West Coast K-9 Training

03/15/2025

There is always that question from clients or, even in random conversation, are dogs allowed to eat human food? Due to my personality, I will sarcastically ask, what is human food? 😀 Initially I educate on the timing of sharing food, whether you associate the dining table as a place where the dog can easily beg and learn to repeat demanding behavior to get deliciousness that you are eating, OR take the same bite of chicken breast and place it on the dogs training mat or in their food dish or asking a fun behavior from them.
Either way, understanding the safety of what our furry family members can eat or can’t eat is extremely important and from the behavioral perspective, timing of how and where they receive that “human bite of food” can really make it a positive experience.

03/15/2025

Prior to becoming a certified in-home dog trainer, I became a registered veterinary tech. I took some time off from that field and have been back, working for a country veterinarian while still working as a private dog trainer going on over 27 years now. But that said sometimes I think it’s valuable sharing information that not only has to do with dogs.

02/16/2025

I just had a client ask about color vision with dogs.

02/09/2025

:)

12/18/2024

Holly Graham Brand

It’s that time of year! Are you or someone you know planning on getting a puppy or a new dog to join your family?
Becoming a certified dog trainer in 1997, I’ve been going to peoples homes for the last 27 years offering in-home dog training, including working with families and their puppies between 7 and 16 weeks of age. Laying down a foundation for socialization, potty training (imagine your puppy ringing a bell to let you know they have to go outside!), behavior modification (play biting, stealing things, confinement issues,) and assessing a temperamentis. This is all imperative, before 16 weeks of age.

The sooner you lay down a foundation for successful potty training, crate training, proper and safe socialization, preventing separation anxiety, etc., the better for the future for the puppy as well as the family.

I encourage questions, and or you can email me at [email protected]
(West Coast K-9 Training). I’m based out of Brentwood and all the surrounding communities and have the option of traveling to your family.
Gift certificates are available to those who might want to offer a family or friend the initial one hour consult and or even the 3-lesson Puppy package.
I LOVE making a difference one hour at a time.
*** I also offer services for all ages or however, long you have the dog and maybe decided you want to start working on their relentless jumping for stealing things or not good in the car or demand barking, etc. etc.***

Happy HOLLYdays, Holly Brand, Certified Dog Trainer
West Coast K-9 Training
[email protected]

12/18/2024

It’s that time of year! Are you or someone you know planning on getting a puppy or a new dog to join your family?
Becoming a certified dog trainer in 1997, I’ve been going to peoples homes for the last 27 years offering in-home dog training, including working with families and their puppies between 7 and 16 weeks of age. Laying down a foundation for socialization, potty training (imagine your puppy ringing a bell to let you know they have to go outside!), behavior modification (play biting, stealing things, confinement issues,) and assessing a temperamentis. This is all imperative, before 16 weeks of age.

The sooner you lay down a foundation for successful potty training, crate training, proper and safe socialization, preventing separation anxiety, etc., the better for the future for the puppy as well as the family.

I encourage questions, and or you can email me at [email protected]
(West Coast K-9 Training). I’m based out of Brentwood and all the surrounding communities and have the option of traveling to your family.
Gift certificates are available to those who might want to offer a family or friend the initial one hour consult and or even the 3-lesson Puppy package.
I LOVE making a difference one hour at a time.
*** I also offer services for all ages or however, long you have the dog and maybe decided you want to start working on their relentless jumping for stealing things or not good in the car or demand barking, etc. etc.***

Happy HOLLYdays, Holly Brand, Certified Dog Trainer
West Coast K-9 Training
[email protected]

11/18/2024

I commonly respond to clients (or anyone really) who says they wish their dog didn’t bark. Me: then you should have gotten a lizard. When you understand dog behavior, help modify for success or not set them up for failure, you will truly enjoy your dog being a dog.

07/01/2024

PLEASE save or read…

Have you tried the hot asphalt test? (Takes only 7 seconds!)

03/06/2024

This is my 11-year-old niece. I just had to share because since she was four years old, she started telling people she wanted to be a dog trainer (sometimes she even told people she was a dog trainer to try to convince them to give the leash of their dog to her so she could walk it) 🤣. Aimée Graham

12/17/2023

When clients explain that their dog growls, and they get mad at their dog or yell at it for growling, I ask why. Why is the dog growling? Most people’s intentions are not to reinforce a behavior they don’t want to exist. So naturally people think they need to scold or correct their dog who is growling, but you’re missing the fact that the dog is communicating, and rather than biting first and asking questions later the dog is expressing concern.
Is the dog guarding something? Is he telling you he’s afraid you’re going to take it? That’s natural instinct right there.
Is the dog growling when it’s laying on his bed and a toddler is headed over to pounce on it? We don’t want the dog to be fearful, or aggressive towards anybody, but we have to change the dogs mindset and scolding, correcting or screaming at the dog will potentially exasperate the situation. We want the dog to think positive thoughts when the toddler is headed towards the dog bed or when we walk towards the dog when it has something it’s not supposed to or that we would like to remove.
If your dog is growling, take the responsible effort to hire a dog trainer for a consultation so you get some insight and can make an educated decision how to move forward properly without making the situation worse.

12/14/2023

This is spot on! 🤣

12/12/2023

It’s that time of year! Are you or someone you know planning on getting a puppy or a new dog to join your family?
Becoming a certified dog trainer in 1997, I’ve been going to peoples homes for the last 26 years offering in-home dog training, including working with families and their puppies between 7 and 16 weeks of age. Laying down a foundation for socialization, potty training, behavior modification (play biting, stealing things, confinement issues,) assessing a temperament is all imperative, before 16 weeks of age.

The sooner you lay down a foundation for successful potty training, crate training, proper and safe socialization, preventing separation anxiety, etc., the better for the future for the puppy as well as the family.

I encourage questions, and or you can email me at [email protected]
(West Coast K-9 Training). I’m based out of Brentwood and all the surrounding communities and have the option of traveling to your family.
Gift certificates are available to those who might want to offer a family or friend the initial one hour consult and or even the 3-lesson Puppy package.
I LOVE making a difference one hour at a time.

Happy HOLLYdays, Holly Brand, Certified Dog Trainer
West Coast K-9 Training
[email protected]