Happy Buddha Dog Training LLC

17/02/2025

I have the pleasure of working and playing with Emma. She is a fun, smart gal.

16/02/2025

Buddha and Gandhi were excellent registered therapy dogs. They had a solid understanding of basic manners training, which we generalized and proofed. They became "bomb proof" dogs who were calm, social and responsive to cues in any environment.

Truth 🐶🎓❤️

16/02/2025

Quote of the Week

16/02/2025

15/02/2025

https://www.petprofessionalguild.com/pet-owners/pets-and-their-people/pets-and-their-people-blog/am-i-a-pack-leader-or-a-human/

I was a dog lover long before becoming a professional dog trainer, and when a television program first aired about dog training and behavior, on a major

15/02/2025

Brilliant. This is a good read for people who are considering working with a trainer.

The “Real World” Myth: Why Some Trainers Are Stuck in the Flatland of Behaviorism

Welcome to the Flat World

There’s a common phrase you hear from obedience-based trainers: “We train for the real world.”

Sounds convincing, right? The idea is that dogs should be able to function anywhere—on busy streets, in high-distraction environments, around other dogs and people. They showcase dogs in “proofing” drills, performing robotic obedience despite competing motivators.

But here’s the problem: their real world isn’t actually real.

What they call the “real world” is actually a flat world—a world where dogs are reduced to stimulus-response machines, where behavior is the only metric of success, and where training exists within the rigid framework of rewards and punishments.

These trainers claim to prepare dogs for life, but they operate in a one-dimensional system that ignores emotion, choice, and relationships. They see a world of predictable inputs and outputs, yet fail to recognize the depth and complexity of what a dog truly experiences.

The Flatland of Behaviorism

The foundation of this flat world is behaviorism—a century-old framework that sees learning as a system of reinforcements and punishments. It works on paper and in controlled settings, but it falls apart in real, unpredictable life.
• It assumes that obedience equals stability. (It doesn’t.)
• It believes that control equals confidence. (It doesn’t.)
• It measures success in compliance rather than emotional security.

In the flat world, a dog that obeys under stress is seen as “well-trained,” even if they’re actually shutting down to avoid correction. They may look calm, but they aren’t thriving—they’re just surviving under pressure.

This is why so many dogs trained in compulsion-based methods develop deeper behavioral issues later on. When training is based on control rather than relationship, the cracks will eventually show.

The Round World: Where Dogs Actually Live

The real world—the round world—is nothing like the controlled environments of obedience training. It’s dynamic, emotional, and unpredictable.

A dog’s reality isn’t just made up of behaviors—it includes:
• Emotions (fear, excitement, joy, stress)
• Attachment and relationships (safety, trust, connection)
• Agency and choice (the ability to learn and adapt, not just comply)

A dog navigating the round world isn’t just responding to commands; they are thinking, feeling, and engaging with their environment. They aren’t performing because they fear a consequence—they are participating in a relationship of trust.

That’s why humane trainers don’t just teach behaviors—we build emotional resilience, problem-solving skills, and self-regulation.

Beyond Behaviorism: The Missing Ingredients

Going beyond behaviorism means leaving behind the rigid, mechanical view of training and stepping into a holistic, relationship-centered model that respects the dog as a sentient being. This model isn’t about controlling behavior—it’s about nurturing well-being.

The Key Ingredients of a Beyond-Behaviorism Approach:

✅ Emotional Intelligence – Understanding that dogs are emotional beings, not just response-driven machines. A dog’s emotional state influences their behavior more than any reinforcer or correction.

✅ Secure Attachment & Trust – Building a relationship where the dog feels safe, not because they’re afraid of correction, but because they trust their human.

✅ Autonomy & Choice – Allowing dogs to make decisions, problem-solve, and express themselves rather than forcing them into rigid obedience patterns.

✅ Resilience & Emotional Regulation – Teaching dogs how to manage their own emotions rather than just suppressing their instincts out of fear.

✅ Holistic Well-Being – Recognizing that behavior is influenced by diet, health, environment, stress, and past experiences—not just training methods.

✅ The Mind-Body-Spirit Connection – Understanding that a truly balanced dog isn’t just behaviorally compliant but emotionally and spiritually whole.

Beyond-behaviorism isn’t about ignoring training—it’s about expanding it to include the full depth of a dog’s experience.

