Pups on the Coast - Training & Behavior

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Pups on the Coast - Training & Behavior

UW-AAB and CGC Evaluator 🐾 1:1 Training Sessions & Behavioral Evaluations

10/16/2026

Part 2! 🐾 We’ve been adding more to Chances strength training routine after noticing some signs of age earlier this year and I’ve been so happy with the improvements it’s made 🐕

A core belief in my work is that understanding your dogs mind is a crucial aspect of long-term success, and apart from their behavior, understanding your dogs body is just as important.

Carefully challenging him in his senior years so he can continue to do what he loves (beach zoomies ofc 🥹) is the least I could do, he’s given us 8 incredible years so far and supports me in ways I’ll never be able to truly repay him for. 🤍

We’ve worked in:

🐾 Balance Disc - great for challenging your dogs proprioception (body’s ability to sense its own movements) and core control.
It works those tinnyyy little stabilizing muscles that help maintain balance.
We aim for a few reps of about 15 seconds each.

🐾 Side steps on an elevated surface - to work on lateral movement and controlled weight shifting! I use two separate stools w/ traction 👍🏼
We do around 6 steps each way before we take breaks.

🐾 Cavaletti poles - can help limb awareness, foot placement, and coordination. Also been a great tool for observing his gait and how he navigates to look for areas of weakness.
(Ours are positioned for our particular goals. it’s typically recommended to start low.)
Right now we’ll do like 4-5 passes with breaks in between

So important to remember that just like in behavior work, every dogs needs are different, and while what we’re working on aligns with our goals, it’s important to consult with your vet / someone certified in rehabilitation /strength conditioning to ensure you work safely with your senior pup!

08/07/2026

Earlier this year I noticed Chance losing his muscle tone in his hind legs and getting little shaky after exercise, after getting some advice from a canine rehab therapist we got started on strength training to prevent injuries as he gets older (…don’t tell him I called him a senior 😅😅 oof)

If your dogs getting a little older (especially when you have a breed prone to hip and joint issues) you know this is truly one of our biggest fears. It really does hit you hard when you realize your dog’s not a puppy anymore and it’s our job to understand these changes and work with them. 💛

We’ve already seen a huge improvement in his balance and mobility with consistent intentional movement & joint supplements. A little goes a long way!!

Every dog’s needs are different, but here are a few things we’ve gotten started on implementing a few times a week:

🐾 Elevated stance - shifting his weight backwards to build strength in his hind legs. 3-5 reps a session, about 10ish seconds each.

🐾 Hind leg lifts (while he eats or works on a lick mat!) - Around 4-8 reps on each side for about 10 seconds each.

🐾 Figure eights - slow(!!) and controlled turns around objects. I use slow lures to make sure he’s not zoomin. We aim for 8-10 passes each right now.

Just a few of these exercises, just like human physical therapy, contribute to improving overall balance, core strength, and body awareness 💪🏼🐶

Again, every dog is different and you should loop in your vet or even a canine rehab therapist before starting something new, especially with any existing joint concerns

sandiegodogtraining

07/21/2026

Are you even homies if they don’t emotionally regulate with you

06/16/2026

If you’ve ever thought, “My dog knows this at home but won’t do it in the real world,” there’s a good chance a threshold is part of the answer.

the concept is actually pretty simple:

✨ A threshold is the point where your dog goes from being able to think, learn, and respond - to being too overwhelmed to think, learn, and respond.✨

Good training happens at or under a dog’s threshold. Little to no meaningful learning happens when they’re over.

It’s one of the most common missteps I see pet parents make. It doesn’t matter how much time they dedicated to training, doesn’t matter how much money they’ve spent.
Stalls will always happen if we’re always trying to train while they’re too nervous, excited, or stressed. This at times gets misinterpreted as “stubbornness” or “ignoring you”, but it’s truly not the case!

📚 Bear with me because this is where the science matters!! research in BOTH animal and human learning shows that elevated stress can impair information processing and learning.
When arousal goes up, the brain’s ability to take in and use information goes down.

✨It’s like someone trying to give you driving directions while you’re standing next to a live band, alarms are going off, and people are moving around you.

You might hear them, but you’re not actually able to process or hold onto what they’re saying.✨

And just like people - some dogs have a stronger resilience to recover from these situations, and some don’t. These variations are completely normal!

If a dog is repeatedly exposed to triggers at an intensity they can’t handle, progress often stalls because they’re practicing a stress response rather than learning new skills 😢

That’s why threshold evaluation is SUCH a core part of behavior modification.
It’s not just about training, it’s about controlling distance, intensity, and setup so your dog can stay in a state where learning is actually possible.

Once you adjust your game plan taking your dogs threshold into account, you’ll watch the progress flow 🐶

06/04/2026

Beyond excited to call Encinitas our new home 🌴

Chance spends his days sunbathin, snackin, and beachin and he wouldn’t have it any other way 🐶

Address

Encinitas, CA
92007, 92023, 92024

Website

http://pupsonthecoast.com/

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