Roben Kennedy Reward The Calm Dog Training & Pet Concierge

06/01/2026

The Up Down Game is such a simple yet really great focus game!

05/31/2026

Interesting new research on learning and rewards! 🧠🐾

For decades, scientists assumed learning speed was mostly about repetition.

A new study found that larger rewards created longer-lasting dopamine signals, increased engagement, and dramatically sped up learning. In some cases, animals learned complex tasks with far fewer repetitions than expected. (Neuroscience News link attached)

No, this doesn’t mean we need to hand out a handful of treats for every sit. 😅

But it does support something many positive reinforcement trainers have observed for years:

When a behavior is especially important, making the reward meaningful can matter.

A surprise jackpot for an amazing recall.
A bigger reward for choosing calm around distractions.
A celebration when your dog makes a really great choice.

Dogs do what works. And the paycheck really DOES matter. 🖤



https://neurosciencenews.com/dopamine-accelerate-learning-reward-30742/?fbclid=IwdGRleASIY0JleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEeJbtWEIP54tFEwF6pjx8PdpZEJn6KmkrgfEXc2hz4mgPKT_F6D7dKbbiqpOo_aem_hDfU7VhxxaWTOX78nlnfZQ

Large rewards accelerate learning speed by extending the duration of dopamine signals in the brain.

05/30/2026

Excellent example of working through WHY a behavior occurs and how to help the dog. Well done.

05/25/2026

Dr Ian Dunbar is an amazing teacher.

05/22/2026

05/22/2026

Waiting until your puppy is “fully vaccinated” can actually cost you! This isn’t just my opinion, check out what the AVSAB, (American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior) has to say!

The first few months matter most—and done correctly, socialization is both safe and critical.

This is where behavior problems are prevented… not fixed later. 🖤

The most important training window?
The first 3 months.

Not obedience. Not commands.
Exposure, experiences, and emotional regulation.

Take your puppy out safely—use a wagon, stroller, or carry them if they’re small enough.

Sit in the car at a school parking lot or busy shopping center and let them observe the world.

No paws on the ground yet. No dog parks. No high-traffic dog areas.

And here’s the part most people don’t realize: your puppy does NOT need to meet every person or dog to benefit!

Calm exposure > chaotic interactions. 🖤

This is how we raise dogs who can actually handle the real world. 🖤

Enjoy the Ride but Reward the Calm!

05/22/2026

Your Dog Isn’t the Problem 🤷🏻‍♀️

Progress starts with us.

When we focus on setting our dogs up for success—clear cues, good timing, and realistic expectations—learning becomes easier for them.

Not perfection. Just better communication. 🖤

Enjoy the ride but Reward The Calm

05/18/2026

With fire season upon us here in California, I’m sharing a blog post from Jackson Galaxy who has some excellent ideas for evacuation & emergency preparedness planning.

(Vacuum seal familiar items— aka beds or blankets— to preserve their scent to help the pet feel safe in a new location? BRILLIANT!)

Prepare & stay safe out there!

https://www.jacksongalaxy.com/blogs/news/pet-emergency-evacuation-preparedness-what-i-d-do-differently-after-living-through-a-wildfire?utm_source=Klaviyo&utm_medium=campaign&utm_campaign=26.5.12+Emergency+Preparedness+++LA+Fires&fbclid=IwdGRleAR3uoBleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEe80CwJYI5eYvvs8dd1_oP5_stfyc86i2z03POHN6dfpke3CUUvHQcaDVqWVw_aem_MvmF-gbQbN8zu7O-mIQuEA

05/18/2026

I get it, your dog growls when someone comes close to you. Yes, it could be that they are protecting you, but more likely they are protecting themselves.

Maybe the person is approaching them and you at the same time.

Maybe they only feel safe with you and the idea that the person will get between you and them is terrifying.

In clinical practice, dogs described as “protective” are often responding to perceived threat—not guarding a person, but creating distance from something that feels unsafe.

This sort of reframing is important because it reduces misconceptions and allows you to see your dog for what they really are.

If you think your dog is protecting you, you may feel that your dog loves you intensely and that isn't necessarily a bad thing.

If you see that your dog is protecting herself and is so petrified that she couldn't stand to even be separated from you by a couple of feet then you can see that this is affecting her quality of life and it has to do less with your dog's intense love and more with his pathological anxiety.

True protection behavior is context-specific, trained, and controlled.

Fear-based aggression is reactive, generalized, and influenced by the dog’s internal state.

This distinction matters.

When fear-driven responses are misinterpreted as desirable, dogs are more likely to be placed in situations that exceed their coping capacity. Each repeated exposure reinforces the association between approach and threat.