Dog Training 411: Dominance vs Alpha

Judah is one of the few dogs who taught me almost everything I know about dog behavior. He was the only natural alpha pack leader from whom I've ever had the good fortune to learn. Every dog that I've worked with has been dominant or submissive to one degree or another, and this is what makes a pack of dogs sync and gel in with one another. However, out of the handful of dogs who are most dominant naturally, only few are natural born pack leaders; dogs who would most prefer to be in charge rather than have someone be in charge over them. 

Natural born pack leaders look out for their pack and are always about everyone's best interest. This is why natural born pack leaders will happily be obedience trained and will do what is asked of them. However, to all the other dogs, they are most in charge amongst the K-9's in that household. Again, I have only ever worked with this one natural born pack leader in my 12+ years of experience with dogs, so they truly make up a small percentage of dogs as a whole.

I learned everything I know about expectancy when working with dogs while watching Judah. Dogs understand energy and body language, so they're always looking to follow along with whatever their leader is doing. This is a gift that I could never repay Judah for teaching me, because pet owners across Central Florida and beyond get the benefit in their relationship with their dog of learning this expectancy in their energy and body language from my sessions. What an amazing dog, I will forever be grateful! This picture was taken when I was a young kid, as you can see,  and Judah was extremely kind and the right kind of tolerant when it came to his pack. 

Dog Training 411: Spotlight on Daisy

Daisy was a stray dog found by a friend and then given to me. She was a chicken killer, a food mongrel and generally speaking neurotic. I've worked with her for seven years to make her the worlds most "go with the flow" dog, and boy has it paid off! 

Daisy learned how to run with the bike and roller blades early on, and I exercise her for miles and miles every single day. She is a dachshund beagle mix, and has needed a considerable amount of physical and mental stimulation in order to get and stay healthy.  

On a scale of submissive to dominant, Daisy is one of the most submissive dogs I've ever worked with. However, on a scale of low to high energy, she has been one of the highest energy level dogs I've ever worked with. After seven years of work, though, you would never guess that she had the issues mentioned above, and that she was a super high energy dog. she is the dog I bring with me now to sessions where the other dog I'm working with is food possessive, needs to learn how to greet other dogs, is dog aggressive, and many other issues. She is my "bomb proof muscle hound". Daisy can out exercise any dog that I work with, and many times I get tired before she does during a roller blade or bike session. As dogs age, they don't need to be physically pushed as much as they need to be physically maintained.  

It's great to work with dogs of all sorts, and I always come home to Daisy with a heart of gratitude. I'm grateful that I put the work in to train her and stay consistent over the years, because now the dog training problems that I help other people work out over several sessions are not even a second thought with Daisy.  

This is what I help other people create with their dogs, and I'm so glad that I have Daisy as just one example of a happy healthy dog with whom I've established a fabulous relationship.  

Dog Training 411: Spotlight on Koa

Koa was a puppy when I worked with him. His owners wanted to learn basic household structures and how to walk him on the leash properly. It only took a few sessions for Koa and his owners to pick up on the suggestions I had to offer, and for them to see a huge improvement in Koa's incentive to listen to them. 

I'm always super pumped when people with puppies call me, because I love stopping problems before they even get a chance to manifest. There are different structures to learn for puppies than for adult dogs, though, so it is important to keep contact with a professional dog trainer who can help you as your dog gets older. Puppies need a lot more exercise and discipline than most people think. This is absolutely what sets them up to be balanced and well rounded as adult dogs. Working with Koa I learned that it's not obvious to most people to keep an eye on the puppy and only correct the puppy when they do something wrong.

Many people want to correct the dog for having a burst of energy during a game of play, but this ultimately encourages the dog to play, "catch me if you can". If your dog has a burst of energy during a playtime, maintain the same level of excitement as you had before, wait for your dog to calm down and then direct them into the next activity. This way your reaction is neutral and they don't have incentive to take control of the game next time. 

Dog Training 411: Spotlight on Hildalgo

Hildalgo is probably one of the prettiest dogs I've ever worked with. As a photographer and dog trainer, I appreciate the natural beauty that a dog has, but I also don't treat any dogs differently just because they are beautiful. Hildalgo needed a little guidance during his exercise time, and a few household structures set up so that he could put that smart brain of his to work. There is never a time when exercise doesn't solve most of the problems that my clients call me to help fix. However, I'm talking about structured, proper exercise. Exercise where the dog understands that it is to follow your every move and look to you as the one leading the activity. I can't stress this difference enough. Most people that I see walk dogs are simply following their dog, but they usually don't know it. This is why professional dog training exists! What is obvious to me after over a decade of working with dogs is not so obvious to the person who lives with that particular dog everyday.

