Some Minor Dog Training

Some Minor Dog Training Allen and Shalene Minor are dog trainers in Florida that do in-home training and board-and-trains.
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06/24/2026

One of the biggest causes of tension between dogs isn't aggression. It's a lack of respect for personal space.

This becomes especially obvious when food, toys, treats, or attention enter the picture.

Many dogs never learn that it's okay for another dog to get rewarded without them being involved. They crowd, push in, steal treats, interrupt training sessions, and demand attention the moment another dog receives it.

At first, it can seem harmless. But over time, that constant pressure can create frustration. The dog that's always being bothered may start avoiding the other dog, growling, correcting them, or eventually escalating when their subtle signals are ignored.

That's why we like teaching dogs that they don't need to participate in everything.

Sometimes another dog gets the treat.
Sometimes another dog gets the attention.
Sometimes another dog gets the training session.
And that's okay.

Dogs that can calmly wait their turn and give each other space tend to have healthier relationships because they're not constantly competing for every resource and every moment of attention.

A lot of harmony in a multi-dog household comes from teaching dogs that not everything is about them. 🐶❤️

*This is part of a longer video. To see the rest, click the link in the comments*

06/22/2026

Imagine walking into an elementary school classroom and seeing a child having a full-blown temper tantrum.

Would the teacher start teaching multiplication? Of course not. The first job isn't teaching math. The first job is helping the child calm down enough to learn.

Dog training is no different.

One of the biggest mistakes I see is people trying to teach obedience when their dog is emotionally overwhelmed. The dog is barking, lunging, panicking, or completely fixated on something, and the owner keeps repeating commands.

But the dog isn't in learning mode.

Before we can teach obedience, we have to address the state of mind behind the behavior. A calm dog can learn. An overwhelmed dog cannot.

You can't teach math during a temper tantrum. And you can't teach obedience during one either. 🐶❤️

If your dog struggles every Fourth of July, don't wait until the fireworks start next year to do something about it. The...
06/21/2026

If your dog struggles every Fourth of July, don't wait until the fireworks start next year to do something about it. The best time to work on noise sensitivity is when life is quiet and predictable.

Over the next couple of weeks, try playing recordings of fireworks at a very low volume while your dog enjoys dinner, chews a bone, plays tug, practices obedience, or relaxes on Place. The goal isn't to force them to "deal with it." It's to teach them that strange noises predict good things and don't require a reaction. If your dog becomes worried, you've gone too loud or progressed too quickly.

This is also a great time to build coping skills. Practice Place, crate time, settling on a mat, food puzzles, licking mats, and rewarding your dog for simply relaxing around everyday sounds. Dogs that know how to self-soothe often have an easier time recovering from stressful events.

On the Fourth of July itself:

🐶 Exercise your dog earlier in the day.

🐶 Feed meals through enrichment toys, frozen Kongs, or lick mats.

🐶 Close curtains and blinds before dark.

🐶 Turn on fans, TVs, or white noise to help mask outside sounds.

🐶 Keep collars and ID tags on in case your dog panics and escapes.

🐶 Don't leave anxious dogs outside unattended.

🐶 If your veterinarian has prescribed anti-anxiety medication, discuss using it before the holiday arrives.

And remember, comforting your dog doesn't create fear, as long as it's done right. If your dog seeks you out, be a source of calm and predictability. Fear isn't something we punish away. It's something we help dogs learn to navigate.

You don't finish training. You maintain it. Sometimes that means preparing for the holidays months before they arrive. 🇺🇸🐶🎆❤️

One of the biggest mistakes people make in dog training is using the word before the dog actually understands the behavi...
06/20/2026

One of the biggest mistakes people make in dog training is using the word before the dog actually understands the behavior.

We say "sit" while the dog is still figuring it out. Then we say it again. And again.

"Sit. Sit. Sit."

Over time, the dog doesn't learn that "sit" means put your rear on the ground. They learn that the cue is "sit sit sit."

Then people wonder why they have to keep repeating themselves.

Imagine trying to learn a foreign language while someone keeps saying random words before you understand what they're asking. It would be confusing for you, and it's confusing for your dog too.

Instead, teach the behavior first. Use food, leash guidance, luring, shaping, or whatever method you're using to help the dog perform the action consistently.

Once the dog is reliably offering the behavior, then attach a label to it.

Behavior first. Cue second.

When the word actually means something to the dog, you only need to say it once. 🐶❤️

06/19/2026

Your dog does not need dog friends. I know that's probably not what you've been told.

Somewhere along the way, people started believing that every dog needs a large social circle. That if your dog isn't playing with other dogs every week, they're somehow missing out.

But when you actually look at most dogs, that's not what they want at all. Most dogs prefer their family. They want to go where you go. They want to explore with you. Train with you. Relax with you. Be included in your life.

The desire for dog friends is often much stronger in THE OWNER than it is in the dog. WE like watching dogs play. WE like the idea of our dog having buddies. WE enjoy seeing them run around together. But many dogs couldn't care less.

