Hart to Heart Canine Training, LLC

Hart to Heart Canine Training, LLC Understanding dogs and what is important to them forms a trusting bond between dogs & their humans

My experience comes from my time fostering, rescuing, and rehabilitating dogs while volunteering for dog rescues and shelters since 2009, plus training clients’ dogs since 2014. Focusing on feral and fearful dogs, I've honed in on what truly works in transforming fearful and feral dogs into happy, thriving companions. Training alone doesn't equate to trust – especially for dogs who have endured t

rauma from hoarding situations, abuse, or neglect, or those who were once street dogs or feral roamers. These dogs need more than just commands; they need compassionate guidance and unwavering support to overcome their fears. I am a Certified Relationship-Based Trainer through the Canine Human Relationship Institute and a Certified Dog Trainer through IACP. I am also in a Least Intrusive Minimally Aversive (LIMA) workgroup with the IACP. I integrate the true meaning of the LIMA principle and Cynopraxic training into my work.Julie Hart is a Certified Relationship-Based Trainer (Canine Human Relationship Institute) and Certified Dog Trainer (IACP) with extensive experience in rehabilitating fearful and feral dogs. With a background in volunteering with dog rescues since 2009 and professional dog training since 2014, Julie has dedicated her life to helping dogs thrive. She is the president of Friends of San Miguel County Animals, a volunteer non-profit benefiting underserved animals in New Mexico. She has worked extensively with the fearful and feral dog population in New Mexico shelters, imparting her expertise by training others in dog rescue rehabilitation, and offering assistance to clients who once believed their dogs were beyond hope. I am also the founder of Rescue Dogs Responsibly - a website and YouTube channel dedicated to assisting people choose safe adoptable dogs. This also educates about dog rescues and shelters about the myriad of behavior and training protocols helpful for dogs

"I am so grateful that you have helped me to trust that "Bruce" can handle more than I gave him credit for. " Dogs ar...
08/28/2026

"I am so grateful that you have helped me to trust that "Bruce" can handle more than I gave him credit for. "

Dogs are amazing and wonderful, resilent creatures. People constantly underestimate the progress they can make with the right amount of challenge. Bruce's mom was warned, by other trainers and vet behaviorists, not to put her dog in any situations that might stress or scare him - which was just about everything.

The client had done an amazing job creating a safe place for the dog, and understood how her actions affected the dog. She made progress with him, but it was slow and he still couldn't walk on a leash, or come up to her except when she was sitting down. So we did two lessons. After the first one, the dog was walking in the yard on a leash, enjoying the smells and exercise. After the second, the dog is learning to sit on the sofa instead of being in a constantly conflicted (and stressful) state of wanting to be with his person, but also running and hiding. We gave him clear guidance about what to do and his little brain relaxed, so he could rest near her.

Guiding a dog to be calm and showing them that normal life occurences with humans are not scary automatically requires exposure to those "scary" things.

The common advice being given to people with dogs like "Bruce" keeps the dogs in a fearful, flight, freeze mode longer than needed. Trusting that the dog, which nature designed to overcome obstacles, can succeed is the path to recovery. It is not fair to fearful dogs to keep them stuck in fear longer than necessary. By starting to challenge the dog with the right amount of change and stress, amazing things can happen.

Working with Clients like Bruce's mom is a true joy in my life. I love being able to help both dog and human have a higher quality of life with their dog.

"Why does the dog HAVE to go in a crate? Crates aren't for all dogs especially pound/shelter dogs." A legit question ...
08/24/2026

"Why does the dog HAVE to go in a crate? Crates aren't for all dogs especially pound/shelter dogs." A legit question and common feeling from many people that have dogs, especially traumatized or feral dogs. So let's address the concerns from the commenter on my post about Wafer (feral chihuahua foster dog):

Crates aren't for all dogs - true. But they are for 95% of dogs. I have have not crate trained a handful of foster dogs over the past 16 years. One was very old and had a condo pen-type situation with a large bed and room to move. Two were momma dogs and had to move around to care for puppies. One had a leg amputated and basically lived in my gated office for months during receovery.

Why Use a Crate? Below are some of the many reasons:
Safety - number one priority so the new dog doesn't get itself into a problem when I am gone from the house. This could be an altercation with a dog or turning on a propane stove like my dog Tipton did the other day (I was home at the time thankfully). Dogs can tear up stuff, eat couches, and escape out doors when I return home or try to leave. A crate prevents all of this and prevents bad behaviors from forming.

Preventing fearful or unwanted behaviors - Like I said above, I can leave the house and know all dogs are safe. Also I am quite purposeful about my rehab protocol with fearful and feral dogs. I do not want the dog to practice fearful behaviors and form habits of running away or hiding. When I cannot guide the dog, am busy with household chores, or using loud items like a vacuum, the crate offers the dog a safe place to rest, and not practice fear. It also goes back to safety.