Hildalgo picked up on the nuances I taught his owner in the realm of exercise and leadership very quickly! 

Discipline is another one of those "not so obvious" things to most owners. Most people can't tell the difference between their dog "having a conversation" with them or the dog actually challenging their leadership role. This is why consistency is of utmost importance. While so much can be learned from reading about dog behavior, watching videos, and asking other people what they think, there is nothing like bringing a professional into your home to assess what is going on that isn't obvious to you.

There is never a time when dog training is not needed, your dog needs to look to you as a leader and as someone they can trust and respect! This is so exciting when you think about it, though, because dogs are the most healthy and loving when their needs for exercise, discipline and affection are being fulfilled by you on a regular basis. I love working with dogs, the list of benefits from a healthy relationship with your dog is unending! I reckon you have a long list of things you love about your dog, too! Shoot me a contact form if you would like to learn more about how to have a balanced and healthy relationship with your dog, especially if you feel that you don't have one right now. Let me know what that means to you! I'd love to help you achieve the same mutual trust and respect that I helped Hildalgo have with his owner and the rest of his pack.

Dog Training 411: Spotlight on Banjo & Grace

Banjo and Grace were such a dynamic duo to work with! Their owners contacted me asking for help because the male, Banjo, seemed oddly possessive of the living room coffee table. I observed this behavior, and Grace's behaviors, and arrived at the conclusion that they both needed 1) more exercise, 2) a job and 3) more of a scheduled structure in the house. Grace had many interesting behaviors such as obsession with reflections and an obvious level of discomfort around common kitchen items like the toaster. This is not an uncommon behavior in herding dogs, and I have worked many times to correct this issue with other dogs. We set out to create household structures that worked for the owners to implement on a daily basis and they saw both dogs improve by leaps and bounds.

Banjo's possession of the living room coffee table stemmed from his general lack of sufficient physical and mental exercise, combined with his entertainment of Grace's overstimulated brain. When we don't give our dog a job, they will come up with something to occupy their time, and often they come up with very destructive or peculiar behaviors. Banjo and Grace are now getting more physical and mental exercise and their owners feel like they own their house again!

There is never a time when training is not necessary, and so as important as it is to have a professional, certified dog trainer come in to teach you a strategy and psychology when handling your dog, it's even more pertinent that you continue the process that the trainer helped you start. Banjo and Grace are on a great path to full physical, mental and relational health! And aren't they just so adorable? I enjoyed photographing them, too! Check out the full photoshoot here.

Dog Training 411: Spotlight on Bella

Bella is probably the most friendly pooch you could ever meet! She has been one of my exercise class attendees. I wanted to share a few details about Bella because she is a great example of the good that exercise can do for a dog. Bella is a golden momma who gives birth to future service dogs with My Angel With Paws. Often times, I would exercise her once she was carrying puppies, and she still had just as much energy as when she wasn't pregnant. When we raise the speed within a structured walk, the dog seems to go into "laser focus" mode. This is why I choose to roller blade with Bella, because I worked her to become physically strong enough to endure the speed, and because this allows us to work out distractions (such as squirrels) much quicker.

Bella is such a beautiful sweetheart, but anytime we have to go a any length of time without working together (if she is in heat or if she is about to deliver her puppies), her crazy amount of excess energy is so obvious. So many people see this on a regular basis if they don't consistently exercise their dog. And it's not just about walking the dog, it's about walking the dog in a proper structured manor in which the dog knows his job, and you are in charge. The difference is HUGE. This is why I recommend bringing in a professional to help teach you how to walk your dog. I know, it sounds so silly! "I need to be taught how to walk my dog?" Well, yes. This is the number one reason why there are behavior problems popping up everywhere else.

Bella is a fabulous example of a balanced happy dog when being exercised properly and sufficiently! Your dog will thank you for this, believe me.

