Lakota's Legacy Dog Behavior & Life Skills Training

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Lakota's Legacy Dog Behavior & Life Skills Training Behavior Modification and Life Skills teaching and support. Holistic, cutting edge, science-based approach. I have been there. You can start today! No problem.
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IAABC-CDBC
Certified LEGS Applied Ethology Family Dog Mediator (FDM)
Trauma Informed Pet Professional
Science-Based
Rewards-Based
Holistic
Est. 2019
Clarksville, Nashville, Knoxville
In-home & anywhere with Internet! Certified Dog Behavior Consultant (CDBC) & Accredited Dog Trainer (ADT) with IAABC (International Association for Animal Behavior Consultants)
Trauma Informed Pet Professional
Control Unleashed student
Aggression in Dogs Master Course Completed & Passed
Aggression in Dogs Conference 2020
Control Unleashed conference 2020
The Lemonade Conference 2019, 2020
Member of Shock-Free Coalition https://www.shockfree.org/
Ongoing educational & skills courses

I focus on the why"-not the "what" -the dog is doing, in order to change the behaviors. Where dog trainers teach a behavior like sit, down, stay, I go beyond to help find out they "WHY" of the dog's behavior when they are struggling with issues in their homes. We use food, toys & you to train in an optimistic, supportive way. No prong, chokers, shock collar, intimidation, dominating. I look for the least stressful way to help your dog or puppy. I have had dogs that were difficult and dogs that left me stressed out, exhausted, desperate, confused, feeling like a failure and broken hearted. I am here to help you and your dog from going down or staying on that same road. Most dogs I meet have a yearning to be understood, so a lot of what I focus on is educating their owners. This puts the owner in a place of confidence with the ability to know what to do to help their dog. Sending a dog off for training removes the vital part of the equation with the owners,....the journey of growth, discovery, understanding and learning together. This is what makes those relationships deeper and helps you to work with your dog instead of against them. To the point, I do not believe board and trains are the best option for your dog, especially if they are struggling. You can be the you your dog wants you to be! I try to have training solutions for every budget: from virtual sessions to fun online challenges and deeper, more intimate private sessions with myself via virtual or in person. Check out my website for more information: www.lakotaslegacy.com I am also an affiliate for Freezebon. You may find more information, or purchase, using this link: https://www.freezbone.com?sca_ref=7609179.Y9dtV8WCZf

Not local? I offer remote sessions!

This fluffy little puppy captured my attention when I went to see her siblings. I had initially chosen her little sister...
10/20/2026

This fluffy little puppy captured my attention when I went to see her siblings. I had initially chosen her little sister but that pup seemed a bit timid and shy. I was looking for a bit more confidence.

This pup came out amongst her little family, bounding with happiness and curiousity. She ran down the aisle of the barn and was headed out on an adventure. To where? Who knows.

She wasn’t the colors I was looking at initially, but there was something about her. I’ve always believed that dogs pick their people. There’s an old saying, “never pick a horse by its color”. The same can be said for dogs.

Having shepherds for over 20 years, I knew this was a different breed I was not used to. Huskies have a bad reputation (stubborn, escape artists, hard to train). I guess I was up for the challenge.

I’ve learned about who she is over the years. What she was really good at & what she needed help with. I’ve learned that she has tremendous instinct and intuition. Things need to make sense to her. She is an independent thinker and could really care less about a lot of things the shepherds would lose their minds about.

She chooses to conserve her energy for things that matter, like squirrels and bunnies, or ambushing Stogie in the grass. She has never caught a squirrel but she has regretfully caught a bunny or two. She is a very skilled, natural hunter. RIP bunnies.

She has a rougher play style that would not be appreciated by other breeds necessarily. And she rarely barks unless she has a good reason. She does love a good howl with me when no one’s around though. I kinda like it too.

Her best friend is Stogie. They’ve grown up together and have a very strong bond. He tries to herd her and she run circles around him 😆

Every day she wakes up happy and greets me with a smile when I walk in the door. She is the definition of joy and it’s infectious.

She knows when I need her. I know when she needs support. She is a nature girl, a freedom lover, just like me.

I had no idea how much I would wind up adoring this fluffy, sweet girl, but our bond is unbelievable and beautiful. She is my happiness project & so appreciated. I am blessed to have her in my world.

