Training tips

Notes from the training floor.

Short, practical write-ups on the questions we get asked most often in sessions — grounded in force-free, evidence-based methods, not quick fixes.

A growl is information about discomfort or conflict. Punishing the sound can remove the warning without fixing the underlying problem.

Dogs often learn behaviors in specific places and contexts. Practicing in new environments is part of teaching the actual skill.

Food is useful for teaching a new movement, but the long-term goal is for the cue—not the visible treat—to control the behavior.

It's easier to reinforce calmness at level three than recover it at level ten. Learn to notice the early signs of arousal.

Your dog's name should mean "pay attention," not "you're in trouble." Build a strong association before using it in difficult situations.

These two cues are often treated as interchangeable, but they solve different problems and should be trained separately.