Our Training Pillars

A very brief overview of our system

State of Being

We consider what influences we can affect to help balance your dogs state of mind and being.

This means looking at their system as a whole - are they getting enough quality rest? Are they eating a diet the nourishes a healthy system and microbiome? What are they regularly rehearsing and getting rewarded for - ie. Are they experiencing chronic stress? Are we allowing impulsivity & explosiveness?

 Observing what their baseline arousal and energy levels are in different settings.

What are symptoms in their every day life that may be an indication that they are struggling with a dysregulated system and how can we help them come into balance.

A regulated system is foundational.

Connectedness to Guardian

Physically, mentally, emotionally.

Does your dog only know where you are on your walks because they can feel the tension from the leash from 5 feet behind them as they pull ahead?

If you stop walking, will your dog stop because they were physically restrained by the leash or because they realized you were stopping and slowed down with you.

Is your dog enthusiastic about engaging with you?

Is your dog able to take direction from you in different environments (without you needing to raise your voice or ask 5 times).

Ps. None of this needs to come with force or nagging.

Fulfillment & Purpose

Most of our "pet" dogs were not intended to be pets. Just 50 years ago, many of our dogs were working complex job using their specialized skills (that we now see as behavioral problems as they can be dysfunctional in our homes and modern world - such as barking, guarding, chasing, nipping, digging, etc).

This incredible work that your dog was literally designed for still exists within them.

Without fulfillment, without a proper outlet, you will face friction with your dog "behaviorally". Teaching them when they're allowed to "turn on" their drives/purpose, and when to withhold is crucial.

Unfortunately, a 1 hour leash walk a day & a snuffle mat is usually not an adequate replacement for most dog's purpose.

Check out this model to learn more - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b9C_XRcbI_Q&t=257s

Structure & Freedom

The end goal is freedom - for your dog to be trusted in your home, on or off leash in public, at your friends BBQ party.. for your dog to be a part of your life.

However, if we provide the opportunity for freedom and your dog is not making good choices on their own - then we must provide structure and boundaries instead, to teach them how to make good choices in the settings that matter most to you.

Clarity & Conditioning

People often miss this step.

Literally taking the time to teach your dog what exactly it is you'd like them to be doing.

We often rely on a reactive "Don't do that!" "No, off!" "Stop!"

But we need to intentionally and deliberately teach our dogs the skills on what to do instead. How to win. How to gain access to the things that they want.

And most importantly, teaching these skills outside of the settings and moments you're needing them. For example, teaching loose leash walking in your home and parking garage, before bringing it to the highly distracting outside world.

Conditioning cues & emotions is key - this creates a reflexive response in the mind and body for your dog to automatically make the choices you'd like them to make.

We have to remember to communicate & train in ways aligned with how dogs learn - which isn't always intuitive to people.

Confidence & Security

Studies find that over 70% of dog bites, including fatal attacks, are linked to fear and insecurity.

Many behavioral challenges, such as leash reactivity, leash pulling and a dog not listening in different settings, are often linked to fear.

Fostering confidence in a dog means that they feel secure in their body

(free of pain, confident in their ability to navigate social situations, have been challenged to meet their physical ceilings with their surroundings, is able to recover from stress relatively quickly),

confident in their handler

(predictable, clear, advocates for them),

and in their home

(a safe space to rest, not constantly triggered by people, sights or sounds).

This dog will listen more reliably and less prone to behavioral challenges..

Healthy Leadership & Relationship

This one may ring similar to "Connectedness to Guardian" - and truly, it's challenging to separate any of these points from one another - they are all interconnected.

Healthy leadership really emphasizes the means of how we create a connected dog.

A healthy leader is not arrogant, aggressive or selfish.

They listen to whom they are guiding to receive feedback on if their leadership is being received as intended and may pivot based on their observations.

A healthy leader is not void of empathy - using coercive methods to justify their actions.

They are clever and deliberate. Perceptive and consistent in their messaging, but can be flexible on the delivery as needed.

Focusing on the learners experience & their accountability as the teacher.

Handler Education

If you are looking to alter a dogs behaviour, it is a non-negotiable to become informed in the language of dogs - how they use & understand pressure/release. How to engage their senses, their drives and their motivation. How are they influenced by reinforcement and punishment (which doesn't need to include the use of physical reprimand).

Become fluent in their body language and become a proficient communicator yourself.

And let's be honest - despite our best intentions, most humans struggle to be void of miscommunications with our own species.. what are the odds that you're not miscommunicating with your dog?

This is a short and narrow overview to provide some insight on the lens in which we view dog training and considerations we integrate into with each training plan.

Our trainers have multiple avenues of education and influence.

Here are a few modalities that have inspired our teachings..

• The LEGS model which is deeply inspired by Applied Ethology -  the scientific study of animal behavior in human-controlled environments, such as homes, farms, zoos and shelters. It focuses on understanding how animals behave in these settings and using that knowledge to improve their welfare, management, and training.

• Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) - a scientific approach to developing procedures that will produce observable changes in behaviour.

• Polyvagal Theory / Arousal Regulation - applies understanding of the autonomic nervous system (especially the vagus nerve) to behavior and learning. This lens helps you recognize how stress, safety, and connection influence a dog's ability to learn or cope.

• LIMA Framework (Least Intrusive, Minimally Aversive) - an ethical decision-making model rooted in humane, science-based training. It supports choosing methods that prioritize the animal’s emotional and physical wellbeing.

As well as many others, such as attachment theory, interpersonal neurobiology, cognitive neurobiology, humane hierarchy and more!

I am always happy to continue this conversation and answer any questions you may have over at kissmymutttraining@gmail.com