Gonzo Dog

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Gonzo Dog

R+/FF Certified Dog Behavior Consultant (CDBC) specializing in fear, reactivity, aggression
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Gonzo Dog is a fully insured, certified CPDT-KA dog trainer, utilizing positive reinforcement methods and explaining animal behavior in a way that you can understand. It's incredibly difficult to train your own dog with the owner/pet bond, so contacting me to come in and offer my experience and knowledge will provide insight and guidance as to how to work more in harmony with your dog. I offer tra

ining services that range from puppy to advanced, potty training to roll over and play dead. Our trainer has a decade of experience training and handling, and has both the patience and persistence to get you and your dog working together in sync. Visit our website for rates, or contact us for a consultation and let us know what we can do to make your pet's life happier!

01/07/2024

Hot Tip!! Literally, because summer is already turning the heat waaay up 🔥

When it’s too hot for more than a potty walk outside, there’s so much that we can accomplish indoors! Summer is one of my favorite seasons to train because it:

🔥 Starts indoors with a controlled environment for optimal learning

🔥 Builds a solid foundation to grow those skills outside once it cools

🔥 Explores other canine needs and burns energy right in your home

So no more worries about your dog not getting enough exercise, overheating or driving you bananas. Let’s get creative and explore indoor types of enrichment to keep your dog safe, happy and fulfilled.

Excited to announce that my books are OPEN for new virtual clients! Even though I’m still figuring out where to relocate (open to suggestions in comments!), this break has allowed me to add new services AND… **drum roll**

A Sliding Scale!! Many thanks to for their inspiring work 💖

Hit the link in bio to learn more and get started! Stay cool out there and let’s make the most of this heat with indoor fun!

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12/03/2024

Wow guys… it’s been so long since I’ve posted that we have new filters 🫠

First, if you’re still here - THANK YOU! To all my clients who stuck with me through this and keep coming back - THANK YOU!!!!

The last few years have been wild to say the least. A few months after losing Cbass in 2021, I began experiencing chronic illness. I did what I’ve always done and tried to work through the symptoms for over a year - while also going through dozens of doctors, specialists and tests - but sadly it just kept getting worse.

My body was FORCING me to stop and listen, so I bid farewell to my apartment and business in NYC and moved to the country to figure out how to heal. After dozens more doctors, specialists, tests and procedures… it turned out to be what my gut told me from the start:

STRESS and DEPRESSION. I was majorly burned out 😔

I’ve been on a huge healing journey and I’m happy to say things are starting to feel “normal” again. I’m easing back into work with new clients and making sure to maintain a personal balance for effectiveness and my health.

Not saying the stress is gone! I am currently looking for a new home and place to rebuild my business which is a lot 🙀 I’m working on some new things (website, business model and services, etc). Some of the newer services - like video analysis! - are already up on the current website.

I have missed you guys and DOGS so much (I have *not* missed social media - working to find the balance there too), but I’m still around! Working to bring an upgraded version of myself and my services to assist you with your doggos!

Tl;dr: I was sick from stress. I’m feeling better! I’m slowly coming back to behavior consulting but there are lots of new things to figure out. I love you all and thanks for hanging with me.

ID: Jack Nicholson from The Shining with his face sticking through a hole in the door; b/w text above reads “heeere’s an update…”; background is red and maroon vortex stripes.

23/10/2023

**TW for Pet Loss Grief**

This one deserved a place on the grid. Losing Cbass was hands down the hardest and worst thing I’ve ever gone through. And yet, he still teaches me new lessons.

Like: you can fall in love again.

Smitty could not BE any more different from Cbass 😆 Cbass was protector, Smitty is baby. Cbass was independent, Smitty is Velcro.

And yet I fall in love with Smitty more and more every day - just as I did with Cbass. Don’t believe the hype about “love at first sight.” I mean if you have it, awesome! But the love that takes time is just as valid.

Shelters and rescues across the country are overflowing with pets who are looking for their second chance. Sometimes a space in your home (fostering) opens up a space in your heart (adoption) like my story with Smithers. (Totally ok if you don’t fall in love and are the bridge between an animal and a new home too - we need you guys!)

All this to say: the heart expands. You can fall in love again, and still love your departed pets just as much as you did while they were still here. Our departed pets live on in our hearts, the lessons they taught us and how we use that knowledge with other animals.

It’s ok to fall in love again ♥️

[id: photos of a reddish brown dog and a tan/white dog, text reads: if there’s one thing I hope you’ve learned from this account over the past couple of years… it’s that you can… fall in love again. I completely understand how hard it is to say goodbye, and I understand if someone makes the decision to never go through that again. It will never be the same dog… it will never be the same love… it will take time and adjustment, just as in any relationship. But you can fall in love again. It doesn’t diminish the love you had for a previous dog. The heart expands and it is a beautiful thing. I’m so glad Smitty and I are each others’ second chance.” Full photo descriptions in alt text]

28/08/2023

Something I haven’t been able to stop thinking about since FINALLY reading ’s “Canine Enrichment for the Real World” is the idea that dogs can habituate to enrichment.

I’m thinking about this as a dog mom who defaults to sticking Smitty’s meals in his Tricky Treat Ball 😅

I’m also thinking about this as a dog behavior consultant who sees clients providing enrichment but also sometimes a regression in behavior.

