Synergy Dog Training and Behavior

06/02/2026

NEED INPUT: Do you see anything wrong with this dog walking scenario? 

05/30/2026

What is one lesson your dog has taught you?

05/30/2026

What dog behavior or training topics would you like me to post about?

05/27/2026

Is your dog stressed due to fireworks? Now is the best time to help your dog by desensitizing, training and preparing for July fireworks. Our program has successfully helped hundreds of dogs overcome their sound sensitivity issues. We use psychology and positive reinforcement only.

We usually can help most dog and handler teams with a single session. There really is help that can change the way your dog feels and reacts to noise sensitivities. We are offering 10% off to the first 50 people who book a session. Mention this ad. 435-590-6780

05/26/2026

Are you ready for summer? What is one of your favorite activities with your dog? Our’s love their pool for games like to bob for apples, ice cubes, chopped carrots, etc.

05/24/2026

Microchips save lives!!!

Microchips can make miracles happen! This senior dog came into Santa Cruz County Animal Care & Control as a stray. Nobody was aware of where he had come from or how he had gotten there. Then staff scanned him for a microchip and discovered something shocking; He had been missing for 8 years! 😮

You read that right, not 8 days...YEARS.

All that time his family had no idea he'd ever make it home again, but they never gave up hope. He was older and grayer, but he was unmistakably their dog.

After nearly a decade apart he finally made it home, all thanks to the power of one tiny microchip. 🧡

05/22/2026

RANT (sort of) To whomever threw a coffee with a ton of sticky creamer on the front of my car. It covered the windshield, hood and splattering the sides and top. Thank you for the incentive. I went to the car wash and it is clean and beautiful. This happened when I was parked at the gas pum, while inside, at Maverik on Airport Rd at approximately 2:10 pm. Thank you to the Maverik employee who kindly cleaned my windshield. What a nice guy! I’m not sure if the naughty person is my dog training/behavior competitor or just somebody having a bad day. Regardless, I pray blessings and peace on your life.

05/22/2026

Did you know, before breeding your dog, you should get health clearances so you do not pass on hidden genetic disorders? This includes any orthopedic tests, eye testing, cardiac testing and genetic (DNA) testing. When you breed your dog, you are responsible for the health of the puppies, as well as the puppies themselves for their lifetime.
The buyers of puppies have legal recourse and can sue breeders for producing dogs with health issues for the lifetime of the dog.
It definitely makes sense to do all health testing on both parents before breeding them. If you choose to breed 2 different breeds together, such as a “doodle”, or a mixed breed, it is advisable to do the health testing on both for all breeds in the mix.

The orthopedic foundation for animals (OFA) keeps a list of required testing for every breed.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1UScadtgdh/?mibextid=WC7FNe

The OFA databases are central to the organization’s objective of establishing control programs to lower the incidence of inherited disease.

They serve all breeds of dogs and cats, and provide breeders a means to respond to the challenge of improving the genetic health of their breed through better breeding practices. The OFA databases are expanded as more tests become available.

Visit our website to learn more: https://ofa.org/about/

05/21/2026

Did you know reactive dogs are reacting to FEAR??? When you learn proper canine communication and teach your dog that they can feel safe around you, it is the bridge to counter conditioning and desensitization. This type of work is very effective and fulfilling. We use proper CC & D, combined with teaching new behaviors and keeping the dog under their stress threshold. The outcome is so worth it! To be able to take your dog out into public with a calm, collected mind is worth all of the time to help them. It changes the dog and the dog/human relationship forever.

On the other hand, negative methods such as shocking, yelling, yanking the leash, etc., just amps them up and causes more distrust, fear and long term anxiety. It takes them into a higher level of stress.
Please try “choice desensitizing” with positive reinforcement only, instead of force or painful aversive training. It’s the difference between psychology and dominance. We have over 35 years of experience and education. 435-590-6780

05/20/2026

It’s the time of the year again where we need to check our yards for foxtail grass. It can look like crab grass until the heads pop up. Foxtails can cause serious damage to your pets. They can get a barb up their nose and start sneezing. They can eat the grass and it can get stuck anywhere from their lip to their bowels. If they walk on it, it can enter the skin through the feet/legs and travel up the legs. It can travel through their ear canal into their brain. This is why it is so incredibly important to pull it out now, rather than to wait and see what happens later. Not only can it cause incredible pain, but also incredible veterinary bills.