Learning Dog Behavior & Enrichment Services

12/06/2025

Yes! Companions enjoying a walk together - no demands for performance or perfection. Just two beings sharing space and time-TOGETHER

Walking your dog in the center of the City should not be a test of control and obedience.
- loose leash for freedom of movement
- slowing your pace to fit your dog's leg length and he can walk relaxed and at ease
- be free to look and sniff and enjoy the environment, not being hurried on at a stressful and uncomfortable speed
- not heeling. - that has nothing to do at a walk.
- No commands, no treats, Just be a good walking partner for your dog.
The chance is so much higher that your dog behaves politely and lovely, because he does not need to stress.
No particular training, Just a relaxed attitude and respect for the dog's natural speed. And let him have a little space till he feels he can cope with everything.

I have done it with more than 60 000 dogs of all sizes, so maybe it could work with your dog too.

Observe your dog and enjoy his curiosity and pleasure. No walk can be better than that.

11/15/2025

We are back up on Sniffspot, just in time for cold weather! The Behavior & Enrichment Center can be reserved on Saturdays & Sundays through Sniffspot. It's the perfect spot to let your dog do doggie things regardless of the weather!

Learn all about Learning Dog Academy's Enrichment Center I... in Whitmore Lake, MI: open park hours, amenities, reviews and more! Rent dog parks with Sniffspot.

11/15/2025

Dog owners are desperate to “make the dog behave”. There is so much judgement from their social group to force a dog to comply with human standards. Dog owners feel shame, embarrassment, and frustration when their beloved family pet acts like a dog and others judge them for it. And this makes it easy to mislead them and give false hope, offering quick fixes while suppressing normal behavior.

Our collective disconnect from understanding who dogs are sets everyone up - dog and owner - for failure.

Dogs are dogs. They are not human and don’t see the world the same way humans do. When a dog joins your home you embark on a journey of life in a multi-species home. It’s amazing. It’s messy. And it can be confusing. To be successful living harmoniously with dogs begins with understanding your dog, advocating for your dog, and educating your dog.

The use of force, fear, pain, and suppression to gain compliance is very different from education. When we educate we teach skills, we build confidence, and we prepare the dog for life in a human centered home. Education takes time. It’s an investment. It sends the message that your dog has value.

The class action lawsuit involving pet safe/shock collars provides support for something that humane animal welfare pros have known for a long time-the use of suppression to control behavior has negative consequences. And the one suffering the most is the dog. We can do better for the dogs in our life.

https://stevedalepetworld.com/blog/shock-collars-are-not-safe-or-harmless-court-agrees-in-class-action-law-suit/

11/11/2025

Love this! We often ask our dogs to be calm in places that overwhelm and frustrate the dog. It’s not a training problem! Meeting a dogs needs has almost nothing to do with training and everything to do with understanding who your dog is and meeting those needs.

09/17/2025

Your adolescent dog does goofy things, just like mine do. You can expect more regal demeanor when they hit social maturity (sometime around 2-3 years old).

09/10/2025

Muzzles are beneficial for every dog. It’s just a tool, no different than a leash or collar.

09/08/2025

Is your dog's behavior keeping you from living a good life together? We get it! What if you and your dog could live a better life together? You can - and we have solutions for you!

https://pages.learningdogbehavior.com/lead-magnet-request.html

08/19/2025

https://www.thelearningdogacademy.com/podcasts/learning-dog-radio/episodes/2149075734

Reactivity is driven by BIG feelings. If you're living with a reactive dog, chances are that you have some pretty big feelings about your dog's behavior. In this episode, Delores dives into what reactivity really is (big feelings), how it affects you, and simple solutions to help make reactivity...

07/26/2025

Exciting new service for dogs!

07/24/2025

Loose leash walking is hard for dogs!!

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. ###