The concept of dogs habituating (becoming used to and therefore less stimulated/interested in provided enrichment) makes perfect sense to me 💡

It’s easy to become complacent. It’s easy to find something that works and just keep doing that. But if we, as humans, kept reading the same book or watching the same movie or eating the same food over and over again - the fun and excitement would be less over time, right? Apparently the same can be true for our dogs!

There’s so much room for creativity with enrichment - it’s one of my absolute fave parts of working with dog behavior!

What are some of your favorite ways to enrich your , and how do you keep it fresh and fun? Let me know in comments!

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07/08/2023

This is a tough one, guys. As far as I know and have researched: there isn’t any clear-cut, professionally recognized definition published about Force Free Training (please send to me if there is!).

Which means: people interpret it as their understanding allows.

I’ve included my understanding of the methodology (again: interpretation) and the definitions most frequently used.

The biggest point here is: these terms seem to have become synonymous - but they are labeled differently for a reason.

My humble professional opinion is that they are not the same. One can be a R+ trainer without being FF.

There is no intent to shame anyone using the label FF if they don’t fully understand it (how can we, with all this mud in our waters!) but I do think it’s important to examine the terms we use to ensure we are being as honest as possible in representing our methods/skills. And for people to know when looking to hire a trainer.

It’s a mess out here, y’all! Ask those questions and stay learning 🤓

**link to questions to ask prospective trainers going up in stories and resource highlight**

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17/07/2023

Meeting our dog’s needs can often be the first step to meeting our own needs as well ✨

It’s the basis for and offering our dogs appropriate outlets to exercise their natural canine behaviors! Meeting our dogs’ needs can actually decrease “inappropriate” behavior because the need has already been met (think: chewing on a toy instead of a table leg).

I had an opportunity to work with this recently, and share how my skills and philosophies change over the years while I grow as a trainer.

It’s incredibly cool to share the fruits of that growth with my clients, and watch their understanding of their dogs/needs grow even faster!

Behavior is communication. Dogs don’t just do things for the sake of doing them - there is generally a function behind their behavior, and that behavior tells us what they need in that moment.

It’s ok to meet that need! Sometimes it’s the key to helping our dog achieve a better headspace for learning, which makes training - and your life - easier!

What’s something your dog seems to NEED to do, and how might we be able to meet that need? Let me know in comments!

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26/06/2023

In case there was any recent confusion… Air snapping is not “very different from a bite.” It’s a bite, professionally classified as a Level 1 Bite.

The Dog Bite Scale was created by Dr. Ian Dunbar and updated by Dr. Sophia Yin (pictured in post, with drawings by ). This is the scale most commonly used to assess dog bite behavior/severity by behaviorists and qualified professionals.

So why is an air snap a bite if they don’t actually bite you? Because it is generally an *intentional behavior. They did not “miss” (faster reflexes); it serves the same distance increasing function as a bite: “I am warning you to back off or I will use my teeth.”

In my experience, biting behavior escalates quickly. More often than not, a dog will get space after a bite – so a quick and clear association is made that using teeth can end an interaction and/or get them space.

There is another professional scale that highlights the severity of air snapping: The Ladder or Aggression. Snapping is the next highest behavior highlighted, stopping just short of an actual bite.

Though air snapping can happen during play, assessing the nuances of behavior at this level requires a strong, experienced knowledge of canine behavior, body language, and dog-dog play. Air snapping, where the jaws fully open and close in a quick motion, could be a correction (“stop, back off”) or over arousal (“too excited, need a break!”).

*If air snapping is happening, without context (e.g. fly biting but there’s no fly, etc.), this can signal a medical issue that should be checked by veterinarian ASAP.

I think it’s worth noting that our job as dog trainers and behavior consultants is to share information in a way that makes it easier for the general public to understand. Most people are not aware of the basic scientific information available, and we have a lot of work to do on ensuring there is a collective understanding of basic canine behavior before jumping up to nuance and advanced theories/hypotheses. I mean, we do this for dogs - why aren’t we doing this for people too?

What context have you seen air snaps and what happened afterwards? Let me know in the comments!

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12/06/2023

As professionals in the scientific field of animal behavior and training, we are ethically responsible for the information we share.

That means: we should be able to back up anything we say, with peer-reviewed studies and evidence.

A few of my personal guidelines for sharing info:

📍if it has numbers/percentages

📍if it’s new, rarely discussed or highly debated information

📍 if it’s someone else’s work/concept/words

📍 if there’s medical/scientific info

SOURCE!

If it’s my opinion, personal experience, not yet scientifically evidenced yet, etc… I make sure to say that.

Polarizing words like always, never, huge, etc… I’m looking for sources.

And my personal opinion/experience is that anyone giving themselves the title “expert”… usually isn’t one. Because experts in the field of science know how much we DONT know and that findings change.

We live in an age where information is more accessible than ever, but it doesn’t mean that information is founded or accurate. Because we also live in capitalism, and an age where people are reinforced with attention (and more!) for getting you to pay attention to them - regardless of what they have to say to get your attention.

Stay safe and informed out there folx! Sorry it’s such a minefield to find good info 🥴

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22/05/2023

And I don’t care who knows it 🤣

Share if you’re obsessed with your dog too!

