Where behavior meets real life and dogs get to be dogs.
This is where I share insights from the trail, stories from the training room, and real-world behavior advice for dogs who don’t always fit in the box. Whether you’re navigating reactivity, diving into decompression walks, or just trying to understand what your dog’s really telling you, I’ve got you.
Science-backed, judgment-free, and a little muddy. Just how we like it.
When Pain Changes Behavior: What Dogs and Humans Have in Common
Pain is one of the most common and most missed contributors to behavior change in dogs. Drawing from both personal experience and behavior science, this post explores how discomfort alters capacity, tolerance, and learning long before it shows up as obvious physical symptoms.
Your Dog Is Not Reading Your Confidence
Dogs are not reading your confidence. They are responding to clarity, consistency, and the conditions around them. When behavior falls apart, it is not feedback about your mindset. It is information about learning, context, and what the dog is able to do in that moment.
The Dogs They Are Becoming
Over the last few months I have watched my dogs become versions of themselves I did not even know were there. Softer, braver, more curious, and more whole. These changes did not come from more structure or more training. They came from giving them space, choice, social connection, and the freedom to be dogs rather than performers. As their world opened up, so did they, and I found myself seeing behaviors and expressions I had never witnessed in them before. This shift has changed my dogs in the most beautiful ways, and it has changed me too. In this blog, I share the journey of who Rumor and Roulette are becoming and how the Total Welfare lens helped me finally understand what they had been asking for all along.
A Day in the Life of a Board and Train Dog at Freedom Found.
Curious what your dog’s day looks like during a board and train stay at Freedom Found K9 in McHenry? Here is a behind the scenes look at the structure, training, enrichment, and adventures that make our program so effective.
How to Prepare Your Dog for the Holidays (and Actually Enjoy Them This Year)
The holidays can be magical… and messy. Guests, travel, food, decorations, it’s a lot for our dogs to handle. Learn how to help your dog stay calm, confident, and ready to actually enjoy the season right alongside you.
The Ball Isn’t the Point
Rumor’s motivation doesn’t live inside a toy I keep hidden away. It lives in the moments we share—the play, the laughter, and the trust we build every day. When we stop relying on deprivation and start building connection, training becomes something dogs love to be part of.
Why Your Dog Doesn’t Come When Called And What to Do About It
Struggling with recall? It's not just about training harder. In this post, you'll learn why your dog might ignore you, what actually builds a reliable recall, and how to shift from frustration to connection using real-life strategies that work.
The Stress Duo: Adrenaline and Cortisol in Your Dog
Stress is not always a bad thing for dogs. Exciting events like training sessions, competitions, or even chasing a squirrel all spark a natural stress response. Two key hormones, adrenaline and cortisol, play a major role in how your dog reacts and recovers. The trick is knowing how these hormones work together, why recovery matters, and what you can do to support your dog after a big event.
What Does “Impulse Control” Really Mean for Dogs?
"Impulse control" gets thrown around a lot in dog training, but what does it really mean? In this post, we break down the difference between obedience and emotional regulation, explore the science behind arousal, and share real-life strategies to help dogs become more thoughtful and resilient, not just compliant.
Understanding Drive, Arousal, Motivation, and High Energy in Dogs: What They Are and Why It Matters
Drive, arousal, motivation, and energy are often used interchangeably in dog training, but they mean very different things. In this post, I break down what each one really looks like in practice, and share how my dog Roulette embodies all four while staying responsive, clear-headed, and successful in high-arousal environments like IGP.
Obedience Training Won’t Fix a Welfare Problem
Teaching your dog to sit and stay won’t solve fear, pain, or unmet needs. In this post, I share why true behavior change starts with welfare, not obedience, and what to do instead.
Not All Reactive Dogs Bark and Lunge: Understanding Fight, Flight, Freeze, and Fawn
Learn how reactivity shows up in dogs through fight, flight, freeze, and fawn responses. Not all reactive dogs bark or lunge. Some shut down or appease.