Hart to Heart Canine Training, LLC

10/08/2025

Went to Las Vegas shelter mostly for clean up day. But I also got Midnight out and hung out after a walk. We sat on a rock and watched the world go by a bit.

08/08/2025

Thanks to Mountainair shelters for asking me to come out and help with a litter of feral juvenille puppies. I truly enjoyed meeting all the dedicated volunteers and staff. We made some progress with leash walking, but still more to do, so I guess I will be going back out soon.

07/08/2025

Just so much happiness in my heart seeing Lulu now. This dog was completely feral in May. Thanks to everyone that came to the Feral Dog Immersion Program and gave these dogs a great start in rehab.

07/08/2025

Sniffing Revolution! If you have videos of you sniffing with your dog please share! I love to get feedback on any changes or differences you have discovered. I have gotten some feedback since conference and this video. This cute dog engages in sniffing towards the person when she sniffs. Engagement at a primal meaningful level. I love how she is making nice loud noises for the dog to pick up on. Seems weird? Yes it does at first. But soon hopefully everyone will be doing it. Thanks for sharing.

06/08/2025

Some common mistakes that delay progress and how to help fearful and feral dogs heal faster are here in my blog https://hart2heartcanine.com/blog/six-common-mistakes-made-with-fearful-amp-feral-dogs-that-inhibit-healing

06/08/2025

My first feral dog Wafer, from 7 yrs ago, and this was before I worked with feral dogs a lot. It’s interesting to watch videos and see my evolution and how I have changed things to improve. In this video I am trying to slow down Wafer from throwing himself into the crate and running out super fast. This is more an exercise in him learning he is safe going slower and walking past me as well. The first couple tries my body movements are too extreme for him. But after that I learned how much to move my hands to guide him. This is how we learn. Don’t be afraid to try things. As long as you are watching the dog and making adjustments for the dog, things will work out.

05/08/2025

There was a much needed overarching theme at the IACP conference this year: Dog welfare, how the pet dog is often misbehaving due to a lack of it, and how to improve this situation. Both "sides" are guilty of reducing dog welfare, and misunderstanding dogs' needs, in the name of training IMO.

I was really happy to be invited to chime in on this theme with many other thought-provoking speakers. My Nose-Centric methods are all about using a dog's natural behaviors to increase welfare, particularly in fearful/feral dogs. It is also about building trust by the dog knowing you are aware of the environment and can therefore protect the dog if needed.

Like Jay Jack said "Dogs need Clarity, not Control." Control can come in the way of tools or treats that keep the dog doing what we want. Just cause you are using rewards, don't think you are not controlling the dog. (not saying control is always bad and sometimes needed, but there is an overwhelming amount of control in dog training right now and a lack of understanding what dogs are) Dogs also need to feel purpose and have opportunity to do dog things. To me welfare isn't about enrichment such as snuffle mats or sniffaris, where the dog does activites alone, or dragging us on a leash. Those things are good and fun for the dog, but fail to make the human an important part of the dog's pack. Dogs are social animals. They need us to do these things WITH THEM to feel and connection to us, and therefore cooperate with us better, and vice versa.

My presentation focused on how to become relevant and important to your dog, in the dog's eyes, for the betterment of the dog's survival using my Nose-Centric system. This earns trust and a deeper connection that can only be understood by trying it. Evolved from rehabbing feral dogs, it can also help your own dog or clients' dogs excel and reach their full autonomy and potential.

Thanks to IACP and particulary Marlene, who knocked it out of the park this year for conference. Learn more at hart2heartcanine.com

05/08/2025

These two have found a commonality - hunting lizards. So far the interactions are very polite and moving out of each others way to have “turns” at the best hunting spot.

04/08/2025

Need quick and easy F***l tests for dogs? Rescues in ABQ - I met the people running Canine Lab Testing at conference and they offer mail in f***l tests from a drop-off place in ABQ. No vet visit required. This could save rescues lots of $$ and driving dogs to vet appointments.

According to the Companion Animal Parasite Council and Antech Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory 1 in 10 canine f***l samples tests positive for a parasite. How many dogs are in your facility?

01/08/2025

Making a connection and building trust with a previously neglected and abused dog named Skid at the IACP conference. Skid was quite comfortable moving around the room, so I let him tell me what he wanted to do. He wanted to look behind the curtains to see what was outside. Instead of making him comply to my pre-placed object route, I looked out the window with him. This was his priority so I acknowledged it and did it with him. He also wanted to sniff the people in the front row, but not necessarily interact with them. Then we investigated the items I had placed around the room which ranged from meat baby food, banana, sticks and pine cones. Skid’s rescue can then do similar things to help him feel more at ease and increase Skid’s comfort. If this works with a fearful dog I just met, and imagine what it could do for your dog.

30/07/2025

I have advocated for safe dog adoption for a long time - Sadly the people now pushing a misguided version of no-kill now don’t have the ethics or caring for people’s safety that would eliminate a need for these lawsuits. https://animalpolitics.substack.com/p/the-federal-lawsuits-that-could-shatterfbclid=IwQ0xDSwL2WKxleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHiFEHWJ16foc4MH9F4uaBKEOfEKNp76Iwv6ibPYxeJm7d0nMl3LWKzQHzrZ_aem_LadZY9HpoVD6qo5x3hTCIQ

Seeing this problem start years ago, I made a flow chart to help people choose a safe dog at rescuedogsresponsibly.com. Sadly the people now pushing a misguided version of no-kill now don’t have the ethics or caring for people’s safety that would eliminate a need for these lawsuits.

Rescue Dogs Responsilbly FREE GUIDE TO HELP YOU CHOOSE A SAFE,ENJOYABLE DOG.for dog adopters & Rescuers Dog Adopters Dog rescue can save a deserving dog's life and unite a family with a wonderful canine companion. My goal is to help potential adopters find a nice, safe dog. I want to empower the pub...