Blog — Holistic Dog Training

"Dogs are very sensitive to body language, so the least little tense movement--a change of gait, a slight hunching of the shoulders--can be observed and interpreted as something being amiss. When we're upset, our voices can go up slightly in frequency as well. Dogs get these nuances in ways most people don't.  Masking strong feelings by acting like things are OK may not always work, either: It's quite likely that dogs can smell fear, anxiety, even sadness... The flight-or-fight hormone, adrenaline, is undetectable by our noses, but dogs can apparently smell it. In addition, fear or anxiety is often accompanied...

Why Dogs Need to Bite, Carry, and Chew: Understanding the Predatory Sequence Dogs are predatory animals by nature. Even in our modern homes, their nervous systems are still wired for the hunt. This doesn’t mean your dog wants to harm everything around them—but it does mean they have deeply ingrained instincts that need an outlet. At its core, the predatory sequence is a natural progression of behaviors: orienting, stalking, chasing, grabbing, biting, carrying, and ultimately consuming. Different breeds emphasize different parts of this sequence. For example: Herding breeds may focus on eye-stalking and controlling movement Terriers are driven to dig...

I don’t typically offer rigid “fixes” for behavior, because every dog is an individual—and every moment is unique. What works in one situation may not apply in another. With that in mind, I always encourage you to trust your intuition and respond to your dog in the present moment, regardless of what I—or anyone else—has suggested. That said, here are some general guidelines to help calm a hyperactive or anxious dog: 1. Reduce stimulation indoorsCreate a calm, predictable home environment. Keep greetings neutral—no big excitement when you come and go. You may even experiment with an “attention diet” (no touch,...

Safety First “Safety first” is one of the most commonly used phrases in dog training, but it is often misunderstood. In behavior work, safety is not just about preventing bad things from happening or keeping a dog away from triggers. True safety is about creating the internal and external conditions that allow a dog’s nervous system to learn, adapt, and change. Without safety, there is no learning. There is only survival-based behavior. What Safety Actually Means When we talk about safety in behavior modification, we are not only referring to physical safety or environmental management. We are also referring to...

Puppies are incredibly fun—and equally a lot of work. They’re sensitive, developing beings, both physically and emotionally. If you protect and nurture their emotional health early on, they can grow into social, confident, and well-adjusted companions. Here are my top five tips for raising a happy, healthy dog: 1. Puppies need patience, not discipline.Puppies aren’t “misbehaving”—they’re simply doing what comes naturally. If you find yourself getting frustrated, pause and regulate your own emotions first. Raising your voice or handling your puppy roughly won’t teach them what to do—it will only create fear and confusion. Instead, focus on guiding them toward...