Your dog’s inability the stay calm in the car, at the vet, or at the groomer means there are moments leading up to the appointment that are being missed.
It’s SO important we pay attention to our dog’s signs before we step out of the house. Calm, relaxed energy is created before you leave and is reinforced along the way.
You CAN have successful outings if you follow these tips!
The goal of integrating two new dogs is to create a process that’s as nonconfrontational as possible. So, starting slowly with minimal face-to-face allows an easier transition to the first introduction.
1️⃣ The tandem walk. No sniffing, no saying hello. The only goal is for each dog to acknowledge the presence of the other. The human will reinforce leash manners and control energy along the way.
2️⃣ Coexistence. The dogs will become more familiar with each other through simple existence training. This step reinforces a calmer mindset when together.
3️⃣ 3-second interactions. Keep the first few greetings short so each dog has time to reset and not feel overwhelmed. Correct any stiff body language or pushy behavior. Fairness is the goal.
Remember, we should NEVER force dogs to be friends. That’s not what this process is about. We aim to show our dogs how to properly (and peacefully) exist with other dogs and reinforce necessary energy and hierarchy rules.
A successful training program will put just as much emphasis on human training as it does on dog training.
Far too often owners pay for a training experience that, in the end, offers little to no human direction, education, or support. It’s almost as if once the dog is “trained,” nothing else needs attention 🤔
Thanks to social media, dog training content is always within reach while honest and transparent owner training is minimal. And in case we need a fresh perspective: dog training never ends. It’s not about how you train or how often, it’s how you make training a part of your routine and lifestyle with your dog.
Our latest training crew heads home!
Indie, Hobbes, and Grace, all totally different dogs, now totally thriving after learning the benefits of balanced training 😀
These highlight clips are a testament to what we do, but more importantly, that every dog is capable of a dramatic transformation, it’s all just a matter of committing to the process 💪
Good luck out there young ones- you got this! 🖤
Folks, please educate yourselves before making comments on how other people choose to train their dogs.
Learn, read, and watch how this tool is actually meant to be used, then make your judgements.
For those whose lives have changed after using a prong collar, keep going 💪
For those interested in learning more, check out our hundreds of videos on this tool as well as all things balanced training related.
It’s perplexing that energy, movement, and excitement are the only things that characterize a “happy” dog. In reality, calmness, contention, and stillness are valid signs of a happy dog, but those aren’t as exciting for us to point out.
We’ve gotten so deep in the weeds that calm, neutral dogs are perceived as sad, under control, or can’t “be a dog.” Just a reminder, energy is just energy, and a lot of the time, excessive energy is a sign of a dog with no access to their “off switch.”
Let’s stop mistaking calmness for sadness.
Grace’s family is going to LOVE her new walking skills. No more pulling them to the ground anymore 👍 And to think Grace already went through another board & train program 🤔
Just goes to show how effective (and helpful) e-collar training is both for dogs and humans.
Are you experiencing this with your dog? If so, here’s why you’re never able to exhaust them…
Most often, dog owners are focused on physical exercise (which is great) to ensure their dogs are fulfilled and able to rest throughout the day. But we often forget about mental exercise. What does that look like?
Stillness. Calmness. Relaxed.
Our dogs get so used to walking, running, playing, etc. that they never learn how to do “nothing.” Sounds boring, right? It’s because it is. But that’s the reality, our dogs need to be ok being bored and doing nothing sometimes. This is the process of learning mental control and being able to “power down” when needed.
Enforcing boundaries and asking for calmness using a command like “Place” is the ticket!
Link in our bio for an in-depth Youtube tutorial!
Grace the GSD Mix is our newest board & train student!
This young gal has arrived to get a better handle on some reactive behaviors that are starting to fester. While she is very reactive on walks when seeing other dogs, barks at dogs and people in the house, and is generally a very edgy girl (not surprising, given her breed), there is great potential for improvement.
Grace completed a Positive-Only board & train about six months ago, but unfortunately, her family only experienced improvements for a short period before she reverted to old behaviors. The missing link in her training? Clear communication and practical consequences. Dogs can only gain so much from hearing “yes” all the time, especially if the follow-up and training aren’t reality-based.
We’re going to give Grace a proper board & train experience, proofing all of her obedience, but as always, prioritizing state of mind and behavior. She will learn how to break her “velcro dog” behaviors and reactive responses and become the best version of herself. Stay tuned as we get things back on the right track!