It’s also totally ok to NOT be obsessed with your dog. If you think there are behavioral reasons that are keeping your relationship with your dog in the “casual” stage - I’d love to hear them! You can even slide them into my DMs for privacy… NO JUDGEMENT!

Do I love everything about Smitty? HELL NO!

Was it love at first sight? Also no!

It took me time to fall in love with Smitty. The relationship we built and the bonding we made through training was a huge part of that.

If your relationship with your dog is a struggle, or maybe you just haven’t been feeling that spark lately - I would love to learn more and maybe even be your “canine relationship therapist” 💖

[id: black text and borders on white background; slide one reads: I’m obsessed with my dog; slide two reads: share if you’re obsessed with your dog too]

08/05/2023

Discussing behavior without condoning it is part of the job. My philosophy has always been: if people are truly open and wanting to learn, meet them where they’re at with compassion.

Many thanks to for inspiring me to share my story as a trainer, for sharing their thoughts and expressing compassion for other dog guardians, and all of the R+/FF trainers out there who lead with compassion rather than ego.

And remember: it isn’t that the people who yell the loudest know the most - it’s often that they have the most to hide.

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05/05/2023

Aggression is typically a learned behavior. Rarely is it idiopathic (spontaneous and without known cause).

People who joke about certain breeds being more than others are really just displaying their own ignorance - and desperation for likes on the Internet.

Yes, even professionals. I made small dog jokes in my baby trainer days and now I don’t because I understand: size doesn’t matter 😆

If you’ve noticed small dogs are faster to tell you to f**k off (or worse) - it’s because the smaller they are, the less autonomy we give them. We’re constantly touching, grabbing, picking up, moving, etc. They learn to defend themselves.

What’s worse for me than the actual memes is the DOUBLING DOWN. When called out for spreading harmful, false information - the typical response is “it’s a joke.” The post stays, the people with feelings are gaslit and blocked.

This is a much larger issue in society. Having someone tell you something you did felt harmful to them is a kindness. It’s an opportunity for self-reflection, learning and growth. It’s an opportunity to do better, as professionals and as people.

We have an ethical responsibility to the information we put out, especially as animal professionals. So few people understand animal behavior that literally everything you say is taken as gospel - even jokes.

Do better.

I’d love to reshare all the small doggo memes or content with your littles just being their adorable selves, so tag me!

[id: meme of a white chihuahua with tan spots wearing a pink harness; the left photo has the dog growling and showing teeth, with text above reading “professionals who joke about small dog behavior … the right has the dog “smiling” and text above reading “professionals who understand behavior and know what they’re doing”]

19/04/2023

I am honored to officially hold the title of Certified Dog Behavior Consultant!!

If you know me, you know I love the “meaty” cases. It was only fair I ensure I knew enough to call myself a dog behavior consultant by getting certified.

And I am looking forward to what has to offer as well! It’s tough finding an organization that has clear standards, upholds current scientific knowledge, and is committed to inclusivity. There’s a long way to go in the dog training/behavior community, but I feel better about this choice.

[id slide 1: black text on white cartoon bubble with red/maroon vortex background; text reads: what is a CDBC? A certified dog behavior consultant (also: me!!); there are two black paw prints to the left of (also: me!!) and white text on red and black bars below read: big news]

[id slide 2: white certificate from the IAABC for Certified Dog Behavior Consultant awarded to Kellie Stevens]

10/04/2023

Ready for Part 2: Space?! If you have no clue what I’m talking about, look back to last week’s post for context 😊

All credit to Andrew Hale, if they’re on here let me know and I’ll tag them.

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03/04/2023

How much time and space are you giving your dog (and yourself)? Read on to find out why they matter!

All credit to Andrew Hale, if they’re on here let me know and I’ll tag them.

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20/02/2023

Even the cutest dog still has some predatory instincts 🙈

8 Likes, 0 Comments - Kellie Stevens CPDT-KA () on Instagram: "DONT RUN! 🛑🏃‍♂️ Why I knew as soon as Smitty started “chasing” Mocha that he wasn’t playing: 1. He’s not actually chasing. He’s strategically pinpointing where he can intercept and cut her off. 2. W...

04/01/2023

New year: new doggos! I swear is in this pic if you can Where’s Waldo/Winston him…

First, let’s take a moment to appreciate how adorable Winston is. He is a perfect fit for the !

Team Winston is on the job, working to address his overstimulation with people, sounds and entrances. Happy to report he’s already making lots of progress in preparation - and then… I’ll be coming over!

The thing I love about subthreshold training and errorless learning (see older posts if you’re not sure what these things are) is that it sets us up for SO MANY WINS and far fewer disappointments.

Virtual training is the perfect way to break things down into smaller steps for Winston to adjust so he isn’t immediately overstimulated by my arrival (aka probably not in the Learning Place anymore).

What small (or big!) wins have you celebrated lately?

Also just realized that we will 100% be celebrating not just wins… but WINstons in this case 🙌

[id: a small, furry white dog with his mouth open and pink tongue sticking out; he is on the sofa with a white furry blanket behind him and a huge stuffed white lamb chop toy with red paws in front of him]

02/01/2023

Appeasement Behaviors are actions by an animal or non-human that reduce the likelihood of attack or threatening behavior from another (human or non-human).

In other words, show signals because they are nervous or feel threatened by our actions, and they are trying to make us “happy” or give us “what we want” so our behavior stops.

