Animal Minds Behavior & Training

04/24/2025

🐾 Training isn’t about perfection—it’s about consistency.

Your dog doesn’t need to be flawless; they need to understand that you *mean what you say.* Whether you're working through reactivity, refining obedience, or just trying to get your pup to walk nicely on leash, the biggest gains happen when training becomes a part of your daily life—not just something you do *once in a while.*

📌 Start small. One solid rep done right is better than ten rushed ones.
💡 Choose one thing to practice today—just one.
🔁 Keep showing up. That’s how progress is made.

Need help figuring out what to focus on? That’s what I’m here for. Shoot me a message or check out our training options!

📍Sacramento | Animal Minds Behavior & Training

04/15/2025

One of my son’s favorite jobs is helping feed the dogs. When we’re outside, he loves “watering” them—walking around with bowls and making sure everyone gets a turn. He’ll do this over and over, and the dogs absolutely love it.

Feeding time often gets framed as stressful or high-risk, and I see a lot of anxiety around trying to “prevent problems before they start.” But in trying to control every outcome, we sometimes create more tension than necessary.

Instead, I like to keep things calm and simple. My son helps with the neutral parts—he fills the bowls with food while I do the delivering. If we’re using treats, he tosses them gently or places them nearby, rather than handing them directly. The water delivery service he provides is a perfect, more neutral activity where he finally gets to deliver. It’s all about finding a balance: respecting the dog’s space while still building healthy, positive anticipation in the dog.

04/09/2025

Thank you Julie for taking the time to leave a review. It was a pleasure working with you guys and Skip!

“We fostered Skippy from our local shelter as a young pup. Having him from so young we thought he’d grow up like our other dogs - pleasant and easy going. We were so wrong as he reacted to everything. We couldn’t take him in the car as he’d drool and vomit. We couldn’t walk him as he’d bark, leap and lunge at people and go crazy with dogs. We couldn’t leave him in our fenced in yard or he’d bark constantly. Having workmen or visitors in the house was a nightmare as he would be so aggressive.

When we were at our wits end and considering taking him back to the shelter we were recommended Susan’s Animal Minds Behavior and Training.

What Susan has achieved is mind blowing. She has transformed Skippy into a “good boy”! He can now spend some alone time outside without disturbing the neighborhood. Walking is now a pleasure. He still needs a long time to warm up to new people in the house but he lies quietly in his crate when workmen are here.

Susan is available to us for questions and support and classes which had been invaluable.

Susan is very pleasant to work with and our experience exceeded expectations.”

04/05/2025

It was a beautiful day for our group class!
Always appreciate the dedicated owners willing to keep practicing and keep their dogs challenged and progressing.

03/27/2025

When you have the best groomer taking care of your crew ❤️❤️

03/21/2025

Here’s the honest truth about dogs and kids: it’s complicated. And in today’s world, where so much of what we see is filtered through quick videos or snapshots on the internet, it’s easy to misread or oversimplify what’s really going on in those moments. A single photo or a ten-second clip can never fully capture the depth, nuance, and history of the relationship between a child and a dog. These bonds are layered and deeply individual—shaped by the temperament of the dog, the behavior of the child, and the dynamics within the home.

Before I had a child of my own, I wouldn’t have believed just how tolerant—how truly accepting—some dogs can be of the unpredictable nature of little humans. Their patience can be remarkable. But let’s be clear: that doesn’t mean children should be given free rein or that respectful boundaries aren’t crucial. Quite the opposite. Even the gentlest, most forgiving dog deserves space, understanding, and kindness. Kids need to be taught, intentionally and consistently, how to interact appropriately with animals—not just for safety’s sake, but out of respect for the dog as a living, feeling creature.

So yes, while dogs can show an incredible amount of grace, it’s our responsibility as adults to guide those interactions thoughtfully, beyond what a snapshot can ever show.

(P.S. There's plenty of people that would disagree with the behavior my son is exhibiting in this picture of my son and his dog. The picture itself is an example of those snapshots in time where people could easily misjudge a moment.)

03/14/2025

Ms. Madison will be going to group class tomorrow over at Paws N' Play!

Message us if you're interested in attending or learning about other training options.

02/04/2025

Added some new group dates for Spring!

