GottaTrain

GottaTrain Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from GottaTrain, Dog trainer, Phoenix, AZ.

I like giving dogs 10 days to settle before coming up with a training plan. It gives me time to understand them before m...
03/16/2025

I like giving dogs 10 days to settle before coming up with a training plan. It gives me time to understand them before making decisions on how to move forward. But every now and then, a dog comes in that forces me to adjust.

I have a board and train that’s struggling—whether in a crate or outside, he can’t handle being alone. Three nights straight of howling, not just mild protest but full-blown panic attacks. He’s not just being difficult; he’s unraveling.

I’m as exhausted as he is, but waiting isn’t helping him. I don’t love conditioning the e-collar this early, but training isn’t one-size-fits-all. Some dogs need different approaches, and right now, he needs guidance to break this cycle before it cements into something worse.

Used correctly, the e-collar can be a game-changer—not as punishment, but as a way to interrupt hysteria and reinforce a calmer state of mind. The goal isn’t to shock the anxiety out of him but to give him clear, gentle feedback that helps him settle. Low-level stim, just enough for acknowledgment, paired with rewards for calm behavior.

I don’t use e-collars often because, in the wrong hands, they’re misused. But cases like this are exactly why they’re important. Some dogs need more than time and patience—they need clarity. Letting stress take over helps no one.

If everyone you meet is either you in another form then every interaction is an encounter with a reflection of yourself ...
02/27/2025

If everyone you meet is either you in another form then every interaction is an encounter with a reflection of yourself or a divine presence testing your heart. At the end of the day, treat them with respect, discernment, and the right energy for the moment. Some versions of you need a helping hand. Some need a boot in the ass. Some need to be left behind.

Selective hearing—your dog has it, I have it, but at least I can teach them to listen when it matters.
02/20/2025

Selective hearing—your dog has it, I have it, but at least I can teach them to listen when it matters.

If the right people or camps own the dog, it’s a master—a true 1%. But put that same dog in the hands of someone outside...
02/16/2025

If the right people or camps own the dog, it’s a master—a true 1%. But put that same dog in the hands of someone outside the political circle, and suddenly, it’s worthless. They blacklist certain individuals, making it harder to sell dogs or puppies, no matter how good they are. The game is thick, and there’s no room for sympathy when you’re up against gang-like tactics. The playbook is to divide, control, and conquer. Just like the Europeans pitted small native tribes against each other, these camps keep the dog game fractured, making sure the ones who help them the most get screwed over in the end. They manipulate, blacklist, and control the market, deciding who thrives and who gets shut out. Loyalty means nothing when the goal is power, and once they’ve gotten what they need, they’ll cut you off just like the natives who helped build what became America—used, discarded, and replaced.

Interesting thoughts…

Developing dog trainers who make excuses and avoid hard truths are no different from people who let themselves go physic...
02/13/2025

Developing dog trainers who make excuses and avoid hard truths are no different from people who let themselves go physically. If you’re sloppy, weak, or undisciplined in life, it will bleed into your training. Just like being overweight is a symptom of neglecting yourself, being a mediocre trainer is a symptom of neglecting the craft.

The dog industry is packed with fragile egos and trainers who would rather tear each other down than step up their own g...
02/11/2025

The dog industry is packed with fragile egos and trainers who would rather tear each other down than step up their own game. I’ve got people who hate me without ever meeting me, which means their opinion isn’t even based on reality—it’s based on their own insecurity. The local trainers I’ve helped? They can’t handle the fact that I gave them a leg up, so now they have to discredit me to justify why they’re still stuck. And the general dog training community? It’s full of people more interested in virtue-signaling, ego-stroking, and gatekeeping than actually being great at what they do. The jealousy is real because my success makes them uncomfortable. They see what’s possible, and instead of being inspired, they feel exposed. I force them to confront their own mediocrity, and that’s something most of them will never have the guts to do.

Clients, other dog trainers, even so-called friends—people rarely value what they don’t have to earn. When something is ...
02/07/2025

Clients, other dog trainers, even so-called friends—people rarely value what they don’t have to earn. When something is freely given—whether it’s knowledge, time, or opportunity—it becomes an afterthought, an expectation rather than a privilege. They assume the well will always be there to draw from, so they don’t bother to conserve or appreciate it.

But the moment that bridge is gone? That’s when the panic sets in. Suddenly, they realize the weight of what they lost, but by then, it’s too late. And the irony? They’ll usually blame you rather than themselves, as if you were obligated to keep giving endlessly.

This is why exclusivity, cost (whether financial or effort-based), and clear boundaries are necessary. Whether it’s access to your time, your expertise, or your presence, people need to earn it—because if they don’t, they’ll never respect it.

Do you agree?

I’m fortunate to have some incredible people in my corner, and Wes is one of them. He’s been a huge influence—not just i...
02/07/2025

I’m fortunate to have some incredible people in my corner, and Wes is one of them. He’s been a huge influence—not just in BJJ but in life and business. When I was burned out with pet dog clients, he helped me develop tryouts and a self-regulating group training system. Letting go of control wasn’t easy, but seeing my clients thrive together has made it worth it.

He also co-founded DarkSideCanine dog enthusiast club with me, bringing his team-building expertise to the table. Now, tryouts are part of the culture, and we’ve got something solid growing. But beyond all that, Wes is one of the few people I can truly count on. When I get hotheaded, he steps in and handles things—no hesitation, no bu****it. He’s the ice when I start to boil over.

Meeting him showed me something I won’t forget—there’s always a way forward I just gotta find the path.

I used to think I had it all figured out—until I didn’t. Like many trainers, I started on Mount Stupid, convinced I knew...
02/04/2025

I used to think I had it all figured out—until I didn’t. Like many trainers, I started on Mount Stupid, convinced I knew it all after a few wins. Then reality hit. The deeper I dove, the more I realized how much I didn’t know.

That’s the Dunning-Kruger effect in action:
Mount Stupid – Overconfident and clueless.
Valley of Despair – The brutal wake-up call.
Slope of Enlightenment – Learning, refining, and questioning everything.
Plateau of Mastery – Knowing enough to understand there’s no finish line.

Today, I embrace the discomfort of never knowing enough. It keeps me growing—not just as a trainer, but as a teacher. The real ones get it.

Dog training is incredible, but life outside of it matters just as much. The discipline, focus, and resilience it builds...
02/04/2025

Dog training is incredible, but life outside of it matters just as much. The discipline, focus, and resilience it builds carry over into everything else, and this client is proof of that. She doesn’t just excel with dogs—she crushes anything she sets her mind to. Love seeing my clients kicking ass and winning gold medals in all aspects of life! Go Charli!

Mic drop…
02/02/2025

Mic drop…

That time I bit Togo back and he didn’t care…
02/02/2025

That time I bit Togo back and he didn’t care…

Address

Phoenix, AZ
85001–85099

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 8pm
Tuesday 9am - 8pm
Wednesday 9am - 8pm
Thursday 9am - 8pm
Friday 9am - 8:02pm
Saturday 9am - 8pm
Sunday 8am - 8pm

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when GottaTrain posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share

Category