29K9 Dog Training

11/18/2025

There is no “one size fits all” to dog training or behavior consulting. Each dog is unique and needs to be treated as such. Trying to fit your dog into a mold left by a previous dog in our lives is frustrating and unfair to the dog in front of you. We’ve had 8 Great Danes over the years. Although all the same breed, but each dog has been unique. Our relationship with each dog has been different. Some have been outgoing, want to go everywhere dogs. Some preferred to stay home. Some wanted to play with other dogs, some didn’t. Just like us as humans, our personalities are unique, our likes and dislikes are unique, and our approach to the world is unique. Listen to the dog in front of you. Treat that dog as the individual he is.

This is one reason I love being a Family Dog Mediatior®.

What does it mean to be a Family Dog Mediator®? It means we are looking at the whole dog in front of us. We are following the L.E.G.S.® model of Integrated Canine Science. It’s not magic, it’s not mirrors. It’s SCIENCE. What does L.E.G.S.® stand for and mean to your dog?

Learning – An animal’s experiences and education in life
Environment – The world the dog lives in
Genetics – DNA, what makes up this dog
Self – The unique, individual dog made up of all these things and stands in front of us

I’m grateful to have the education and experience required to be able to work with each dog individually. Whether pure bred or mixed breed. Working dog or family dog. 4 pound Chihuahuas, 60 pound Labradors, 150 pound Presa Carnarios, 20 pound mixed breeds,100 pound GSDs, 70 pound Pitbulls,180 pound Great Danes and everything in between. Every dog deserves to be treated based on his personality, his challenges, his unique needs.

11/18/2025

The courts say they are Gravely Dangerous to both the physical and psychological health of your dog. There are other ways.

The harms of shock collars in dog training are emphasized in a USD 1.9 million dollar settlement in a class action lawsuit.

11/18/2025

I don't have to cause your dog pain to teach. Neither do you. And if your trainer tells you that pain is required then run and find a new one. And for the record, shock collars, prong collars and leash pops FREAKING HURT. Science says so. Your dog says so. Any educated trainer will say so.

11/15/2025

If you love your dog, don't hurt them in the name of training. Positive reinforcement works. And it avoids the risks of aversives like leash pops, shock collars, and prongs. If you're struggling with your dog's behaviour, get help from a trainer who will use reward-based methods (and if it's a sudden change, see your veterinarian first).

11/12/2025

Another trick, another step in learning to follow directions, building confidence and building our relationship. #

11/08/2025

"Without this emotional, somatic (body-based) sense of a non-threatening world as well as trust in relationships, healing from trauma becomes exceedingly difficult."
I always learn something when Dr. Laura Donaldson, PhD, CDBC, KPA CTP shares her knowledge.

(Graphic & text ©2025, Laura Donaldson) By Dr. Laura Donaldson, PhD, CDBC, KPA CTP. Several years ago, I introduced the concept of DEEP SAFETY to help human caregivers recognize and address the

11/07/2025

An important life skill for a dog is being able to calmly leash up in preparation for outings. Jeepers and I do it a little different than most. It works for us and that is what is important.

11/06/2025

Jeepers has picked up on pivoting faster than any of our dogs ever have. Moving those back feet independently from the front feet is HARD but a great skill for dogs to have. By improving their body awareness it helps their over all coordination (for danes this is super important) and overall confidence.

11/06/2025

One thing that really gets me is when someone brings home a new dog from the shelter or a rehome and the dog sleeps in the child's bed the first night. I want to scream NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! Protecting your child is also protecting the dog.

11/06/2025

Reward-based methods aren't just for sunny days and easy dogs and puppies. They are for all dogs. And for all cats too, I might add.

11/04/2025

Working on new tricks all the time. These tricks help work the brain and you wouldn't believe how tired he gets after a good session. The last few days we've been working on "Embarrassed". The cue is "Shucks!". We're still fine tuning it, but he's doing pretty well.