Why Trainers Stuck in the Flat World Can’t See It

Trainers who live in the flat world of behaviorism often ask, “Where’s the proof that force-free training works?”

But they only look for what fits their existing belief system.
• If you only measure success by robotic compliance, you’ll only see success in dogs that are forced into submission.
• If you think behavior is just about reinforcements and corrections, you’ll never understand emotional regulation.
• If you believe control is the ultimate goal, you’ll never see the power of true connection.

They think they’re working in the “real world,” but they’re trapped in a limited model that fails to account for the actual complexity of a dog’s experience.

They see dogs obeying commands, but they miss the trees for the logs—they don’t see the relationships, the emotional growth, and the actual well-being of the dog.

Breaking Free from the Flat World

The round world isn’t built on obedience—it’s built on understanding. It’s a world where:
✔️ Dogs aren’t just taught to behave; they are taught to feel safe.
✔️ Success isn’t measured by compliance, but by confidence and security.
✔️ Trust replaces control, and connection replaces coercion.

This is the real real world—one that acknowledges the full depth of who dogs are.

So the next time a trainer tells you they train for the “real world,” ask them:

Are they training for the flat world of obedience? Or the round world of relationships?

Because if they’re still stuck in the one-dimensional thinking of behaviorism, they aren’t actually seeing the whole picture.

Want to experience the round world of dog relationships?

Let’s talk?

15/02/2025

Let’s Create a Better World
Are you determined to continually expand your knowledge and improve your skills to serve your clients and be a valuable resource to your community, providing the most innovative pet training and pet care possible?
Then let’s do this together: https://www.petprofessionalguild.com/

14/02/2025

Who would like to exchange Valentines with Bruno?

14/02/2025

https://www.petmd.com/dog/general-health/how-to-keep-dogs-warm-in-winter?utm_source=NewsletterSubscribers&utm_medium=Email&utm_content=Newsletter&utm_campaign=Newsletter&utm_source_platform=petmd_newsletter&lid=yg0wpe602tjn

Windchill temps will soon be in the minus 25-30 degree range. Even daytime high temps will be too cold for most dogs. Bruno only goes outside for potty, active play time, and walks.

When the weather starts to turn cold, it’s important to know how the colder temperatures will impact your pup. If your dog is used to spending time outdoors during the summer, or has a high energy that warrants more playtime, it’s critical to know how to keep your fur baby warm in cold temperatu...

13/02/2025

Do you want a loving companion for Valentine's Day? Emma is waiting for a family to find her at Desert Willow Ranch, Rescue & rehab.

[email protected]

13/02/2025

https://www.whole-dog-journal.com/blog/must-carry-treats/?sc=EB20250213-PositiveTrainingBasics&st=email&MailingID=3527&utm_source=ActiveCampaign&utm_medium=email&utm_content=Must%20Carry%20Treats&utm_campaign=EB20250213-PositiveTrainingBasics

Treats are a vital part of dog training, and so are tough treat carry bags. That is unless you like losing jacket pockets to a chewing dog.

12/02/2025

While teaching dogs, I also teach their people how to look at the world from their dog’s perspective, considering how differently dogs may inderstand their environment and interpret things.

12/02/2025

Wilder succeeded in his recall session because we set him up for success.

ARE YOU WORTH COMING BACK TO?

I’m often horrified when I watch people trying to get their dogs to come back to them when they call.

They call and call and get increasingly angry and frustrated as their dog keeps ignoring them.

When their dog eventually comes back, or has been chased and "captured” by the now really angry person, they get screamed at, yanked about, or punished in some way for taking so long and not listening.

Why on earth would a dog want to return to someone who does this to them!

The most common reason dogs don’t come back when we call is because it’s not a positive experience.

A new environment is generally far more rewarding, stimulating and exciting than coming back to us.
An exciting scent or seeing something to chase can all override a response to recall.

Make coming back to you well worth it by always making it a rewarding experience and keep practicing this throughout a dog’s life.

Have a little patience if it takes longer than you would like, let your dog finish what they’re doing before calling them, practice in different locations and environments and never reprimand or punish them for coming back.

There is never a guarantee of a perfect recall each and every time, but making it a rewarding experience will greatly improve the rate of success.