Soul Dog: Animal Behavior and Science

03/31/2025

So what do you do on a Sunday night?
Ummmm train the “bang” trick to my least trained dog 😂😂

We are still working on latency lol.

03/11/2025

Help! I need a Spring Break Miracle!!!
Hi, my name’s Gryff. I’m a 5 year old terrier mix, of the amazing pitbull kind. I’m looking for a particular kind of home. I would need to meet any dog friends I may go home with to make sure we jive. Sometimes I struggle with friends, but overall I want to get along with everyone. I did meet some awesome dogs today that I really liked who were super calm and nice, so maybe there is hope!

Overall I’m just a lovable guy! I would do best with for sure no cats and no small children because I’m a bigger guy and am not always sure where I’m throwing my body around.

I absolutely love getting love. I love to hike, everywhere! I love to give kisses. I would love to love YOU!

I need a Spring Break Miracle because I’m not doing so well being penned up for such long hours when I was made to run and hike! The shelter staff is doing an amazing job trying to keep me busy, but I just would do best in a home. In fact they are teaching me new skills like “place,” shake, hitting a bell, and target! And so much more!!!

Can someone find me and give me that Spring Break home? I promise to love you forever!

I’m proudly endorsed by the Mayor of Divide and her Security Officer. Please contact the Teller County Regional Animal Shelter (TCRAS) to come break me out of this place and give me a home! Or call 719-686-7707. Remember, my name is Gryff!!!

03/08/2025

Kai and I were doing some training as evidenced by the first part of the video. She was doing great and we were figuring things out.
Then she stops. Walks away even from me. I followed, and she began to alert to my state (boops my hand). And she was right. The rest of the video is her deep pressure therapy and her gentle punch to the face to knock me out of that state lol! She is an incredible dog and life saving to me.

03/04/2025

Kai alerting to my condition. First gently, then more urgently. She gets rewarded and then I take a medication. I also sometimes do DPT with her depending! She is amazing and greatly impacts my life for the better.

02/21/2025

In conjunction with Pawsitive Vibes Dog Training LLC, Service dog Kai learning to alert to scents related to Bipolar Disorder (mania, depression, anxiety, psychosis, irritability, dissociation), and normal samples, no alert. She is doing an awesome job differentiating. Next up, detecting these scents on me.

01/28/2025

This story starts with one dog named Cinna and one boy named Kreed. In my late twenties I knew what behavior analysis was for humans but wasn’t sure about dogs. I read everything. And trained Cinna to be Kreed’a service dog. Cinna served mightily and with so many tasks learned to help him. Their relationship and bond was so strong and Kreed’s ability to eventually become his handler was extraordinary. The play yard at TCRAS is now named after his extraordinary dog.

And then I knew I wanted to train dogs.

Life came for me and on one cold day in May, we lost my son and Cinna lost his best friend.

I struggled in life without him. Until a shelter dog named Oliver. Who saved my life literally. He trained to be my service dog. And was by my side for a few years before he retired.

In between those dogs, so many dogs have been trained by me. Or helped. Or I gave me all trying to save them. From my dogs, community dogs or shelter dogs. I just love helping and training dogs.

A dog named Scarlett came to me as a tiny pitbull with many health issues. For almost two years I fought for her health. Until it was too much and I had to let her go. This company is for her.

Welcome to Soul Dog: Animal Science and Behavior

We build bonds, one paw at a time, with science and compassion.

Currently accepting clients for 1:1 work from basic cooperation to behavioral issues to dogs needing help with PT or recovery or canine fitness and sport training coming soon. Stayed tuned for information on group training!!! Beginning service work is also offered. I have helped dogs as small as mini Australian shepherds to a Newfoundland and everything in between. You might see me around town with my Newfie- she is an incredible service dog.

I am a compassionate, science based trainer using the principles of applied behavior analysis and positive reinforcement. I have a Master’s Degree in Applied Behavior Analysis and a certified dog trainer KPA-CTP. I have 24 years working in ABA and 15 years with dogs. I know my science and how to apply it to our dogs and help the family and dogs live more harmoniously. I am a multiple dog household and it’s been a ride teaching my pups to live together!

I will also be offering education classes. These are for humans that would like to know more about the science of dog training, how to better help your dog or dogs at home or if you like learning about different dog training concepts. Anyone would be welcome.

For my baby girl Scarlett, we are excited to begin to serve the Teller County area for dog training.

01/18/2025

Stay tuned this week for a big announcement. This has been a long time in coming and I’m ready.
Guesses are welcome.

01/16/2025

Nothing like a stroll down the hallway with a nine month old, ninety six pound Newfie! She’s amazing!

