Stop Building Drive. Start Building Control

Recently, I’ve been in conversations with dog handlers in the sport world, and one question keeps coming up: how would I use positive methods to teach an “out” for a high-drive dog?

For anyone unfamiliar, an “out” simply means teaching the dog to release a bite on an arm sleeve or bite suit.

Many of these handlers believe that using an electronic collar—one that delivers an electrical current—is the only way to get a dog to release when they’re in a heightened state of arousal. I don’t agree. There are better approaches that are not only more humane for the dog, but also more reliable.

To understand why this belief is so common, we have to look at how these dogs are often trained. From what I’ve observed, handlers frequently take naturally high-drive dogs and focus on building even more drive. That’s where the problem starts. These dogs already come with plenty of drive; they don’t need more of it. What they need is help learning how to regulate it.

If a dog naturally operates at a “5 out of 5” in drive, the goal shouldn’t be to push them beyond that. The goal should be to teach them how to access that drive when needed—and just as importantly, how to turn it off. They need to be able to come back down, relax, and complete the stress cycle that occurs during high-arousal work.

When we push dogs past that natural threshold, we create an unhealthy state within their system. The result is a dog who stays “on,” unable to disengage or recover. At that level of arousal, the brain is flooded with stress chemicals, and the dog can no longer access learned behaviors. In that moment, they aren’t choosing to ignore the cue to “out” or “release”—they genuinely can’t process it.

This is often the point where handlers resort to using shock. The dog is stimulated until they release, and the pressure stops the moment they do. But that isn’t teaching the behavior, it’s forcing a response under distress.

So how do we teach impulse control and build a reliable release? READ MORE!

When we focus only on “obedience,” we’re more likely to miss what our dogs truly need. Obedience alone doesn’t prepare a dog to successfully navigate the world around them. Knowing how to “sit” on cue can absolutely be useful in certain situations, but it does little to help a dog process how they actually feel about their environment.

A dog can perform behaviors and still be anxious, overwhelmed, uncertain, or shut down. True success isn’t just about compliance; it’s about helping dogs feel safe, capable, and emotionally balanced within the world they live in.

Check out the video above to see how I counter a balanced trainer’s methodology and focus on obedience.

We’ve become so conditioned to believe that a tired dog is a good dog that many owners spend the majority of their time trying to physically exhaust their dogs. Long walks, endless games of fetch, dog parks, running, and constant activity are often used as the primary solution for behavior concerns. While physical exercise absolutely has value, it is not the same as fulfillment. Many dogs are still left mentally frustrated, emotionally dysregulated, and unable to settle because their natural instincts and genetic needs are never being acknowledged.

Genetically based enrichment focuses on fulfilling the dog in the way they were biologically designed to function. Herding breeds often need opportunities to problem solve, control movement, and use their eyes and brains. Terriers may thrive when given opportunities to dig, search, dissect, and engage in predatory-style games. Scent hounds benefit tremendously from nose work and tracking activities that allow them to use the very skill humans selectively bred them for. When we consistently meet those innate needs, we often see improvements in behavior, emotional regulation, confidence, and overall stability. Fulfillment creates a calmer nervous system far more effectively than simply trying to wear a dog out physically.

Physical exhaustion without fulfillment can actually create dogs with higher endurance but no greater emotional balance. In many cases, owners unknowingly condition their dogs to require more and more activity while the dog’s nervous system remains overstimulated. Enrichment rooted in genetics helps dogs feel competent, satisfied, and understood. It allows them to engage with the world in ways that make sense to who they are, rather than forcing them into a lifestyle built entirely around suppression and obedience.

Why Running Your Dog Ragged Isn’t the Answer

Listen wherever you stream your podcast or click here.

Free Resources and Online Content

Did you know that we have lots of online resources for you and your dog?

Our free resources can be found on YouTube where you will find instructional videos, response videos, and educational videos. You can also find free content on TikTok, Instagram, and through our podcast, DogSpeak: Redefining Dog Training.

Our paid content is very affordable and can be watched on demand, at your leisure. Check out our courses here.

Get 15% Off All Courses through the rest of May! Coupon code: DSG15

As the days get warmer, many of us are scheduling more playdates and outdoor adventures with our dogs. But not all play is healthy play, and it can sometimes be difficult to tell the difference between appropriate interaction and signs that a dog is becoming overwhelmed or uncomfortable.

If you’ve ever questioned what good play versus unhealthy play looks like, this video will help you better understand canine communication and social behavior. Be sure to take advantage of your coupon for our Dog Communication Course, where we break down body language, stress signals, and social interactions in a way that helps owners better advocate for their dogs.

The better we understand how dogs naturally communicate with one another, the less likely we are to label them unfairly or make assumptions about their social skills. Your dog will benefit from having someone who can recognize what they’re truly trying to say.

Keep an eye out for our newest course on Dog Interaction coming in June!

I took this week off from a full newsletter and podcast episode. However, I wanted to share one of my favorites, and I believe, most important episodes that anyone with an adolescent should listen to!

When Good Dogs Go Rogue: Navigating Canine Adolescence

Listen wherever you stream your podcast or click here.