Dog Training 411: Spotlight on Salton

Salton and Michael were such a fabulous pair to work with, and I'm so excited to share their story! Michael with New Horizons contacted me to help him with his service dog, Salton, who was his new pup after Eagle, his service dog of several years had passed away. Salton seemed to be showing aggression towards small dogs, and is considerably larger than Eagle, so Michael was having a hard time handling him. I brought two small dogs in to work with Salton, since his beef was with smaller dogs, and we all went for a walk together. 

The more Dog Training 411 blogs you read, the more you'll realize that I ALWAYS walk with the owner and dog(s) for the first session. Once the rules on the walk are clear and the dog moves forward in a proper, structured manor on the walk, everything else can come right. Michael hadn't had to work with a young and rambunctious dog in many years, so many things that I coached him on accomplishing were things he knew, but needed refreshing on. After a few sessions with me, and the help of Amy from Bark Avenue for socializing him during her Playcare service, Salton and Michael were able to communicate with one another clearly, and Salton's aggression towards other dogs completely went away. 

Dog Training 411: The Right Fit

Bitsy is an adorable Morkie (Maltese / Yorkie) pup! I worked with her owner to help create a structured exercise and household boundary schedule while her owner decided whether or not Bitsy was fit to be a lap dog. Bitsy was raised on a farm and had an abundant amount of energy, and she was naturally more dominant than submissive. Bitsy did so well with the exercise regime I set up for her of running alongside the rollerblades and bike when I was able to do this with her, but no matter how much exercise I can provide for any dog, their owner needs to be able to come up with an exercise and discipline schedule that works for them at the end of the day.

Unfortunately, Bitsy's owner could not walk very far as she was elderly. Many times, it's just a matter of finding the right fit. In dog training, I am constantly looking to bridge the gap by fitting the dogs' needs into a regime that the owner can do. Different dogs connect with different people depending on both parties' energy level, time availability, activity level and learned skill set. This being said, not every dog that currently exists in their household is a good fit, and many times I have to recommend the possibility of re-homing the dog. I helped Bitsy's owner find a new home where she could be exercised to the extent that she needed. Please consult a professional puppy profiler or trainer if you are considering adding a new dog to your home, this can save you lots of time! 

Dog Training 411: Spotlight on Abby

Abby is a rescue pup from ARNI Foundation! When her owners called me for help and I met her, I first recognized how easy she is to excite. She is a hyper active submissive dog, and is very easy to engage in a fun activity! Her owners needed some help setting some basic household structures and had never owned a dog before, so we did three sessions together. I taught her owners how to set spacial and physical boundaries, such as not coming into the kitchen unless she was invited.

Abby understood these boundaries very quickly and her owners were able to implement these structures and see great results right away! The very first thing I always work on with a new client is the walk, and Abby hadn't been taught how to walk correctly on a leash. The whole family got involved in her walking process and now everyone in the family can walk her well! Abby is such a sweet heart and her family is doing a great job with her!

Dog Training 411: Spotlight on Scooter

This is Scooter! An adorable Dachshund who recently learned some newborn manors. His owners contacted me once their baby was born and I could tell right away that Scooter was used to getting much more attention than anyone, and that this would have to stop. 

His owners were happy to follow my advice and immediately started seeing fabulous results. Baby is growing well and Scooter comes second to baby (as is now clear in his mind). It's easy to want to give such an adorable pup attention, I mean, look at his face! For the most part, we give dogs way more attention than they need or than is natural for them and they generally don't know what to do with it. Scooter took over everyone's emotional space because he thought he was allowed and encouraged to. Once he understood that his role is the babysitter and not the baby, he immediately synced in.  

Dog Training 411: Spotlight on Jaxon

Jaxon is a super sweet black lab who had a bundle of extra energy when his owners called me to help them out. We discussed what his exercise regime is and I quickly realized that he was not getting enough exercise nor was he being respectful of the leash rules. I worked with his owners for two sessions to introduce him to three new concepts: 1) respect on the walk 2) respect in the house and 3) a job on the walk and in the house. A dog with a job is one happy dog! Jaxon took quickly to the new ground rules, adjusted well (as expected) to a backpack and responded well to new house boundaries once they were clear in his mind. 

So many behavior problems can be solved in a short period of time, but good behavior in all situations and at all times comes with consistent rules, boundaries, limitations and rewards! Jaxon is doing so well and I was able to help his owners up the speed of the walk by adding the bike during our second session. With understandable skepticism, his owners were able to communicate his job on the walk / bike ride very quickly and now Jaxon is a much better behaved family pet. 