01/15/2025

And to Clicker Expo I go. With Kai!

01/04/2025

Update!!! Lucy was adopted by a wonderful family and will have fur siblings and a pig! lol!

RUN don’t walk to adopt this amazing 4 month old puppy!! Lucy was sadly found as a young puppy on the side of the road, abandoned in a bag. She was brought to TCRAS and then in foster care! She was adopted once, but through not fault of her own, she is up for adoption again!

She is dog friendly to the max! Human friendly to the max! She has an INCREDIBLE temperament. She’s learning new skills in foster care and enjoying all her foster sisters and brothers. She is crate trained.

She has so much potential! Need a hiking buddy, she’s it! Need an agility dog? She’s it! Need just a companion? She’s it!

This girl is simply IT! Call TCRAS at 719-686-7707 to make an appointment to see this girl. She is appt only due to being in foster care.

Adopt this girl this weekend and get a lifetime of love from this little puppy!

01/03/2025

Kai rocking training. I do make lots of mistakes as a trainer from having verbal and visual cues together, repeating the cue etc. However, despite those mistakes, Kai catches on and really does amazing from my perspective! Then it’s just on me to clean up my cue’s!!!
But this is real life and real mistakes and despite them, Kai was still learning the skill. You don’t need to be perfect at this to teach your dog. She learned force free and using the principles of applied behavior analysis.

12/23/2024

Update: Gryff got adopted a few days ago!!!!!
Help! I need a Christmas Miracle!
Hi, my name’s Griff. I’m a 5 year old terrier mix, of the amazing pitbull kind. I’m looking for a particular kind of home. I prefer to be the only dog. Sometimes I struggle with friends. I did meet some awesome dogs today that I really liked who were super calm and nice, so maybe there is hope, but right now I would love if it was all about me!!

Overall I’m just a lovable guy! I would do best with for sure no cats and no small children because I’m a bigger guy and am not always sure where I’m throwing my body around.

I absolutely love getting love. I love to hike, everywhere! I love to give kisses. I would love to love YOU!

I need a Christmas Miracle because I’m not doing so well being penned up for such long hours when I was made to run and hike! The shelter staff is doing an amazing job trying to keep me busy, but I just would do best in a home.

Can someone find me and give me that Christmas home? I promise to love you forever!

I’m proudly endorsed by the Mayor of Divide and her Security Officer. Please contact the Teller County Regional Animal Shelter (TCRAS) to come break me out of this place and give me a home! Or call 719-686-7707. Remember, my name is Griff!!!

12/08/2024

Very proud of Mayor of Divide Fern last night at the parade. She let everyone pet her and pose for pictures. She was incredible. Fern thought it was a wonderful parade except for the Fireworks. She was a trooper through it all.
Thank you to everyone who came and everyone who we met along the parade route! She thanks you for your support!!!

12/01/2024

Day two of more formal training. She is so eager to learn and wants to figure things out. I love deep pressure and it grounds me so much and takes me out of a bad mental state. And her licks and head pushing my head up helps me to also become more present. She is learning these behaviors based on my body position more than an auditory cue.

12/01/2024

Day one of really working with Kai on some tasks. We made a million mistakes but she is catching on!

11/24/2024

Sometimes a dog surprises me. Kai was not originally my dog but a former partners. She was just a love of a Newfie puppy. When we separated, all the dogs came me. And she just continued to be a fun Newfie puppy.

Then I started training her. She picked up everything so quickly. Then, she started to come to me in distress. And I wondered.

I took her out to see how she would do in the community. She was incredible. So more training.

Then I gave her a break because I wondered about another pup I had, River. She washed out due to some issues we didn’t know she had.

So Kai. She continues to train. She continues to go into public with me to help me and she’s incredible. We continue to grow closer every day.

In a time when I have needed a dog most, Kai is here, taking over from Oliver, Cinna and Scarlett. I could not be more grateful.

And I’m thankful that Kai loves to work and eagerly waits for the next thing to learn. Thank you Kai, for all the love and help you give me. I can now function in the community again. I can now function better in life period knowing you’re by my side.

Here’s to a lifetime of partnership and love ❤️

Dogs have a way of finding the people who need them, and filling an emptiness we didn't ever know we had.
- Thom Jones

11/04/2024

Mayor Fern doing her job at the Teller County Regional Animal Shelter: finding out if pups are dog friendly. She has amazing socialization skills and is able to remain neutral for all her shelter friends. She gives us a good read on if dogs are good with other dogs or may need a little help. Today was an awesome day hanging with her friends!
TCRAS

11/01/2024

So much this!!!

A friendly reminder for you to always keep in mind while training with your dogs.