Zen Dog Training

Omg! Puppy playdates are BACK! Finally. Here's the link on eventbrite to register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/puppy-playdate-tickets-1495506 Share with whomever!

Hi Alexis - Just wanted to let you know that Skye has been SO MUCH better at the park off leash and we are thrilled. #forcefreetraining #dogsofprospectpark #brooklyn

Remember when i was on the radio with @justjennyhutt?? Here’s the full recording wherein I answer callers’ questions about fear, leash reactivity, and other training-related topics. (Side note... do you see her amazing glasses?! @bunnyeyez ) #dogtraining #dogtrainingtips #dogtrainingadvice

Check out Banjo NOT chasing the cat!!!!! So very un-Aussie of him Great work Banjo and parents! #remotedogtraining #positivedogtraining #dogsandcats

This is Giles learning to not chew on his baby sister’s toys! Super important skill to maintain sanity of parents. #familydog #familypaws

This cutie is Tobie, and he’s learning to place his chin in my hand as a way for him to signal that he’s ok with being handled and groomed. If he removes his chin, all handling stops. This kind of consensual handling training is important for all dogs, but especially crucial for dogs who are anxious at the vet or groomer. Just like people, dogs feel more relaxed when they have control over a situation and are going to be much more likely to trust you if they know you’ll hear and respect them. #consensualhandling #positivedogtraining #doggrooming

Truman was a champ at learning Leave It today! #positivedogtraining

Little tiny Rosie learning how to control her excitement and not nip her mamma #impulsecontrol #puppytraining #virtualdogtraining #positivedogtraining

Watson the pug/frenchie with his proud owners! He’s excited to work on staying calm on leash around other dogs. #virtualdogtraining #forcefreetraining

Online Puppy Kindergarten is LIVE! And it's open enrollment so you can start anytime. See FAQ section on the site to read about why online puppy kindergarten is actually more effective than in-person classes. https://zendogtraining.thinkific.com/cou/puppy-kindergarten

This is a snippet of how you train a dog to not bark and lunge at other dogs on the street. Zander, who has the camera on a chest strap, is walking towards us with his dog Raja. What's going on in this video: First, I am making sure that the dog and I are checking in with each other during the whole walk. That way I know that when I ask her to move to the side to let another dog pass, she will pay attention to me, because she's been doing so the whole time. Then, I use ...touch targeting (dog touches nose to the palm of your hand) to get her to the side of the sidewalk. That way, I can control her positioning without having to yank on the leash, which increases reactivity. Then I mark and treat every time she notices the other dog pass, helping her associate other dogs with treats and happy feelings and rewarding her for disengaging. DM me for more info if you're interested in training your dog to not bark and lunge at other dogs on leash. #dogreactivity #forcefreedogtraining #positivedogtraining #clickertraining #ipreview via @preview.app See more

Hi! Are you a former client of mine? If so, join my members-only Facebook group where you can connect with other Zen Dog owners, post training and behavior questions, and get access to exclusive training resources. Here's the link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/zendogmembersonly/

Warning: I would NOT attempt this without a professional. We could call this " ." It's a way to muzzle train bitey dogs who don't give much of a warning before they bite. Basically, you thread a thin rope from one clip through the other and pull (slowly!) to close. This way you remove the hands-reaching-around-the-face element of muzzling which a lot of dogs really, really don't like. And you can slowly progress with LESS risk of getting bitten. (Not... no risk, obviously). The whole point of this is to be able to more safely desensitize a dog to being muzzled, not just to get the muzzle on the dog. We want dogs to wearing a muzzle because it fits properly and is comfortable, and they associate it with the feelings they have when they eat peanut butter (which is what @scotchie_paws is eating in the video). If a dog is unhappy in a muzzle, we're making the problem worse. An unhappy dog is way more likely to bite. #muzzletraining #muzzleup #forcefreedogtraining #positivedogtraining #nycdogtraining #ipreview via @preview.app See more

Training Tip: This is my dog walking up the stairs and stopping to wait for me without pulling. He used to get super excited going up and down stairs and needed to learn to stop wait for me. Here's how you can train your dog to not pull you up and down stairs:... 1. Make sure you have treats your dog really likes. 2. When you have your dog's attention, start walking up or down the stairs. 3. When you want your dog to stop to wait for you, give him or her a treat in that spot. 4. Repeat! Make sure you're treating your dog in the same spots every time. 5. When your dog has learned that he or she gets treats in certain spots, your dog will stop and check in with you at those spots without pulling ahead. 6. Give fewer treats - treat every other time he/she stops for you, then every third time, etc. Give it a try and tell me how it goes! Good luck! #leashmanners #forcefreedogtraining #ipreview via @preview.app See more

I am happy to announce that I am now offering in-person dog training again. I am still doing virtual sessions, but I do have the following options available as well: - : I personally meet you outdoors at a location that's convenient to you. - -: I will be with you virtually while Trainer Alex Garcia (pictured) assists you in your home.... And we will be taking the following safety precautions: - Masks required - Six feet of distance required - No sharing of equipment - leashes, treat bags, etc. - Sanitizing all equipment between clients Why don't I just come to your home, you ask? As many of you may already know, I have a high-risk child with multiple disabilities and respiratory issues, so I have to be more conservative with my exposure than most. I can't wait until it's safe for me to see you again in your homes with your dogs, and I have faith that it will be soon, but until then, I'm thrilled to have Alex on board! #nycdogtraining #backinbusiness #ipreview via @preview.app @ Brooklyn, New York See more

Hiking with your dog is a great social distancing summer activity. Here are some tips: - If your dog is on-leash, get a long leash with a harness that clips to the back. That way the leash won't get tangled as easily, and if it does, it won't pull on your dog's neck like it would on a collar. @perfectfitharness is a great option. - Bring water for your dog! This heat is brutal. They'll appreciate it! ... - Get a tracking device, just in case! Your dog might not run off on purpose, but they might get trapped or lost. A GPS tracker like @whistlelabs will track your pet in real time to an app on your phone. Serious peace of mind there. - And finally, enjoy watching your dog have tons of fun! Living vicariously through your dog is part of why we love to have them, right? #brooklyndogtrainer #nycdogtraining #summerdogs #hikingwithdogs #ipreview via @preview.app See more