Jaxon is pleasant at the door, on the walk, with the kids and during dinner time, as was the goal to accomplish. Exercise is vital for a happy and healthy dog, and a clear job inside the house is just as important. Great job, family!

Dog Training 411: Walk Anyway

Timmy's story is really simple. His owner was hesitant as to his leash walking skills, and encouraged me to turn around if he resisted the walk. I agreed that I would turn back if I needed to, and I started walking.

Timmy needed someone who wouldn't buy his "I don't want to walk" story, and so I merely expected that he would follow me, end of discussion. And he did! Expectation is a huge part of working with dogs, because they read our energy. 

So, in brief conclusion, expect that your dog will do what you want them to do. You may need to work through a brief burst of resistance, but remember that they can't think as long term as you can, therefore you know what is better for them in the long haul.

Dog Training 411: Excitable Dogs

Bristol is my yorkie, and I often describe her as "a magnetic boomerang". She is absolutely nuts about people (and nuts in general). Dogs are sensitive to varying degrees to both physical touch and to sound, and Bristol is a unique blend of hyper sensitive in both of these ways. She is the most submissive dog I have ever come in contact with, but she is also extremely high energy (constant excitement). She is a dog who thrives on contact with people, and so we've had to work on lessening the affirmation from "oh, what a good dog you are!" (followed by belly rubs and tons of excitement) to "good job." (pat on head). She is learning and re-learning her social boundaries everyday, and she is always improving. I've had a blast working with her over the last few years, she is an expert with the roller blades and is incredibly smart and obedient (as a dog who seeks to please people, this makes total sense).

Dog Training 411: Spotlight on Toby

Hey everyone! Have you ever wanted to go behind the scenes and into the mind of a dog trainer? Ever wondered exactly what happens in the before / after stages of working with a dog, and wanted photographic evidence? Well, today is your lucky day! I have been training dogs for over 12 years and also photographing them for over 5 years, so I've compiled quite a few stories and images to share. Over the last two years of running a dog training business (the previous 10 years were learning the skills to even work in the field professionally), I've worked with too many dogs to count and I have a few images to share from each case.

So glad you stopped by the Dog Training 411 section of my blog, this is where I will be sharing weekly snippets of dogs I've worked with, a main takeaway from having worked with that dog, and possibly a story of how that dog is doing now. Don't be fooled, however, not all stories have a happy ending. Dog training is a process and it takes as much commitment on the end of the owners as it does on my part. You can expect to learn a lot by reading through these snippets because I will be going into detail about the dogs body language in each photo as well! Dogs communicate in energy and body language… if you want to learn more about dog behavior, you came to the right section of my website! 

So let's get started! This first case is a serious throwback! I was obviously a tweenie when I started working with dogs, and Toby was my first true "aggressive" case (and I still have a scar to prove it, ha!) Yes, dog trainers make mistakes, too. He was absolutely resistant to walking on the leash, submitting in the presence of neighboring dogs, and just all round stubborn-willed. The owners brought me in to help his behavior but mainly to educate them on proper household structures to help Toby become the most submissive family member in the house rather than the most dominant. I went over the most important point with them that I will probably mention in each blog post I share in Dog Training 411: 1) Exercise, 2) Discipline, 3) Affection.

 Dogs have a natural need to exercise (they have 4 legs and need to move them!) As well, they need structures.. rules, boundaries, discipline! Without clear rules, they will start guessing what the rules are and this is where behavior problems start. Thirdly, affection. Dogs obviously need love, but they need it after they've been exercised and disciplined. 

Toby picked up on these structures quickly after I worked with him, but because he belonged to a friend and I didn't understand the concept of following up with my clients at the time, I didn't really know how he was for many years. Last year I saw Toby at a groomers and his behavior seemed so sweet and calm, I would say it was an overall success (especially since I never heard from the family that they needed more help). So a few takeaways are that often when I present new structures into a household, the family decides that they can take from what I've taught and make do, and that often works (though it also often doesn't work). Also, please, please, please entrust the care of your aggressive dog into the hands of a professional. Even if they get bit or make a mistake, they truly know what they're doing more than you may, and they can transfer what they know into your head so you can become the best pack leader ever!