ROOT Dog Training

04/07/2026

04/06/2026

Building a "place" isn’t just about obedience; it’s about giving them a sanctuary where they always feel secure. Watching that tail wag as they find their spot is the best reward. 🐾❤️

03/25/2026

TRIGGER STACKING
We’ve all had those days when nothing seems to go right—one frustration after another builds up, leaving us feeling stressed, overwhelmed, and on edge.

Our patience runs out and it might take a relatively small thing to push us over the edge and snap.

To others, this probably looks like a complete over reaction, out of character behaviour or that there’s something wrong with us, but the reality is very different.

That reaction isn’t really about a single moment—it’s the result of everything that came before it. It’s the accumulation of stress, pressure, and small challenges that have been quietly building up beneath the surface. On another day, under different circumstances, we might have responded calmly and without issue at all.

This is an important perspective shift, because it reminds us that behaviour doesn’t happen in isolation. What we see in that one moment is often just the visible outcome of a much longer, largely unseen process.

Dogs are no different and a behaviour that seems completely out of character or happens “out of the blue” is often caused by “trigger stacking”.

A trigger may be anything that increases a dog’s stress levels and has a negative impact on their emotional, mental or physical state.

These may be small things that we may not even notice or seem insignificant to us, but they are all adding to an increasing “stack” of events that may culminate in out of character behaviour.

Things like less rest or sleep, over stimulation, excitement, loud noises, weather changes, thunder, other dogs, changes in routine, vet visits, grooming, nail trims, visitors, strangers, pain or discomfort etc, may all be fine if spaced apart or isolated, but not enough time in between these events can quickly cause a stack of triggers.

When stress levels reach a certain point, the next stressful event, however small, may cause a reaction that is completely unexpected.

Instead of just focusing on a particular behaviour and seeing it as a problem that needs to be fixed, take a step back, look at the bigger picture, look at events, circumstances or environmental factors that may have played a role in causing it.

Being aware of potential stressors and allowing dogs enough time to decompress, relax and unwind for a few days, often makes all the difference between “normal behaviour” and a behaviour that seems completely out of character.

03/23/2026

Let’s talk about poisoned cues.

A poisoned cue is when a signal that used to mean something neutral or positive becomes associated with something unpleasant.

Example:
You call your dog off the couch with “come.”
Sometimes there is a cookie.
Other times there is a crate, collar grab, or social isolation.
Over time, “come” stops predicting reinforcement.
It starts predicting loss.

And sometimes that is when growling or snapping shows up.

We see this frequently in aggression cases:
• “Come” predicts restraint
• “Drop it” predicts loss
• Reaching for a collar predicts confinement
• Seeing the leash predicts an overwhelming walk

The cue itself becomes part of the unpleasant event.

If you are seeing aggression around specific signals, do not just repeat the cue louder.
Ask what that cue has been predicting.

Repairing poisoned cues requires changing what the cue predicts, not just better treats.

Functional analysis matters here.

We walk through how to evaluate and rebuild these patterns inside the Aggression in Dogs Master Course.

03/19/2026

See coyotes in Lake Forest? Here’s what to know. 🐾

Coyotes are a natural part of our ecosystem, and sightings can happen in communities like Lake Forest where neighborhoods and nature meet. While they may sometimes be visible, coyotes generally prefer to avoid people.

𝐀 𝐟𝐞𝐰 𝐤𝐞𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰:
▪️ Sightings don’t mean there are more coyotes. Wildlife is often simply more visible as habitat changes.
▪️ Coyotes may briefly follow people or pets out of curiosity. This “escort behavior” is a natural way they monitor activity in their territory.
▪️Removing coyotes isn’t an effective solution. Research shows that when one coyote is removed, others often move in to fill the territory.
▪️Attacks on humans or pets are extremely rare, especially when basic precautions are taken.

𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐬:
☑️ Keep pets nearby and on a leash
☑️ Do not feed wildlife
☑️ Secure garbage and food sources
☑️ Give coyotes space and help keep them wary of people

Learn more: https://loom.ly/bwAKrv0

03/10/2026

Not all fruits are safe for dogs. While some can be healthy treats, others can be dangerous.

Safe options like blueberries, watermelon, apples (without seeds), bananas, strawberries, and pineapple can provide vitamins and hydration when given in small amounts.

However, grapes and raisins can cause serious kidney problems, and fruits like cherries and plums contain pits that can be choking hazards and release toxic compounds. Avocados may also cause digestive upset.

Even safe fruits should only be given occasionally and in moderation. Always remove seeds and pits, and introduce new foods slowly.🤎🖤🩶

02/23/2026

Have you ever had to apologize to a friend for your dog hu***ng their leg?
Well, I have! On many occasions...😅

So, why does mounting (hu***ng) happen?

Mounting is a normal behavior performed by male and female dogs and cats 🐶🐱 (and other animals, but that's not what we're talking about today!)

Sometimes, mounting can be sexual in nature. If it is, neutering will generally resolve the behavior if done early.

Mounting is rarely a dominance issue. A pet mounting a human is not attempting to display dominance.

⭐ Most often, mounting happens when a pet is experiencing over-arousal (excitement), anxiety, or stress. If your pet mounts other pets or humans, have you noticed it's usually when they're wound up, or a lot is going on around them?

Puppies also mount as a play behavior. You may also see adult dogs hump briefly during play, but it's often not appreciated by other dogs.

02/01/2026