Command Canine

03/22/2025

I love that adopters are being open and honest about what life is like with a former research dog, because while these little guys give you some of the most fulfilling experiences- it's not always an easy road. ♥️

The more we can educate the public and advocate for these dogs, the better for everyone.

These dogs are not easy, and admittedly, Rob Wadd and Sharon Giest had no idea what they were getting themselves into. To rehabilitate a former lab beagle…

03/09/2025

We're Hiring!

Looking for trainers who want to focus on what they do best-training dogs. We handle the sales, marketing, and client onboarding. From reactivity, anxiety, to confidence-building, our clients are owners who are serious about their dogs.

Learn more: https://www.indeed.com/viewjob?jk=392684368edf0d2e&from=shareddesktop

03/06/2025

Congratulations to our clients Lauren and Bear for passing their therapy dog test! (first picture)

They have come SO far in the past couples of months and I'm so proud of them! Lauren works at a children's library and Bear is now able to join her at work every day and spend time with all the kiddos ♥️

02/18/2025

Bad news for dog owners who believe their dog will like strangers who give them treats.

If your dog panics when people get too close, putting them into awkward interactions won’t magically make them social—it’ll just confirm their suspicion that strangers are weird and unpredictable (which, to be fair, they often are).

Instead of forcing it, try something that actually works: Treat & Retreat—aka the sneaky way to get treats and build trust without the annoying pressure.

What Could Go Wrong!?

Well….

🚫 Making sessions too long – Dragging things out just drains your dog. (If you’re an introvert, you totally get this)
5-10 minutes will always beats 30 minutes

🚫 Talking to the dog – I get it, people love saying, “It’s okay! I’m nice! Aww, come here, buddy!” But just don’t. 
Silence is golden. Let the treats do the talking.

🚫 Skipping retreat – The “retreat” part is just as important as the “treat.” After a few reps, make sure to toss the treats far away again.
Pressuring them to stay close literally defeats the purpose.

🚫 Reaching out to touch – If the stranger gets too excited and tries to touch your dog, you’ll undo all your progress.
Paws off until the dog is begging you for it.

🚫 Only practicing with one person – Cool, your dog is okay with one person. But unless you’re planning to exclusively hang out with that one person forever, they need to practice with different people in different places.

Dogs, like ✨us ✨- learn best when they feel in control. Not because we're Type-A control freaks (well not all of us), but because it makes us feel 🫶🏻 safe.

Share this and try it so we can all stop being socially awkward—dogs included.

02/04/2025

I don’t have many non-negotiables when coaching dog owners, but *this* is one of them.

Look, if you want easier, calmer walks, stop setting yourself up for failure with a leash that works against you.

If you keep using a retractable leash, a bungee leash, or one of those ridiculously chunky-handled monstrosities, here’s what’s going to happen:


❌ You’ll have zero control in an emergency. A squirrel? Another dog? Forget about it.

❌ Your hands will suffer. Rope burn, hand cramps, or a leash snapping at the worst moment? It’ll happen.

❌ You’ll start dreading walks. Because you’re spending more time wrestling your dog than actually enjoying them.

❌ Your training won’t stick. Because the leash is undoing all the work you’ve put in and it’s communicating everything allllll wrong.

I know, because I’ve seen it - countless times.

I used to think that my clients could work with the equipment they had. They just needed to train harder, be more consistent, and build up their skills. Meanwhile, they were actively out there gripping onto a leash that was actively working against them.

So what happened? They did everything right… and still got dragged across sidewalks.

Which is why I need you to hear this.

The Right Leash = Instantly Better Walks.

If I could go back in time, I’d tell them to bite the bullet and just get a leash that actually makes sense.

🙌🏻 A simple, durable, 6ft biothane leash (my preference is 1/4 in think, but 1/2 is also wonderful) is one of the easiest fixes for leash walking struggles. This isn’t about “controlling” your dog—it’s about clear, consistent communication.

I care about this because I see so many people working their butts off in training… only to be sabotaged by a garbage leash. Don’t be one of them.

So if walks are still chaotic? Start with the leash. It might just change everything.

Send this post to a friend who is committing a crime against leash walking by using the wrong leash.—no judgment… but also, kinda. 😏

02/03/2025

I’m finally dishing the tea. ☕ Find out the first sneaky trick they play on you in the caption!

As a dog behavior expert, I see it time and time again— owners come into training, ready to pour their hearts into it, yet they’re unaware that one little tweak could change everything for them.

It’s their dog’s food.

And I can understand why they're missing it. The pet food industry is a marketing machine, and they know exactly how to make their products look healthier than they actually are.

The reality? Companies use loopholes, misleading labels, and clever ingredient tricks to sell you.

These ingredients can wreak havoc on your dog’s mood, stress levels, and ability to focus—sabotaging your training efforts without you even realizing it.

There are plenty of secrets the pet food industry is keeping from you, and I’m here to help you fight back.


👀 Here’s the first one:

Ingredients on your dog food bag are listed in order of weight, BUT, pet food companies are allowed to do something called “Splitting.”
Splitting is where they list low-quality ingredients into ✨sub-categories✨ to make them appear lower on the list.

For example if your ingredient label looks like this:
* Chicken
* Brown rice
* Rice bran
* Rice flour

🤔 You may think chicken is the ingredient with the most weight, but in reality, all that rice combined outweighs the chicken—but it’s split into separate ingredients to trick you!

I’m here to arm you with the knowledge you need to truly transform their behavior, not just train your dog.

That’s why I work closely with Ben and Megan Cornwell, who own and are Certified Pet Dietitians.

