Greta Trains Dogs

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Fort Lee, NJ
Greta Trains Dogs

I’m the behavioral specialist & Greta trains the dogs. We keep it simple, fun and lasting. NJ/NY/C

10/30/2026

I’m a professional dog trainer, and yes, I let my German Shepherd sleep in my bed. 😂❤️

Contradictory? Not necessarily.

I advise many clients against it, especially when possessiveness, resource guarding, or boundary issues are involved.

Dogs are very aware of space. Some may begin guarding places they regularly share with us, and sometimes that possessiveness extends to the person sharing that space.

But Ingrid doesn’t guard me or my bed. She respects boundaries, moves when asked, and trusts me to handle situations.

Gunvald, my other German Shepherd, is an intact male with protection-training experience. He’s well trained, but he doesn’t sleep in my bed.

Same household. Different dogs. Different boundaries.

Here’s something people often get backward.

It’s not always the dog who needs to earn the privilege of sleeping in our bed. Sometimes WE need to earn the privilege of having them there.

Through training, consistency, clear communication, and understanding the individual dog.

If a trainer you trust recommends changing certain household habits, there’s probably a reason.

You can’t expect your dog’s behavior to change if you’re unwilling to change your own.

And sometimes, knowing when to establish boundaries and when to allow privileges is benevolent leadership.

Now turn up the sound and listen to Ingrid breathing. ❤️

10/22/2026

Ever wonder why some little dogs become so “aggressive” toward strangers when they’re being held? 🤔

Well, here’s 85-pound Gunvald helping me make a point. 😂

Dogs have legs for a reason. They’re meant to walk, explore, and have the freedom to create distance when they’re uncomfortable.

When we constantly carry them EVERYWHERE, we may unintentionally take away their ability to avoid unwanted interactions.

Think about it. A stranger approaches, gets right in the dog’s face, and starts petting. The dog turns away, avoids eye contact, or shows other subtle signs of discomfort.

But those signals are often ignored.

Tolerance isn’t permission.

When a dog’s attempts to avoid an interaction are repeatedly ignored, and flight is no longer an option, defensive behavior can develop.

Barking, growling, and snapping may become the dog’s way of saying, “Leave me alone!”

There’s nothing wrong with picking up your dog when necessary. The problem is constantly taking away their choices.

We’re always teaching our dogs, even when we don’t realize it.

Respecting their personal space, recognizing their body language, and allowing them appropriate choices is benevolent leadership.

10/17/2026

When a dog doesn’t know who to trust, they’ll often do whatever has worked for them in the past. Even if that means barking, lunging, or snapping.

Meet Charlotte, a 10-pound Shih Tzu, Poodle, and Chihuahua mix who came from the START II shelter in Englewood, New Jersey, and is now being fostered by Victoria and her mom. ❤️

Charlotte has learned that making herself look and sound intimidating can help keep unfamiliar people away.

And here’s something we often overlook with small dogs: when we pick them up during uncomfortable situations, we may unintentionally take away their ability to create distance. When flight isn’t an option, defensive behavior can become more likely.

About three weeks ago, I made a complimentary home visit after helping Victoria over the phone.

We didn’t force Charlotte to interact with me. Instead, we gave her space, worked at a comfortable distance, and taught her that checking in with Victoria was a better option than confronting someone she didn’t trust.

Eventually, Charlotte could walk past me and redirect her attention toward Victoria instead of worrying about what I was doing. She finally began to understand I wasn’t her responsibility even though I was in familiar space.

Dogs repeat what works. Our responsibility is to teach them something better.

Charlotte doesn’t need to love strangers, and she certainly doesn’t need to greet everyone. She needs to learn that she can trust her foster to handle situations without feeling responsible for confronting people herself.

Sometimes progress is as simple as a little dog choosing to look at her human instead of reacting to a stranger; helping her make that choice is benevolent leadership.

Address

Bergen County
Fort Lee, NJ
07024

Website

https://gretasdogtraining.com/f

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