Happy Tails Dog Training

08/17/2026

08/17/2026

All of us at VSA are honored that the Victoria Stilwell Academy is listed as a recommended school for dog training and behavior education and certification by the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior. A few days ago the AVSAB released their position statement on what to look for when choosing a trainer. They list green flags to go towards and red flags to avoid as well as recommending that any trainer should have received an education from a qualified organization and be certified. It’s the only way the industry can protect clients and dogs from hiring unscrupulous and punitive trainers. I received my first certification as a dog trainer( CDT) in 2002, and am also a Certified Dog Behavior Consultant with the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC). Education and certification matter!

07/23/2026

05/22/2026

MYTH: If the dog didn’t bite hard, it’s not serious.

The bite inhibition a dog has is important. But risk assessment is not based on one incident.

It is based on:
➡ History
➡ Frequency
➡ Escalation
➡ Context
➡ Target

A Level 2 bite today can become a Level 4 bite next month if the underlying pattern is intensifying.

📊 Near misses are data.
📊 Air snaps are data.
📊 Growls are data.
📊 Repetition is data.

If the behavior is repeating, intensifying, or generalizing to new contexts, the risk profile is changing. Waiting for a “serious” bite before intervening is not a strategy.

Early intervention protects:
1️⃣ The dog
2️⃣ The people
3️⃣ The professional
4️⃣ The outcome

Understanding bite levels is important. But also understanding trajectory is critical.