Canine PhD Training and Behavior Consulting

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Canine PhD Training and Behavior Consulting Companion And Performance Dog Training. We make dog training fun and easy – giving you peace of mind and a pet who’s a pleasure to live with.

Canine PhD transforms misbehaving dogs into well-mannered companions by providing best-in-class education for a lifetime of learning.

Halloween can bring unfamiliar sights, sounds, and people. Here are some things to look out for so you can plan ahead an...
10/23/2026

Halloween can bring unfamiliar sights, sounds, and people. Here are some things to look out for so you can plan ahead and help your dog feel safe.

Remember: Every dog is different. Your dog might struggle with one of these triggers, several of them, or none at all. Pay attention to your individual dog's needs, manage their exposure where possible, and give them a safe space to decompress.

Set your dog up for success by minimizing stressors and helping them navigate Halloween at a pace that works for them!

Follow along for more Halloween tips for your reactive dog!

For dogs who struggle with reactivity, certain situations can be especially challenging. With Halloween coming up, it's ...
10/22/2026

For dogs who struggle with reactivity, certain situations can be especially challenging. With Halloween coming up, it's a good time to talk about how additional support, like situational medication, might help!

Situational medication may help some dogs cope with specific stressful events. For others, a different approach or additional veterinary support may be more appropriate.

Medication isn't a failure, and asking the vet about it doesn't mean you've given up on training. It's about looking at the whole picture and considering what your individual dog needs.

If you have an upcoming event, holiday, or situation that you know may be difficult for your dog, reach out to your vet ahead of time. They can help you explore your options and determine an appropriate plan.

Remember, you don't have to wait until your dog is struggling to ask for help!

“No” doesn’t actually teach your dog what you want them to do. So it's better and more effective to give your dog a clea...
10/21/2026

“No” doesn’t actually teach your dog what you want them to do. So it's better and more effective to give your dog a clear, teachable alternative.

Think about it from your dog's perspective: if you only hear “no, no, no,” you may know you're doing something wrong, but you don't necessarily know what your person wants you to do instead.

Clear communication makes learning easier!

The next time you catch yourself saying “no,” pause and ask, "What would I rather my dog do right now?” Then teach, reinforce, and reward that behavior. Your dog doesn't just need to know what not to do. They need to know what to do instead!

What’s one behavior your dog does that you wish they knew what to do instead of? 👇

10/18/2026

🎃👻 Your dog has tricks to show off and treats to earn!

Join us for a fun Halloween Trick Dog class series where you and your pup can learn new tricks, build confidence, and work toward an official AKC Trick Dog title. Because who says learning can't be a little spooky and a lot of fun?

Class starts this Thursday, October 22 at 7pm!

Let's make this Halloween one to remember! 🎃 Email us to sign up: [email protected]

10/18/2026

There’s nothing more rewarding than watching a fearful dog discover the life they deserve. This is why we do what we do here at Canine PhD! 🧡

Looking for a fun way to celebrate spooky season with your dog? Join us for our Halloween edition of AKC Trick Dog Class...
10/17/2026

Looking for a fun way to celebrate spooky season with your dog? Join us for our Halloween edition of AKC Trick Dog Class! 👻

You and your pup will learn fun tricks, build confidence, strengthen your bond, and work toward an official AKC Trick Dog title.

No experience needed! Whether your dog is brand new to tricks or already has a few up their sleeve, this class is all about learning and having fun together!

Class starts on Thursday, October 22 at 7:00 PM

🎃Ready for some Halloween fun? Email us at [email protected] to sign up!

While we understand getting that perfect Halloween photo can be so tempting! But if your dog is uncomfortable, scared, o...
10/17/2026

While we understand getting that perfect Halloween photo can be so tempting! But if your dog is uncomfortable, scared, or clearly trying to get the costume off, the photo isn’t worth it.

Dogs don’t understand that they’re dressing up for Halloween. They just know that something unfamiliar has been put on their body, and some dogs find that incredibly uncomfortable.

If you want your dog to wear a costume, introduce it gradually instead of putting it on them all at once.

Here are a few helpful steps:

1️⃣ Start by simply placing the costume on the floor and rewarding your dog for calmly investigating it. Then, reward them for approaching it, touching it, or putting their nose near it.

2️⃣ From there, you can slowly introduce wearing small pieces of the costume for just a few seconds at a time, pairing each step with something your dog loves.

3️⃣ If they move away, pause and give them space. We want them to learn that the costume predicts good things, not that they have to tolerate it no matter how uncomfortable they are.

And if your dog never becomes comfortable wearing one? That's okay too! A costume is optional. Your dog’s comfort is more important than getting the perfect Halloween picture 🐾🎃

10/16/2026

Dogs experience the world through their noses. When we give them time to stop, sniff, investigate, and process all the information around them, we’re giving them an opportunity to engage in natural behaviors that are mentally enriching!

A sniffy walk can help:
• Provide mental stimulation
• Reduce boredom
• Satisfy natural exploratory behaviors
• Give your dog more choice and control during walks
• Help them decompress and regulate their emotions
• Build confidence in new environments

And guess what? A sniffy walk doesn’t need to be a long walk either! Just giving them a few extra minutes to literally stop and smell the roses can be more beneficail than you realize!

When's the last time you took your dog out on a sniffy walk?

10/15/2026

This feels like a controversial thing to say because we're dog trainers...but hear us out.

A dog who sits on command but is terrified of the world isn't a success story.

Neither is a dog who walks perfectly on leash but can't recover from a loud noise, a stranger, or an unexpected situation.

What we actually care about is whether your dog feels safe in their own life and if they can shake off a hard moment and keep going.

What's more important to us is whether they have coping skills to navigate an unpredictable world.

And more than anything, we want the relationship between you and your dog to build on trust instead of compliance!

Because a dog who chooses to listen because they trust you will always outperform a dog who obeys because they have no other option.

That's what we will always strive for here at Canine PhD!

10/12/2026

That moment when you realize all the work you’ve been putting in for the last few weeks is finally starting to click so you’re in literal disbelief LOL.

Progress with reactivity doesn’t always happen overnight, but when you start seeing your dog make a different choice, it makes all those training sessions worth it!

This is also why we build skills before we need them! We're trying to teach the dog an alternative response they can actually use in the moment, NOT just stopping reactions!

Who can relate to this feeling? Tell us in the comments! 🙌

Address

245 Dekalb Industrial Way
Decatur, GA
30030

Telephone

+14049312035

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