Blog — training advice

In my last blog post, Dominance Debunked, I discussed how physical force and emotional intimidation can lead to fear—and in some cases, aggression—in dogs. What’s important to understand is that many of these methods, including alpha-style “pack leadership” and even e-collar training, can still produce a dog who appears calm and obedient. But appearance can be misleading. In many cases, what you’re actually seeing is a freeze response. These dogs are what we call fear-compliant. They obey not because they understand or feel confident, but because their nervous system is overwhelmed. They’re operating in a state of fight, flight, or...

It’s widely accepted today that “dominance” as a training method has been debunked. Modern behavioral science simply doesn’t support the idea that dogs need to be controlled through intimidation or force. When pain or fear is used in training, the outcome may look like obedience on the surface—but underneath, it often creates stress, confusion, and insecurity. Over time, those underlying emotions can show up as unwanted behaviors such as submissive urination, anxiety, compulsive habits, hyperactivity, excessive appeasement, or even aggression. Rather than teaching a dog “who’s in charge,” these methods can push the dog into a state of fight, flight,...

Many behaviors that people try to “correct” in dogs are actually completely natural. When we allow dogs appropriate space to express those instincts, they tend to become more stable, balanced companions. Problems often arise not from the behavior itself, but from how we respond to it. For example, I gave my dog a raw bone to enjoy in his kennel. At one point, a client dog ran up to the kennel, clearly interested in the bone. My dog responded by becoming protective—he growled and showed defensive behavior. This is entirely normal. He was in possession of something valuable, in his...

If you came across a wild animal eating in the woods, your instinct would probably be to give it space and avoid interfering. Respecting that boundary helps prevent stress or defensive behavior. The same general principle applies to dogs and their food, yet many common training approaches suggest the opposite. Some people are taught to handle, interrupt, or even take food away while a dog is eating in an effort to “desensitize” them or establish control. But consider the experience from the dog’s perspective. If someone regularly hovered over you during meals or took your plate away without warning, it...

  Understanding Leash Reactivity Through the Nervous System This may be an unpopular perspective, but when I look at leash reactivity, I don’t see a “bad” dog—I see a nervous system under pressure. When your dog reacts on leash, something in the environment has activated their sympathetic nervous system—their “go” state. This could be: Excitement (wanting to chase a squirrel or play with another dog) Social drive (wanting to greet) Fear or uncertainty (feeling unsafe around a dog or person) In all cases, the body is preparing for action. The Problem: Energy Without Movement Off leash, your dog would naturally:...