Happy 6th birthday my precious friend. This world is so much easier with you in it. ❤️

10/19/2026

Enjoying this beautiful weather! Finally cool enough for Ana to enjoy her walk. ☀️
Had her in a field today, testing out where she chose to go.
When dogs are given choices, we gain a lot of info from them.
Where did she go, when given the chance? ❤️
My sweet girl. I adore her so much 🥰

Life throws curveballs. Moves, kids, visitors, other dogs, vet trips, storms, a new baby, a house that suddenly is not q...
10/09/2026

Life throws curveballs. Moves, kids, visitors, other dogs, vet trips, storms, a new baby, a house that suddenly is not quiet anymore.
Puppies do not get a practice round for any of that. They are learning what the human world is while they are still small, and a lot of what they meet is loud, fast, and confusing. Doorways. Leashes. Hands reaching in. Cars. Other dogs on walks. Being left alone. Being told no for something they did not know was a problem.

A lot of the calls that come in later started here. A puppy who never got comfortable with handling. A young dog who only met other dogs in chaotic ways. A dog who learned that new things are worth worrying about, because no one slowed the world down while they were still flexible.

Early training is not about tricks. It is about giving a puppy a map for the life they are actually going to live. How to settle. How to be handled. How to meet people and dogs without it turning into a scramble. How to be alone for a short time before that becomes a crisis. How to recover when something startles them.

The window is short. Puppies can learn the hard version later. It just costs more time, more management, and more stress for everyone in the house.

If you have a puppy, or a young dog who is already unsure, this is the time. Not after the first real curveball. Prevention is what it’s all about!

Lakota’s Legacy. Rewards-based puppy foundations, built for real life homes & skills that last through life!

More of the calls coming in lately are the same story: dogs in the home fighting, and people already deep into online ad...
10/09/2026

More of the calls coming in lately are the same story: dogs in the home fighting, and people already deep into online advice, corrections, and shock collars trying to stop it.

Those usually make the next fight worse, not better. The dogs get more tense around each other. The people get more stressed out, frustrated, left feeling desperate. Everyone waits until it feels like an emergency. 🆘

It does not have to get there. If your dogs are already stiff, snapping, or fighting, that is the time to get eyes on the situation. Not after one more video, or another fight.

Visit or contact me for help. Link in comments 👇

09/30/2026

I’ve heard some crazy things come out of people’s mouths.

Tank here is a 3 yr old German Shepherd-Lab (if you can believe that) mix.

He went to a retail box store for his training when he was younger.

He struggled with being able to listen to commands. His mom was told that he didn’t listen because he was “spoiled”. That’s a very judgy thing to say & not true.

She was also told to medicate him with prescription drugs. That’s a very irresponsible and out of bounds piece of advice, when it comes from someone unqualified to give it. All trainers are not behavior experts. Neither are vets.

She was advised to use a prong collar on him. 🙄 Another piece of advice casually mentioned as a solution to his behavior struggles. 😡 Annnnd terrible advice!

Here we are today. He struggles with visitors, people, handling, certain other dogs. Some might describe him as “reactive”.

This kind of behavior could put others in danger, should it escalate, as well as put him into a vulnerable position, if he thinks the only way to solve whatever his emotions are about, is through this kind of behavior.

What this owner was being advised sat wrong with her. In her gut, she did not believe what she was being told. She knew they had to be another way. She was advised to seek out a shock collar trainer. She kept looking. She didn’t want that thing on his neck. Thank God!

1. Training environments matter. For a lot of dogs, group classes or retail box stores are entirely overwhelming. An overwhelmed brain is not in a good space to learn. Dogs learn best when there are low, distracted, environments where they can focus on their learning-not on everything else that’s going on around them (sights, sounds, smells, surfaces, people, lights, objects, doors, animals, etc.). And even if the dog seems OK in the environment to the untrained eye, many dogs are forced into those environments and simply tolerating the experience. Tolerance does not mean it’s okay. The dog could absolutely be being flooded in the environment. Not good. And I’m not a fan.

2. If spoiling a dog means that you are listening to your dog, that you don’t want to put punishing tools on their necks or give them hard corrections because they struggle with their behavior, then by all means spoil the hell out of your dog! If a dog is unable to do a behavior that is being asked, there is a reason. The dog could be in pain, not understand what’s being asked (confused), or overwhelmed. Dogs do not think in terms of being good or bad, right or wrong.

3. Unless you are a behavior expert, a vet, a college-degreed behaviorist, or a behavior consultant certified with an accredited body (like myself), you have no business advising people to get someone else’s dog on meds. Zero. And even then, behavioral medication should only be used in conjunction with a behavioral modification plan, from a qualified expert-not as a “fix”.