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A lot of dogs you see out in the world aren’t actually enjoying themselves. They’re coping. They’re navigating noise, movement, unpredictable people, other dogs, tight spaces—and they’re doing their best to stay regulated enough to get through it. And because they’re not barking, lunging, or “causing a problem,” we label that as success.

But quiet doesn’t always mean comfortable. Still doesn’t always mean safe. And neutral doesn’t come from being flooded with stimulation, it comes from understanding it.

Just like people, dogs have different social capacities. Some dogs are naturally more outgoing. They recover quickly, they’re curious, they seek interaction, and they can move through stimulating environments without much disruption to their nervous system.

Others don’t.

Some dogs are more internal. More observant. More selective. Their threshold for stimulation is lower, and their need for space is higher. That doesn’t make them deficient—it makes them different. But instead of honoring that, we try to stretch every dog into the same mold.

We take the dog that would thrive on a quiet walk and ask them to sit under a table at a crowded event. We take the dog that needs time to process and expect them to engage on demand. And when they struggle, we assume they need more exposure.

There’s a belief in dog training that more exposure equals more confidence. And while exposure has its place, it’s only helpful when it’s intentional. Throwing a dog into a busy environment and hoping they “get used to it” isn’t building confidence—it’s often building endurance. And endurance is not the same thing as regulation.

If your dog is constantly working to manage the environment, they’re not learning neutrality. They’re learning how to survive it. And that shows up later as reactivity, avoidance, shutdown, or unpredictability.

We don’t talk about this enough, but some dogs are, for lack of a better word, introverted. READ MORE!

May 12th
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Merchandise

Show off your DogSpeak Geek skills by walking your dog on a loose leash while carrying your DogSpeak Water Bottle, wearing your DogSpeak T-shirt, or holding your beer with one of our DogSpeak Koozies.

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The Hidden Cost of “Including” Your Dog

Listen wherever you stream your podcast or click here.

Why Neutrality Matters More Than Friendliness

Somewhere along the way, we started measuring a “good” dog by how friendly they are—how eager they are to greet, how excited they get when they see people or other dogs. But that’s not the goal. The goal is neutrality. A well-adjusted dog isn’t the one trying to say hi to everyone. It’s the one who can exist in the world without feeling the need to engage with everything in it. They see the jogger, the stroller, the dog across the street, the loud truck—and they simply let it pass. That quiet, unbothered state is what we’re after.

A neutral dog isn’t oblivious. They’re aware. They notice what’s happening around them, but their body stays soft. There’s no pulling, no fixating, no emotional spike that pulls them out of themselves. They can stay with you or move through the environment without needing to react. And this part matters—neutrality is not shutdown. It’s not a dog who’s been suppressed into silence. It’s a dog who has learned, over time, that most things in their environment simply aren’t their responsibility.

We took the word “socialization” and turned it into constant interaction. Meet every dog, greet every person and let them engage, engage, engage. And what that does is create expectation. Dogs start to believe that every time they see a person or another dog, something is going to happen. So naturally, their arousal goes up the moment they notice those things. Then we prevent interaction because we’re on leash, or we’re in a hurry, or it’s not appropriate—and that arousal has nowhere to go. That’s where you start to see barking, lunging, and whining. A lot of what people label as “reactivity” is actually frustration, not fear or aggression. Just a dog who never learned that they don’t need to participate in everything they see. READ MORE!

May 12th
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Use coupon code FS25 for 25% off. Limited supply!

Teaching Neutrality in a Stimulating World

Listen wherever you stream your podcast or click here.

The Other End of the Leash: How Human Behavior Shapes the Walk

There’s a moment that happens on almost every walk, and once you notice it, it’s hard to ignore.

Your dog sees something—another dog, a person, a sound—and before they’ve even had time to fully process it, something shifts. Not in them, but in you. Your hand tightens around the leash. Your breath becomes shallow. Your body braces. You either speed up or come to a halt.

In that instant, the environment changes. Not because of what your dog saw, but because of what your dog felt from you.

We tend to believe we’re reacting to our dogs, managing their behavior and guiding them through the world. But dogs are constantly gathering information, and that includes information from us. Your nervous system is not separate from the walk—it’s part of it. The subtle shifts in your body, your breathing, your movement all become meaningful to your dog.

When your dog notices something and you immediately become tense, you’re communicating that something about this moment isn’t safe.

The leash itself becomes part of this communication. It’s not just a tool for control; it’s a direct line of feedback. A tight leash creates tension through the body. It restricts movement and can heighten whatever your dog is already feeling. Curiosity can become intensity. Uncertainty can turn into reactivity.

And when you pair that physical tension with mental anticipation, you create a powerful combination.

Because so much of what unfolds on a walk isn’t about what is happening—it’s about what we think might happen.

We see a dog in the distance and immediately prepare for the worst. Maybe our dog has reacted before. Maybe we’re trying to avoid a situation that felt overwhelming or embarrassing. So, we step in early. We shorten the leash. We brace. We attempt to control the outcome before it even exists.

