Wild Child Dog Training

07/31/2026

I don’t understand how people get a dog and think, “All we have to do is feed it, give it water, and let it outside every now and then.”

Your dog isn’t a plant. Plants aren’t social. Dogs are social animals need connection, interaction, and guidance.

If you’re tapped out on connection, maybe try raising plants instead. 🌱 Because dogs deserve better. 🐾

Pictures, left to right, and why they’re here…
• Otis-Rottweiler: Struggles with keeping it in his pants. 😂 Using his weight, he’s used to doing whatever he wants, whenever he wants. Humans be damned.
• Ace-German Shepherd: Learning how to puppy. While he’s comfortable outside and a bit reactive, he struggles with pushing himself in unfamiliar environments. So, confidence building is a must.
• Lucien-Malinois: Has some intensity issues. (Surprise, surprise.) Allowing her to make choices while providing guidance has been the agenda, because she’s pretty wicked smart.
• Scout-Mini Bernedoodle: Pushy, demanding, and fully aware that he’s cute. Scout is learning the art of doing nothing and working through his fear of men so he can become his mom’s bestie on outings.

07/30/2026

Almost cried a little…🥹
Yesterday’s video: https://youtu.be/gKCQlwGhmPQ?is=kv2DQLuhO2EaepNB

Zep’s first video two years ago: https://youtu.be/s3shRnz5CMQ?is=cJdRnbARIkK93iDa

This is why we focus on behavior modification.
Dogs finding their stride and owners doing the dang thing. Ya’ll motivate me! 💪

Fearful dogs don’t just learn from us…they also learn from other do...

07/29/2026

Motivation…I talk about motivation a lot because it’s the driving force behind behavior. Every behavior has a purpose, and understanding why your dog is doing something is just as important as teaching them what to do.

There are two types of motivation:
•Extrinsic motivation is driven by external rewards. Think of getting paid to do a job. In dog training, that’s food, toys, praise, or anything else your dog values.
•Intrinsic motivation comes from within. Think of hiking because you enjoy it, not because someone paid you to. The activity itself becomes rewarding.

When I start training a dog, I almost always begin with extrinsic motivation. We use rewards to build communication, confidence, and understanding. But that’s not where we want to stay forever. The goal is to create intrinsic motivation.

A dog that chooses to engage because they enjoy working with you. A dog that finds value in the relationship, the clarity, and the purpose…not just what’s in your treat pouch. That’s why I’m not worried about “getting rid of treats.” I’m focused on building a dog that genuinely wants to work.

Understanding the difference between extrinsic and intrinsic motivation can completely change the way you look at training and why some dogs seem to need rewards forever while others don’t.

Just some food for thought. ☕️

Picture of Lucien after a play session. Lucien is a black Malinois with a bit of a history and plenty of intensity. We’re working on slowing down, using our brain for good instead of evil, and building better social habits.

Anywho, after most play sessions, I like to take a moment to just hang out with the dog. There’s a reason for that…can you guess why? 👀

07/28/2026

Anyone else have an entitled senior dog?

Take the dogs on a hike…Waya is on the other side of the field pretending she can’t hear me.
Make all the dogs wait…Waya barges through like time doesn’t matter.
Tell all the dogs to go outside…Waya is sprawled out on my bed like a princess, not moving a muscle.

Like, who does she think she is? 👑

07/27/2026

Most dog bites aren’t random. They’re often learned.

Dogs do what works. If biting makes the scary person back away, stops another being from taking a toy, or ends an uncomfortable situation, the dog has just learned that biting is an effective communication tool.

The more successful the behavior, the more likely it is to happen again and probably with more confidence.

That’s why behavior modification isn’t about suppressing behavior...it’s about changing what the dog has learned and giving them a better way to navigate the world. Don’t wait for the next bite. Address the reason behind it. 🌱

Just my thought this Monday. ☕️

07/26/2026

And a little reel from our trip. 🫎

07/24/2026

We survived our backpacking trip!

Over 21 miles in the backcountry of Yellowstone, and it was absolutely incredible. The wildflowers were stunning, and every mile was worth it.

Our guide, Laura, was amazing, and overall, it was so good to disconnect for a while.

Now it’s time for a couple of days of rest because whew… we were not prepared for hiking with that much weight on our backs. 😂

We’ll be back to training on Monday. 🌱

Ps. I know I’m missing two…they traveled with us in spirit, as they both had to drop out of the trip due to non-related injuries.

07/18/2026

One of the biggest reasons dogs struggle with anxiety, reactivity, or constantly making their own decisions isn’t because they’re trying to be “dominant.”

It’s because they don’t trust your guidance.

When a dog doesn’t believe you’ll recognize, understand, or navigate situations for them, they feel responsible for doing it themselves. That means scanning the environment, reacting to every sound, and making decisions about strangers, other dogs, squirrels, or anything they perceive as important.

And that wears on a dog.

Trust isn’t built by controlling every movement or bribing your dog with treats. It’s built through consistent leadership, clear communication, love, follow-through, and a sense of security. Over time, your dog learns they don’t have to carry the weight of every decision because they have a teammate.

A dog that trusts their handler doesn’t stop paying attention to the world. They simply stop feeling like they have to manage it alone.

This is where the magic happens. Flow. Synchronization. Partnership. Whatever you want to call it, it’s an incredible feeling for both you and your dog.

It just takes a little effort. 🌱
Pic of my two shepherds at sunset…I swear we have the prettiest sunrises and sunsets. 🌅

07/16/2026

T-minus 3 days until we head to one of my favorite places…Montana! 🏞️

But y’all probably don’t care about that; although you should, because I may or may not come back. 😉

Anywho, let’s talk dogs…One of the biggest myths in dog training is that every dog “needs a job.”

The reality? Dogs don’t need employment; they need opportunities to express their natural behaviors in healthy, appropriate ways.

I’ve traveled all over the world and seen countless dogs living fulfilling lives without a formal “job.”

A tired dog isn’t automatically a well-behaved dog. Constantly trying to wear a dog out often just creates a fitter dog with more stamina.

What dogs truly need is clear communication, appropriate outlets, structure, and a sense of purpose within the life they share with you. That’s where lasting behavior change comes from. 🌱

Carousel of Hobo, Ellie, and Georgia just being dogs… because what else should they be? 🐾
Make sure to check out our website for new blogs and videos! 📲

07/14/2026

Training Tip Tuesday!

How to follow through when your dog is off leash.

What I didn’t touch on in the video:
-Walter knows place already.
-Since I wasn’t his main trainer, him and I don’t have as much of a working relationship, so this was a great opportunity to work on building our relationship.
-By working him through this, I am proving to him that when I ask him to do something, I mean for him to do it.
-This is a great exercise for his cooperation.