Keeps me from having to "catch" a dog to put a leash on the dog. When I first bring home a fearful dog I use the crate to teach the dog that leashes and hands are ok. When the dog is in a crate, I can do this without having to chase the dog around the house or yard with a leash in hand. I use a crate and a leash until the dog is comfortable enough with me to come and get a leash put on (about 2 weeks with a feral dog - see the quick rehab the crate affords?)

Safe haven to rest - Most dogs enjoy their crates, when introduced properly, and seek them to nap. For fearful dogs they understand that they are protected by the crate All creatures learn better with quality sleep and for a fearful dog that comes best in a confined area.

I hear the phrase, "I never want him to live in a cage again" by people that have dogs kept in hoarding or puppy mill situations.. But is this actually giving the dog too much freedom and stressing the dog? Imagine you are in isolation for years, then taken to Disneyland without any time to acclimate to being out of a cell. I just had a lady tell me that her rescued greyhound was overwhlemed by given free run of the house when she was gone, and he tore up the sofa. When she left him gated in a small room, he was fine and more content. While it sounds counterintuitive, giving a dog that has only lived in confinement too much freedom can cause undue stress. We need to slowly introduce the dog to living free.

Housetraining ease
Safe place for dog to be with visitors or service people in the home
Allows the dog to travel, stay in hotels,family member's homes and safety in the car.
In case of emergency or evacuation my dogs are comfortable in crates
Dog will feel better at a prolonged vet stay if he is used to a crate

Alternatives to a crate are a larger kennel or pen with a cover. A smaller room with a baby gate, like an office, laundry room, or bathroom may also work if the dog will allow a leash to be put on relatively easily. Some dogs, especially feral dogs, may struggle with a crate after they want to be with the household members all the time. But if we hold steady, amek the crate as pleasant as possible and make sure the dog is fulfilled in other ways, a crate actually gives the dog more freedom and quality of life.

Usually fearful dogs want to go into a crate on their own accord. It is our own human emotional spin, and how we ourselves feel about a crate, that gets in the way of the dog's progress. Other times our emotions get in the way of doing what is really in the dog's best interest in a human world. It is a shame not to utilize this very useful tool of the crate and help the dog thrive and stay in a home.

Pic of Priscilly - a previously feral dog that liked her crate contents "fluffy"

08/21/2026

Just when it feels like progress is dragging a dog can surprise you. We have been practicing come at very short distances. Today Taz was very enthusiastic from about 15 feet. She may just really like the treats for today, but regardless this is big progress

Reason 234 to crate your ex-feral street dog. Skillet left on the stove from last night’s dinner with a few food bits ...
08/20/2026

Reason 234 to crate your ex-feral street dog. Skillet left on the stove from last night’s dinner with a few food bits in it entices dog to put his paws on the stove to lick the skillet. While licking the skillet, Dog turns the burner k***s and propane starts filling the house. This was all done while I was outside taking out the trash. Good thing I do crate him when I leave for more than a couple minutes. I have now ordered child proofing for my burner k***s. Guilty dog in the pic

Ryder reminding me to stop and watch the rain ☔️ and not to be afraid of a few mud puddles. They can be fun to play in
08/18/2026

Ryder reminding me to stop and watch the rain ☔️ and not to be afraid of a few mud puddles. They can be fun to play in

The trainers that tell you your fearful or feral dog cannot undergo stress or experience difficulty and improve are not ...
08/17/2026

The trainers that tell you your fearful or feral dog cannot undergo stress or experience difficulty and improve are not aware of the "science." They may be going off old thoughts about stress, misinterpreted experiements done in a sterile room, and their own personal discomfort with seeing a dog undergo stress from learning new tasks. They don't understand the value in teaching the dog self-control from the beginning, Teaching self-control requires a stressful challenge that is within the dog's ability to succeed. Understanding how the brain forms habits and how its much harder to change a habit that is formed than to build a beneficial one from the beginning also plays a part in a dog changing in a reasonable amount of time.

Self control is key to forming good habits that allow a dog, and ourselves, go through life smoothly. To form beneificial habits, either in ourselves or in our dogs, there is friction to do what is sometimes harder in the short term. But doing what is hard in the short term, like teaching a fearful dog to not hide and be out in the kitchen instead, will build self control in the dog. The dog will learn that he can do hard things, learn that he will survive and even enjoy life more. In a few months this behavior will become a habit and he will go through life repeating the beneficial habits he learned earlier.

For us, going to the gym or not eating junk food may be hard, and takes self control. But we build better habits and are happier and healtheir for it. After a while, the beneifical habits are automatic, and not as hard to do. I changed my diet radically a few months ago. I gained control over my sugar cravings, which was HARD, but now I have a new habit in what I eat that is sustainable.

