Pawsitive Path Dog Training

10/26/2026

Training dogs after a day job can be tiring but I’m very lucky to regularly have the opportunity to see views like these while on the job. The dogs are also good views, but you see a lot more of them on this page.

10/15/2026

🐾 Meet Hamlin: 100% American Bully, 1000% Heartthrob! 🦛💙

Hamlin's DNA results are officially in, and they confirm he's 100% American Bully! 🧬

But according to the reviews, his results might need a little updating… ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

💬 "100% adorable"

💬 "House Hippoooooo"

💬 "I want to squish him"

💬 "I LOVE HIM"

💬 "The Bestest Boy"

And honestly? We couldn't agree more! 😂❤️

While Hamlin is busy winning hearts, he's also putting in some important work!

Hamlin is working on reactivity toward other dogs and people. When he spots a trigger, he sometimes freezes and stares, which can be an early sign that he's getting uncomfortable or overwhelmed.

We're helping Hamlin learn that he doesn't need to keep his eyes locked on everything around him. Instead, we're rewarding him for disengaging from triggers and choosing to check in with his trainer! 🐕✨

Every time Hamlin looks away from a trigger and checks back in, that's a win worth celebrating! 🎉

Building these skills takes patience, consistency, and plenty of positive reinforcement. We're excited to help this handsome house hippo build confidence and feel more comfortable in the world around him!

Welcome to the Pawsitive Path family, Hamlin! 💙🐾

If your pup is struggling with reactivity, reach out to see how we can help!

10/03/2026

🐾 Good Golly, Miss Molly! 🐾

Meet new client, Molly.

Molly is working on reactivity, and she’s learning new skills to help her feel more comfortable and confident when the world gets busy.

Right now, some of Molly’s biggest triggers include:
🐕 Other dogs
🚶 People
🚗 Cars
🚲 Bikes

We’re using distance, management, and positive reinforcement to help Molly notice her triggers without becoming overwhelmed. We’re also rewarding those important moments when she can check in, disengage, and make calmer choices.

And when it comes to rewards, Molly has made one thing very clear: peanut butter is the way to her heart. 🥜💛 A little peanut butter can go a long way when we’re building positive associations and celebrating those small wins!

Reactivity work takes patience and consistency, and progress doesn’t always happen in a straight line. Every successful interaction gives Molly another opportunity to build confidence and practice the skills she’s learning.

We’re excited to keep cheering Molly on — preferably with plenty of peanut butter involved! 🐾

Does your dog bark, lunge, or become overwhelmed by dogs, people, cars, bikes, or other things in their environment? Schedule your initial consultation with Kyle to get started helping your dog realize that those big scary triggers are just a normal part of life!

09/15/2026

To many people this photo won’t look like much other than a dog lying on a cool cement floor. But to me, it’s so much more.

Let me add context: two years ago Casey would have been too nervous to be anywhere but right next to me. She had to have her eyes on me at all times or the world might have ended.

Then I called in an expert (who I am now fortunate enough to call a friend and mentor) who really set us on the right (pawsitive) path. We worked on seeing triggers without having big feelings and started taking medication so that Casey wasn’t always in a state of high arousal. Slowly she learned that the world isn’t so scary and she can do hard things.

Fast forward to today: her tail is up and he nose is down on walks. She can nap on the couch while I’m out of sight cooking. She can watch people walk by on the sidewalk without barking. She can greet strangers in our home without cowering if they move toward her and she walks away when she is overwhelmed by the presence of said strangers.

So no, this picture isn’t just a cute puppy lying in a cool cement floor. It’s a dog who chose to go relax in the shade while I cut the grass, no longer scared that doomsday is upon us if she loses sight of me.

If your dog struggle with big feelings, trust me, I have been there and I can help you on the Pawsitive Path to a calmer, more confident dog.

08/12/2026

07/03/2026

🚩 GROWLING IS GOOD DOG COMMUNICATION.

A growl isn’t your dog being “bad” or “dominant.” It’s your dog’s way of saying:

➡️ “I’m uncomfortable.”
➡️ “I need more space.”
➡️ “Please stop.”

Think of a growl as a warning system. It’s valuable information that tells us how our dog is feeling before they feel the need to escalate.

⚠️ Punishing a growl doesn’t change the underlying emotion. It may simply teach your dog that warning signals aren’t safe to use. The fear or discomfort is still there only now, the next warning may be a bite.

Instead of punishing the growl:
🐾 Pause what you’re doing.
🐾 Give your dog space.
🐾 Ask yourself why they felt the need to growl.
🐾 Work to change the emotion behind the behavior through counterconditioning and working with a veterinarian or veterinary behaviorist to treat the aggression if frequent/significant.
Our goal isn’t to stop communication—it’s to help our dogs feel safe enough that they don’t need to growl in the first place.

💙 Listen to the growl. It’s your dog’s way of talking to you.

⬇️ Have you ever learned something important because your dog growled? Let us know in the comments.

06/23/2026

🐾 Training Tip Tuesday: Build a Recall Your Dog Wants to Respond To 🐾

Coming when called is one of the most important skills your dog can learn—but it's also one of the most commonly poisoned cues.

Many dogs learn that "Come!" means:
❌ The fun ends
❌ It's time to leave the park
❌ Bath time
❌ Nail trims

Instead, teach your dog that coming to you is always worth it.

Try these tips:
✅ Reward every recall generously, especially when distractions are present.
✅ Practice in easy environments before moving to more challenging ones.
✅ Occasionally call your dog, reward them, and then let them go back to what they were doing.
✅ Use your recall cue only when you're confident your dog can succeed.

Remember: A reliable recall isn't built in a day. It's built through hundreds of positive repetitions that teach your dog, "Running to my person is the best choice I can make."

Bonus challenge: Today, practice 5 recalls around your house and reward each one like your dog just won the lottery! 🎉

Would your dog come running for chicken, cheese, a toy, or something else? Tell us their favorite reward in the comments!