Some dogs are social butterflies. They love every dog they meet and would happily spend all day playing. Those dogs absolutely exist. But they're not as common as people think.

A lot of dogs are selective. They only enjoy a few dogs. Some simply tolerate other dogs. Some would rather avoid them altogether.

The problem starts when we assume every dog should want the same thing. That's how dogs end up being dragged into dog parks they don't enjoy, forced into greetings they didn't ask for, and put into situations that create frustration, anxiety, over-arousal, or reactivity.

A fulfilled dog isn't measured by how many dog friends they have. A fulfilled dog is one whose needs are being met. Exercise. Mental stimulation. Clear communication. Structure. Adventure. Rest. A family they trust.

If your dog has dog friends, great.
If your dog's favorite companion is you, that's pretty normal too.

The goal isn't for your dog to love every dog they meet. The goal is for them to be able to live calmly and confidently in a world that contains other dogs. 🐶❤️

06/17/2026

Most people think of playgrounds as places just for kids. I see them as incredible training opportunities for dogs.

Playgrounds give us obstacles to navigate, new surfaces to explore, and unique environments that challenge dogs both mentally and physically. As dogs learn to climb, balance, step over, and work through unfamiliar situations, they're building confidence, body awareness, and trust in their handler.

They're also a great place to practice obedience in a real-world setting. Every sit, down, heel, and recall becomes an opportunity to work together as a team.

Confidence isn't built by avoiding challenges. It's built by successfully working through them. 🐶❤️

06/15/2026

Most people already understand that different dog breeds have different energy levels and exercise requirements, but what often gets overlooked is what happens when those needs aren't met.

A lot of behavioral issues aren't random. When a dog was bred for a specific purpose and doesn't have an appropriate outlet for that energy, they'll often create their own. That can look like destructive behavior, excessive barking, reactivity, chasing, nipping, digging, escaping, or other behaviors that frustrate owners.

That's why choosing a breed isn't just about asking, "What kind of dog do I want?"

It's also about asking, "What happens if I can't consistently provide what this dog needs?"

Can a low-energy person successfully own a high-energy breed? Absolutely. But it usually requires a major lifestyle adjustment and a commitment to meeting that dog's needs every day.

The reality is that it's much easier to fit a dog into your lifestyle when the breed already aligns with it than it is to spend years trying to fight genetics.

One of the biggest misconceptions in dog training is that a dog can be "fully trained" in 30 days.That’s not how living ...
06/13/2026

One of the biggest misconceptions in dog training is that a dog can be "fully trained" in 30 days.

That’s not how living creatures work.

Can a dog make huge progress in a month? Absolutely. You can build foundations, improve communication, introduce structure, and completely change the direction the dog is heading.

But then real life happens.

The guests come over.
The schedule changes.
The kids get busy.
The walks get shorter.
The rules become inconsistent.
The dog gets comfortable.
The excitement comes back.

And suddenly people think the training “stopped working.”

It didn’t.

Training was never supposed to be a one-time event in the first place.

A dog can know “Place” perfectly in a quiet house, then struggle when the environment changes if nobody maintains the expectation. A reactive dog can make incredible progress, but still need guidance when life gets overwhelming. A dog can walk beautifully for weeks, then slowly start pulling again when consistency disappears.

Because training isn’t just teaching commands.

It’s shaping habits, emotional responses, impulse control, coping skills, and daily patterns over time.

That’s why I always say: You don’t finish training. You maintain it.

The reality is that training doesn't end. It evolves. Early on, training feels like work. Later, it feels like routine. Eventually, it becomes part of how you and your dog live together.

But the idea that dogs should be permanently “done” after a few weeks sets owners up for frustration and unrealistic expectations from the very beginning. 🐶❤️

06/12/2026

Dog training is about building a blueprint.

Our job as trainers is to figure out what that specific dog and that specific household need in order to live together successfully. We build the routines, boundaries, communication, expectations, and skills that help the dog understand how to exist peacefully within that family's lifestyle.

From there, the owners take over.

As the dog becomes more reliable, they can gradually earn more freedom. More access to the house. More off-leash privileges. More opportunities to make choices on their own.

But here's the important part: if the dog struggles with that freedom, or a new issue appears down the road, you don't have to start from scratch.

You go back to the blueprint.

Back to the structure. Back to the routines. Back to the exercises that created success in the first place.

Because dogs learn patterns. When those patterns have been practiced consistently, it's often much easier for them to get back on track than people realize.

Training isn't about creating a perfect dog. It's about creating a system that both the dog and owner can return to whenever life gets messy.

And life always gets messy.

That's why the blueprint matters. 🐶❤️

06/10/2026

One of the biggest mistakes people make with reactive dogs is thinking every outing needs to involve training.

Sometimes the most important thing you can do is nothing at all.

We call this Existence Socialization. Bring your dog to a public place, find a comfortable distance, and let them simply watch the world go by.

No pressure. No greetings. No interactions.

Over time, your dog learns that people, dogs, and distractions can exist without needing a reaction. And that's where real neutrality begins. 🐶❤️

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Deland, FL
32720

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+13863016079

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