Pawsitively Polite Dog Obedience Training

Pawsitively Polite Dog Obedience Training My name is Debbie Tangen. I'm a Certified Dog Obedience Trainer. I train dogs to display manners.

06/16/2025

If you recently got a puppy, or you're considering getting one, your vet will tell you the puppy shouldn't be in close contact with other dogs until it's around 4 months old, which is when it gets its first rabies vaccination. This is the reason most group obedience classes don't allow puppies to join until they're at least 16 weeks.

However, obedience training should start sooner than 4 months of age. I offer private, in-home dog training, so it doesn't matter where in the vaccination schedule your puppy is. The sooner, the better!

06/13/2025

My dog, Mochi (the Shiba Inu) doesn't like all the deck construction noise at our house so I brought her with me to walk my 135-pound Hyde Park client, Phineas.



Did you know that the dog training industry is not federally regulated? That means there are no licensing, certification...
05/04/2025

Did you know that the dog training industry is not federally regulated? That means there are no licensing, certification or liability insurance requirements to be a trainer in the US. Anyone who wants to train dogs can set up a business and claim they're a trainer, despite not knowing how to effectively teach basic obedience or change behaviors. They may not understand how dogs learn and might use aversive techniques to force a dog to comply.

If you want to hire a trainer, look for one who's voluntarily completed one of the many dog trainer programs available and received certification through that program.

There are competent dog trainers without certification or credentials; however, the knowledge that the one you choose has intentionally pursued guided instruction adds credibility to the trainer. It also may give you peace of mind that your dog is being taught skills through updated and humane techniques.

Currently, a movement is underway to require licensure of dog trainers; however, nothing yet has been decided at the state or federal levels.

Another aspect to consider: does the dog trainer carry professional liability insurance? A trainer can be held legally liable if a dog, in his/her care, bites a person, bites another dog, or causes property damage.

Don't hesitate to ask for proof of professional liability insurance from any trainer you're considering. One who doesn't have this protection for you, your dog and others should be crossed off your list.

I'm a certified dog trainer through Animal Behavior College and through the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers. I also carry professional liability insurance. You can see the documentation, below.

I take what I do seriously - my priority is successfully training your dog through positive reinforcement using gentle, caring methods, while keeping everyone involved safe.

Mochi's checking the weather before going outside ⛈️
04/23/2025

Mochi's checking the weather before going outside ⛈️

04/22/2025

Did you know that a dog's tail wag is a barometer of its emotional state?

Below are a few videos that show dogs wagging their tails in different ways and how the dogs may be feeling.

Since these are short videos, we don't know the situations that are causing the dogs' tails to move in particular ways. However, general canine communication says certain tail wags imply certain emotions.

Watch your dog's tail and note what position it's in when your dog is happy, scared, relaxed, sleepy, shy, playful, etc.

If a dog doesn't have a tail, it's harder to determine how it's feeling. When this is the case, look at the position of its ears and whether its posture is loose or tense.

04/02/2025

Here's another walking video of Phineas. I've been working with him to pass plants, flowers and bushes without peeing on them. I'm also working with him to avoid peeing at the front steps of neighbors' houses.

03/29/2025

Phineas is an 8-year-old Black Lab/Great Dane mix whom I've been walking daily for over 2 years. He's a serial predator of squirrels, rabbits and cats, and I've been working with him to control his impulse to chase.




Get a female dog, said the proverbial "they." Female dogs don't mark their territory, "they" said.My female dog 😯
03/29/2025

Get a female dog, said the proverbial "they." Female dogs don't mark their territory, "they" said.

My female dog 😯




Pop quiz: Your dog just heard an extremely loud sound and reacted fearfully. You should immediately:a) say to her loudly...
03/24/2025

Pop quiz: Your dog just heard an extremely loud sound and reacted fearfully. You should immediately:

a) say to her loudly, "Oh, wow! That was really scary, wasn't it?"
b) wrap her tightly in your arms, rock her and whisper, "it's OK, you're OK."
c) get mad and yell at her to "get over it!"
d) none of the above.

If you answered "d," you're correct.

The options "a," "b" and "c" all draw attention to her fear. By commenting loudly, holding her, or yelling, this confirms that you also heard the loud sound and her reaction has just been reinforced. The next time she hears a loud noise, she'll show the same fearful response.

Well, you ask, what should I do instead?

This may sound cold and harsh...but the best thing is for you to act like nothing happened. Why? Because if you appear unaffected, your reaction will reassure her that everything is OK. Our pet dogs take their cues from us and if we remain calm, they'll learn to do the same.

The next time you notice your dog reacting fearfully to a loud noise, continue doing what you're doing and don't bring attention to her response. It'll take time but I promise you'll see a difference in your dog's reaction, as long as you're consistent and repetitive in the way your respond.





I'm so excited to announce that I received my canine Behavioral Neuroscience certificate from the Association of Profess...
03/19/2025

I'm so excited to announce that I received my canine Behavioral Neuroscience certificate from the Association of Professional Dog Trainers. This endeavor took 6 months to complete and I want to share my knowledge of canine behavior and learning with dog owners who are perplexed by their dogs' behaviors.

Do you believe your dog's behavior is a direct reflection upon you?Many dog owners think that they're the causes of thei...
03/11/2025

Do you believe your dog's behavior is a direct reflection upon you?

Many dog owners think that they're the causes of their dogs' excessive barking, pulling on their leashes, and lunging and growling at people and dogs. This promotes embarrassment, humiliation and the belief that others see them as the origin of their dogs' behavior.

However, these behaviors are usually due to fear aggression and they persist through unintentional reinforcement. If a dog is afraid of something, he'll display certain body language to discourage interacting with the scary thing. If body language works, the scary thing goes away. If it doesn't work, he'll growl to deter interacting. If growling works, the scary thing goes away. If that doesn't work, he'll bark and lunge. If barking and lunging work, the scary thing goes away. If that still doesn't work, he may lash out and bite.

Dogs present particular behaviors to avoid an interaction with something scary. Whatever works to make it go away is reinforcement, in this case, it's negative reinforcement. They posture, growl, bark or lunge to have an effect on the scary thing. If they have to escalate their behavior to have an effect, they will.

None of these behaviors is caused by the dog owner; however, unless the behaviors are interrupted, they'll continue to persist.

If your dog displays these types of behaviors, or any others, please reach out to me. I want to help you understand that it's not something you're doing that makes your dog behave this way and I want to help your dog find a different way to react to scary things.





What training reward does your dog covet?For most pooches, it's a tasty treat. But for others, it can be verbal praise, ...
02/04/2025

What training reward does your dog covet?

For most pooches, it's a tasty treat. But for others, it can be verbal praise, affection, belly rubs or playing with a favorite toy. It's essential to know the training reward for which your dog would do just about anything to receive. This knowledge sets you up for training success.

Not sure what your dog loves? Contact me at 816-686-4766 - I would be happy to help you discover it!

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Kansas City, MO

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