And we've poured our expertise into a powerful new guidebook for you - 🐕 Dog Food Decoded: Everything You Should Know About Feeding Your Dog.

Your dog’s behavior is too important to be left to chance—or to the marketing tricks of pet food companies! You deserve the truth, and your dog deserves the best.

♥️ Like this post you’re ready to uncover the hidden secrets between nutrition and behavior! And stay tuned— our 🐕 Dog Food Decoded guide is hitting the shelves later this week!

01/31/2025

Let's make it happen.

01/28/2025

You’ve worked hard to manage your dog’s leash meltdowns —now let’s take it to the next level by interrupting the trigger before the drama starts.

Here's another Training Tip for your lovely Tuesday 🐕

Okay, so the thing is - reactivity doesn’t start with the bark or the lunge. It starts with the stare.

And if you can interrupt that moment, you can prevent the entire chain reaction before it even begins.

"Why should I try this?" you ask.

Well, because staring creates a neurological feedback loop. The longer your dog stares, the more their brain reinforces the NEED to bark/lunge/go manic.

It’s like fueling a fire—every second they stay locked in, they’re getting closer to ignition.


But wait- there's more! ALSO - movement disrupts fixation.
A sharp U-turn forces your dog to shift their body and brain at the same time, making it physically impossible for them to stay in "meltdown mode."

"How long will this take?" you ask.

I'll be frank, the first few times, it'll be hard. If they’re used to fixating, breaking that habit will take repetition.

Practice it at home (while they’re looking at literally anything) to strengthen those neuronal loops!

After a bit of practice, it'll be easier.

After a while, they will even look to you when they SEE a dog.

❌ Common Mistakes to Avoid

- Waiting too long to turn. Do not “give them the opportunity” and see if they’ll react. They will, trust me.

- Pulling on the leash. This creates more tension and makes things worse.

Are you going to try this?

01/26/2025

01/09/2025

Our clients tell us this is extremely important to them.

A typical board & train programs might teach Heel and Place in a sterile environment, but they won’t catch the real-life behaviors that actually matter to you —like when your dog barks at everyone who walks by, when your dog gets their nose a litttttttle too close to the kitchen counter, or when they lose their mind every evening at 6pm.

That’s why our In-Home Board & Train even EXIST. I saw other companies do Board and Trains in facilities and teach every dog the same 5 commands, THEN they'd tell owners everything will be fixed.

But it wasn't. It's not ✨possible✨ to overcome problems if we can't replicate them while in training.

With us, your dog stays in their trainer’s home, getting 1:1 attention and training, and learning how to navigate real-life situations—right where they happen.

🚫 No loud kennels
🚫 No crates all day
🚫 No being overwhelmed and stressed

Your dog deserves training that actually prepares them for life in your home.

Do you agree or disagree?

12/19/2024

Hi frands! It's Stanley, the CFO (Chief Fetching Officer) of Command Canine. My mom and dad got married last weekend and wanted you to see me in my tuxedo I was forced to wear which was not okay.

But later my uncle Danny came and woke me up from my nap, put my tux back on, and we ran downstairs to a big party.

Before I knew it this man with a microphone was announcing "the moment you've all been waiting for.....it's STANLEY" and all my friends cheered for me. Mom and dad were so surprised and gave me too many hugs.

Mom and dad are off on their honeymoon and I'm at Grandma's now. The Command Canine team is doing great and continuing their hard work without all three of us but we'll be back soon. There are plenty of balls to fetch in 2025.

Pawing off,

Stanley
CFO 🎾

11/13/2024

These are the sweet babies that we are here working with this week!

Please donate if you can - any support is appreciated! Follow along with us this week on their journey as they come from the research lab to the sanctuary ♥️🐕

10/28/2024

Imagine having someone who not only understands what makes your dog unique but who knows precisely which steps will move them forward.

You’ve poured time, effort, and hard-earned money into training, hoping for a real change. But despite everything, your dog’s anxiety, reactivity, or unpredictable behavior feels as present as ever. Frustrating, right?

The truth is, not all trainers are equipped to handle complex behavior challenges. While obedience commands like “Sit” or “Stay” are important, they don’t solve the deep-rooted issues that lead to things like reactivity or severe anxiety. That’s where Behavior Specialists come in.

Behavior Specialists approach training differently. Instead of one-size-fits-all commands, we dig deeper, addressing fears, motivations, and even past traumas that could be driving your dog’s behaviors.

Here’s the difference:

👂🏻 We listen to what your dog is telling us. Behaviors are like clues, showing us where your dog needs the most support.

📈We focus on progress that sticks. It’s not about temporary fixes; it’s about helping your dog build confidence and adaptability, one small step at a time.

💪🏻 We help YOU become your dog’s best support system. You’ll learn to understand and manage behavior in ways that empower you both.

We’re proud that so many clients come to us after struggling with other training programs. After investing so much, they want a solution that truly lasts.

If your dog’s behavior feels like a puzzle you can’t solve alone, know that help is here!

Got questions? Drop them in the comments! We’d love to chat.

10/03/2024

So many emotions as Cait and Cori loaded the first round of supplies to take the the airdrop. The compassion everyone is showing and eagerness to help is amazing. Some of us are even trying to get back on our own two feet but selflessly look toward our Western family. Thank you to each and everyone of you that has donated so far. Please keep donations coming we are accepting everything animal related as well as Human supplies.

-feminine hygiene products
-diapers
-formula
-packaged snacks
-reusable tote bags
-garbage bags
-water
-livestock feed

If you would like to donate money we will do the shopping for you.

We are partnered with Forgotten Now Family Rescue who is helping us distribute supplies.

We will be taking donations until….