But in doing so, we often confirm to our dogs that there is, in fact, something to be concerned about.

Anticipation changes the meaning of the moment. READ MORE!

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May 12th, 6pm CST
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Sniffspot recently listed DogSpeak: Redefining Dog Training as a top podcast in dog training. Read here.

Listen to the latest episode of DogSpeak: Redefining Dog Training

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DogSpeak: Redefining Dog Training

This week, Britteny joins Nikki to discuss some behavior concerns she originally had when Willow was a puppy, as well as how Nikki has changed in the way she approaches building a relationship with Willow.

Decoding Aggression and Reactivity Summit

Ticket Purchase

Are you struggling with aggression or reactivity with your canine companion? It’s certainly not an easy fix and it can be so incredibly stressful not just for your dog, but also for you.

I am excited to tell you that my friend Ness Jones has put together an amazing summit of more than 10 top professionals, myself included, from around the world to help you resolve this anxiety inducing problem!

 Yes, this is a paid product but is well worth the $47 US price tag for the more than 10 hours of education information and actionable tips you will receive.

 The inaugural Decoding Aggression & Reactivity Summit will be released on April 19/20 (depending on where you are in the world) and then you’ll gain access to expert speakers from around the world.

 These speakers have so much wonderful knowledge to share.

 Topics include:

 Dog-Dog Aggression

Chronic Stress & Reactivity

Rehabilitating Reactive Behavior

Why You Can’t Train Through Panic

Dogs Who Aren’t Food Motivated

How Maternal Stress Impacts Canine Behavior

Why Some Dogs Connect and others React

and so much more …
And of course, it will include me … and I’ll be talking about the link between Chronic Stress and Aggression.

You’ll get full lifetime access (from April 19/20) to the best strategies that are working right now. Find out more here - Ticket Purchase

It’s Not the Event—It’s the Feeling

We tend to think of training as something we do.

We teach cues. We reward behaviors. We correct what we don’t like.

But your dog is learning long before you ever ask for a sit. They’re learning through association—every single day, in every moment you share together.

An association is simply what your dog connects in their brain. A leash gets picked up. A hand reaches down. A door opens. Another dog appears in the distance. None of these things exist in isolation for your dog. They are constantly being paired with something else—an outcome, an environment, a sensation, a feeling. And over time, those pairings begin to mean something.

Not logically. Emotionally.

This is where so much of dog training gets it wrong. We focus on the event: I gave a treat. I corrected the behavior. I praised my dog. But your dog is focused on the experience. Did that moment feel safe or unsafe? Predictable or confusing? Relieving or overwhelming?

Because that feeling is what gets stored. That feeling is what gets remembered. And that feeling is what shows up later as behavior.

We often label associations as “positive” or “negative” based on our intent. But your dog doesn’t learn based on your intent. They learn based on their internal state.

You can give a treat in the presence of a trigger, hoping to create a positive association—but if your dog is overwhelmed, that food may not register as positive at all. It can actually create conflict: approach the food or avoid the thing that feels unsafe. You can pet your dog, thinking you’re comforting them—but if they feel trapped or pressured, that touch may not land as comfort.

On the other hand, something small—like space, a pause, or a soft tone—can carry far more positive meaning than food ever could in that moment.

It’s not about what you do. It’s about how your dog experiences what you do. READ MORE!

It’s nearly here! Time is running out to register for the upcoming summit where I will be speaking about the link between Chronic Stress, Reactivity and Aggression.

For $47 USD, you get access to more than 12 hours of educational information and actionable tips from over 10 world-class speakers, to help your dog stay calm and anxiety free when faced with triggers.

The 2026 Decoding Aggression and Reactivity Summit will be released on April 19th/20th. You will have access to expert speakers as well as free gifts they provide, at your leisure.

Learn more or purchase ticket here!

Purchase Ticket Here

Join me for a Live Q&A Event on May 12th—an opportunity to get your questions answered in a thoughtful, real-time setting.

When you register, you’ll have the chance to submit one question ahead of the event. I’ll answer it live, giving you the context, nuance, and depth that these conversations truly deserve. You’ll also have the opportunity to ask one follow-up question, allowing us to go a step further and make sure you leave with clarity and direction.

Not ready to ask a question? Auditors are absolutely welcome. Listening in can be just as valuable, as you’ll gain insight from a wide range of dog training and behavior topics.

All questions are welcome—whether they’re about behavior challenges, training struggles, emotional well-being, or the deeper “why” behind what your dog is experiencing.

The event will be recorded, and all registrants will receive access to the replay afterward, so you won’t miss a thing.

To ensure your question gets answered, be sure to grab your ticket early. Tickets are priced at $24.99*. Purchase ticket HERE!

Spring is the time to sow your seeds. Get 25% OFF your ticket by using Coupon Code FS25 at checkout. Hurry! There’s a limited number available! 

It’s Not the Event—It’s the Feeling: Associations Are Built on Emotion

Listen wherever you stream your podcast or click here.

If you’ve not checked out our podcast episode with Sandra Larson of Lone Star Animal Medium, you’re missing out! Sandra also has a wonderful YouTube channel, along with a monthly newsletter. Check out her videos with real clients and find her website here.