Commonly Seen Appeasement Signals:

• licking
• nuzzling
• jumping up
• paw lifts/pawing
• crouching
• smiling
• tucked tail
• freezing
• avoiding eye contact
• going belly up
• urinating

Commonly Recognized Submissive Behavior:

Exact same list as above.

Remember that definition of ? “The action or fact of accepting or yielding to a superior force or to the will or authority of another person.”

The concepts of “submission” and “appeasement” are mindsets (imo).

“Appeasement” is likely the more accurate, considering canine social structure is fluid. The “appeasement” frame of mind makes us more likely to consider our dogs’ feelings and what would increase their comfort, whereas “submission” is something that is just accepted as a personality trait.

Is this ? HECK YEAH!

The first step to making it less confusing is leaning Canine Body Language.

The second step is READING CONTEXT.

What is happening when I see this behavior and could it be frightening my dog from their perspective?

This is a tough one, because we’re normally looking at our dogs’ behavior from a human perspective, with our needs/desires in mind. That’s why learning , which is often different from what human body language looks like, is an important first step.

We have to switch out from our perspective and see things from theirs: as a dog.

Why does this matter? Because while dogs will try to avoid conflict, they will also do what works to get them the space they need. This usually looks like moving up the Ladder of Aggression, and we (humans) don’t recognize canine communication until they are growling, barking or worse. Their behavior will continue to escalate until we “get it” and stop what we’re doing. However, once a behavior is learned - it’s always a future option.

Stay tuned for Part 3!

19/12/2022

So we saw where Dominance Theory was debunked in ~2000, but where does that leave us with submission?

I thought this was a more widely known concept, but as I searched for supporting articles - I noticed even a lot of the top R+ trainers’ articles still discuss submissive behavior in . Maybe the terminology is stuck?

So for now, this is my “unpopular” opinion:

Dogs are Not Submissive

(*as a personality trait - but read on to why I don’t think it’s submission at all)

Just as dominance does not exist as a personality trait in dogs…

Neither does submission.

Submission (definition): the action or fact of accepting or yielding to a superior force or to the will or authority of another person.

Is your dog peeing as a sign of respect for you, the “authority figure?” Or are they peeing because they’re excited, or because you’re larger and walking straight at them (which is scary)?

Is your dog showing their belly because they want to show you the RESPECKS? Or because they’re excited, or want a or because you’re larger and leaning over them?

We need to get out of this mindset that dogs should “respect” us… because it is a human construct, not a canine one.

The other thing in these situations are human feelings. Which are valid and should be addressed, but misreading or mislabeling canine behavior because it makes us feel bad (or better, for that matter!) is not serving us or the dog.

So what is this behavior if not submissive? Follow and stay tuned for an upcoming post about behavior…

FWIW: most of the behaviors I see labeled as “submissive” are either fear/anxiety, excitement or appeasement.

How do you see your dog acting submissively? Let’s talk about it!

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🌈

16/12/2022

Client spotlight on Gunnar!

Gunnar had some regression in separation anxiety, so his dad and I worked on tightening up the management plan + departure strategy to get things back on track.

Already seeing more stability in the durations Gunnar can comfortably spend alone, so I’m excited for them to check in and tell me what they’ve continued building with our training plan!

Here: Gunnar is pictured with a paper towel while we played with different types of enrichment. Meeting dogs’ natural needs through enrichment outlets can be a great way to burn energy that might otherwise *contribute to anxiety and unwanted behaviors.

(*SA is a psychological condition that involves much more than burning energy so this is not a “fix” unfortunately.)

Keep an eye out because I have some new ideas for 2023 😊

[ : a small brown dog in a grey hooded sweater, sniffing a white crumpled paper towel on the grey rug; there is a brown coffee table behind him with a plant in a teal pot on it]

14/12/2022

Is your dog struggling or just not interested in the Kong?

Try Toppl instead!

It has a wider opening/design, which can be more appealing and easier for your pup to navigate.

Check the link in bio and stories to get your pup a Toppl.

Now about those Kongs: you know I love the Errorless approach so I teach my dogs how things work and build their confidence.

For the Kong, start with putting just a few small treats or pieces of kibble in the Kong and let them figure out how to get those pieces to fall out.

Getting those reliably? Add a few more pieces. Continue filling a little more at a time until your dog can get everything out.

Level up: add something sticky to bind like peanut butter, plain nonfat yogurt, pumpkin, wet food, cream cheese, baby food (check ingredients), etc.

Start by adding just a little at the opening. If they get that, start layering from the opening down.

My hardest version Kong for Smitty is:

Dry kibble in the very bottom (avoid clogging the small air hole at the “top” of the Kong)

A dollop of sticky high value stuff like peanut butter

Then I mix his kibble with pumpkin or baby food and fill the inside of the Kong with that

Seal the top off with more binder

And I freeze it to make it last as long as possible!

Pro tip: if your dog is having a hard time going from room temp Kong to frozen, try refrigerating as an intermediate step.

I built Smithers’ confidence in using his Kong from the easiest levels up to this - but even now he sometimes loses interest if he’s over threshold.

Pro tip: read the instructions on anything you buy your dog, or check websites. They often have tips to teach your dog how to acclimate!