4. Advising punishing equipment like choke collars, prong collars, or E collars shows the level of experience in education of whoever gave the advice. It also shows how much they don’t understand about dog behavior.
There are so many studies out there showing the negative consequences of their use, & advising people not to use this equipment, that it should not be the first thing coming out of someone’s mouth. And it’s the last thing you want to use on a dog that has fearful or aggressive behavior.

This dog is acting like a German Shepherd. This is a genetic component. He needs help with his emotions, his understanding of what people mean to him, and he needs skills to make better choices for himself when he feels uncertain. My goal is to help him feel better about certain situations and people; not to overwhelm him or put him into an environment where he thinks yelling and aggressing is his only option, hopefully getting him to a point where he doesn’t feel like he’s in a pressure pot with visitors in his home.

I will do this with careful consideration about who he is as I learn about him in our interactions. I will not force him. I will give him a way out. I will build a relationship with him of trust & respect. And I will teach his mom how to help him when he’s struggling in a way that is kind, safe, effective and provides a two-way communication between them.

When a dog says “no” to a command or interaction, that communication is just as important as a “yes” and is certainly not something to punish.

Today was our first meeting. I look forward to our next.

Who was I talking to? Myself? Siri? Ana? Ana of course!! Then I see this 😂 But it really is nice to be appreciated, isn’...
09/25/2026

Who was I talking to? Myself? Siri? Ana?
Ana of course!!

Then I see this 😂

But it really is nice to be appreciated, isn’t it? I don’t think we hear it often enough, especially when it’s so hard to just “life” these days. I appreciate all of my followers out there!

So glad the heat has finally moved off!

Have a good weekend everyone!

Does your dog greet like he was invited to every party on the block? 🥳 Jumping. Charging the gate. Pulling toward squirr...
08/28/2026

Does your dog greet like he was invited to every party on the block? 🥳

Jumping. Charging the gate. Pulling toward squirrels, cats, birds, and anything that looks like it might be fun. Other dogs looking at him like, “Get a grip, dude.” 😧

That’s Toby.

He’s a young adolescent, happy-go-lucky guy who just wanted in on everything. Nothing was “wrong” with him. He wasn’t bad. He just didn’t know what else to do with all that energy and excitement. His job was never to figure out how to live with humans. That’s our job.

His mom committed to the work. Not just “training the dog,” but learning how to be his guide. Teamwork. 💜

What changed wasn’t that we shut him down. We have been teaching him how to think when he’s amped up. 🧠

✅ How to evaluate: “Is this party actually more fun than being with my person?”
✅ How to leave things that matter to him and come back without a fight
✅ How to regulate his own excitement so he can make good decisions
✅ How to choose calm and connection because it feels good, not because he’s been corrected, begged, or bribed.

Today I walked into his yard and he didn’t crash into me at the gate. 🤯

He left the squirrels, birds, and the neighbor cats… and chose his mom. 🐿️

He even put himself on place—something we hadn’t practiced in months—because he’s learning that settling and watching is often the better party. ☺️

That’s not obedience. That’s a dog who is growing into a thinking, confident, self-controlled young dude. 🤓

If your dog feels like “too much”—the jumper, the puller, the one who loses his mind over cats and squirrels—this is for you.

Your dog isn’t broken. He’s an adolescent (or a high-energy adult) who needs skills, not suppression. Learning takes time. Consistency. A partnership. A four-year-old doesn’t walk out of kindergarten with a college degree, and your dog doesn’t need to be “fixed” in a weekend.

When we build these life skills without force, harsh corrections, or pain, dogs start making better choices on their own. You get a teammate instead of a project. 💜 🐾 🐾

Connection, trust, and safety instead of constant management.

Toby couldn’t have done it without his mom working just as hard. That’s the part most people miss—and the part that actually changes everything.

If this sounds like your dog, you’re not alone. Drop a 🎉 in the comments if you’ve got a party animal at home.

What’s the one thing they just cannot leave alone?

Forcing dogs to do human will through shock, prong, pinch collars; intimidation & force does not result in a happy dog w...
08/22/2026

Forcing dogs to do human will through shock, prong, pinch collars; intimidation & force does not result in a happy dog who listens. It results in dog who was forced through shock, prong, pinch collars & intimidation to comply to man’s will, and who is simply trying to survive being further shocked, pronged, pinched, intimidated and forced to bend to human’s will.

To the normal dog owners struggling out there, don’t be fooled by cool marketing, big mouth know it alls, authoritative uniforms, or celebrity TV 🙄 . You’re being lied to.

