Heel & Heal K9

03/10/2026

These two behavioral psychology models are behind every training system ever designed.

www.heelandhealk9.com/blog/classical-and-operant-conditioning

03/09/2026

Meet Bodhi. He came to us human aggressive. Watch and see how he does when a stranger tries to feed him a treat. 👀

💫1 spot left for March Board & Train! Text 📲 425.626.1706 for a free consult!

02/19/2026

02/19/2026

Bodhi is a 2 year old Chihuahua who is touch sensitive. This creates issues around grooming. So much so he has even bitten his owner during grooming. In this clip we are working to counter condition Bodhi’s relationship to being handled.

01/31/2026

This is Zeus — a graduate of our behavior modification board & train program.
His owner reached out because his reactivity made it impossible to take him through the ferry terminal or onto the ferry.
Today, Zeus and his owner can move through that same environment calm, focused, and under control.s

01/31/2026

This is Zeus — a graduate of our behavior modification board & train program.

His owner reached out because his reactivity made it impossible to take him through the ferry terminal or onto the ferry.
Today, Zeus’s owner can move through that same environment calm, focused, and under control.

12/13/2025

Muzzle conditioning doesn’t have to be rushed or stressful.

With the right structure and pacing, most dogs can learn to wear a muzzle calmly and safely.

🎥 Full video on YouTube. Link in bio!

I walk through the full conditioning process step by step, including what to do when dogs struggle or timelines are tight.

12/12/2025

The Canine Behavior Triangle

A simple way to understand how dogs learn, react, and ultimately change.

A dog’s behavior doesn’t just “happen.” It’s driven by what the dog perceives and how their nervous system feels in that moment.

We can’t directly change a dog’s thoughts or emotions — but we can shape their behavior.
And when behavior changes, the dog begins to experience the world differently.

New behavior → new experiences → new expectations → calmer emotional responses.

That’s how real rehabilitation rewires a dog’s internal world.

10/29/2025

Oswell learning to follow instead of lead.

Today’s session was all about reshaping the pack hierarchy through a calm, structured heel.
Oswell has used aggression as a tactic to control his environment — guarding the bed, deciding who gets to lay where, and setting his own rules.

By introducing clear structure and calm leadership, his owners are learning how to guide him with confidence instead of conflict. Through the framework of the heel, we’re not just teaching obedience — we’re reshaping the relationship.

This isn’t just obedience. It’s a mindset shift.

10/28/2025

There are many ways to communicate with dogs, and some dogs respond better to certain methods than others. Spatial pressure or body awareness is an often overlooked tool we can add to our toolkit to establish clear communication between ourselves and our dogs.

Dogs are body language experts, and our bodily mechanics will always overshadow any verbal command, prompt, or cue. Learning to use spatial pressure—stepping in to create pressure or stepping back to release it—lets us ‘push’ or ‘pull’ a dog’s movement using calm, intentional body energy rather than constant talking or leash tension.

For dogs who have low food drive or don’t find treats motivating, this becomes a powerful alternative form of communication. It taps into their prey drive or natural desire to chase, allowing us to guide behavior without an overreliance on food, toys or bribery.

Spatial pressure creates cooperation through presence.

10/03/2025

With the right training, crate time doesn’t have to be a negative experience. This dog used to see the crate as a trap. Now, he sees it as his safe, calm space.