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Opening Hours

Tuesday	17:00 - 20:00
Wednesday	10:00 - 20:00
Thursday	10:00 - 20:00
Friday	10:00 - 16:00
Saturday	10:00 - 16:00
Sunday	10:00 - 16:00

Website

http://www.gonzodogtraining.com/

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Videos

Just sayin… How much do you relate on a scale of 💁 to 😫? [VD: a furry tan and white dog sitting and staring at the camera; a grey couch with white strands of dog hair on it, camera pans to black sweatpants with white dog hair all over them, then black shorts with piles of white dog hair] . . . . . #DogHair #EmosNotDead #DashboardConfessional #FunnyDogVideos #DogReels #Dogstagraming #LongHairedPitBull #YourHairItsEverywhere #UniqueDogs #CuteDoggo #DogsWithPersonality #Smithers #RescueDogsOfIG #PibbleMix #Shedding #DogHairEverywhere #DogProblems #LuckyYoureCute #ILoveMyDog #EmoDog

Majestic AF! 🏔️ Still packing, still the worst, can’t wait to get home to this little face and fancy tail! [VD: a tan and white dog standing outside in grass, staring in the distance; the camera pans in on his fringy tail blowing in the wind] #Majestic #WhatTheFluff #FancyTail #Dogstagram #DogReels

True story 😅 What are things that make your dog (and you) want to run in the outside world? The only time I’ve seen Smithers RUN for home is during 4th of July fireworks popping off everywhere. But street cleaning trucks are a close second, and he really dislikes buses (especially yellow school buses!), garbage trucks, and loud things in general. Smitty is a FREEZER. He freezes and stares at anything scary/different, so most times I will stop and let him observe until he feels safe to move forward (mark/reward moving on) and we also play the 1-2-3 game to keep it moving or get space from things. Those street sweepers though… I think of this scene in #Labyrinth 😂 “Oh no, the cleaners… RUN!” [vd: scene from the movie Labyrinth where David Bowie as Jareth throws a crystal ball down a dark tunnel; Hoggle says “oh no, the cleaners. Run!” And Sarah says “what?” as they turn to run away from the noise that is soon the be revealed as a large machine with grinders taking up the entire tunnel and coming closer] . . . . . #Labrynth #LabyrinthMovie #DogMeme #DavidBowieForever #Jareth #StreetCleaner #DogTrainingTips #PositiveDogTraining #TriggerStacking #ReactiveDog #DogTrainer #CityDog #UrbanDog #UrbanDogTraining #DogReels #NYCDogs #ForceFree #Socialization #DogBehavior #BehaviorModification #ManagementTips #AnxiousDog #PatternGames #FunnyButTrue #DogJokes #Dogstagram #80sMovie #80sKid #MovieQuote

Wishing everyone a peaceful holiday season and a bright start to 2023!! Lots of love from Gonzo Dog + Smithers ⭐️[vd: “Happy Christmas” a tan and white dog with rounded ears and floofy tail jumps and spins; “It’s crismun” the dog sits on a black and tan chevron rug and stares at the camera; “Merry crisis” the dog is wearing a purple happy hoodie headband over his ears and does not look happy; “Merry Chrysler” the dog stands up on his back legs with his paws in front of him].....#Smithers #MerryCrisis #MerryChrysler #DogMeme #Dogstagram #HolidayDog #DogReels #DogFun #FunnyDogVideos #Holiday2022 #DogTrainer #PositiveDogTraining #CuteDoggo #RescueDogsOfIG #ChristmasDogs #DogsOfNYC #DogsWithPersonality #Barked #WomanOwnedSmallBusiness #Accessibility #HolidaySpirit #HollyJolly #PawsomePitBulls #UniqueDogs #Trending #ViralDogs #CuteAndComplicatedClub

Would you appreciate a nose message from Smithers? Because he’s been trying to send them all morning 😂 [vd: zoom in on a tan and white dog with rounded ears; the camera closes in on his nose and moves side to side as if he were typing on a typewriter] . . . . . #Smithers #CuteDoggo #RescueDogsOfIG #DogReels #DogASMR #DogsWithPersonality #PibbleMix #Typing #Cameo #FunnyDogVideos #DogTherapy #NYCDogs #DogTrainerLife #Dogstagram #PawesomePitBulls #WhatTheFluff #DogObsessed #DogTrends #InstaPetsGram #NoseWork #DogFun #VelcroDog

Almost had a full meltdown when I couldn’t find this vid. Then I remembered I tried to be a tiktoker for a little while 🤣 This obviously has to live on Instagram too. Always missing my soulmate. [vd: a reddish-brown dog with lopsided ears stares at the camera, then sits on the back of a blue sofa before bursting off and going into a play bow; photo of the dog as a puppy, photo of the adult dog and human buried under the covers; video of the dog next to the bed, a white arm lies down and he comes over to put his head in the palm of the hand; photo of the dog asleep with a white hand on his head, photo of the dog and white woman with red hair sitting next to each other on the sofa] . . . . . #PetLoss #PetGrief #RainbowBridge #BestDogEver #RottieMix #WhatsASoulmate #SoulDog #HeartDog #DogReels #Dogstagraming #ShelterDogsOfInstagram #TheArtOfRacingInTheRain #IMissMyDog #Remembrance #CuteDoggo #WhoRescuedWho #GoneButNeverForgotten #AllDogsGoToHeaven #PetMemorial #IYKYK #AlwaysInMyHeart #Soulmate #Cbass #CuteAndComplicatedClub

