Bright Lights Dog Training, Shelley Leong CTC

08/26/2025

As trainers who use force struggle for market share, they obfuscate their language and sugar-coat harmful tools more and more. It's vitally important that consumers of dog training services be protected. This short video walks you through how to navigate this unregulated profession.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XKyLqv4Q5kI&t=11s

07/25/2025

Loose lead isnt natural. It’s a skill that has to be learnt. Biomechanically, dogs are built to move faster than us. Dogs choose to shift to a natural trot and on average walk at 2.5 - 4 mph (Hildebrand, 1966) where us naked monkeys on the otherhand average 2-3 mph walking (Kirtley, 2006). Do you know what 2.5 feels like? You should!

Because the mismatch alone creates tension — physically with the lead and emotionally in the relationship. Infact Dogs Trust found 30% of owners considered it a reason to rehome.

Now add in breed differences with research by Fischer & Lilje (2011) suggesting that Different breeds have different locomotive profiles based on original function. Malinois and Vizslas who are bred to move, track, cover ground; hearding breed like kelpies and collies who are bred to arc out infront; scent hounds like Beagles and Bloodhounds - designed to follow their noses with purpose, drive and speed; and of course breeds like Huskies who are literally bred and built to pull - it’s in the actual job description.

Its not a suprise that Rooney & Cowan (2011) found Lead tension and restricted gait was specifically a negative welfare marker for working breeds.

So when we expect all dogs to plod beside us through a park at human pace, ignoring smells, distractions, and natural instinct…we’re arent asking for a behaviour: We’re asking for the dog to restrain their pace, suppress their instincts, and constantly self-regulate.

In my opinion loose lead is one of the three essential skills I believe every dog pro needs to understand in depth - gait, drive, motivation, mechanics, assessment, different technique and exercise, consequence gradients and all.

Because when you understand what you’re really asking for,
you stop calling it stubbornness
and start training it like the advanced skill it actually is. And this leads to way better pet dogs with way happier relationships. ###

07/11/2025

Handsome teenage Teddy. Watch out girls, this one's a charmer!

06/28/2025

Kadie , Bunny, Bailey, Leo

06/17/2025

My students doing "Dogs on Logs" 🙂 (up!up! Stay!)

06/14/2025

So proud of little Lupine! - recall outdoors.

06/10/2025

Bear! - progressing well in his recall for this excited teenager

06/06/2025

Synchronized potty training .

05/28/2025

"AVSAB does not support the use of aversives in any context, regardless of the tools used or the trainer’s level of experience.

Our position is grounded in current scientific evidence, which consistently shows that aversive methods carry significant risks to animal welfare and the human-animal bond, and that reward-based methods are both safer and more effective.

We encourage veterinary professionals and pet owners to review and share our current position statement, available at www.AVSAB.org, and to consult credentialed professionals who adhere to humane, evidence-based practices.

We are a group of Veterinarians, Veterinary Technicians, and Doctorate level Animal Behaviorists dedicated to improving the lives of animals and people through an understanding of animal behavior. Join us and discover how insight into animal behavior can strengthen the human animal bond and enhance....

05/24/2025

Today, Serena let me touch her and enjoyed the affection. A milestone for very shy dogs who are afraid of strangers. This happened not because of any snake oil "whispering".

It happened because of science - well vetted behavior science

Some things to remember -

1.gradual, incremental training plan
2.always check the dog is ok
3.only proceed to next level of the plan when dog has an obvious positive emotional response
4.use what the dog wants - in 99.9999% I've seen - excellent food
5.back off with any signs of fear

(And guess what? All the above don't make exciting television)

Serena dear, you remind me of why I do what I do. To more fun days ahead.

03/08/2025

First Recall Outdoors - I am very proud of this little girl. Remember folks, practice x100000.. many times in the house first! Be patient, and reap the rewards later!

02/19/2025

Outstanding work being done by this breeder for a breed that tends to get car sickness. A lot can be learnt from their socialization protocol for your own dog - the very gradual increments is done so well.

Car conditioning has begun!

Since Shelties are prone to carsickness as puppies, one thing we prioritize is a gradual and positive introduction to car rides.

Step 1, pictured here, is for the litter to eat a meal as a group, in a stationary but running car. It was a blip on their radar - they looked around for a couple of seconds like, “What the hell is this?” and then chowed down.

Since that went well, the next step will be to slowly roll the car up and down our driveway while they eat. (This is the step that assuredly makes our neighbors think we’re weirdos.)

From there, we take short spins around the block, progressing to ~15 minute rides to socialization destinations and eventually the 45 minute commute to work with us. On these longer trips we provide toys and enrichment in the car — those steps coincide nicely with the puppies eating by themselves out of a food-dispensing toy.

Initially they’re all crated as a litter in the car. Eventually we crate them as pairs, then solo. (Separately, we work on crate training individually at home.)

That sounds like a lot of work, but it’s really just ~10 minutes a day and a little bit of prior planning — like remembering to heat up the car on these frigid winter days before feeding the puppies! And if you’ve ever had or worked with a really carsick puppy, or a dog with anxiety around car rides, you know it’s worth it.