Pawsitive K9 Trainers LLC

10/30/2026

This could be a hard read for some …. I know people have good intentions for their dogs . We need to look at dogs through a different lens , that’s why I am here to help educate , equip and more so understand your dogs needs .

Some dogs are tethered to a kennel.
Others are tethered to our expectations.
And that tether is much harder to see.

They live inside our homes now.
They sleep on orthopaedic beds.
A few toys to play with. A wardrobe full of coats.
They are loved. Oh, how they are loved.

But a loved life is not always a lived life.

We shrink their world for convenience.
We want a dog that fits into our life,
not a life that stretches to fit a dog.

So before they even arrive, the plan is made.
They will be calm when people come over.
They will be fine with 10 minutes around the same block.
They won't complain when we skip it.
Five minutes of fetch while dinner cooks.
And they will be my loyal companion.

But what if who they are doesn't fit the plan?
What if they were bred to run for miles and we give them a block?
What if they were bred to use their nose, and we never give them anything worth sniffing?

So the cracks show.
The chewed rug.
The paint scratched off the wall.
Whining at the door.
Jumping all over guests because it's the most excitement they've had in 8 days.

And we call it misbehaviour.

So we train them harder.
Not to understand them better-
but to make them fit neatly again.
Calmer.
Quieter.
They need to accept this is the life we decided they should have.

After all, dogs are meant to be loyal companions.
We never stop to ask if we are being a loyal companion to them.

We look at photos of dogs chained to kennels and feel angry.
We all agree, that's no life for a dog.
We give ours a bed instead of a rag on the ground.
A beautiful home instead of a chain.
A couple of toys instead of dirt and twigs.
We just don't see that the chain can still be there

10/29/2026

I had a blast today with this adorable nugget , that tongue !! This is Cookie and she has some big feelings about hearing and seeing other dogs , plus she loves to chase bunnies , what dog doesn’t ?! Showed her human some easy pattern games to keep her focus on mom , added In a longer leash for more agency and yes chances to chase the bunnies !

People usually have good intentions but they micromanage their dogs or think they need to” control “ them constantly. I show owners how to meet their dogs needs and keep their pups safe . Cookie was out cold once we ended our session and was snoring , I did her some good 😁

10/27/2026

I had a great session today with one of my clients who has three very different breeds and different stages of their life . Her oldest dog Cookie is a herding breed and suffers from some anxious behavior . I added  in some ACE freework today and wow it was a game changer . ACE stands for Animal Centered Education developed by the late Sarah Fisher who changed the training field with the revolutionary concept of dog lead, low impact enrichment, and observation activity. This allows dogs to explore sensory items, varied  surfaces and food stations at their own pace without obedience commands or human pressure. 

This is a fantastic way to feed your dogs and this helps anxious reactive, overstimulated, or recovering dogs and resets their nervous system . it also builds confidence and encourages problem-solving and also helps owners watch their dogs behavior posture if the dog has stiffness ,any physical discomfort and how they are breathing.

There was a tractor working behind her house, which you can hear in the video and typically this would have scared her away, but she hung in there and was exploring the different stations.

10/22/2026

Great post about how the dogs feel when interacting with strangers . I’ll also add sticking your hand out to a dog is so intrusive, they just need to be near you to determine if they want engagement and if they don’t , then don’t pet ! This is especially important for kids who run up to a dog . Always ask first and let the dog decide if they want to say hi .

MIND YOUR MANNERS!

The safe, respectful, polite way to interact with a dog.

Imagine a stranger walking up to you, invading your personal space, touching you without consent or maybe cornering or restraining you so you can’t get away.

Would you feel threatened? Would you feel safe? Would you accept this without reacting?

You try to communicate your discomfort, but the person ignores you and continues to touch you, leaving you no choice but to defend yourself.

This is perfectly understandable when it comes to people, but somehow, we often don’t understand that dogs have the same need for space, choice, consent and safety.

Dogs are frequently approached, touched and crowded by people without being given a choice. Their body language signals of stress are not understood or simply ignored.

Then, when a dog growls, snaps or reacts defensively, we act surprised.

One of my own dogs is particularly sensitive to unfamiliar people. If we have visitors, I always ask that they give her space and avoid trying to interact with her.

She needs to make the decision that she feels comfortable enough to approach and interact.

So often, my request is ignored. Sometimes resulting in a reactive response from my dog. The person is then genuinely shocked - What's wrong with your dog? Why is she so aggressive!