He really said “yes!” #Smithers is a man of few words, but when he speaks - he means business. [vd: a tan and white dog with rounded ears wearing a blue collar and a black collar sits on a grey dog bed and stares at the camera; he does a tiny squeaky woofle when asked if it’s dinner time] . . . . . #DogsWithPersonality #TalkingDog #Boof #Woofle #DinnerTime #FoodIsLife #FoodObsessed #DogReelsOfInstagram #Dogstagraming #Pibbles #RescueDogsOfIG #CutestDogs #FunnyDogVideos #HungryDog #NYCDog #WhatTheFluff #DogVideos #SassyDog #Demanding #DogFluencer

My face, when I see ads/bios promoting #puppies under 6 months as “friendly with other dogs and people.” I find this statement to be misleading, and frankly - it sets a lot of people up for failure and disappointment. Here’s the deal: puppies are naturally more inquisitive and adaptable in their first few months - which means many (dare I say most) puppies are “good with other dogs and people” during this timeframe. (This is the whole reason the #socialization period is ~3-16 weeks.) But behavior changes based on experience and even age. The first two years are the most developmental - both physically and behaviorally - of a dog’s life. During this time, they are learning about what’s safe and dangerous in this world - and there are challenges that can affect behavior like: fear periods and hormones. The two timeframes I most commonly see behavioral changes are: 🐕 Adolescence (~6-8 mo) 🐕 Adult Maturity (1.5-2 yrs) Many “adult” issues (like reactivity, fear-aggression, selectiveness, etc) don’t start presenting until adolescence, and I’ve seen many a dog decide around the 1.5-2 year mark that they just don’t care for the company of other #dogs (after having played with them since puppyhood!). All of this is to say: it will take time for your dog to decide how they feel about the world - and it will take time for you to get to know your dog! Yes, it can be helpful to choose a puppy who shows curiosity and friendliness to other dogs and humans - but it’s not a shoe-in. The best chance we have for a confident, social adult dog is proper socialization (which usually enlists the help of a professional). How many of you out there had “friendly” puppies who grew up to be less of a social butterfly? Let me know in the comments! [id: a gif of John C. Reilly with wild curly hair wearing glasses; his eyes are wide and he is raising his eyebrows and moving his mouth to convey bewilderment] . . . . . #PetPeeve #MyFaceWhen #

Posted @withregram • @monicamoralestv Healing Hound: She is a canine thats capturing the hearts of families in their toughest moments. A volunteer therapy dog visiting nyc hospice families, this healing hound is getting all sorts of accolades for her good works. It’s amazing to see what the love of a dog can really do. She visits people who are dying suffering from disease and brings them hope and healing. They need a few more good dogs to help and volunteer. Follow in her footsteps, pawsteps. Her name is chicken! She’s half Pomeranian, and Boston terrier and papillion. She’s Six years old and nine pounds of furry compassion. Her owner ellen landress-bowkett from the lower east side says she knew chicken was special. Shes visited dozens of families in hospice all across the city. She plays with them, sometimes just lays on their chest or st their feet. Chicken is always on call. She wears a special bandana for her visits. It looks a superwoman cape! She puts that bandana on she is all about healing. Since 2017, Chicken has been making hospice calls. Now her team at VNS health say she is one of their star volunteers. There’s a call to action! They are looking for more good dog volunteers and humans too. But these dogs have to have the right temperament. Trained and certified through the good dog foundation. They go through extensive and intense training but it’s very rewarding. @chickenthetherapydog @vnshealth_ @gooddogtherapy @pix11news #monicamakesithappen If you want more information go to https://www.vnshealth.org

How does one train a hyper-reactive, easily overstimulated #dog in an environment like NYC? Very creatively! Ruthven was going over threshold before he even got out the building door, so getting to a quiet enough street to start LAT work was a no-go. Even the empty parking garage was still too stimulating… So I recommended they start playing this game from their balcony! Turns out the distance we needed to start wasn’t horizontal, it was 14 floors vertical 😯 I asked permission to share this homework video because it’s such a great example of urban training. There are so many factors in training (especially reactivity training). If you can’t change the environment, change the location. Change the target. Change the reinforcement. Training is a science AND an art form! It takes a certain mind to stay in the box and think outside of it at the same time 😉 **black collar is a DAP calming collar, no vibe/stim/shock** 🎥: @lhbizness [#Accessibility: video of a tan/black dog with pointy ears standing next to a human in blue jeans and red flannel shirt; they are standing behind the bars of balcony with Brooklyn stretched out in front; the dog’s ears and tail show him alerting to different things on the ground, then looking to the human and taking a treat when a clicker clicks; she praises him with “good boy!” each time] . . . . . . #DogTrainingVideo #CityDog #UrbanTraining #DogTrainer #DogTraining #EngageDisengage #ClickerTraining #ReactiveDog #PositiveDogTraining #ForceFree #RescueDogsOfIG #CreativeThinking #DogTherapy #DogsBeingDogs #DogTrainingNYC #HardAtWork #PupDate #ScienceBasedTraining #TrainWithYourBrain #DogNerd #DogTrainingTips #DogTips #Dogstagraming #WhatTheFluff #Pawrents #TrainingDogs #Dogs101 #TrainYourDog

