2 Dog Trail Positive Dog Training

05/13/2026

Did you know? According to a study, zoonotic diseases that may occur from contact with dog f***s include campylobacteriosis, salmonellosis, cryptosporidiosis, and E. coli infection.

Not to mention, a variety of parasites can be passed from dog to human (most often children) if your dog isn’t properly de-wormed. Particularly problematic may be roundworms and hookworms.

Discover several dangers associated with letting dogs go off leash: https://dogdiscoveries.com/training/10-dangers-of-letting-a-dog-go-off-leash/

05/13/2026

Did you know?

When dogs are provided with stable routines, their brain begins learning patterns of familiar predictability.

Over time, the dog no longer needs to continuously monitor the environment for sudden changes or potential threats.

Psychologically, this creates a sense of control and safety. The dog develops reliable expectations about when important daily events will occur.

Discover more about why dogs love routines and how you can make their lives better: https://dogdiscoveries.com/behavior/why-do-dogs-like-routines-a-look-into-their-inner-worlds/

05/02/2026

A puppy can live in a loving, safe home and still feel overwhelmed, uncertain, or unsure how to navigate the world. And when that happens, we often see things like:

-Struggling when left alone
-Hesitation or fear around new people or places
-Reactivity or “overreactions”
-Difficulty settling when it’s naptime
-Avoidance or shutdown in seemingly normal situations

Because most of us were taught that if a dog is safe, they should feel fine. But here’s the missing piece: safety and security are not the same thing.

Check out our new blog post where Emily breaks down the difference between the two and how to create a better training and enrichment plan for your puppy: https://petharmonytraining.com/safe-vs-secure-what-we-get-wrong-about-puppy-confidence/

04/11/2026

While it might seem like a good idea to tempt a worried dogs over with a tasty treat. This is often creating conflict and putting the dog in a position they weren’t yet ready to choose.

It teaches our worried dogs the wrong message, approach the thing that scares you. Then we have a dog in a situation they can’t escape from and bites are more likely.

So what can we do instead? Treats can come from the handler, or the new person can toss food away from them. Still a nice association without the pressure and with plenty of reinforcement to make the right choices.

Find tips and trials for the sensitive souls on the App.

03/20/2026

There is no escape.

They’re overwhelmed, shut down, and holding things together the only way they can.

Because when a dog can’t escape, can’t create distance, can’t make the thing go away, they don’t suddenly feel better about it. The feeling doesn’t change. The situation just becomes inescapable.

And from the outside, it can look like it’s working.

“He’s better now”
“He’s not reacting anymore”
“He’s finally getting used to it”

But underneath that silence, nothing has really been resolved. The emotions are still there, the stress is still there, they haven’t gone anywhere. We’re not listening to the smaller signs of that turmoil, so why would they continue to show it.
They’re learning it’s useless to even try.

Or for some, smaller triggers start to matter more. Their tolerance drops. Reactions come quicker, stronger, and sometimes in places you never expected.

They are not refusing to cope.
They just can’t.

And every time they are pushed past what they can handle, it doesn’t teach them to be okay with it. It teaches them they have no control, no choice, and no way out.

That’s not progress.

03/03/2026

02/27/2026

Flicker of doubt?
If you're not sure, it's probably drifting away from play.
And I really do understand. It can be genuinely difficult to tell in the moment.
It's fast. It's noisy.
Adrenaline is high.

It can look like fun.
It can look like excitement. It can look like they will "sort it out" themselves.

You don't want to overreact.
You don't want to interrupt something harmless.
You don't want to be the “over the top” one that's reacting to "nothing".

But that little nagging felling of doubt is information.
When you find yourself watching one dog more closely.
When your own muscles tighten watching whats happening.
When you hesitate and hold your breath before saying, “They’re fine” .

Pause it. Separate. Reset.
Healthy play is mutual.

It is far easier to restart play again after a break than it is to repair damage done.

11/24/2025

Too Much of a Good Thing: Are the Activities your Dog Loves Doing Making him Sick? By Emily Larlham December 14, 2018 How good stress can turn bad Stress is a natural part of life. Eustress (mild stress/good stress) is beneficial for the mind and body. We all know what it’s like to experience good...

11/24/2025

One thing that makes a BIG difference for dogs who struggle (or any dog)...

is giving them more agency!

Agency means giving your dog the ability to make decisions about their actions and surroundings instead of simply reacting to what us humans dictate.

In humans, agency often involves having autonomy, decision-making power, and a sense of control over one’s life.

For dogs, agency might involve things like being able to decide when and where to rest, how to interact with their environment, or how to respond to certain situations.

Agency is important for every dog's wellbeing because:
-It helps them build their confidence and sense of security
-It can help them feel less anxious and reduce stress
-It helps strengthen the bond between you and your dog

If you'd like to learn more about agency and other ways to improve your dog's life, check out our book: Canine Enrichment For The Real World by Allie Bender and Emily Strong. Available on Amazon, Dogwise, and Audible!