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What We Lose When We Only Focus on Results

Every time the conversation turns to the harm of aversive tools and techniques, a predictable comment shows up:

“Show me your training videos.”

I’ve spent time sitting with that response, trying to understand what’s underneath it. And where I’ve landed is this:

It doesn’t feel like genuine curiosity about the dog or the process. It feels like people are watching, waiting—looking for the moment the trainer “gets it wrong.” And even when the work is thoughtful, intentional, and effective, there’s still a reason it won’t be enough… or why it’s wrong.

Because this isn’t really about the dog.

It’s about defending a belief system.

You’ll often hear, “It’s about the results.”
And honestly, that’s the part that should concern all of us.

When we become hyper-focused on the outcome, we stop asking the most important questions about the how. We stop paying attention to what the dog is actually experiencing in the process. We stop considering the nervous system, the emotional state, and the dog’s capacity to learn.

And when the “how” no longer matters, the dog is the one who pays the price.

You see it reflected in the promises:

“Your dog will be fully trained in two weeks.”

But that’s not how learning works. That’s not how the brain works. READ MORE!

Register HERE!

^{The speaker guest list on this masterclass event is epic. (Psssst. Just between you and I, some of these speakers are sought after worldwide to share their wisdom, but you can get it here when you sign up for 2026 Decoding Aggression & Reactivity Summit)}

^{Register HERE!}

Using Food as Reward or Bribery: A Fine Line

When using food or a toy as a reward you want to ensure that you don’t depend on it.
You should be like a slot machine and only pay out variably without the dog having to
see the reward. Let’s take a look at the difference.

Bribery occurs when you use the food or toy reward to entice your dog to exhibit a
particular behavior. Maybe you do it by showing your dog the reward and then asking for
a behavior or you ask for the behavior and when he doesn’t comply you show the reward.
You can also bribe your dog by shaking a treat bag or using words that signify a treat
such as, “do you want a cookie?”

Luring is also a form of bribery. This occurs when you use a treat for your dog to follow
in order to exhibit a behavior. When luring, it may seem like you are getting the behavior
faster but in reality, you are adding one more step to the process because you then have
to eliminate a behavior (the treat) before you are able to command the behavior without a
reward in sight.

The proper way to use any type of reward, regardless of if it’s food or a toy, is to get the
behavior first, acknowledge it with a verbal, and then give the reward. The reward may
be in your pocket, in a treat bag or even in a jar on the counter in another room. As a “slot
machine” you should keep your dog guessing as to when the payout will occur. He will
continue to offer the behavior hoping the next one hits the jackpot.

The most important thing to remember is to not depend on a food or toy reward. Focus on acknowledging behavior with a verbal, with a verbal and pet and then a verbal with a
resource. If you focus on always acknowledging what you want to see repeated, you are
more likely to have a consistently well-mannered dog even in the absence of a physical
reward.

May 12th, 6pm CST
Limited Tickets Available for Submitted Questions
$24.99
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Learning Starts in the Nervous System—Not the Quadrants

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If you want your dog to truly live well—not just get through the day, but feel safe, regulated, and able to move through their world without constant stress—this is for you.

If you’re tired of managing triggers, walking on eggshells, or dreading walks because you don’t know what might set your dog off… you’re not alone. And more importantly, there is a better way.

That’s exactly why I’m part of the 2026 Decoding Aggression & Reactivity Summit, created by my friend Ness Jones. She’s brought together more than 10 professionals from around the world (myself included) to help you understand what’s really going on underneath aggression and reactivity—and how to support your dog in a way that actually creates change.

You can grab your spot here: Reserve My Spot

As a Canine Behavior Specialist, I see this every single day—people who love their dogs deeply but feel stuck.

They’re overwhelmed.
They’re exhausted.
They’re doing everything they’ve been told to do, and it’s still not working.

And it starts to wear on the relationship.

Because at the end of the day, you didn’t bring your dog into your life to feel stressed or defeated. You brought them home because you wanted connection, joy, and a life you could share together.

You want a dog who feels good.
A dog who can move through the world with more ease.
A dog you can enjoy again.

That’s why I’m genuinely excited about this summit.

It kicks off April 19 (Northern Hemisphere) / April 20 (Southern Hemisphere), and you’ll get access to over 12 hours of education, real-world application, and conversations that go far beyond surface-level training advice.

Yes, it’s a paid event—but at $47 USD, it’s a small investment for the depth of information, practical tools, and perspective you’ll walk away with.

You’ll also receive a workbook, audio and video access, and a gift from each of the speakers.

If you’re ready to start understanding your dog differently—and supporting them in a way that actually makes a difference—you can sign up here: Register HERE!

Our Dogs Are Captive Animals—And That’s Not a Bad Thing

When we look at the dogs who share our homes, it’s easy to forget just how unusual their existence really is. They sleep on our couches, eat food we provide, and depend on us for nearly every aspect of their survival. In the most literal sense, our dogs are captive animals—their movement, reproduction, food, and environment are controlled by humans.