Me, when someone asks how to get their dachshund to stop barking… Seriously though guys, jokes aside: we have to stop adding dogs to our lives based on how they look! (Or how “smart” they are.) It’s not fair to us and it’s not definitely not fair to the dog. Please please do your research, speak with a qualified professional before bringing a dog home, and for the love of god… DOGS BARK. Some more than others (because they were bred to alert). It’s part of the package. [vd: a gif of Cher singing in her 1989 “If I Could Turn Back Time” music video; big dark curly hair, black see through outfit, and yellow lyric text at bottom] . . . . . . #DogMeme #Barking #PublicServiceAnnouncement #DogsBarking #DoYourResearch #DogAdvice #DachshundLovers #TurnBackTime #DogJokes #DogsBeingDogs #FunnyButTrue #DogProblems #DoggoMemes #DogHumor #DogTrainerLife #Dogs101 #FunnyDogMemes #IYKYK #PackageDeal #DoxieLife

PUBLIC ACKNOWLEDGEMENT that I, your trainer, still have a human brain and do human things! But first, please enjoy this video of Ruthven decompressing with some bed rubbies after an intense session. Ruthven is a high energy guy and he goes over threshold pretty quickly when he gets outside. We’ve been working to desensitize and counter condition him to the things, and though he’s starting to get the hang it of… it just hasn’t gone as quickly or successfully as I would hope. Why? Because I was rushing it. Yep! My human brain became more preoccupied with creating an accessible (easy to set up) environment for Ruthven and his mom to practice in, than actually making sure it was an environment that worked for Ruthven. A convenient set-up is absolutely an important piece of the training puzzle. But! It’s all but meaningless if the dog cannot focus and learn in the set-up you created. It took me a few times to hear him because I was blinded with my desire for their success, but I hear him I did. I said, “hey, we’ve got to dial things way back.” And that’s just what we’ll be doing in our next session. I can’t wait! Having a dog who can’t do the thing right away doesn’t mean they aren’t smart. It doesn’t mean you’re a failure. It just means something is off and we have to adjust to meet the dog where they’re at! I could have been stubborn and continued with my plan because “mechanics,” or because I was afraid to admit I was wrong, or because his mom might lose faith in me for going the wrong direction, or because my pride would take a hit… But none of those things change the fact that my plan wasn’t working. In fact, it risked further sensitization and a boatload more time spent. Listen to your dog. Remember they see things differently than we do. Most importantly: don’t be afraid to say “hey, I was wrong.” [vd: a Brown and black dog rolling around and rubbing his face on a bed with a blue bedspread]

Heckin Mental Health!

Smitty hopes this video of his celery chompies helps boost your #seratonin levels! ED: put some outtakes up in stories! We’re a lot more active on Instagram @gonzodognyc so be sure to follow us there for more reels and tips! [#Accessibility: a furry tan and white pit bull type dog sits in front of a living room setup; a hand gives him a piece of celery, which he takes gently, chomps on, drops on the floor and picks back up] . . . . . . . . #MentalHealthDog #MentalHealthWalk #Cronch #Chompies #CuteDoggo #DogReels #EmotionalSupportDog #CuteDogVideos #EatYourVeggies #DogASMR #ASMREatingSounds #DogVideos #ViralDogs #Smithers #RescueDogsOfIG #DogsDoingThings #NYCDog #DogFluencer #HeckinDoggo #DogTherapy #IGClubDogs #DogMeme #DogTrainerLife #PitBullMama #HealthyDog #NYCDog #PawsomePitBulls #FriyayVibes

Boomer was a total joy to meet for our first in-person session! He’s got such good energy 😊 Here: he’s having a blast playing the noise desensitization “game,” as it should be! He is DIALED into the food being used though - so much so that it’s actually kind of blocking the work we are doing. I have my clients prepare a “value assortment” of treats before each session: • kibble • regular packaged treats • high value treat (#HVT), which is usually a protein like meat or cheese • a tasty schmear (peanut butter, cream cheese, wet food, etc) Different situations require different “pay grades!” The dog always gets to decide what’s reinforcing to them ‼️ If your #dog doesn’t care about a treat they’d normally take, it’s probably not as exciting as whatever else is going on - give ‘em a raise! (They might also be stressed and over threshold, in which case - give ‘em space!) But this goes the other way too… it could be that your food is more exciting than what we’re actually focused on, in which case - lower the value of what you’re using. You’re not stuck with one type of reinforcement! And it’s not all food either! If your dog likes the ball, or tug, or attention, or belly rubs, or hugs (Smitty!), or sticks… anything your dog likes could be used as a reward. What are your dogs’ fave food and non-food reinforcers? Lemme know in the comments! ⬇️ [#Accessibility: a curly-haired white dog with wagging tail and pink tongue hanging out stands on a blue sofa and stares at the person sitting next to him; the camera person says “Boomer,” he looks at them, and then goes back to staring at the person next to him] . . . . . . #FoodsForThought #RewardYourDog #GiveYourDogARaise #DogTrainer #DogTraining #DogTrainingTips #OkBoomer #DogTraining101 #DogTrainingAdvice #CuteDoggo #MaltipooLove #DogstaGraming #DogTherapy #PupDate #Pawesome #TheWoofDaily #WhatTheFluff #PositiveDogTraining #ForceFree #Reacti

Mean Bones Game!

