Dog NERDs Behavior : Nurturing Elevated Resilience in Dogs

Dog NERDs Behavior : Nurturing Elevated Resilience in Dogs Improving the bond you share with dogs through the applied practice of behavioral sciences. Dogs are dogs; let them be that.
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CBCC-KA, CPDT-KA, FFCP
I help humans and their dogs who struggle with fear, phobia, anxiety and social conflict. I have had the fortunate experience to apprentice under and work with some of the country's most reputable dog trainers including Jason Lake and Forrest Mickey. I then went on to apprentice for a dog behaviorist with over 20 years experience and currently am mentored by a veterinary beh

aviorist while in my graduate program in clinical animal behavior (MSc). I have multiple nationally recognized credentials in both dog training (CCPDT-KA, PDT) and dog behavior (CBCC-KA, AD-gEek) and am a Certified Concept Trainer, as well as the only Certified Fear Free Trainer, and Certified Behavior Consultant for Canine in Nevada County. The area I am called on most frequently to support is helping medium and high-drive personality working breeds to integrate into companion-level homes. My approach is creating change at an emotional level to impact behaviors informed by the resilience conditioning framework. By focusing on holistically meeting the animal's needs from an integrative platform, any maladaptive coping mechanisms inherently become obsolete. I maintain specialty in treating fear-based behaviors, aggression, separation related behaviors and gestational development for puppies. I work with dogs from all sorts of background but far and away have the most experience with shelter and rescue animals and they represent my preferred population.

FEEDBACK FRIDAY!!!! This team has been poetry to watch.  Without a question one of the most incredible changes in a coup...
12/13/2025

FEEDBACK FRIDAY!!!!

This team has been poetry to watch.

Without a question one of the most incredible changes in a couple months Iโ€™ve had the privilege to support.

No doubt a product of the handlerโ€™s remarkable dedication and consistency in practice this dogโ€™s ability to respond to and navigate their triggers with cooperation and focus has been truly remarkable to witness.

The improved vetrinary visits are positive fallout from a treatment plan in which veterinary visits were never even discussed. ๐Ÿ†๐Ÿ†๐Ÿ†

๐Ÿ˜…๐Ÿ˜‚๐Ÿ˜…๐Ÿ˜‚maybe we should talk for a minute about reinforcement history and how dogs learn.....from the feed of
12/10/2025

๐Ÿ˜…๐Ÿ˜‚๐Ÿ˜…๐Ÿ˜‚maybe we should talk for a minute about reinforcement history and how dogs learn.....

from the feed of

FEEDBACK FRIDAY!!!
12/06/2025

FEEDBACK FRIDAY!!!

FEEDBACK FRIDAY!!!!! (brought to you today by Saturday)Here's the lesson plan utilized to create these outcomes: ๐Ÿ• Meeti...
11/22/2025

FEEDBACK FRIDAY!!!!! (brought to you today by Saturday)

Here's the lesson plan utilized to create these outcomes:

๐Ÿ• Meeting the needs of the dog holistically - Physical, mental, emotional; the whole dog matters.
๐Ÿ”— Small, consistent steps - Progress happens in manageable increments.
๐ŸŽฏ Selecting the skills which most easily allows the dog access to emotional safety even under stressful conditions - Choose what helps them feel secure when life gets hard.
๐ŸŒฑ Introducing those skills in low-stress learning environments - Start where it's calm and easy.
๐Ÿ† Developing a rich history of reinforcement in those skills - Practice until success becomes their default.
๐ŸŒ‰ Asking the dog to use those skills to produce cooperative behaviors in conditions they formally have practiced reactive ones in - Bridge to the hard moments where reactivity used to live.
๐Ÿค Practicing the rehearsal of those skills with co-regulatory support in complex environments - Work together in the real world.
โœจ Watching as self-regulated coping mechanisms replace reactive ones - The shift happens, one moment at a time.

**Achieved in under 8 weeks**

This team is a pure joy to support. ๐Ÿพ

10/16/2025

Working publicly 1 on 1 with reactivity behaviors today. Was asked if we were teaching leash walking.

