TAZ K9 Academy

10/19/2025

Reminder: Rest, recharge, see your friends and do thing that feed your soul.

If you know me, you know the EDM community is a big part of my life. This past weekend I had originally planned to take Topi with me to . Sadly as we know, he's no longer with us. Instead, along with carrying his spirit I carried his equipment. One of my good friends was kind of enough to give me his condolences in person and bless me with some Kandi in his name. A lot of tears were shed, laughs were had, and hugs were given. On top of that when I returned home I had an appointment to permanently have a way of carrying Topi with me. Thank you for capturing him perfectly

10/12/2025

stumbled across some old photos from the early days of TAZ. I'm forever grateful of everyone who supports us and keeps us busy, but what I wouldn't give to go back to the days where it was just us, struggling, and not knowing if we were going to make it. Because at least I was with my boys. I know they're watching me and Taki wagging their tails waiting for us to join them. I miss you boys. Until we meet again.

10/08/2025

Most “reactive” dogs aren’t aggressive.
They’re scared, frustrated, or confused — and sometimes, a mix of all three.

When you label a reaction as “protective” or “dominant,” you miss the emotion driving it.
And if you don’t treat the emotion, the behavior never truly changes.

Reactivity isn’t a personality.
It’s a symptom — and understanding why it happens is the first step to helping your dog feel safe again.

10/02/2025

Not every bark, lunge, or growl is “protection.”
⚠️ Sometimes it’s fear, insecurity, or even guarding you as a resource.

When we lump every reaction into “my dog is just protective,” we miss the root cause—and that’s where progress gets lost.

👉 True protection is rare and usually comes from genetics or professional training. Most of the time, what owners call protection is really:
• Owner guarding
• Fear reactivity
• Territorial behavior
• Resource guarding

The difference matters, because the fix is different. The better you understand your dog’s why, the better you can help them feel secure, confident, and safe.

Since someone decided to come on my other post about owner gaurding and ask for the scientific studies, I decided maybe I should post something that breaks each one down a little better. Also I told that person to Google it. I'm not playing those games because your dog is resource guarding you 😂 and yes I do use ChatGPT to help make my slides more concise and clear. In case you haven't noticed I suffer from diarrhea of the mouth. Each slide would be a novel if I did it on my own 😅

09/28/2025

little bit of action from the week. Another week of doing what I love. Even though my boys are gone, these guys keep me going day in and day out. I'll never forget what they taught me or how they made me feel. Every dog that comes us, leaves with a piece of them.

09/25/2025

Most “never let your dog ___” rules are myths.
These activities don’t create dominance or bad habits on their own—problems only show up when there’s no structure.
Teach clear cues, watch your dog’s body language, and you can enjoy these so-called controversial behaviors without guilt.
👉 Which of these do you already allow?

09/21/2025

09/18/2025

Don’t get me wrong, I still use the word dominant in order to help owners more easily understand certain situations. But it’s usually stemming from bad manners, over arrousal or even control. There’s a difference between trying to mutiny or a coup and trying to control a situation out of fear or insecurities.

“Dominance” is one of the most misunderstood ideas in dog training.

Mounting, draping a paw or head over another dog’s back, even guarding a toy or the couch—these aren’t power grabs.

🐕 Mounting often happens when a dog is over-excited, anxious, or socially unsure.
🐕 Head or paw over another dog’s back is usually an awkward attempt to start play or check comfort.
🐕 Resource guarding—protecting food, toys, or a spot on the couch—is a natural survival instinct, not an “alpha” move.

Labeling these as dominance often leads to harsh corrections that create more fear or even aggression.
✅ Instead, look beneath the behavior: stress, insecurity, or lack of clear guidance. Give structure, use positive reinforcement, and build your dog’s confidence.

Your dog isn’t trying to take over the household—they’re just trying to communicate.
Let’s replace the outdated dominance myth with understanding and solid training.

09/14/2025

A little bit of work from this week.

09/04/2025

As pet parents it's our duty to keep our animals safe. In order to do that we must educate ourselves on common dangers that can cause serious injury or even be fatal. It's understandable that since we wear shoes, know better to not drink water from anywhere and can also feel a bug bite that we don't give it a second thought. With our canine companions it's a different story. Sometimes they're going off pure instincts to do things like quench their thirst on a hot day unaware of the bacteria or even poison that could be in the liquid they're consuming. Please do your homework as dog owners so that your pup doesn't fall vitcim to something that could have been prevented.

08/31/2025

August is ending along with summer.

This has without a doubt been the hardest time in life. Running a business all while losing two sons. Some days it still doesn't feel real and I'm going to come home and they're just going to be waiting to greet me at the door. The only thing keeping me going is the faith I have that I will see them again someday and the joy I get from helping owners and dogs grow their relationship. Because If I don't do it, then you guys will have 1 less trustworthy dog trainer to help you and end up working with someone who's good at marketing but knows nothing about dogs.

Even though times are tough and I miss my boys, we can not stop. The pack must continue moving forward, because the training never stops.

08/21/2025

First off let me be clear that I have nothing personal against any of these breeds. They’re all great in their own ways. Yes, even the doodles. I have worked with more than a few. It comes down to two reasons.
1) owners can’t handle the breeds plain and simple. Leading to behavior issues, shelter influx, or even dogs being found on the side of the road no longer alive. The last one was happening in southern states to Malinois after John wick
2) Increased demand creates bad breeding or inbreeding. Both lead to serious health complications and even behavioral issues being passed down. Good breeders use selective breeding and take their time for a reason.

Not every breed you see trending online is the right fit for your lifestyle.
Doodles, Frenchies, Malinois, Corsos, Huskies, Corgis, Border Collies… all amazing in their own right — but each comes with genetics, history, and needs that don’t magically disappear.
Before you fall for the “Instagram dog” aesthetic, research what they were actually bred for. Fulfillment beats frustration every time. 🐾