Valdosta K9 Coach

04/03/2024

Meet Kash, he's a 1 year old toy poodle, here to learn some doggy manners. Today he is being introduced to the "place" command.

02/11/2023

This is Perry, he's here for a board and train. Perry is wide open and in need of an "off switch". So today we're working on the beginnings of a "place" command. This is going to help him learn to settle down.

24/09/2023

So few owners and trainers fully understand this dynamic. Owners think trainers have magical powers, and trainers are often happy to perpetuate this myth. (“The second the trainer took the leash all the problem behavior simply vanished!”)

While this isn’t always the case, it often is. And while it may seem like magic Jedi skills, more often than not it’s due the combination of the trainer being a novel presence—which causes the dog to be more focused on figuring out the trainer rather than engaging in poor behavior—and the fact the trainer has a neutral association.

Put simply, whatever your presence predicts is the association you’ve built with your dog. For most owners that association is extremely lopsided and unhealthy. You’ve taught your dog that your presence predicts play, affection, freedom, excitement, food, walks/drives—and often very poor behavior, like territoriality, reactivity, possessiveness, brattiness, disrespect, and chaos.

What most owners haven’t done is create a healthy, balanced association. One where you of course predict the good things in life, but also just as equally predict the balancing factors of firm rules, consistent structure, high levels of accountability (a “healthy fear”), and confident leadership when challenging situations arise.

It’s precisely this careful, smart, and selfless balance of what we share with our dogs which either creates a healthy association, or not.

And because almost everyone very easily shares all the fun, self-rewarding stuff, the biggest hack to resetting your toxic relationship is something most will find absolutely unacceptable, unsophisticated, unhealthy, and ultimately undoable…sharing valuable consequences (gasp, punishment!) for poor choices and unhealthy responses.

Why does this create such profound shifts in your dog? Because it starts the process of resetting the association; it starts the process of your dog viewing you in a more balanced fashion, healthy fashion. It starts the process of you becoming a multi-dimensional association. Ultimately, it shares the critical component of your relationship interactions you’ve omitted, which have created this lopsided, toxic dynamic in the first place.

You don’t have to like it, but that doesn’t change the fact that it’s almost certainly the reason you (as an owner) are stuck, and you (as a trainer) are unable to help your clients to the degree you so deeply desire to be able to.

PS, the amount of times I’ve seen “the lights go on” with a dog after their owner corrects some nonsense for the first in a valuable fashion are countless. For most, if they can step up to this challenge, it’s the beginning of a beautiful, and healthy transformation. For those unable, it means the continuation of all that came before, regardless of training.

21/12/2022

Lifetime Commitment

11/12/2022

Are you prepared for the lifelong responsibility of that cute Christmas puppy? Please share this important message!

07/12/2022

Dogs are not Christmas presents, they are a 12 - 15 year commitment.

22/04/2022

Go In The Room, Part 2.

When it comes time, you need to walk calm into that room with your dog, and if you need someone to help come with you, call me. My entire life has been shaped by one single dog. He saved me, showed me how to love and gave me a purpose to my life. He was with me for every single one of my successes, and even more important he was with me for every single one of my failures, always right beside me. That is the way he went up to Heaven too, with me right by his side.

Trigger was 10.5 yers old when his time came up, and I had to make the hardest and easiest decisions entire life in the same day. Trigger was old, and his body just couldn’t keep up, and I was not going to let him suffer out of my selfishness. Making the decision to put your old dog down is heartbreaking. Even when you know it’s time, when you know it’s the right thing to do, it tears your soul apart. When it came time for his final day, guess where he was? Right by my side, doing the things we love one last time. Trigger and I went for a car ride to visit my farm, and see my dad. The old bear couldn’t walk, but you bet your ass he tried jumping out of the car to see my dad and run on the farm. We got to hang out, peacefully. Remanence about the decade that I was so lucky to have spent with him, and then head to McDonalds. I had to go through the line twice, boy was all about those sausage patties.

This time one thing was different. I’m older now, and while death still affects me the same, I waited to get emotional. He has been there for me, as a steady rock my entire life, I could do the same for him today. I wanted him to know that everything is okay, that dad is okay, and it’s a great day. When we finally arrived at the vet hospital, that’s when I got to make the easiest decision of my life.

“Do you want to go in the room with him?”

Your dog is there for you, every single day. On this day, be there for them. Hold their paw, kiss their cheek, and pat their heads. Go in the room with your dog, and be with them the same way you are on day 1.

Dog’s are not just pets, and by God they never will be. Trigger was the greatest thing that has every happened to me, and I have so many lessons learned from our experiences that still resonate with me to this day.

11/03/2022

06/12/2021

This is Shadow, a 4 month old Australian Shepherd. He’s here for our Puppy Program. One of the things he is learning, is how to walk nicely on a leash. He would normally be underfoot of his owner, trying to walk between their legs. Good job, Shadow!

03/12/2021

This is Bo, a GSP here for our Puppy Program. She’s doing really well on her loose leash walking. Good job, Bo!

09/11/2021

Sassy is making her Christmas card photo!

06/11/2021

Sassy working ‘place’ in the backyard. Go job, Sassy!

06/11/2021

Minnie is here for our 10 day Puppy program. She is learning ‘place, down, sit’, and coming when called. You’re a smart girl, Minnie!

06/11/2021

Sassy takes a car ride. Good job, Sassy!

03/11/2021

Sassy out on her morning walk. We’re walking be lawn care workers with all the machines going. Good job, Sassy!

02/11/2021

This is Minnie Pearl, she’s a Golden doodle her for our Puppy Program. This is Training Day 2 for her. She’s learning to walk nicely on a leash. Way to go Minnie!

08/10/2021

This is Nomi, she’s a 5 month old lab mix, here for a 3 week board and train. She’s extra energetic, she’ll chew up anything and everything if given the opportunity. We’re working with her on place command, sit and down . Goof job, Nomi!

07/10/2021

This is Lincoln, he’s been with us for about 2 weeks. We’re working with him going place, recall, and down in the backyard. Good job Lincoln!

17/08/2021

What cat???

17/08/2021

Crew at the park working on going to ‘place’ and recall. Good job Crew!

06/08/2021

This is Crew, a 6 1/2 month old Golden Doodle, here for a board and train. We’re working on going to “place”, a little bit of recall, and sits and downs. You’re doing great Crew!

17/06/2021

Toby thinks all the toys and anything laying on the floor belongs to him. We’re working with him on the out from a bone. Good job, Toby! Next on the list is the trash can.

17/06/2021

Toby on his morning walk. He’s doing really well on his martingale collar. We’re still working on his being distracted when cats or dogs are coming toward him.

20/05/2021

Leo on his walk. He’s doing well not pulling on the leash, he’s still distracted by everything in the surrounding area, but he’s getting better!

17/05/2021

Leo working on sit/down/ and stand. I put him on a platform so I wouldn’t have to bend to the ground teaching him these positions. I haven’t named anything yet, he’s still learning with the leash pressure.

17/05/2021

Here’s Leo! He’s here for the puppy program, learning the basics like walking nicely on the leash without pulling his owner. While he really can’t pull his owner because he’s so small, he can cause damage to his trachea by pulling and choking himself. Good job, Leo!