Animal Minds Behavior & Training

07/15/2025

🐾 Welcome, Duke! 🐾

This handsome Boxer pup just checked in for our Basic Puppy Program! Over the next few weeks, Duke will be working on all the good stuff — potty training, crate manners, healthy socialization, and an intro to essential cues like sit, down, come, stay, leave it, and walking nicely on leash. He’ll even learn how to settle calmly on a bed when asked (puppy patience in progress!).

We can’t wait to watch this sweet boy grow into a confident, well-mannered companion! 💪🐶✨

06/30/2025

06/12/2025

Shaping is a training method where we reward small, gradual steps toward a behavior instead of luring or commanding. It’s one of the best ways to teach independent thinking in puppies.

Rather than showing them exactly what to do, we wait for them to offer something — anything — that’s headed in the right direction. And when they do? We mark and reward. Little by little, they start figuring it out. Dipper staying on his bed while I’m moving about was built this way. Piece by piece.

What does this teach a puppy?
✔️ To problem-solve
✔️ To engage with their environment thoughtfully
✔️ To stay motivated and curious
✔️ That their choices matter

Shaping builds confidence because it gives the puppy control over the learning process. They’re not just reacting — they’re thinking. And for working dogs, sport prospects, and even family companions, that kind of engagement is gold.

This is how we raise dogs who don’t wait to be told what to do — they look for ways to succeed.

&Training

05/19/2025

There’s been some questionable legislation making its rounds the past few years so just a reminder for all my clients and pet owners:

PETA, ASPCA & similar orgs often oppose responsible pet ownership and promote extremist views against any animal use—including training, working dogs, and even having pets.

Support local shelters, ethical rescues, responsible breeders and trainers who believe in strong, respectful human-animal partnerships.

🔍 Do your research. Animals deserve better than blind support.

Blog link in bio for more info!

05/19/2025

There's been some questionable legislation making its rounds the past few years so just a reminder for all my clients and pet owners:

PETA, ASPCA & similar orgs often oppose responsible pet ownership and promote extremist views against any animal use—including training, working dogs, and even having pets.

Support local shelters, ethical rescues, responsible breeders and trainers who believe in strong, respectful human-animal partnerships.

🔍 Do your research. Animals deserve better than blind support.

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

05/02/2025

Our Board & Train program isn’t one-size-fits-all.

🐕💪 It’s results-based, not time-boxed.

Every dog learns at their own pace—and our training timeline reflects that.

What makes our program different?

✅ Flexible timelines based on progress
✅ You train with your dog before they come home
✅ Real-world practice, not just commands
✅ Dogs “graduate” when they’re ready—not when a calendar says so

We build strong foundations that last—for both ends of the leash.

📩 DM to learn more or book a consult

05/02/2025

Not all Board and Train programs are created equal.

Our programs are results-based, not locked into rigid timelines. That means we adjust based on your dog’s actual progress—not a calendar.

🐾 What makes our approach different?

✔️ Flexible Timelines: Every dog learns at their own pace. We take the time your dog *actually needs*—not just the time that fits in a 3- or 4-week window.

✔️ Owner Practice Built In: You’ll train with your dog before they come home full time. This ensures you know how to reinforce what they’ve learned and keep progress going.

✔️ Real-Life Application: We don’t just train in a vacuum. Dogs practice commands in home-like environments and out in the world with distractions, so they’re ready for real life.

✔️ No Cookie Cutter End Date: Some dogs need 4 weeks. Some need 6 or more. I don’t send them home until they’re ready —and you are too.

I'm here to help create real change, not temporary fixes.

📩 Message to learn more or schedule a consultation!

04/27/2025

I had a spot open up for May that I’d love to fill.

Offering a 35% discount on my Puppy Foundation, Basics or Off Leash programs.

Must book by 5/2 to qualify. Contact here, via the website (link in bio) or call.

04/27/2025

I had a spot open up for May that I would love to fill.

If you have any friends/family that have wanting to send their dog now is a great time!

They can contact here, via the website - www.animal-minds.com or call.

04/26/2025

So, You’re Getting a Puppy: Let’s Talk About What You’re Actually Signing Up For

Getting a puppy is one of life’s great joys — right up there with watching a sunrise, buying your first car, or realizing your favorite pair of jeans still fit after the holidays. But if you think bringing a puppy home is all sunshine, cuddles, and Instagram-worthy moments... I hate to break it to you: it’s *also* mud, chewed furniture, 3 a.m. potty breaks, and questioning your life choices around Week 2.

Let's walk through what bringing a puppy home *really* looks like — and more importantly, how to do it right.

First Things First: Do Your Homework

Before you even think about picking up that adorable ball of fluff, you need to know what you’re getting into.

Puppies are not a one-size-fits-all package. The breed you choose will matter. A lot.

- Love the look of an Australian Shepherd? Beautiful dogs. Wicked smart. Also, they need a job or they’ll invent one, like redecorating your drywall or rearranging your shoe collection.

- Want a French Bulldog? Adorable, yes. But be ready for potential breathing problems and a vet bill that’ll make you rethink your Starbucks habit.

- Thinking about a Malinois because you saw one flying through an agility course? Great dogs for someone who can handle a Ferrari engine strapped to a pogo stick.

The breed's instincts, energy level, health predispositions, and daily needs have been honed over centuries. You are not going to “train out” a beagle’s nose or a husky’s love of sprinting for the horizon.

Pick a breed that fits your lifestyle now, not the one you wish you had someday after you become a morning person and run marathons.

Check out the remainder of this post on our blog:
https://animal-minds.com/ambtblog//puppy-expectations-101

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.