Dog Latin Dog Training and Behavior Consulting

Dog Latin Dog Training and Behavior Consulting DC behavior pros influencing dogs and coaching people© throughout the DMV. On-site training in the

Dog Latin offers coaching and behavior modification by influencing dogs and training people. We help dogs experiencing anxiety, fear and aggression feel better about the world. Our limited group classes include Puppy Preparatory, FLI (focus, leash skills and impulse control for parents and dogs,) and Hidden Gems. Hidden Gems celebrates moments of success with dogs experiencing fear through coping,

relaxation, and calming skills. We serve the DC metro area for at-home sessions and virtual lessons anywhere.

My dogs enjoy jogging down the street with me for several yards as I say, “Let’s run, run, run.” It’s silly, fun, and us...
03/14/2025

My dogs enjoy jogging down the street with me for several yards as I say, “Let’s run, run, run.” It’s silly, fun, and usually accessible.

Match reinforcements to the situation.

What motivates your dog?

Step count. Heart rate. Problem solving. We walk for many reasons, yet dogs have their walk agenda. So when we share a w...
03/06/2025

Step count. Heart rate. Problem solving.

We walk for many reasons, yet dogs have their walk agenda. So when we share a walk with a dog, being on the same page is the first step to connected walking.

🐕‍🦺Dogs see the world through their noses. Sniffing is a daily need that provides information about surroundings. Be prepared to stop and let a dog “see” what’s happening.
🦮Choose a six or eight-foot leash. Shorter leashes often don’t match the stride of the person and dog. Find a comfortable leash in your hands and think of it as a communication tool.
🐕‍🦺Besides the length of the leash, consider width. The width of the leash should match your dog’s size and strength.
🦮Experiment with where to attach the leash. Some harnesses have D-rings on the chest and/or back. Attaching the leash to a dog’s back may result in a “sled dog” effect. When connected to the chest D-ring, leash awareness may be more straightforward for a dog. Some leashes offer double clips, allowing a dog parent to attach the leash to both D-rings.
An example is the 8-foot 8-way leash by Bold Lead Design, ***
🐕‍🦺Practice “walking up” the leash, hand over hand, to get closer to a dog rather than pulling.
🦮Leash skills aren’t innate to dogs. Walking together takes practice and feedback. Most dog parents want their dogs to walk with leash slack. The first step is to introduce the feel of a loose leash. Begin inside your home and walk backward, say “Yes, pause, and offer a tidbit at your side. Add a pivot and walk forward when your dog understands.
🐕‍🦺Say “Yes” when your dog checks in with you and offer a small snack slightly behind your legs. Food delivered behind your front leg draws a dog closer to you over time.
🦮Step count isn’t on your dog’s mind. If it’s on yours, jog in place or step side to side as your dog sniffs.

Walk together and create memories.

Adding a new dog or puppy to your home is a joyful time. Family members and friends spend hours with the new addition. B...
02/09/2025

Adding a new dog or puppy to your home is a joyful time. Family members and friends spend hours with the new addition. But when a pup or new dog is left alone for the first time, they often stress.
In some cases, dogs panic.

Compounding your dog’s anxiety is the fact that many dogs and puppies have always had canine friends or littermates surrounding them. When a pup is suddenly solo, their world changes dramatically.

Teach independence training starting at home. It’s a life skill.

Provide a long-lasting snack to your dog, like a frozen meat baby food-filled Toppl, lick mat, or chew. Use snacks that your dog has shown lots of interest in prior to beginning independence training. Wait for your dog to engage with the snack.

Say the verbal “cue, “Guard the castle!” (or your departure cue), walk across a room, and return to a task, rather than engaging with your dog.

Your dog may or may not disengage from the food. If your dog did stop, wait until your dog resumes eating the snack.

Repeat “Guard the castle!” and walk a few feet in another direction. Wait if necessary, then repeat the cue. Walk to a doorway and return. Repeat above. Avoid using exit doors the first few sessions.

If your dog already shows signs of distress when left alone, consult your veterinarian. Get helps asap as your dog needs support.

End sessions a minute or two before your dog finishes snacking.

Modify the above steps when necessary. If walking to the doorway causes concern, walk in another direction on the next repetition. Return to walking to a doorway, but only go half the distance.

How long does your dog take to finish the snack? If a frozen Toppl takes seven minutes to finish, end the session at five minutes. For the first few days or weeks, create successful, easy reps. Creating successful moments is the pathway to more independence.