For a fearful dog, many people let the dog practice lack of self-control. A dog goes into intintucal brain of flight or freeze. The dog panics and runs away, hides, or avoids "scary" things. These behaviors are forming a habit that is not beneficial for a dog's co-existence in a home and causing a low aulity of life in chronic stress. These behaviors are best changed by teaching the dog self-control. Using a leash and showing the dog that NOT hiding can result in better outcomes, and teaching the dog that he doesn't have to panic and run away to be safe, with empathy and kindness, is key. This can be done gradually, but not so gradually the dog forms fearful behavior habits in the meantime.

The more the dog is taught he doesn't have to be afraid, or that being touched is good, the more the dog will gain self-control and emotion regulation.

My foster dog Taz is a great example. She used to spaz out with any kind of interaction. She was acting out of fear - definately in her instintual brain and not thinking through things well. If I would have let her continue this kind of behavior, she would have developed bad habits for living with people. Instead I "made" her tolerate having a leash being put on, being touched, walking with me around the house, and going for walks. I say "made" because she would not have done these behaviors without intervention. Dogs cannot understands words like, "its okay Fluffy. We are going to go outside, and you can have fun sniffing and chasing butterflies." They have to experience it. We cannot wait for the dog to decide to change its behavior.

Just to be clear - I am not talking about flooding a dog with an overwhlming amount of stress I have seen some horrible suggestions to make a dog stay outside with fireworks going off until the dog isn't afraid any more. That is not the kind of thing I recommend.

I recommend building trust with the dog internally - not by using external food rewards. I recommend consistently pushing the dog past their current comfort zone towards pro-social behavior with people and welfare - for the dog's own good. You will be amazed at how fast dogs can progress if we get rid of all the emotional, heart-string pulling, unsciency guidance on the internet that keeps dogs stuck and keeps owners feeling sorry for the dogs. Look outside your own comfort zone if you are feeling unsure about how to hep your dog. Go with something that is different than what has not been working. There are ways to help your dog past fear, and get them living a happy life. I have new online courses out now to help fearful and feral dogs thrive and teach their humans how to get them there.

https://nosecentriconlinelearning.thinkific.com

If you want to learn about the science behind this post - here it is https://youtu.be/AHk5dskxFc8?si=Rver6GQFqnLvnDOM

What do our clients really need to know? This came up when I was talking to a newer trainer seeking input. Here was m...
08/15/2026

What do our clients really need to know? This came up when I was talking to a newer trainer seeking input. Here was my answer:
1. How to hold a leash
2. How to get their dog to follow them on walks (not obedience quality heel - just to follow)
3. What the dog is saying and how to respond
4. How to foster attentiveness from the dog - this usually means changing some ways the client interacts with the dog

This is all most clients need. They don’t need complicated training methods. They need to know how to achieve a calm dog with good manners. They need to work on timing and learning how their body posture affects their dog. They need to know what is important to their dog so they can become relevant.

All of this can be taught with a slip lead or a martingale collar and a leash.

I encouraged the aspiring trainer to stop using more complicated, adrenalizing methods and learn how to train and connect with dogs using only herself and a slip lead. How much can you accomplish with a simple leash and a dog? Being able to strip down the process to the simplest of forms forces us to learn about the dog and teach our clients the basic skills they need to achieve a well mannered dog that thinks their person is worthwhile enough (without food being present) to pay attention to.
Then the following naturally happens. Then add in a few treats or boundaries and the dog responds better.

Flat tire lands Ryder, Taz and I at the tire shop instead of our original Destination. Taz was completely out of sorts ...
08/14/2026

Flat tire lands Ryder, Taz and I at the tire shop instead of our original Destination. Taz was completely out of sorts due to the noise. But we walked around the waiting room and she sniffed a few things including someone’s shoes. And now she is hunkered down under my chair.

A few key points if something like this happens - stay calm and don’t get mad. That was hard cause I had places to be, but getting mad at the situation would only make this harder for Taz. Using our Nose-centric routine of entering new spaces and walking the perimeter of the waiting area and sniffing to get the dog acquainted with her surroundings creates familiarity for the dog. (Ryder walks in like he is the star at a petting zoo). Then allow the dog to watch what is going on from a safe space. I may take them for a little walk in a few minutes after she has had time to relax.

Making an inconvenient situation better for us all.

Entirely new behavior from Taz - chewing on a bone. She was in boarding last week when I was gone and there are several...
08/13/2026

Entirely new behavior from Taz - chewing on a bone. She was in boarding last week when I was gone and there are several new positive behaviors I have seen. This being one

The others are sitting out in the living room by her own choice and less pacing. She is also bringing her ball to me instead of dropping it wherever she wants. This is always on interesting phenomena - dogs improving after being in boarding.

08/11/2026

Building on the tricks for treats is fun lesson revealed an element I need to work on. The agreement I made with Taz was she gets treats. Not touching. So I will have to put a leash on her so I can change her behavior to come, I touch you, treat.

I am happy with her moving to the yard and repeating the same lesson though. Always train your dog in different t locations so they learn the behavior can be done and skills applied in any location

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Sandia Park, NM
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