The Profound Hound, LLC

03/05/2026

Looking for something to do this weekend?
Thurs - Sunday, KC dog show!!

03/02/2026

Congrats on recent Rally Obedience wins for;

Jenny Walters & Jude the Aussie — 2 Q’s (qualifying scores) with scores of 97 & 1st & 2nd placements in Rally Novice.

Kim Swopes & Dash the standard poodle — 2 Q’s & a 4th placement in Rally Novice

& my own grandma Harper the Ridgeback — 2 Q’s to finish her Rally Intermediate title

02/16/2026

This post immediately made me think about rally & obedience ….. 🤔🫣

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1CAzLAwi62/?mibextid=wwXIfr

The 24-Hour Silence Experiment

Two weeks ago I asked a few of my customers to try something slightly radical:

Stop talking to your dog for 24 hours.

No narration.
No constant cues.
No “who’s a good boy?”
Just silence, aside from genuine safety needs.

And here’s what most of you discovered…

Your dog was calmer.

Not shut down. Not sad. Just calmer.

Because voice carries energy. Dogs don’t understand English the way we imagine, they read tone, pitch, tension, rhythm. Constant chatter keeps the nervous system ticking over. Remove the verbal clutter and you reduce stimulation.

Many of you noticed:
• More resting
• Less pacing
• Fewer attention-seeking nudges
• Better lead flow
• More eye contact

When you stopped talking, your dog started watching.

They shifted to their natural language, spatial awareness. Shoulders, hips, movement speed, direction of travel. And funnily enough… it worked better.

Some of you got an extinction burst at first:
Nudge → paw → bark → dramatic sigh.

That’s not emotional damage. That’s a behaviour losing its automatic reward.

The biggest surprise?

Some of you felt uncomfortable. A bit guilty. A bit mean.

Which tells us something important:
We often talk to regulate ourselves, not the dog.

And here’s the kicker, when you did use a cue, it worked better.

Because it wasn’t diluted by repetition.

“Come” means more when it isn’t said 43 times a day.

This experiment isn’t about never speaking to your dog. It’s about deliberate communication.

Say less.
Mean more.
Use your body.
Keep cues clean.
Remove emotional leakage.

Leadership isn’t louder.

It’s clearer.

And sometimes the most powerful thing you can say…

…is absolutely nothing.

02/10/2026

Lots of post Super Bowl sales going on for “little smokies” — super high value training treats!!!

02/10/2026

I’ve been LOVING these treats — very small, natural ingredient list!!
I have only been able to find them sporadically at dog shows. So I ordered directly from the small, family owned business.
They sent a referral coupon code for 20% off *your* first time order, so I’m sharing with all of you!

My dog LOVES these treats!

01/23/2026

With our upcoming winter weather this weekend, remember that typical rock salt for deicing sidewalks, driveways & patios can cause chemical burns to dog’s paws & even cause fatal toxicity or seizures when dogs ingest it (even from licking it off their paws).
It’s also horrible for your landscaping & wildlife as well.
There are lots of other good options that are “pet safe”!

01/11/2026

Calendar is updated & registration is open for the next session of classes at The Profound Hound

Tuesdays, 7:30-8:30pm November 4th - December 2nd Sign Up Now!

01/11/2026

Congrats to The Profound Hound’s newest “titling” teams!!

AKC Star Puppy for corgi Scarlett & Dustin & Lori Hampton
AKC Canine Good Citizen for golden retriever Bunny & Hannah Crews

01/11/2026

Holidays make for lots of activity & people in the kitchen!

One of my favorite, most functional commands useful all year long….
(See comments below for steps how to train this)

12/31/2025

Happy New Year!!