Blog — Holistic Dog Training

I currently have my dogs on an “attention diet.” That means no touch, no talk, no eye contact—as Cesar Millan would say (and I promise you, this is both the first and last time I will ever quote Cesar!). Why do my dogs need an attention diet? Because they’ve had way too much attention indoors for most of their lives. They’ve been anthropomorphized, overstimulated, over-petted, over-cooed at, and wrapped up in a fairly co-dependent relationship with me. It’s only day two, and so far, so good. I was able to go almost completely cold turkey, and as I type this,...

The Vagus Nerve: A Shared Biology Dogs are like humans in many ways—including their biology. One of the most important systems we share is the 10th cranial nerve, also known as the vagus nerve. This nerve connects the brain to the body and plays a central role in regulating the autonomic nervous system in both humans and dogs. When everything is going well, the ventral vagal system is in charge. In this state, we feel: Safe Comfortable Social and connected Breathing is easy. Movement feels fluid and joyful. We’re in a state of flow—playful, curious, and open to interaction. But...

Rethinking the Crate: From “Cage” to Safe Haven I want to share some of my recommendations for crate training a puppy—because this is one area where mindset matters just as much as method. Many people feel uncomfortable using a crate because they associate it with putting a dog in a “cage.” But that perspective shifts when you understand something fundamental: Dogs are den animals. A crate, when used properly, is not a place of confinement—it’s a place of safety, comfort, and rest. Think of it less like a cage and more like a bedroom. If you look at images of...