Pure Canine Training

05/24/2026

Teddy had his first visit to Pups & Cubs. 🐾

He got to explore the store, play a little game, soak up some love, and just hang out for a while.

He was such a good boy.

Teddy is sweet, gentle, and easy to love. He still needs bone surgery, but in the meantime he’s getting out, building positive experiences, and reminding everyone what a special dog he is. 💙

05/21/2026

Training doesn’t always have to look big or flashy.

Sometimes it’s simply helping a dog slow down, take in the world, and learn how to exist with more confidence.

Small moments matter.

05/20/2026

A Miles update. 🐾

When I first started working with Miles, toy guarding and fixation were major concerns. Not because he was “bad” or vicious, but because he would become so locked in on the toy that hands near the toy could become a risk.

There was a gap between our second-to-last and final session, so I was really happy to see how much progress had held.

His owner shared such a positive update on how well he’s been doing at home and on walks. Miles was responsive, checked in well, and had a solid “out.”

These are the moments I love.

Not perfection.
Progress.
Trust.
Better communication.
And dogs learning how to make safer, calmer choices in real life.

05/19/2026

How much easier would life be if you could walk through the door without chaos?

Training isn’t only about commands. It’s also about creating mutual understanding and helping your dog make better decisions in everyday life. 🐾

01/02/2026

Happy New Year, everyone.

Roxy and Daisy are kicking off 2026 with me and sending a hello.

2025 held a lot, including some hard goodbyes to dogs who were deeply loved and will always be remembered.

It was also a year of continued learning and meaningful work with so many good dogs and dedicated people.

Thank you to everyone who trusted me with their dogs, and to my mentor for his continued guidance.

Wishing you a great year ahead.

07/19/2025

Your Dog’s Not the One Who Needs Fixing

Your dog isn’t a bad dog.
Your dog is a predator trying to survive in a human world.

We get upset when they jump, bite, chase, bark.
We say, “he knows better.”
But why would he know better—if you’ve never clearly shown him what to do instead?

Just because we’ve domesticated dogs doesn’t mean their instincts go away.
They’re still wired to protect, to chase, to react.
In nature, those responses either make sense or they’re unnecessary.

But in our world, those same behaviors get labeled “bad.”

This doesn’t mean we excuse the behavior.
A bite is still a bite. A reaction still needs to be addressed.
But blaming the dog won’t fix it.

You can’t expect a dog to navigate our human rules if no one ever taught them what those rules are—in a way they understand.

Dogs don’t speak English.
They don’t reason like humans.
They respond to patterns. Energy. Tone. Clarity.

If we’re going to bring dogs into our homes…
If we’re going to ask them to live beside us, our kids, our guests—and integrate into our lifestyle—

Then we have a responsibility.
An obligation to understand what they are, respect their boundaries, and to show them how to live in this world without losing who they are.

That doesn’t happen through control.
It happens through calm, consistent partnership. Through connection. Through clarity.

You can’t just command your way to understanding.
You have to reach the dog.
You have to build it—with your dog.

And if you’re ready to do that—I can help.
🐾 purecaninetraining.com

—

My mentor, Nelson Hodges, and the Canine-Human Relationship Institute have deeply shaped how I view and connect with dogs.
If you truly want to understand dogs on a deeper level—and we all really need to—I highly recommend CHRI’s Course 1: Chrinsititute.com

07/17/2025

Maverick wasn’t a fan of leash tension.

Which is really common in puppies. The second he felt even a little bit of it, he threw a fit.

So we had to back up. Slow down. Take smaller steps.

We gave him proper introductions to different tools — harnesses, flat collars, martingales. He wasn’t a fan of the slip lead (not uncommon), but his owner stayed consistent and kept working through it all.

And honestly? Maverick did great on everything else. He picked up sit, down, and place super fast. He loved his crate.

The one area we had to be patient with was leash tension. So we started with dragging the leash during play, slowly built up his tolerance, and by the end he was much more comfortable in a martingale.

One thing that stood out? His owner.

He was really attuned to what Maverick needed. Most of the time, I recommend traditional wire crates for structure — but Maverick responded better to a travel crate. And his owner picked up on that. He followed his dog’s lead and made the right call.

That’s what it’s about.

Leadership, yes — but also listening.

Training only works when the human is willing to learn too. And this team? They’re off to a great start.

07/16/2025

07/15/2025

🎉 Big congratulations to Cielo for completing her Confident Canine Program! 🐾

When I first met this sweet girl, her family had just welcomed a new baby—and they were understandably nervous. Cielo had shown some guarding tendencies and wasn’t quite sure how to handle the big changes in the home.

We focused on structure, communication, and clear boundaries to help her feel more secure—and now, just a few months later, she’s doing beautifully.

💛 She adores the baby.
💛 The baby adores her.
💛 And the whole family is thriving with calm, respectful interactions and a much deeper understanding of what Cielo needs to feel safe.

This is what relationship-based training is all about: not just control, but trust—developed through structured, intentional work that honors the dog’s needs and the family’s goals.

Way to go, Cielo. You’ve come a long way. 🎓🐶

—
📍Private, relationship-based dog training in West Covina & surrounding cities
🗓️ Booking consultations for August – message me or visit the link in bio

07/11/2025

to baby Bruce 🐾
I met this little bulldog back in 2019, and from the moment he popped around the car during our consult, I knew he was going to be a character. 😄

Bruce was adorable—and also had the stamina of a sleepy potato. We quickly realized traditional hour-long sessions weren’t the right fit. So instead of four full-length lessons, we split things into shorter, more manageable sessions that worked better for him.

Training isn’t one-size-fits-all. Bruce reminded me that some dogs need a little more flexibility—and that’s completely okay. 💛

He may have taken things at his own pace, but he learned, he grew, and he made all of us smile. Still one of the best little personalities I’ve had the joy of working with.

Pretty sure is still charming the internet these days… some dogs are just unforgettable. 🐶✨