That statement can sound uncomfortable at first, but it’s not meant to be critical. Instead, it helps us better understand our dogs. To truly care for them well, we have to recognize how they evolved, how humans shaped their genetics, and why many of their behaviors still reflect the jobs they were bred to do thousands of years ago.

From Wolves to Companions

The domestic dog, Canis lupus familiaris, evolved from the gray wolf, Canis lupus. The process began somewhere between 15,000 and 40,000 years ago, when certain wolves began living near human camps.

The wolves that thrived in these environments were not the strongest or most aggressive, they were the most tolerant of humans. Over generations, these animals gradually adapted to life alongside people. Humans, in turn, began selecting individuals with traits they found useful or appealing.

This process is known as Domestication, and it changed dogs both physically and behaviorally.

 Dogs evolved the capacity to form cooperative relationships with humans, something wolves rarely do naturally.

Humans as Selective Breeders

While domestication began with natural selection around human settlements, humans soon began practicing intentional breeding. This is where genetics played an enormous role.

Through Artificial Selection, humans paired dogs with specific traits in order to produce offspring that excelled at particular tasks. READ MORE!

March Madness

March is one of my favorite months of the year.

1. Spring is right around the corner.

2. College softball season officially kicks off.

3. St. Patrick’s Day.

4. My wedding anniversary.

5. Reba’s birthday (IYKYK 😉).

6. And… my birthday! 🎉

To celebrate ALL things March, I’m giving you FREE access to my Dog Communication webinar I recorded last year. As a gift for my birthday, I want you to EDUCATE yourself on how your dog is trying to communicate with you!

Click on the video below for free access until April 1st.

We offer 1-on-1 lessons conducted in the privacy of your home. Real-life manners, behavior concerns, or inner-pack issues, we’ve got you covered. We’re booking into April, so get on the books now!

We also offer Virtual Lessons for those that are not local, or if you just need a little guidance. Virtual sessions are $85/30-minutes.

Email us to get started!

If your dog isn’t food motivated, picky, a grazer, suffers from GI upset, or has constant infections, the first step is to get a sensitivity test!
Starting as low as $83 (on sale now)

Five Domains of Animal Welfare, Part 1

Listen wherever you stream your podcast or click here.

Sandra Larson was born and raised in Northern Wisconsin in the small town of Superior. It’s here where her love of nature and animals was fostered by her father, who was also an animal intuitive. From a very early age Sandra remembers watching her father communicate with animals and hand feed the wild animals on their property. This was a normal occurrence in the Larson family.

Sandra’s affinity with her father’s gift became stronger in her adult years, when she began to hone her own abilities to communicate with animals. Through her father’s actions, words, and gifts, he taught Sandra to lovingly respect all animals and all life. This important life lesson is ingrained in her and continues to live at the heart of her values, thanks to her loving and gifted father, Fred Larson.  

Sandra’s ability to communicate with animals is extraordinary to say the least. She has honed her gift through the years through study and practice. Most people experience the world through the five senses. Sandra is proficient in seven intuitive senses: seeing, auditory, taste, smell, touch (sensations in the body), emotion and knowing. This allows her to tune into animals in a way that the majority of us cannot. Through these seven senses she can send and receive messages with animals intuitively. Her gift also allows her to communicate with animals who have transitioned to the other side.  

Find Sandra’s YouTube channel HERE, her website HERE or directly sign-up for her newsletter HERE. 

Why Your Dog Isn't Ignoring You: The Truth About Clear Command Communication

Your dog isn't being stubborn. They're not giving you the middle finger. And they're definitely not waking up each morning plotting to be difficult. When your dog doesn't respond to commands, it's usually because they have no idea what you're asking—and that's on us, not them.

The problem lies in how we use words. We throw commands around expecting our dogs to read our minds and understand context like humans do. But dogs need consistency and clarity, and we're failing to provide it.

The "Down" Dilemma

Let's start with one of the most confusing commands: "down."

You've taught your dog that "down" means belly and chest on the floor. Great! But then your dog jumps on someone, and you shout "get down!" Wait—your dog only has two feet on the floor. How are they supposed to interpret this?

Or perhaps your dog jumps on the couch. You say "down," and they lay down right there on the furniture. You think they're being defiant, but they're actually doing exactly what you asked. The word "down" has become meaningless through inconsistent use.

Common Command Confusion

Off vs. Down

"Off" should mean four feet on the floor (getting off furniture), while "down" should mean lying down. Don't mix them.

Stay vs. Wait

Many people teach "stay" to mean "don't move from this spot," then leave the house saying "stay here, I'll be back!" while the dog roams freely. No wonder the dog can't hold a proper stay when asked.

Instead:

• Stay = Don't move from that exact spot

• Wait = Pause what you're doing until released

Leave It

Here's where things get really confusing. Many people teach "leave it" as a waiting game—put a treat down, make the dog wait, then give permission to eat it. But then they use "leave it" for a dead animal on the street and wonder why their dog won't walk away. READ MORE!

Find the best chew bone for your dog! Read HERE!

