Autumn Rose Dog Training

09/05/2026

THE FLAWS OF FLOODING

Using flooding to change a behaviour involves exposing a dog to an intense amount of anything that causes fear, anxiety or distress, with the goal of getting them used to it and eliminating that emotional response.

This approach is often recommended as a quick fix that achieves fast results.

Some examples of how flooding is used –

A reactive or nervous dog may be forced to “sit” or walk close to other dogs or people and be punished for any signs of reactivity.

A dog fearful of water might be forced into a pool and prevented from escaping.

A dog afraid of loud noises might be forced to stay in a room while loud sounds play, with no way of escape.

Flooding is traumatic and may cause extreme stress, anxiety, increase negative associations and create even more long-term fear related problems.

Flooding often causes learned helplessness - an emotional coping mechanism that may look like a dog is completely “cured”, but in reality, they have shut down, given up, disengaged, become emotionally numb and detached. There is no other choice because no matter how hard they try there is no longer any point in trying to escape or react.

Flooding can destroy the trust our dogs have in us. Dogs depend on us to advocate for them, protect them and keep them feeling safe.

Flooding prioritizes a quick fix attempt over emotional wellbeing.

Systematic desensitization and counterconditioning allow dogs to cope, think and learn without being overwhelmed. These methods involve gradually exposing a dog to a feared stimulus at a low intensity while pairing it with positive experiences. This allows dogs to form new, positive associations and adapt at their own pace without overwhelming fear.

These methods build trust, confidence, relationship, safety and in turn, true behaviour change.

No training objective is worth the harm that flooding can cause.

09/05/2026

They look. Then they pull.
They really, really want to get over there.
So we shorten the lead, walk them over and say hello.

Except not one of those things tells us that a meeting is going to be welcomed.
In fact, sometimes the frantic "I must get over there right now!" is the very reason I wouldn't let it happen.

We really like dogs meeting dogs.
We want the sniff.
The play.
The little greeting.
The excitement we see when they spot each other.
The possibility that they'll like each other.

It makes us feel good.

Sometimes we're so focused on getting there, we don't stop to ask whether they actually need to.

Two dogs can notice each other.
Look.
Sniff from a distance.
And keep walking.
Absolutely nothing has been missed.

In fact, for some dogs, that, exactly that, was a great interaction.

They saw another dog.
They gathered some information.
And they carried on with their day.
No greeting needed.
No play required.
No “Go on, say hi!”

And that's the bit we humans struggle with.
Sometimes we want the meeting more than they need it.

So should we insist that our dogs “just be dogs” and say hi?
Or could giving them the freedom not to meet be just as much a part of letting dogs be dogs?

09/03/2026

09/02/2026

Someone younger asked me how I became successful.

I almost said my education.

But truthfully, it’s because of each and every one of you.

And God. 🫶🏻

Just a quick reminder that I am so appreciative of all of you.

08/27/2026

08/25/2026

We are out of our very own beef over here, so I was ecstatic to pull out Mammoth Valley’s!

Leave it to me to come up with ways that makes my training easier and more efficient.

Thankful I had some Mammoth Valley in tha freeza 🥩❄️

08/25/2026

I only allow it if Rogue decides she wants to.🫶🏻

When strangers touch our dogs without consent, it can be unsettling for them—much like an unexpected touch feels to us. Dogs deserve respect and agency over their bodies. Politely guiding others to wait for the dog’s signals, like approaching willingly or leaning in, helps ensure interactions are safe and comfortable.

08/25/2026

“Does Hart County have a need for a grooming/training/daycare/boarding facility?”

Yup. And I’m building one. 😉🐾

Today we poured the first leg of the new field, and watching this thing go from a dream in my head to an actual structure on the farm is pretty dang cool.

This is only the beginning. More space. More enrichment. More opportunities for dogs and their people right here in our community.
Stay tuned. 🐾

I want to thank my dad for volunteering his labor on helping this project come to life. I couldn’t have done any of this without him. 🫶🏻

08/23/2026

Yesterday, I made a little trip to Kentucky State Fair for 3 specific things:
-a donut burger
-Firefly Farms Botanical Wonders CBD
-Black Stone Cherry concert

What a trio!

This CBD is a product I *personally* love, for not only myself as a human but ALSO the pet CBD in conjunction with behavior modification plans.

Like… wow.

I went to KYSF a couple of years back, and ran into them. The amount of information they were able to give me about the science of their products was ASTOUNDING, and my personal experience with it was the same.

We talked for an hour and a half at least this year 🤣🫶🏻
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(Again, *personal experience*, I’m not making any claims about what this product can or can’t do, nor am I recommending it as a treatment for any specific condition, but I do encourage you to talk with your vet about before introducing any new supplement to your dog)