. Think about what you do to unwind at day’s end—read, meditate, rest.

No different than us, dogs need the other side of the coin to be truly balanced—a reprieve from the go-go-go where they learn to relax and be calm.

Although your dog cannot read, or meditate, so to speak, there are several things you can instill that will reap similar benefits:

— Slow your walks down! This will work far more in your favor than a 5 mile run by working your dog’s brain versus her body—and this is where real exhaustion occurs.
— Teach your dog the Place Command. Few things will dramatically transform your dog’s behavior as duration in this command alone.
— Only offer resources or rewards when your dog is displaying calm behavior.
— Correct all over the top shenanigans. It’s your duty to teach your dog what’s acceptable or not. Mouthing, jumping, zooming, barking while indoors shouldn’t be allowed.
— YOU need to chill out as well! If you’re always on edge, anxious, stressed, and jerky, your dog will certainly pick up on your energy.

But if there is ONE THING that works above all others it is the Place Command. Place teaches independence, boundaries, impulse control, and relaxation. Whether your dog suffers from separation anxiety, over rambunctiousness, is always getting into trouble when free-roaming, paces from window to window, this command will help regulate her state of mind.

So instead of building that super athlete that needs more and more and more to get her fix, try SLOWING your dog down instead! I promise, it’s magical.

18/01/2025

The HEEL Command…

I know! It's suuuper pretty... That composed, nonchalant gate at an owner's pace.

It's sooo rare to see! Is it not?

That’s because most of us feel mean restricting our dogs from zigging to every zag they sniff. So instead we allow them to do as they will, not knowing that it all could ultimately lead to never walking pleasantly with one another again.

Owner after owner are being dragged from one sniff to the next, while their dog alerts to an oncoming stranger with ferocious tenacity.

Here's the thing...

Having your dog just behind your left knee on your walk is so much more than a pretty position. This “follower” position goes much, much deeper than aesthetics, and dives into mental positioning, relationship, and state of mind benefits!

For those of us blessed with an easy going, happy go lucky dog, heel isn’t as much a necessity. But if your dog skews heavily to the insecure, reactive, paranoid, or head strong, Heel should be an absolute priority.

When we empower, advocate, guide, and lead our dogs in the face of unfamiliarity, we create respect, trust, and the true companionship we were really meant to share.

Not only does Heel offer you less headache, but it also helps your stressed out dog feel more at ease!

17/01/2025

You may not be aware of what occasionally slides by your attention, but your dog always is. Every singular moment spent with your dog is an entire conversation. Whether intentional, or not, they pick up clues of how to BE through our allowances or restrictions.

When one missed opportunity to create more clarity slides by undetected, or when one seemingly minor infraction occurs without addressing, our credibility lessens, and our believability weakens. Drip by drip, our Leadership dissolves to Subordination.

For the flaky and insecure, anxiety and stress come to head as their worry amplifies over the duty they now carry to figure things all out on their own.

If you find your dog pacing, constantly whining, barking, growling, or flaking out for what seems like no reason, you can guarantee that they finds their surroundings unstable, unsure, and unpredictable, with NO ONE to look to for guidance or instruction.

Leadership is defined in the smaller moments of our daily interactions.

When we step in as Leaders, we pay attention to ALL of the small moments, because it is here that we define our relationship. We can either ignore and withhold guidance, or pay attention and instruct. Either way we are defining our credibility... good or bad.

Our dogs will look at us quite differently when we become present, intentional, and aware of our conversation.

16/01/2025

Well Peeps... Another dramatic transformation under our belts!

Miss Charli is now back home with her family, after spending a handful of weeks in our Behavior Modification program, learning how to control her fear based reactivity, and tap into a much more stable state of mind.

You see, Charli came to us severely anxious & insecure. This made new and novel things a cause for concern (barking, growling, and panicking on leash). Insecurity paired with over-arousal, to little To-Do’s, too much liberty around the house, and a lack of accountability, can get pretty messy with the insecure persona! Everything was fine so long as things were quiet, orderly, and seemingly controlled. But as soon as something new, unexpected, or even chaotic occurred, Charli would step in to police the situation with her teeth— whether that was nipping her big brother, or the children in the neighborhood! All Charli wanted was a controlled environment!

Now Charli is equipped with the ability to self regulate and make better choices when distractions are at their highest. Her Mom & Dad now have the knowledge to follow through with her obedience and continue to implement a highly structured life.

They’ve got a great dog on their hands, and they are going to have an amazing life together! We are so happy for all of them! 🖤

16/01/2025

Meet Scout, Peeps!

Yep! Another gorgeous Golden that has his family on their toes!

Mr Man lives a very small life due to his behavior. Confined to his home & yard, Scout is impossible to walk, and cannot be taken anywhere. He jumps all over people uncontrollably, and his parents have no way of stopping it once he’s reached the red zone of arousal. Due to his sheer size, he’s become quite the nuisance, making it hard to love him — demands for attention with barking or nipping, counter surfing, and complete disregard for the humans in his life!

Sound familiar???

Although Scout is going on 2YR old, we think that once we slow him down & help him THINK before acting, that he’ll learn to listen just fine:) You can follow along with his journey over on IG stories as we begin to chip away at his perpetually escalated state of mind, and help him find that sweet spot of contentedness!

16/01/2025

Dogs are self-serving swindlers. Always in tune with the present moment, dogs make choices based on their very own personal desires. So no, they don’t sit and ponder all day on what they need to do to get you to take them to the water park. Their actions are based in the NOW, and how much pleasure is granted out of each choice made.

—If jumping on guests, or you, gets them attention and petting... they’ll keep doing it.
—If barking at the back door to be let in gets you off of the couch... they’ll keep doing it.
—If whining gets you to coddle and sweet talk them out of discomfort... they’ll keep doing it.
—If pawing at your leg or hand gets you to throw their ball... they’ll keep doing it.
—If whining or barking while in the crate gets you to let them out... they’ll keep doing it.
—If charging out the front door ahead of you gets them outside quicker... they’ll keep doing it.
—If lunging and growling at other dogs or humans gets them to move further away... they’ll keep doing it.
—If pulling on the leash gets them to that tree they want to mark... they’ll keep doing it.
—If growling when trying to take the ball away gets you to move away... they’ll keep doing it.

The bad news is, if this “stuff” is left unaddressed, it all intensifies and gets worse. Way worse. The more something works to self-serve, the more frequently it will occur.

It’s our job to let our dogs know what works for them isn’t necessarily what works for us. Effective leadership, with both yes and no, encourages our dogs to make RESPECTFUL choices based on what WE allow, not what is self-serving to them.

15/01/2025

Meet Baxter, Peeps!

An other puppy whose owners are being proactive, and getting a handle on behavioral issues BEFORE they turn into a real headache!

Mr. Man has his family on their toes! Jumping on people & everything, counter surfing, hoovering, uncontrollable energy, pulling on leash, zoomies all hours of the day in the house, & potty issues!

Holy Moly! This kiddo is in dire need of some manners and boundaries! Baxter is OFF THE CHAIN! And his family want to get a good head start on this goofball’s tendencies before they become double the trouble!

So stay tuned while we get Baxter up to speed with all things manners!

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Monday	06:00 - 18:00
Tuesday	06:00 - 18:00
Wednesday	06:00 - 18:00
Thursday	06:00 - 18:00
Friday	06:00 - 18:00
Saturday	07:00 - 16:00
Sunday	09:00 - 16:00

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http://www.PAWSitivelyCalm.com/

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