The real question should be - why wasn't her need for space respected?

Her personal space had been invaded, she had not been given the opportunity to feel safe or choose to engage. When her body language didn’t work to keep the person at a distance, her behaviour escalated.

We expect people to respect our personal boundaries. We expect to have a say in who touches us, when and where they touch us and if it’s acceptable. Why should it be different for dogs?

Dogs are not public property. They are sentient individuals with their own preferences, fears, boundaries and ways of communicating.

Being friendly, familiar or well-behaved does not mean a dog is freely available for anyone to touch.

Feeling safe is rooted in choice, in consent and the right to say no and we need to respect that.

10/21/2026

Dogs communicate all the time , will you take the time to learn what they are saying ?

10/19/2026

A challenge for my clients and followers , hangout in whatever nature you can find and just watch what your dog does ! Behavioral diversity is so important for their wellbeing. Family Dog Mediators focus on animal welfare and diversity, that will naturally change unwanted behaviors , this is difference we’re are trying to achieve in the dog training industry. Contact me for more info !

Today's experiment:
Give a dog time in an enriching natural environment without telling them what to do.

Then watch.

What do they choose?
What do they repeat?
What do they avoid?
What holds their attention?
What do they want to do?
Does the environment allow them to do it?
Can you identify behaviors from the Total Welfare Ethogram?

Is this the kind of data we have been taught to collect?

We should start.

Try it this week & tell us what you noticed.

10/17/2026

Trigger stacking is something I educate my clients about . Sometimes it’s so subtle but impactful .

Yeah, yeah. Trigger stacking 🥱
I know. We harp on about it.

But it's fundamental to understanding and helping a dog.

And those triggers?
They can be pretty insignificant when looked at individually.
A sniff that went wrong, a rattling trailer driving past or even a barking dog behind a fence.

That's why we always need to keep trigger stacking tucked away in the back of our minds.

It's often easy to recognise when a dog has reached complete emotional overload.
Clear as day.

All those other stages?
Sometimes not so clear.

And when things aren't quite so obvious, it's easy to make decisions to stay at the park a little longer, meet that next dog, or greet that person.
When maybe we should have recognised what our dog was already telling us.

And those stages?
They're not really a reliable, fixed scale.
Dogs won't necessarily work their way neatly or clearly through each one.
The stages can overlap, those changes can be really subtle, and recovery?
Yup, pretty individual too.

So maybe it's time to stifle that yawn and give trigger stacking the attention it deserves.
Because those seemingly small, insignificant experiences can add up.

And what a dog could cope with an hour ago might be something they simply can't cope with now.

Even your dog.

10/17/2026

“Stubborn” is a human behavior , not a canine behavior 😊

I’M NOT STUBBORN!

Your dog won’t come back when called, refuses to walk in the direction you want to go, won’t sit when asked, doesn’t listen when out and about, but does it perfectly at home…

Are they just being stubborn?

What we may think of as just being stubborn is often an important clue that tells us we need to look deeper into the cause.

A dog’s response is influenced by far more than motivation. Emotional state, physical discomfort, stress, tiredness, an environment, previous experiences, genetics and learning history can all play a part.

Perhaps dogs don’t understand what we’re asking. Maybe an environment is far more rewarding than we are. Maybe they are feeling overwhelmed, anxious, overexcited or tired. Maybe they've learned that responding to a particular cue predicts something they find unpleasant. Perhaps there is pain, discomfort or they’re not feeling well.

Are we making it worthwhile, have we taught the behaviour clearly and practised in different environments, is the environment too challenging, are we asking more than the dog can manage in that moment, is there an unmet need or an underlying physical issue?

These are far more important questions than asking how to make a dog comply.

Our responsibility isn't to win a battle of wills. It's to understand the dog in front of us, in that moment and create the conditions in which they can succeed.

Build motivation through what is reinforcing to the individual dog. Make learning clear and consistent. Manage the environment. Respect emotions and physical limits.

A dog succeeds when they feel safe, understand what's being asked and are motivated.

Instead of labelling a dog as “stubborn”, first look at what might be underneath that behaviour.

10/15/2026

Engagement with your dog …. How often do you have engagement with your dog ? If you want a close bond with your pup , PLAY with them ! Tug is an excellent game to work on impulse control and choice , and no it doesn’t cause dogs to be aggressive.