Messages from Our Dogs: An Interview with Animal Communicator Sandra Larson

Listen wherever you stream your podcast or click here.

Pain in Dogs

Have you ever experienced discomfort or pain, only to find that medical professionals cannot identify a clear cause? This is a common experience for many women, who often push through these challenges until they become overwhelming. The resulting frustration, anger, loneliness, and insecurity can gradually impact various aspects of your life, including both your physical and emotional well-being. Over time, these unresolved issues may manifest as additional health concerns, which are merely symptoms stemming from the underlying root cause.

Now, imagine you are living among people that you cannot converse with because they don’t understand your language?

Dogs are widely recognized for their ability to conceal pain and discomfort. However, pain sensitivity can vary both across different breeds and among individual dogs. It is crucial for pet owners to understand their dog’s pain thresholds and recognize how they express discomfort. Many behavioral issues…click here.

Say What You Mean: Helping Your Dog Understand Expectations

Listen wherever you stream your podcast or click here.

Behavior doesn’t start with obedience — it starts with the nervous system.

If your dog struggles with reactivity, anxiety, shutdown, or chronic stress, the vagus nerve may be part of the story. When dogs don’t feel safe in their bodies, they can’t access calm, connection, or learning.

Understanding regulation changes everything.

Read the full blog and start seeing behavior through the lens of safety, not control. 🐾

The Healing Highway: Understanding Your Dog’s Vagus Nerve

Listen wherever you stream your podcast or click here.

The Power of Focused Touch: Supporting Dogs with a Dysregulated Nervous System

For dogs living in chronic stress, the world does not feel safe. Their nervous systems are often stuck in survival mode—cycling between hyperarousal (fight/flight) and shutdown (freeze). In this state, even everyday experiences can feel overwhelming. Focused touch and therapeutic massage, when used thoughtfully, can become a powerful tool to help these dogs find safety in their bodies again.

Grounded in autonomic nervous system science, touch has the capacity to directly influence regulation. But it must be used with intention, consent, and awareness—because for a dysregulated dog, not all touch feels safe.

Why Touch Matters for the Nervous System

The skin is the largest sensory organ in the body. When we engage it in slow, predictable, and gentle ways, we stimulate sensory receptors that communicate directly with the brain and vagus nerve—key players in parasympathetic (rest-and-digest) activation.

For dogs stuck in chronic sympathetic activation, focused touch can:

• Lower heart rate and respiratory rate

• Reduce circulating stress hormones

• Improve digestion and sleep

• Increase body awareness (proprioception and interoception)

• Support emotional regulation

• Deepen relational safety between dog and guardian

Slow, rhythmic strokes—particularly along large muscle groups or down the body in the direction of the fur—can encourage the nervous system to shift from survival into safety.

For dogs who have lived in prolonged stress, this shift is not just calming. It is healing. READ MORE!

What Does a Puppy Training Session Look Like?

In the below video, watch Nikki as she works with Maime and Ike on real-life skills such as “leave it,” “drop it,” and cooperative care. Teaching your pup should be fun for both of you!

Have YOU Purchased our Dog Communication Course?
Use code “FDCYT” for 50% Off through Feb.
PLUS: Receive our Enrichment over Obedience Online Webinar for FREE!

How Focused Touch Can Help Your Dog's Central Nervous System Regulate

Listen wherever you stream your podcast or click here.

Predatory motor action patterns (PMAPs) are one of the most misunderstood aspects of canine behavior. Too often mislabeled as “aggression,” these instinctive sequences are actually hard-wired movement patterns rooted in a dog’s evolutionary history as a hunter. Understanding PMAPs helps caregivers interpret behaviors with clarity and empathy — and design enrichment that satisfies natural drives safely.

🐾 What Are Predatory Motor Action Patterns?

Predatory motor action patterns are innate, sequential behaviors that originally evolved to help ancestral canids hunt and capture prey. These patterns are composed of predictable phases:

1. Search/Orient — scanning the environment

2. Stalk — slow, focused movement toward a target

3. Chase — rapid pursuit of movement

4. Grab-Bite — seizing the target

5. Kill/Shake — holding and shaking

6. Dissection — tearing apart

Each phase is a motor sequence — meaning it’s a pattern of movement that the nervous system can execute once triggered. These are not emotional responses like fear or anger; they are goal-directed actions backed by neural circuits designed for efficient execution.

Genetic and Neurobiological Foundations

PMAPs are rooted in genetics and neurobiology. While there isn’t a single “prey drive gene,” research into canine genetics and behavior shows that:

1. Genetic Selection Shapes Drive Profiles

Domestic dogs have been bred for working roles that amplify certain PMAP components. For example: READ MORE!

More Than a Wag: Understanding What Dogs Are Communicating

A wagging tail is one of the most commonly misunderstood signals in dog communication. While many people assume a wag automatically means a dog is happy or friendly, tail movement is simply information. Dogs wag their tails when they’re emotionally aroused, and that arousal can come from excitement, uncertainty, stress, frustration, or even conflict. The presence of a wag tells us a dog is feeling something—not what that feeling is.