Griffey Boy survived the 2008 economic crisis as we humans did. His puppy mill breeder could not sell his litter and oth...
01/23/2025

Griffey Boy survived the 2008 economic crisis as we humans did. His puppy mill breeder could not sell his litter and others to their NYC pet store clients. People were broke. A rescue ended up paying a reduced fee for Grif and his sisters. Otherwise, they’d be killed.

If Griffin were a Sesame Street muppet, he’d be Telly. “Life is to be approached with wide-eyed caution” was his look. He shows the look even in his baby photo posted by his rescue (last one.) Yet, Griffy enjoyed running and snuffing through a quiet park. He learned to walk around the neighborhood happily, too.

He tolerated numerous foster dogs and even became buddies with most. A year after Griffy arrived from Ohio, we adopted Lola, a Pekingese mix from southern West Virginia. Lola is my KPA professional dog trainer course dog, different from her classmates of an Aussie, Golden, and large mixed breed. She was Griffin’s best friend, and they were a year apart in age. She is 15 now.

Griffin passed away yesterday in his 17th year of life. As a dog parent, he taught me to approach situations and think like him.

Let’s keep advocating to eliminate puppy mills, depriving dogs and puppies of their daily needs for money.

Let’s advocate for no- or low-cost spay and neuter in our communities. As I write this, many municipal counties in the DMV, including the District of Columbia, offer no- or low-cost programs. And we wonder why shelters are full beyond their capacity for care. The DVM community looks forward to the spay and neuter program promised to the city.

Let’s keep adopting shelter and rescue dogs and helping dog parents learn more about giving and getting feedback from their best friends.

Thank you, Griffey Boy, for sharing your life with me.

On-leash greetings, especially those intended for socialization, often go badly. Dog parents focus on the opportunity to...
01/17/2025

On-leash greetings, especially those intended for socialization, often go badly. Dog parents focus on the opportunity to meet without "reading" what the other dog is saying.

This photo makes it easy to see the grey dog's tension—stiff body and tight leash. Even the golden retriever pup looks a bit tentative. Yet, dog conversations—held through dogs' body language—go down in a nanosecond.

So, what's a dog parent to do?

🦮Park yourself in dog-friendly hot spots without your dog. Observe dogs, their people, and on-leash greetings. Take mental notes of the dogs' body language. Begin to predict outcomes of on-leash greetings. Dogs are fascinating to observe!
🦮Adult dogs often do not want to meet puppies and teen dogs, and that's normal.
🦮Schedule walks with friends and their dogs. Socialization isn't solely about dog play.
🦮Go to a park with your dog and position yourself away from walking paths or dog park entries. Give your dog feedback via praise and snacks for calmly looking at other dogs. Over time, seeing other dogs can become a cue to check in with you.
🦮If you share life with a puppy, find a puppy class. Many puppy classes include off-leash time with other pups.
🦮When dogs meet when leashed, keep the "hello" to a few seconds, and relax your hand. 🦮🦮Gripping or tightening the leash can trigger dogs to react unfriendly.
🦮Practice walking by other leashed dogs. Use tasty tidbits and provide as much space as possible at first. Passing dogs on walks is a skill.

Remember, too, that dogs mature. They may continue some teen behavior, but it's okay for them to move on from the need to say "hello."

We all love to see our dogs relaxed and content.Like people, dogs are unique in their choices of preferred activities, f...
12/29/2024

We all love to see our dogs relaxed and content.

Like people, dogs are unique in their choices of preferred activities, food, resting spots, and friends.

Keep the tried and true, yet offer some novelty in the new year:

😍Test different snacks.
😍Walk with a new friend.
😍Take a games class.
😍Try some scenting activities.
😍Discover trails and parks.
😍Identify short field trips like a trip to a dog-friendly store.
😍Introduce new walking routes.

Dogs and their preferences change over time. Keep discovering!

What’s a simple pleasure your dog loves?

Dogs labeled “reactive” toward other dogs can make friends. Predictability is key. There are many factors contributing t...
12/17/2024

Dogs labeled “reactive” toward other dogs can make friends. Predictability is key.

There are many factors contributing to a dog’s reactivity toward other dogs, including:

Experience—Depending on the dog, one scary encounter can change your dog’s behavior toward other dogs. It’s nature’s way of instilling self-preservation. Sometimes, an encounter may seem harmless to a dog parent, yet their dog processes it differently.