You’ve heard of the No Bones game… well, Smitty and I present to you our Mean Bone game! We’ve searched all over and no mean bones detected yet… 🦴👍 Disclaimer: please do not play this game unless you’re sure your #dog is comfortable with handling. (See post on Consent Tests) Rainbow Dogs > People shirt by the lovely Woof Cultr! Check out their awesome gear and get 15% off your order with code GONZO15 [Video description: a tan and white dog is lying on his back, belly up, against a red-headed woman wearing a black shirt and pants; the woman touches various places on his body, calling them out and looking for “mean” bones; the rug beneath them is Black and Tan chevron, and the sofa behind them is navy blue with a dark purple blanket and yellow pillow; a yellowish and black picture of a dog in a 60s muscle car hangs on the wall] . . . . . . . #MeanBones #NoBones #JustForFun✌️ #FunnyDogVideos #PawsomePitbulls #DogstaGraming #TheWoofDaily #Friyay🙌 #DogGoals #DogHandling #DogTrainer #DogTraining #TrainYourDog #PositiveReinforcement #ForceFree #FunnyDoggo #ViralDogs #DogReels #DogsDoingThings #DogMomAF #BodyLanguage #DogFun #DogPeople #GonzoDogNYC #Pawrents #Smithers #WhoRescuedWho #RescueDogsOfIG #NYCDogs

Here Comes the Boy

Shout out to Gus’ dads for desensitizing him to stairs prior to our work! 👏 You know what’s interesting about stairs? Steps. Literal steps. If you want to know the “secret” to #DogTraining, it’s breaking things down into small steps. In the case of desensitizing #puppies to stairs, a lot of people try: 👍 luring with food 👍 putting treats on each step That’s #desensitization in a nutshell! The rest of your desens should look similar 👀 🌰 Break things down into small steps 🌰 Let the dog go at their pace 🌰 Reward calm/engaged behavior you want to see more of 🌰 Use food and space to counter condition fear This is a massive oversimplification, but breaking everything you want to do with your dog down into tiny steps is a surefire way to get there faster! [video description: a fluffy white poodle puppy carefully descends the front staircase of a brownstone] . . . . . . . #StandardPoodlePuppy #RescueDogsOfIG #Socialization #DogTrainingTips #PuppyTraining #DogTrainer #PoodlePuppies #Dogstagraming #TrainYourDog #OneStep #PuppyReels #DogReels #CutePuppiesOfInstagram #DogsOfNYC #Accessibility #CuteAndComplicatedClub #GonzoDogNYC #PuppyVideo #CityDog #DogsDoingThings #DogTraining101 #DogTrainingAdvice #DogTips #ScienceBased #ForceFreeTraining #PositiveReinforcement #CuteDoggo

George Michael is tootin’ his own horn over here after finishing his six-week virtual package! 📯 GM and his mom absolutely CRUSHED their work with desensitizing to thunderstorms (up next: fireworks!), learning to settle on a mat, invitations and cues to get off furniture and burn more energy overall 🙌 Though they’re still in progress, the track is set, the skills are learned and I have all the confidence this duo will be fully prepared will before the next Thunderstorm/Firework Season hits 🌩 They Got This ‼️ Ps check stories for a short video of George Michael’s excitement to see me in person for the first time in YEARS! And watch him settle attention on mom at the end 👀 [video description: a grey-flecked pointer mix with black ears/spots and a red collar lies on the sofa and chews on a blue toy; he tilts his head back to raise the toy into the air] . . . . . . #PointerMix #RescueDogsOfIG #GeorgeMichael #OnlineDogTraining #CPDTKA #Desensitization #FunnyDogVideos #DogsPlaying #DogTrainingIsFun

This Racing Snail is Fast AF Boiii!

Happy Halloween from Smitty the Racing Snail! #SlytherinHouse 🐌 🐌 🐌 🐌 🐌 [vid description: a medium-sized tan and white bully breed wearing a green body harness with a turquoise snail shell on top and green snail eyes on top of his head, racing back and forth from the bed to the living room] . . . . . . . #HalloweenDog #DogCostume #ShowMeYourPitties #RescueDogsOfIG #FastAF #CrazyDogs #DogMomAF #Dogstagram #FosterFail #HelperDog #DogInTraining #DogTrainer #DogTraining #CertifiedDogTrainer #Zoomies #WeDontDeserveDogs #FunnyDogVideos #DogMeme #DogsBeingDogs #WhatTheFluff #Adorabull #Smithers #CuteDoggo #FunnyVid #DogsOfBrooklyn #DogsInCostumes #Pibbles #HalloweenSpirit #HalloweenVibes

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Our Story

Gonzo Dog is a fully insured, experienced dog trainer, utilizing positive reinforcement methods and explaining animal behavior in a way that you can understand to modify your dog’s issues. It's incredibly difficult to train your own dog with the owner/pet bond, so contacting me to come in and offer my experience and knowledge will provide insight and guidance as to how to work more in harmony with your dog. We offer training services that range from puppy to advanced, potty training to roll over and play dead. Our trainer has over a decade of experience training and handling, and has both the patience and persistence to get you and your dog working together in sync. Visit our website for rates, or contact us for a consultation and let us know what we can do to make your pet's life happier! (Gonzo Dog also offers cat visits in the Bedstuy/Prospect Heights/Crown Heights/PLG areas)