10/13/2025

Thank you John McGuigan for continuing to speak for the voiceless and hold a standard in field which demands skill over coercion.

๐Ÿพ Attention, Pet Parents! ๐ŸพIn recent months, our town has seen an influx of new dog trainersโ€”many with only a handful of...
10/12/2025

๐Ÿพ Attention, Pet Parents! ๐Ÿพ

In recent months, our town has seen an influx of new dog trainersโ€”many with only a handful of years of experience.

While we welcome enthusiasm and new talent, we must be vigilant about the methods used to train our beloved pets. ๐Ÿถ๐Ÿ’›

๐Ÿฆด The Real Impact of Aversive Tools โš ๏ธ
1๏ธโƒฃ Emotional & Physiological Harm:
Tools like e-collars, prong collars, and choke/slip collars donโ€™t just cause discomfortโ€”they induce stress, anxiety, and even long-term trauma. ๐Ÿ’” This can lead to behavioral issues, an increase in fear-based responses, and a breakdown of trust between dog and owner. ๐Ÿ˜ข๐Ÿ•
2๏ธโƒฃ Outdated Practices vs. Modern Science:
During the last nearly 30 years, ground-breaking discoveries in behavioral sciences have revolutionized our understanding of dogs' cognitive and emotional lives. ๐Ÿง ๐Ÿ’ซ
We now understand just how rich, emotional, and intelligent their inner worlds truly are. ๐Ÿพโœจ
Modern, reward-based methods are now the gold standardโ€”proven to be effective, humane, and sustainable. ๐ŸŒŸ Thereโ€™s absolutely no need for aversive tools when we have these advanced, evidence-backed approaches (theyโ€™re always a replacement for skill ๐Ÿ˜‰).
3๏ธโƒฃ Demand Quality and Ethics:
Pet owners have the right to expect that their trainers are well-qualified and adhere to the highest standards. ๐ŸŽ“๐Ÿ•โ€๐Ÿฆบ
Leading bodies like the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists and the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) strongly prohibit the use of aversive methods in animal learningโ€”emphasizing that humane, positive techniques are always more effective and safer. โœ…

What justifications can professionals in animal learning offer for promoting teaching methods to pet owners that directly conflict with the recommendations of leading scientific and veterinary institutions? ๐Ÿค”๐Ÿคท๐Ÿฝ๐Ÿšง

As responsible pet parents, I hope we can expect that those entrusted with our dogs' training are not just competent, but truly aligned with the latest evidence-based and ethical practices. ๐Ÿพ๐Ÿ’ก

๐Ÿ’ฌ If you'd like free resources with citations for all the claims above, simply comment โ€œLearning shouldn't hurtโ€ below and Iโ€™ll be happy to send them your way! ๐Ÿ“š๐Ÿ•๐Ÿ’š

๐Ÿคฃ๐Ÿคฃ๐Ÿคฃ๐ŸคฃFrom the amazing feed ofThe Secret Dog Walker
10/12/2025

๐Ÿคฃ๐Ÿคฃ๐Ÿคฃ๐Ÿคฃ
From the amazing feed of
The Secret Dog Walker

๐ŸŽ‰ LEVEL 2 IS HERE! ๐ŸŽ‰Hey Level 1 graduates! ๐Ÿ• Ready to blow your own mind with what your dog can do next?  Send me a mess...
10/12/2025

๐ŸŽ‰ LEVEL 2 IS HERE! ๐ŸŽ‰

Hey Level 1 graduates! ๐Ÿ• Ready to blow your own mind with what your dog can do next? Send me a message to secure your spot!

Here's what's waiting for you in Reactive 2 Resilient Level 2:

๐Ÿ” From scenting to SEEKING โ€“ Watch your dog's confidence soar as they actively search out scents

๐Ÿง  Self-regulation mastery โ€“ Move beyond supported interactions and on towards genuine self-regulation

๐Ÿ’ช Fluid, reliable behaviors โ€“ Learn how to motivate behaviors your dog WANTS to repeat with persistence.