Genetics—Anxiety can be hereditary. Your dog’s anxiety may be a result of anxiety-inducing hormones passed along from a dog’s mother or father.

Socialization—Dogs have a “sensitive” period, between three and 14 weeks in puppies. During this time, dog parents should introduce their puppies to new people, places, and things in a positive light. Without these controlled interactions, dogs may develop a fear.

Read GSD Teddy’s story in comments.

Check out our reactive dog class!

🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏We are grateful for all our clients and blessings.Gratitude is the best attitude!
11/27/2024

🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

We are grateful for all our clients and blessings.

Gratitude is the best attitude!

Need dog parenting help? We got you!Whether it’s puppy parenting or behavior modification, Dog Latin can help.Our certi...
11/21/2024

Need dog parenting help? We got you!

Whether it’s puppy parenting or behavior modification, Dog Latin can help.

Our certified behavior consultants and trainers are ready.

Dog Latin small group classes are held in Bethesda, MD, with parking available. Classes are limited to four dogs and their people.

Our reactive dog class—Taming Triggers—is held outdoors, at various locations around the District-Maryland-Virginia. It’s limited to five dogs.

Email us at [email protected] with questions.

Life is short. Play with your dog.Play is a way to teach new skills besides being fun. In class, you’ll learn games that...
11/19/2024

Life is short. Play with your dog.

Play is a way to teach new skills besides being fun. In class, you’ll learn games that teach skills and manners while building a stronger bond with your dog.

Skill games bust boredom, too. If “training” seems like drudgery, Tween 2 Teen is for you.

In addition to Tween 2 Teen, check out Dog Latin’s other games-based classes, such as Puppy Prep and Games for Good Citizens (dogs one year and older.)

Learn more at www.doglatindogtraining/classes.

We’re always happy to answer questions!

Life is short. Play with your dog.Play is a way to teach new skills besides being fun. In class, you’ll learn games that...
11/19/2024

Life is short. Play with your dog.

Play is a way to teach new skills besides being fun. In class, you’ll learn games that teach skills and manners while building a stronger bond with your dog.

Skill games bust boredom, too. If “training” seems like drudgery, Tween 2 Teen is for you.

In addition to Tween 2 Teen class, check out Dog Latin’s other games-based classes, such as Puppy Prep and Games for Good Citizens (for dogs one year and older.)

Learn more at www.doglatindogtraining/classes.

We’re always happy to answer questions!

☮️☮️☮️☮️ Our Taming Triggers is full force for 2025.The first round of classes begins in February and is limited in spac...
11/11/2024

☮️☮️☮️☮️ Our Taming Triggers is full force for 2025.
The first round of classes begins in February and is limited in space to four dogs. The first and last class take place online, with four outdoor sessions outdoors.

Registration is open. We maintain wait lists, and will consider forming a new class.

Dog Latin offers other classes, too!

♥️🩷♥️🩷♥️🩷Thoughts from some dogs…
10/26/2024

♥️🩷♥️🩷♥️🩷
Thoughts from some dogs…

Dog parents often feel that their dogs must physically exercise or play with other dogs all day.Embracing a ‘do-somethin...
10/14/2024

Dog parents often feel that their dogs must physically exercise or play with other dogs all day.

Embracing a ‘do-something mindset’ can be enlightening. Yet, if you reframe it, spending calm time with your dog is equally important. This time helps your dog relax and deepens your bond. While humans are adept at stimulating dogs through high-energy interactions, we should also prioritize calmness from slowing down.

Here are some benefits of slowing down together:

😎Builds connections
😎Lowers stress
😎Rests brains
😎Develops awareness
😎Betters mental and physical health

It’s not just about the big activities, but also about the small, daily moments. Strolls, gardening, stretching on the floor, eating together-these are all opportunities to slow down and be present with your dog. They all count towards building a stronger bond and improving your dog’s well-being.

What’s your doggie downtime?

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Dog Latin Dog Training teaches people and dogs through positive reinforcement, using principles rooted in the science of learning. Dogs actually learn during training — staying engaged, developing predictable behavior and building confidence, while strengthening human-dog bonds. And, dog owners become creative in their teaching, too. Dog Latin Dog Training offers individual and shared tutoring based on your needs and goals, along with help for behavioral issues.