Dog Behavior

Jan 12, 2023
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I’m in Denver, CO doing basic and advanced dog training. I sometimes put video clips on YouTube.

If you want to work on basics like loose leash walking, socialization, barking issues, etc., we can absolutely master that, in a private one-on-one setting. On the more advanced end, I train scent tracking, water retrieval, and medical alerting.

To schedule a session, send me an email or leave a voicemail at 971-220-8004. I’ll mostly be available Monday, Tuesday, or Thursday.

I charge $90 for a one hour session, $140 for two hours, on a sliding scale based on what you can afford. Pay by cash or Venmo (@ryanblakeley1).

Read about my training principles.

Tools

I’m willing to work with whatever tools the owner has, but some tools are better than others. These are the tools I use and recommend:

  • High value treats. Dry liver, dry salmon, bully sticks, cheese sticks… The ones I go through the most are these Old Mother Hubbard mini biscuits. Other animal protein and fresh food is also great.

  • 8ft slip lead. If I could only have one tool to work with a dog, this is it. I like that this one has a safety stop to protect the neck and a clip on the handle end so you can put it around your waist for running or hitch to a pole.

  • Martingale collars work on the same principle as the slip lead. They are a little bit nicer and safer, but need to be fitted to the dog. This reflective style is nice too.

  • Gentle leader. I don’t often use one, but it’s what I go to when the slip lead isn’t the right stimulus or when transitioning out of a muzzle for biting issues. The goal is to transition out of a gentle leader to a slip lead or something milder, if possible.

  • Muzzle. If the dog is strong and biting is a concern, we will put on a muzzle to protect people and other dogs. I want the dog to earn their way out of the muzzle as soon as possible.

Also:

  • Backpack. A backpack is a good tool for a dog that has a lot of stamina. It gives the dog a job to focus on and drains the energy in their legs.

  • Long lead, 30 to 50 feet, great for the park and long-distance training.

  • Short slip lead

These are tools that I do not recommend:

  • Electronic collars. Shock, sound, or vibration, I see negative side effects, except in a few specific scenarios. It is a difficult concept and takes special training and a special dog.

  • Prong collars. They are more severe than I’ve ever had a need for. If the dog has trouble with leash pressure and a slip lead or martingale isn’t working, I go to a gentle leader and focus on behavioral change so the dog doesn’t get used to hitting the end of the leash.

  • Harnesses, except for exercise. Harnesses are the optimal tool for pulling. If lunging or pulling on the leash is an issue, I don’t recommend a harness. If you’re doing a type of exercise where you want the dog to pull, use a harness. As far as the harnesses that clip on the front, they’re not my favorite tool but they’re ok.

Further reading

I write about animal behavior and sometimes write about dogs.

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