The Paid Pup: Modern Dog Learning & Advocacy

31/10/2025

"I think the main takeaway is that when we are training or interacting with our companion animals, using aversive methods causes suffering—for them. The side effects of positive reinforcement training can be inconvenient at times, generally for us, and they depend on our skill levels. If food is creating unwanted consequences, a skilled trainer can generally use the same food to change the consequences. These side effects need not be long-lasting."

To email subscribers: I have changed my notification service again, which means that you may have to unsubscribe again if you did so from the previous email. I apologize. I hate bothering people. I am now locked into a service for a year so this won’t likely happen again. I propose that “fallout...

28/10/2025

Another round of rhyming reminders for spooky season. 🥀💀

Roses rot, violets decay, control is out, choice & agency are here to stay. 

Roses rot, violets decay, behavior’s not moral, it has something to say. 

Rose rot, violets decay, dogs spooked by costumes shouldn’t be put on display. 

Roses rot, violets decay, f*ck obedience, play all day.

Roses rot, violets decay, pain changes behavior in every way.

Roses rot, violets decay, put rugs on your hardwoods to keep joint pain & arthritis at bay. 

Roses rot, violets decay, follower count means nothing, ethics over influence all day.

Roses rot, violets decay, you can scare a dog silent, but their underlying emotions will stay.

Roses rot, violets decay, systemic oppression touches everything, including how we teach dogs every day. 

Roses rot, violets decay, alpha theory is disproven, if you hear otherwise, run far away. 

Roses rot, violets decay, force-free is a lifestyle, call me an extremist any damn day!
[Description: 11 graphics, words on an orange background with an icon of a skull holding holding a dead rose in the mouth. Words match exactly with the caption.]

18/09/2025

🌶️ Maybe it’s time for a class called Human Manners 101.

Seriously, don’t be this person. It’s rude and it makes you look like a total as***le.

Giving other people and dogs space SHOULD BE THE NORM.

Cross the street. If you can’t do that, make a big arch around while keeping your dog’s focus until you get past the other dog.

The bare minimum for being a kind, conscious human is noticing what’s going on around you and considering beings other than yourself.
Visual description: A screenshot of the notes app with the words “good morning everyone except for people who run or walk their dogs up directly behind other dogs in general—especially when those dogs are mid p**p. Have you no decency or sense of personal space?

02/08/2025

Hi! I thought it was time for a little life update—and I had zero photos of Rilo and I together, so here we are.

When new client requests started slowing down earlier this year, I dove into a frenzied part-time job search and let me tell ya, it was bleak—but I’m glad I persisted because the right fit at the right time came along.

I’ve accepted a position teaching puppy play classes at and I cannot wait to be back in the classroom environment! And with puppies and their guardians!

After working almost solely in behavior consulting for the last three years, it makes sense for me to take a little breather and work with puppies and young dogs on foundational life skills again. Transparently—I need it.

I’ll absolutely still be taking new clients at , and I have openings for regular “walk & learns”, and private lessons in-person or virtual.

This new chapter is exciting. I cannot wait to have co-workers to bounce ideas off of again, and to learn from some wonderful people. I start tomorrow!

Bring me all of your puppies! I’ll drop the link to sign up for classes in my bio and stories.

ps: peep at Rilo and see how handy a chin rest is for photos! 🥹

08/05/2025

Just Rilo being ridiculously adorable. 🖤
Description: A Photo of a small white and brown chihuahua type dog in a dog car seat in the car. His paws are placed on top of the seat and he’s partially standing up and looking back at the camera with big eyes and floppy ears.

01/05/2025

It’s wild to want any being in your life to be obedient to you.

Flaunting how you can command your dog into arbitrary behavior isn’t impressive, and you look like an absolute tool.

Who else in your life do you expect this kind of behavior from? 🤔

There’s a Venn diagram somewhere with obedience obsessed trainers, Andrew Tate fans, and booklickers for colonialism. 🤮

If this is the kind of relationship you want with your dog (or anyone)—it’s time to look inward and do some soul-searching.

[Description: Words on a red background that say: Hot take (with fire emojis): It’s wild to want any being in your life to be obedient to you.]

30/04/2025

A modern dog behavior professional doesn’t just care about teaching dogs cues—they prioritize the overall experience of both human and dog during each appointment.

In a therapy setting, this is called a Corrective Emotional Experience (CCE), and it’s a powerful way to affect change and promote healing in both humans and dogs.

I learned about this concept when I finally (after a long line of ill-matched therapists) met my current therapist of eight years. Her style allowed me to reframe, grow, and break patterns I thought were impenetrable.

 She only recommended books or exercises if asked, and she never rushed me, lectured, or wielded power—I felt like an equal.

She observed and listened, and for one of the first times in my life I felt seen and heard.

 Wait, what? My feelings weren’t “wrong”? Not only were they not wrong—they were valid?

 My mind was blown.

This idea perfectly translates to the relationship between dog behavior professionals and dogs and their guardians.

When people seek help from a dog behavior professional, they’re usually at the end of their proverbial rope. With frustration, exhaustion, self-doubt, and a myriad of other emotions spilling over—they come to us in a vulnerable state.

They need to be heard and validated for what they’re going through—so does their dog.

While most dog behavior professionals aren’t credentialed therapists, the last thing we want for each being in our practice is to pile on additional trauma. We never know what someone is struggling with, especially in relation to their dog’s struggles. And I’d argue our job is pretty aligned with therapy in many ways.

Deeply buried trauma can burst forth when faced with a dog whose behavior is turning your world upside down (can confirm).

During our appointments, we have a chance to start rewiring negative emotional experiences for both species around learning, support seeking, confidence, trust, safety—and much more—just by being an emotionally safe person who listens and validates, and does not use punishment, shame, guilt, or other icky tactics to work either either human or dog. 

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11/04/2025

Is “balanced” dog training a
GRIFT?

Here are some key components that constitute a grift:

1. Establishing false credibility
Grifters portray themselves as highly knowledgeable or uniquely skilled by regularly posting social media content with an air of authority—even if not backed by genuine expertise.

2. Social proof & popularity
The grifter uses follower counts, likes, comments, or fake testimonials to create the illusion that many others trust them.

3. Emotional manipulation & storytelling
They regularly share emotional narratives designed to elicit fear, hope, or urgency, which makes followers more open to persuasion.

4. Strategic use of visual content
They use carefully curated images or videos portraying idealized outcomes, “impressive” results, or dramatic before and afters to attract followers and enhance their “authority”.

5. Suppressing critical voices
Grifters on social media often delete negative comments and block dissenting opinions. They publicly dismiss critics as jealous or uniformed.

6. Fake or misleading expertise
They often reference vague credentials, certifications, or affiliations without verification, creating a false sense of knowledge and expertise.

7. Reliance on testimonials instead of evidence
Grifters heavily use emotional stories and anecdotal “success” rather than evidence based, peer-reviewed studies.

8. Promising quick fixes or guaranteed results
They offer unrealistic promises about how rapidly they can come to the rescue and solve victims’ problems while dangling the carrot of long lasting, guaranteed results.

9. Dismissing harm or danger
Grifters often minimize harm by dismissing risks as rare or insignificant, shifting blame to victims, and reassuring them to suppress caution and critical thinking.

10. Significant consequences
Victims of grifts often experience significant emotional and financial consequences. They can have feelings of shame, betrayal, anxiety, guilt, and reduced self-worth. The fallout from being on the receiving end of a grift is far-reaching and can lead to long lasting psychological distress.

What do you think—is “balanced” dog training a grift?

Tell me what you think!

cont. below