๐Ÿ˜Œ Breathwork on cue โ€“ Really? Yes, really! First introduced into clinical practice in 1997, you'll learn how to teach your dog to take long, deep breaths through their nose on cueโ€”perhaps the most powerful and reliable way to inform relaxation in your dog's world.

๐ŸŽฏ Next-level resilience โ€“ Build dogs who can self-regulate even when life gets spicy ๐ŸŒถ๏ธ

Using modern approaches informed by the resilience conditioning framework and applied behavior analysis, we're layering in nose work, physiological relaxation, predation substitute, and patterns to create cooperative choice strategies that inform genuine emotional safety.

The result? A dog with an expanded toolkit of choices they actually value โ€“ and performance that shows it. ๐ŸŒŸ

๐Ÿ‘€ Haven't taken Level 1 yet?

This is what you're missing! These skills don't just happen โ€“ they're built step by step, starting with our Level 1 foundation. If you're watching from the sidelines wishing your dog had this kind of confidence and self-control, NOW is the time to jump into Level 1 so you can join us for Level 2 next round! โฐ

๐Ÿ“‹ PREREQUISITE: Level 1 completion OR have completed Reactive to Adaptive in private sessions with me.

Can't wait to see you and your amazing dog there! ๐Ÿ™Œ

๐ŸŽ‰ LEVEL 2 IS HERE! ๐ŸŽ‰Hey Level 1 graduates! ๐Ÿ• Ready to blow your own mind with what your dog can do next?Here's what's wa...
10/09/2025

๐ŸŽ‰ LEVEL 2 IS HERE! ๐ŸŽ‰

Hey Level 1 graduates! ๐Ÿ• Ready to blow your own mind with what your dog can do next?

Here's what's waiting for you in Reactive 2 Resilient Level 2:

๐Ÿ” From scenting to SEEKING โ€“ Watch your dog's confidence soar as they actively search out scents

๐Ÿง  Self-regulation mastery โ€“ Move beyond supported interactions and on towards genuine self-regulation

๐Ÿ’ช Fluid, reliable behaviors โ€“ Learn how to motivate behaviors your dog WANTS to repeat with persistence (yes, really!)

๐Ÿ˜Œ Breathwork on cue โ€“ Really? Yes, really! First introduced into clinical practice in 1997, you'll learn how to teach your dog to take long, deep breaths through their nose on cueโ€”perhaps the most powerful and reliable way to inform relaxation in your dog's world.

๐ŸŽฏ Next-level resilience โ€“ Build dogs who can self-regulate even when life gets spicy ๐ŸŒถ๏ธ

Using modern approaches informed by the resilience conditioning framework and applied behavior analysis, we're layering in nose work, physiological relaxation, predation substitute, and patterns to create cooperative choice strategies that inform genuine emotional safety.

The result? A dog with an expanded toolkit of choices they actually value โ€“ and performance that shows it. ๐ŸŒŸ

๐Ÿ‘€ Haven't taken Level 1 yet?

This is what you're missing! These skills don't just happen โ€“ they're built step by step, starting with our Level 1 foundation. If you're watching from the sidelines wishing your dog had this kind of confidence and self-control, NOW is the time to jump into Level 1 so you can join us for Level 2 next round! โฐ

๐Ÿ“‹ PREREQUISITE: Level 1 completion OR have completed Reactive to Adaptive in private sessions with me.

Can't wait to see you and your amazing dog there! ๐Ÿ™Œ๐Ÿพ

Enroll in Level 2 by selecting the link below:

By checking this box, I consent to receive transactional messages related to my account, orders, or services I have requested. These messages may include appointment reminders, order confirmations, and account notifications among others. Message frequency may vary. Message & Data rates may apply.Rep...

Iโ€™m just gunna leave this here for nowโ€ฆ
10/08/2025

Iโ€™m just gunna leave this here for nowโ€ฆ

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