Please RSVP via email ([email protected]) if you'd like to attend.

Sacramento trainers, Animal Minds, specializing in training animal owners to change their animal’s behavior using the latest techniques for dogs and horses.

10/21/2024

Sometimes doing “nothing” is everything. Especially for the potentially demanding, mouthy dogs that are young and still navigating a lot of new instincts and impulses.

Dakota is estimated to be a little over a year old and was in pretty rough shape when his owners found him. Fortunately he landed with some awesome people willing to invest in him. Overall he’s a super nice guy who means well but breed type (Shepherd x - likely Malinois x) says he’s smart, confident and likes to jump in first and ask questions later.

Any time he’s interacting with a person he would love to push for food and attention. It’s very normal for dogs to push for an outcome to any situation that will benefit them. Looking for direction and impulse control is often a learned skill and something that many dogs don’t naturally develop without our help. Dakota’s well on his way and making good choices! 🎓

09/04/2024

Check the website for updated Group dates, Holiday boarding info and Day Training options are back for the fall season! 🍁🍂

Sacramento trainers, Animal Minds, specializing in training animal owners to change their animal’s behavior using the latest techniques for dogs and horses.

07/25/2024

Client updates make my day ❤️

06/16/2024

Thank you to for the new logo!

I haven’t ever had a logo I really liked and when I saw the one she did for I was super hopeful she might have some new eyes and ideas. I love the simplicity and the abstract concept of the AM that also loosely resembles a brain. It’ll also be super easy to print on whatever - if I ever get my merch game going. Thanks again for being so easy to work with and a great end result!

06/16/2024

Thank you, Threebestrated.com!

06/05/2024

Crunchie!! 🥰 (Looking again!)

This adorable pocket sized Pittie is currently looking for a new home. She is estimated to be 4 years old and is crate trained, potty trained, Off-Leash capable, loves to explore but is not much for long outings like hiking (she'd rather snooze 🤭) and is looking for a kids lap to crawl into. Her ideal place would include:

🔹 Family! This girl is amazing with humans big and small. In typical breed fashion she can tend to bowl over babies if not directed at times but she's extremely easy to direct. She is about as safe as they get for small kiddos - just want to reiterate that direction and supervision is always needed.

🔹Dog Friend! Crunchie definitely enjoys the company of other dogs in the home. She's a great playmate for those that appreciate football players 😆 but that only happens about 5 minutes a day before she's pooped and ready for a nap. A mid-large sized male of a similar breed type would be great.

🔹Someone interested in keeping up with her training on her walks. She can be easily frustrated by things that hold her back physically (leashes and fences primarily) and continued practice around these skill areas will be needed to maintain her leash manners. We're happy to provide free tune-up private sessions for her whenever they're needed at no additional cost if someone is willing to dedicate the time.

Feel free to PM us with any questions!

04/23/2024

"He's so stubborn!"
"They never listen outside of the house..."
"It's only if I have food..."

Check out my lastest blog on Auditory Exclusion (aka: Selective Hearing) and see how it may be affecting both your perception and your relationship with your dog!

Sacramento trainers, Animal Minds, specializing in training animal owners to change their animal’s behavior using the latest techniques for dogs and horses.

04/22/2024

Group Class schedule is posted!

Please RSVP by emailing [email protected] if you'll be attending.

If you're new to us or haven't worked with us previously, please email as well. We would need to meet with you prior to joining the class and assess where your dog is capability wise.

Can't wait to see everyone!

Sacramento trainers, Animal Minds, specializing in training animal owners to change their animal’s behavior using the latest techniques for dogs and horses.

03/08/2024

Bitey Malinois puppy + Ostrich bone from ❤️❤️❤️

01/10/2024

🐾✨ New Puppy Parents, listen up! 🐶💕

The holiday season just brought many adorable 4-legged companions into your homes, and we know you've got questions about what's next. 🎁🏡

Now is the PERFECT time to dive into our blog, where we've got all the must-know info on how to give your precious pups the best start in life! 🐕💬

Don't wait – let's embark on this incredible journey together! 🌟 Check out our blog now! 📚👇

Sacramento trainers, Animal Minds, specializing in training animal owners to change their animal’s behavior using the latest techniques for dogs and horses.