To understand what a dog is communicating, we have to look beyond the tail itself. The height of the tail, the speed and stiffness of the wag, and what the rest of the body is doing all matter. A loose, full-body wag paired with soft eyes and relaxed movement tells a very different story than a high, stiff tail moving rapidly while the body is tense. Context matters too—who or what the dog is interacting with, whether the dog can move away, and how quickly the situation is changing.

When we slow down and observe the whole picture, we become better listeners and safer partners for our dogs. Recognizing that a wag isn’t always an invitation helps prevent misunderstandings and protects dogs from being pushed past their comfort zone. More importantly, it shifts our focus from labeling behavior as “good” or “bad” to understanding what the dog is trying to communicate in that moment—and responding with curiosity, respect, and care.

How to Safely Lift and Carry a Dog - Whole Dog Journal

When picking up or moving a large dog, do not grab the dog by his chest. Support his weight with an arm around his rear end.
Read the entire article HERE!

Dr. Neely North, DVM, CVA, CVFT, CVMMP

Dr. North understands and values the difference between surviving and thriving. Her whole-body approach will lead your pet to their best and longest life. Using human-grade whole foods, supplements, Chinese herbs, and more, Dr. North’s goal is to manage your pet’s medical conditions with as little conventional drug intervention as possible. Through your virtual or in-person consultation,  you will gain an understanding of your pet’s Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine diagnosis, Western veterinary medicine diagnosis, lab work details, and more. Clients leave feeling heard and with a plan for herbs, supplements, foods, and even a home-cooked recipe (topper or full diet) using foods that benefit their pet’s specific conditions. 

FREE WEBINAR-EVERY SUNDAY in FEBRUARY
How to detoxify your home / safe use of essential oils when you have pets.
Click Here for Zoom Link

What Predatory Motor Action Patterns Reveal About Canine Behavior

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Kibble Safety Matters: How Storage and Ingredients Impact Your Dog’s Health

As pet parents, especially on social media, we are constantly inundated with advertisements claiming to offer the best food, toys, and supplements for our dogs. Sorting out which products are truly trustworthy takes far more than a quick glance at packaging or scrolling through reviews. In fact, it is estimated that 30% of online reviews are fake.

So how are pet owners supposed to know what is genuinely beneficial—and what should be avoided?

Unfortunately, there is no simple or one-size-fits-all answer. A more reliable approach often involves taking a deeper look at the company itself, examining how and where products are made, and reaching out to trusted friends, professionals, or colleagues who have firsthand experience. This kind of due diligence tends to be far more informative than relying solely on online ratings and testimonials.

In this blog post, I want to explore several common beliefs about dog food that many well-intentioned pet owners follow, but that may not actually serve their dogs’ health and well-being. READ MORE

Importance of Understanding How Dogs Use Body Language, During Interaction, to Avoid Conflict

Virtual Sessions

Virtual sessions offer a powerful advantage when working with fearful or sensitive dogs by allowing support to begin without adding the stress of a new person entering the home. This approach helps dogs feel safer, keeps their nervous system more regulated, and allows learning to happen in a familiar environment. We can build skills, routines, and confidence at the dog’s pace, while caregivers gain clarity and consistency before any in-person work begins. When in-home sessions do occur, dogs are better prepared, trust is already established, and the transition feels calmer and more successful for everyone involved.

Sessions are 1-hour/$165. Booking NOW!

Decoding Dog Food, Part 2: From Bowl to Body

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Detox Your Home: Using Essential Oils Safely with your Pets

Join Dr. Neely North for a free webinar learning how to keep your dog’s healthy and safe. Learn how to use Essential Oils on and around your animals safely! (This is not a DogSpeak led Webinar, but you are likely to see us in attendance!)

Click HERE!

Learn About Dr. Neely North HERE!

Dog Food Decoded: Why the First Five Ingredients Matter More Than the Label

If you’ve ever stood in the pet food aisle holding two bags of dog food that both sound amazing, you’re not alone.

Holistic.
Human-grade.
Vet recommended.
Premium ingredients.

Dog food packaging is designed to make you feel confident—but it often leaves you feeling confused instead. The front of the bag tells a compelling story, but it rarely tells the most important one.

That story lives in the first five ingredients.

The Front of the Bag Is Marketing. The Ingredients Are Information.

Pet food labels are written for humans, not dogs. Bold claims, clean imagery, and emotional language are meant to catch your attention—not to explain how a food will actually fuel your dog’s body.

That doesn’t mean those claims are lies.

It means they’re incomplete.

If you want to understand what you’re truly feeding your dog, the first place to look isn’t the marketing. It’s the ingredient list.

Why the First Five Ingredients Matter Most

Ingredients are listed by weight before processing. This means the first five ingredients make up the majority of the formula and give you the clearest picture of what your dog is actually eating.

Think of the first five ingredients as the foundation of the food. Everything else is built on top of them.

When you review the first five ingredients, you’re learning: READ MORE

Have you taken advantage of our Dog Communication Course online? You only have a few days left to get 75% off the course PLUS you will receive our Enrichment over Obedience Course for FREE! Must purchase by January 31st.

