What a weekend guys!

This was the end of the first week for these guys. Check em out, everyone is doing awesome!

I want to introduce you to Cash. He’s an interesting case, but also a good example of why trust and emotional conditioning come before obedience. Cash will take food from me, but eye contact, direct body pressure, and certain types of interaction are very triggering for him. Based on his history, my working theory is that people previously tried to intimidate him—likely attempting to create aggression instead of stability. The result wasn’t protection… it was conflict, anxiety, and compulsive behavior. What you’re seeing here (the spinning, tail biting, tension) is a dog who learned he had no control over what was happening to him. So the goal on Day 1 is not commands. It’s not corrections. It’s not “testing” him. The goal is predictability. Right now, every interaction I have with him needs to communicate one thing: When I engage with you, good things happen. That’s why all of his food is being hand-fed through the kennel. It’s safe, controlled, and emotionally clear. I’m intentionally squaring up, talking to him, and occupying space—without forcing eye contact or pushing him past his threshold. If he chooses to disengage visually, that’s fine. We’ll build that later. Dogs’ behavior follows their expectations. If Cash learns to expect calm, predictable, positive interactions with me, his behavior will start to reflect that. But because of his history, there’s no room for sloppy handling or rushed progression. One wrong move can set him back—or put someone at risk. Over the next 6–8 weeks, I’ll walk him through this process step by step: • Reconditioning his emotional response to people • Creating safety and predictability • Gradually expanding freedom and interaction • Only then layering in skills and structure This is what real rehabilitation looks like. Trust first. Clarity second. Skills come later. Stay tuned — I’ll keep documenting his progress and the decisions behind each step.

If you have more than one dog and your home feels calm one moment and chaotic the next, this training is for you. I’m hosting a free live training on how to manage multiple dogs in the home — covering structure, boundaries, and the rules that actually prevent tension and conflict. 📅 Date: Thursday, December 18 ⏰ Time: 6:30 PM EST This isn’t about teaching more commands. It’s about creating calm through management and leadership. 👉 RSVP to the event above and drop any questions you want me to cover live.

If you’ve ever felt like you’re fighting your dog on the leash… this one will change your life. In this video I break down leash pressure — which I like to describe as “power steering for your dog.” Once you understand this, everything in training gets easier. Sit, down, place, heel… all of it connects back to this one skill. Most people accidentally trigger opposition reflex and then wonder why their dog is pulling, bucking, or fighting the leash. This video shows you how to teach it the right way, so your dog actually understands how to turn pressure off, stay engaged, and work with you instead of against you. I also walk through: - How to introduce leash pressure gently and clearly - Why pressure relief is actually a reward (negative reinforcement) - How to pair food with leash guidance for faster learning - When to use a slip lead vs. a prong collar - How to keep your dog’s motivation high during the process - Real training clips with dogs learning this for the first time If you're working on training your dog, this falls right between the Teaching Phase and the early Structure work — and it’s one of the most important skills you can develop as a handler.