Check out Harry’s new skills!
So proud of this guy for giving me his best and working through his old behaviors. He definitely wasn’t much of a pushy dog, but he tried his best to charm me out of making him do things 😉
We worked through that and he’s learned that being a follower, paying attention and following through with his human’s requests isn’t a bad thing, it’s actually helpful!
Less than a week before Harry heads home! Now we just make sure everything is looking good before we reunite him with his family 😃🐶
A quality dog training program won’t have any impact on your dog’s personality. All we address are your main behavioral concerns.
One of the most common questions/concerns I get is about the training experience being too strict, where in the end, an owner’s dog returns home a robot.
Your dog comes to our program to be better, not to change who they are and why you love them ❤️
Here to remind you that the breed you choose should reflect how you live your life 🤓
Runner? Explore more active breeds with shorter coats to ensure they can keep up with you. 🏃♀️
Apartment living? Look into medium-sized dogs who are hypoallergenic to reduce the amount of shedding. 🧹
Big family? Find a breed that is good with kids and can be more go-with-the-flow. 🏡
Rural homestead? Find a companion who can be off-leash to enjoy open acreage. 🚜
This, of course, is a very generalized list of recommendations. My point is that breed matters! Regardless of what path you choose, always prioritize the following:
- Exercise (physical and mental)
- Nutrition
- Training
🐶 ❤️
New board & train dog, Stanley, just arrived! Stan is a young Polish Lowland Sheepdog who has been recently dabbling in some highly concerning behaviors. Stanley is highly reactive to people in and out of the home, causing his owners to severely limit his freedom and daily routine. He also struggles with challenging leash reactivity which is making walks extremely stressful.
Stanley is a case where unclear leadership combined with an impractical training approach has left both him and his family stuck. He has been evaluated by behaviorists whose only help was to introduce medication (three different kinds) to combat his aggression. Sadly, this is barely a band-aid for his behaviors and hasn’t brought the relief he and his owners need.
We’re going to clarify what life looks like, introduce helpful tools, believable boundaries, and get this guy back on track so that him and his family can enjoy life together. Lots of work to do, but we’re ready to do this!
The car is just another opportunity to utilize your dog’s training!
So many dogs have some kind of car anxiety or stress, so the absolute BEST thing we can do is give them a simple task to focus on so their mind doesn’t slip into a panic. With nothing to do, they’ll naturally become unsettled, curious,, overexcited, etc.
“Give your dog a job” is a classic dog trainer saying you may have heard, but it’s true!
I’ll continue posting these videos until people realize Balanced training, prong collars, and remote collars aren’t the problem.
(It might be a while, but I’m here for it 💪)
A quick tip on how I like to handle multi-dog walks! 🐶 🐶
Dolly learns Place!
The ONE command that has SO many benefits- especially for young dogs still learning the ropes.. impulse control, understanding of boundaries, independence, mental calmness, I mean, the list goes on!
Dolly is a young dog who will pace to the point of feeling so confused.. enter Place! Clearer direction/rules from her humans will help her learn to power down and chill 😎
We teach TWO kinds of recall. Here’s why:
We’ve all been there… you call your dog’s name from the other room, and they burst off of Place or out of their crate, knocking over anyone or anything along the way. The “follow” is how we move dogs with complete control, which helps them work more intently on their movements.
Most folks are used to long-distance recall. You call your dog’s name, and they come to you—pretty simple. We build a consistent response via the e-collar to help owners control their dogs while off-leash.
It’s all about balance and ensuring our dogs understand how to access their “off switch.” This will benefit their state of mind and help keep our environment more controllable.
Reggie definitely knew how to turn on his tiny twin turbos 🚀 but the “chill” part needed some attention 🤓
🙏 THANK YOU PLACE COMMAND 🙏
Calmness, impulse control, and mental discipline are three traits all dogs need to understand well.
Does your dog know this command?
Reggie’s groomer suggested he work on his nail-trimming skills… 😂 So we did!
The dremel is an AMAZING tool for keeping nails short, and it’s also a perfect training opportunity!
Calmness, patience, and respect go a longggg way in this exercise but also how our dogs view us as their leader.
Use moments like these to strengthen the bond you have with your dog!
