Pawsitive K9 Trainers LLC

10/17/2026

Trigger stacking is something I educate my clients about . Sometimes it’s so subtle but impactful .

Yeah, yeah. Trigger stacking 🥱
I know. We harp on about it.

But it's fundamental to understanding and helping a dog.

And those triggers?
They can be pretty insignificant when looked at individually.
A sniff that went wrong, a rattling trailer driving past or even a barking dog behind a fence.

That's why we always need to keep trigger stacking tucked away in the back of our minds.

It's often easy to recognise when a dog has reached complete emotional overload.
Clear as day.

All those other stages?
Sometimes not so clear.

And when things aren't quite so obvious, it's easy to make decisions to stay at the park a little longer, meet that next dog, or greet that person.
When maybe we should have recognised what our dog was already telling us.

And those stages?
They're not really a reliable, fixed scale.
Dogs won't necessarily work their way neatly or clearly through each one.
The stages can overlap, those changes can be really subtle, and recovery?
Yup, pretty individual too.

So maybe it's time to stifle that yawn and give trigger stacking the attention it deserves.
Because those seemingly small, insignificant experiences can add up.

And what a dog could cope with an hour ago might be something they simply can't cope with now.

Even your dog.

10/17/2026

“Stubborn” is a human behavior , not a canine behavior 😊

I’M NOT STUBBORN!

Your dog won’t come back when called, refuses to walk in the direction you want to go, won’t sit when asked, doesn’t listen when out and about, but does it perfectly at home…

Are they just being stubborn?

What we may think of as just being stubborn is often an important clue that tells us we need to look deeper into the cause.

A dog’s response is influenced by far more than motivation. Emotional state, physical discomfort, stress, tiredness, an environment, previous experiences, genetics and learning history can all play a part.

Perhaps dogs don’t understand what we’re asking. Maybe an environment is far more rewarding than we are. Maybe they are feeling overwhelmed, anxious, overexcited or tired. Maybe they've learned that responding to a particular cue predicts something they find unpleasant. Perhaps there is pain, discomfort or they’re not feeling well.

Are we making it worthwhile, have we taught the behaviour clearly and practised in different environments, is the environment too challenging, are we asking more than the dog can manage in that moment, is there an unmet need or an underlying physical issue?

These are far more important questions than asking how to make a dog comply.

Our responsibility isn't to win a battle of wills. It's to understand the dog in front of us, in that moment and create the conditions in which they can succeed.

Build motivation through what is reinforcing to the individual dog. Make learning clear and consistent. Manage the environment. Respect emotions and physical limits.

A dog succeeds when they feel safe, understand what's being asked and are motivated.

Instead of labelling a dog as “stubborn”, first look at what might be underneath that behaviour.

10/15/2026

Engagement with your dog …. How often do you have engagement with your dog ? If you want a close bond with your pup , PLAY with them ! Tug is an excellent game to work on impulse control and choice , and no it doesn’t cause dogs to be aggressive.

10/15/2026

Raider graduated today from my program . A lovely senior couple adopted him and he is on the younger side so they needed some help with greeting manners and impulse control . His temperament is excellent and he is well loved , he also was a quick study ! Way to go Raider !

10/13/2026

I’m house sitting for my client . This is a Maddie , a beautiful small Corgi . First time mom and dad are gone she is glad to be in her home . I was at a conference last week so I picked her up today from the other sitter and she is out cold , feeling safe ❤️

10/13/2026

Dogs don’t feel guilt , that’s a human emotion and requires higher cognitive skills . Dogs read your body language , tone of voice and your eyes .

10/06/2026

Business will be closed for a few days as I travel to this amazing conference to stay informed and updated on the latest and greatest in the training community.

10/04/2026

One of the many reasons I will never use a shock , prong or choke collar on your dog , period ! For larger dogs I always recommend a harness .

🐕 Canine Neck Anatomy & Collar Pressure

A dog’s neck contains several vital structures, including the trachea, esophagus, carotid vessels, nerves, cervical vertebrae, and surrounding muscles. Excessive or repeated collar pressure can potentially cause soft-tissue trauma and interfere with normal airway, swallowing, or neurovascular function.

Understanding canine neck anatomy is essential for veterinary students, pet owners, trainers, and animal-care professionals to promote safer handling and restraint. 🩺🐾

📚 Learn anatomy. Protect animal welfare. Practice responsibly.

10/02/2026

09/23/2026

Every sentient being needs to feels safe .

I NEED TO FEEL SAFE!

Like all living creatures, ourselves included, dogs need to feel safe – it’s a basic need and essential for survival.

It’s hard wired into our brains to keep asking and checking – “Am I safe?” / “Is this safe?” / “What’s going to happen next?”

When we think about feeling safe it’s natural to just think about not being harmed or being in danger, but it’s not just about physical safety - feeling emotionally or psychologically safe is as important.

While physical safety may be obvious and simpler to address, emotional safety is far more complex and not always easy to recognise or identify.

So many behaviour problems that we see in dogs stem from the brain saying– “I don’t feel safe!”

A dog that lunges and barks or behaves aggressively with another dog or person is very likely doing so because they feel unsafe. They are trying to make the scary thing go away.

A dog that is guarding resources is doing so because they are afraid that the resource will be taken away – they don’t feel safe when another animal or person approaches that resource.

A dog that is reacting to fireworks or thunderstorms or other noises is doing so because they don’t feel safe.

The same can be said for separation distress – the feeling of intense panic when left alone – “I am not safe when I’m alone!”
Our first responsibility should not be about training, obedience or trying to change behaviour, but to first focus on building trust, self-confidence, resilience, creating a safe and secure base and being the person that our dogs can rely on and trust.

Safety isn't something we teach dogs. It’s something we create, every day, through trust, understanding, compassion and consistency.

In the words of Dr. Gabor Maté - "Feeling safe is the treatment and creating safety is the work".

It’s our responsibility to put in the work to enable our dogs to feel safe and when they feel safe, this is what is part of the treatment or the solution to the problem.