What you don’t see is all that’s happening inside the dog’s nervous system & their true emotion. Our unregulated industry leaves room for renegades who think they know it all without any kind of understanding of breed traits, development stages, hormones, learning theory, even training.

Years ago, I was out there looking for help too for my dog. I was lied to, had my money stolen, spent thousands on “trainers”, used everything they suggested, and it only got worse. I had fallen for it all. I felt confused, frustrated, stressed out, failed & alone.

My promise to Lakota was to get educated, get certified, do all I could to understand canine, to help others from falling for all the deceptive junk I fell for and help others from falling in that same pit! Today I specialize in reactivity, trauma, anxiety, aggression. I work with pups to adults, multi-dog households, and all different breeds. Many times trying to undo the damage that has been caused by all the bad advice and abusive equipment.

Over the years I have seen some really awful stuff. Dogs stuffed in cages for years, burns on necks from shock collars, prong and pinch collars on dogs, constant shocking to try to stop a dog from barking, dogs so terrified they won’t move, esophageal injury from chokers, dogs blasted in the face with water for doing dog behavior like barking. It silently infuriates me. Every single time I see a dog being choked out on a leash, I boil inside.

I want better for our dogs. I want them to have choices, be able to just be a dog, have their needs fulfilled that often times result in behavior problems when not fulfilled. I want their humans to understand their dog in a more holistic way. I want to help owners build a healthy relationship based in trust, security, and happiness. I want them to think about their dogs in a different way and understand that it is a two-way street not a one-way transaction.

My dogs do not have to be perfect. They can have good days and they can have bad days. They can have moments where they forget all about any kind of learning they knew. And they can have a human that questions what might be happening to cause that behavior, and how can I help them? None of that is done with force, shock, prong, pinch collars, or intimidation.

None of my dogs are spoiled. They live the life they should be living. One that is safe, secure, accepting, affords agency & respects who they are as a canine. They have rules and boundaries just like humans do. No one gets hurt.

We have brought canine in from their life outdoors and put them into a world unfamiliar, expecting them to not be a dog, not considering what their needs are or may be, not helping them but expecting them instead. Dogs keep having to pay & we wonder why there’s such a rise in behavior problems.

I’m not one of those fancy marketing, know it alls. I’m extremely introverted and prefer being with dogs any day of the week. Those that I’ve been able to teach over the years, I’m so grateful for, not for me, but for their dog and the relationship between the two. I’ve seen so many beautiful transformations.
Hopefully they have been inspired to enlighten others. Keep rising. Your dog is better for it! I know this & so do you! 

Toodle-roo balanced trainers! The US has such a love affair with shocking dogs. We can and should do better! Ethics has ...
08/15/2026

Toodle-roo balanced trainers! The US has such a love affair with shocking dogs. We can and should do better! Ethics has a place in how our best friends are taught!

07/16/2026

Certain dogs stay in my mind long after we end our sessions. Ginger is one of those dogs.

She was rescued from a hoarding situation in Alabama and had been confined to a crate for her first two years of life.

She endured tremendous trauma and missed out on key important developmental experiences. I also believe she was punished for using the only behavior she had access to in that crate, which was her vocalizations. Pleas for help. Pleas for freedom. Pleas for safety. Pleas for affection and care.

When I met her, she was so shut down. She struggled with using the bathroom in the house. She wouldn't dare look at me, or even open her mouth (that's not normal. Her mouth should have been relaxed and open). She wouldn't make a peep. She couldn't handle the pressure of me even looking at her, much less approaching or engaging with her. With her little tail tucked underside her and her sad little face, I knew it would take some time to get through to her.

She would just shove herself in the corner of her couch and shrink herself down as much as she could. 🥺

I was not there to make her "get over it". I was not there to impress her and her owner with cool tricks. I was not there to force her to change her behavior. I was there to earn one thing in her. Trust. And that would be hard-earned.

I wanted her to feel safe. I wanted her to be able to understand that she had access to her other behaviors and it was safe for her to use them, whatever they might look like. I would be thrilled to see her use her voice! I would be thrilled if she could just get her tail to wag a little bit. I had no idea what she might do but we kept going with her.

This video was after months of building up that trust with her, allowing her to claim space, to use her voice, to learn what grass was all about and explore without fear.

Her human later reported to me that the potty training was resolved, but a new problem had developed. She had discovered her voice and decided it was something so wonderful everyone should hear what she had to say. She also began to make friends with the species that betrayed her the worst. She was willing and she made her own choices now. At the end of the day, it should always be up to the dog!

I couldn't believe what I walked into that day. You never would have known. 🥰

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