Click HERE for more information and use coupon code HUMED at checkout.

Gray Peebles

Gray, our full-time trainer who has been an integral part of DogSpeak for nearly a decade, has made the decision to move on and begin his own business. While we are sad to see him go, we fully understand and support his desire to take this next step in order to best support his family.

Gray will continue working with dogs who need help with manners through private instruction. We are incredibly grateful for the time, dedication, and care he brought to DogSpeak, and we wish him nothing but success in this new chapter. If you are local and looking for assistance with manners training, we encourage you to reach out to him directly.

DogSpeak will continue to focus on supporting behavior cases. We will have limited availability for clients seeking obedience training, real-life manners, or puppy support. If you are a past DogSpeak client and need assistance with obedience or have a puppy, please don’t hesitate to reach out—we will always do our best to find a way to support you.

Dog Food Decoded

Listen wherever you stream your podcast or click here.

🐾 ACE Free Work: Letting Dogs Lead the Way

Understanding Calm, Choice-Led Support

In a world where dog training often focuses on cues, commands, rewards, and corrections, ACE Free Work offers a radically different, deeply compassionate invitation: slow down, watch, listen, and let the dog explore. Created by canine behavior expert Sarah Fisher, ACE Free Work is part of her wider Animal Centred Education (ACE) philosophy — a multi-modal approach that prioritizes the dog’s experience, physical comfort, and emotional safety.

🌱 What Is ACE Free Work?

At its heart, ACE Free Work is a sensory, choice-based activity designed to help dogs reset, rebalance, and release. Rather than guiding a dog through structured exercises, Free Work invites dogs to move freely through an environment with carefully placed items — textures, smells, platform heights, obstacles, and more — allowing them to explore at their own pace.

This isn’t enrichment in the casual sense. ACE Free Work is built so that:

• Dogs experience the world on their terms. They choose where to go, what to touch, and how long to engage.

• Guardians learn to observe deeply — noticing posture, breathing, movement habits, and subtle signals that often go unnoticed in traditional training settings.

• Support becomes physical and emotional, not just behavioral. Free Work reveals where a dog may be tense, uncertain, or confident — giving caregivers actionable insights into their dog’s needs.

In ACE Free Work setups, dogs aren’t practicing skills for an external reward. They’re learning through self-directed exploration, which builds confidence, reduces stress, and invites genuine engagement with their environment.

🧠 Why “Do Less” Really Means Supporting More

A fundamental principle of Free Work is shifting away from doing things to dogs toward allowing dogs to experience, choose, and express themselves. This means:

• Less pressure, more release: Instead of cueing outcomes, we invite dogs to relax into movement and curiosity.

• More observation, less interpretation: By watching how a dog navigates stations — their pauses, fluidity of movement, or avoidance — guardians learn truths about their dog’s perception of safety and comfort.

• Better understanding of posture and emotional state: These observations often reveal hidden tensions, pain signals, or emotional barriers that might otherwise go unnoticed.

Sarah Fisher often describes Free Work as giving dogs the pilot’s seat in their own learning experiences — a perspective that has been transformative for trainers, behaviorists, and everyday guardians alike.

💬 Real Impact on Dogs and People

Professionals and guardians using ACE Free Work report profound shifts: READ MORE!

🐾 Indoor Enrichment Ideas for Dogs (At-Home)

🧠 Mental & Cognitive Enrichment

Supports problem-solving, curiosity, and confidence.

• Food puzzles (Toppl, Kong, LickiMat, snuffle mats)

• DIY puzzle boxes (towels, cardboard, paper bags)

• Muffin tin game (food hidden under tennis balls)

• Hide-and-seek with treats or toys

• “Find it” scent games using food

• Shape or object discrimination games

• Slow scatter feeding instead of bowls

💡 Tip: Mental enrichment should engage the brain, not frustrate it. Adjust difficulty as needed.

👃 Olfactory (Sniffing) Enrichment

Sniffing is one of the most regulating activities for dogs.

• Scatter feeding across different rooms

• Scent trails made with kibble or treats

• Hidden food in rolled towels

• Cardboard box sniff stations

• Scent jars (vented containers with different smells)

• Frozen scent cubes (broth, sardine water)

• Sniffing games with household items

💡 Tip: Sniffing lowers heart rate and supports emotional regulation.

Dogs Rely on Body Language to Avoid Conflict and to Reduce Stress

For dogs to feel confident and secure, they need to trust that their body language will reduce conflict and relieve stress. When these signals are repeatedly ignored or disrespected, dogs feel less safe, become more anxious, and may develop reactive behaviors.

When humans learn how dogs communicate through body language—expressing emotions, needs, and boundaries—dogs are better able to connect, and the relationship becomes safer, clearer, and mutually beneficial.

For the remainder of January, I’m offering 75% off our online Dog Communication Course, packed with videos that show how dogs use body language in everyday life. And that’s not all—you’ll also receive our Enrichment Over Obedience course FREE.

Coupon Code: HUMED. You will receive a discount code for Enrichment over Obedience after purchase.

Decreasing Behavior Concerns through Enrichment

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