Force-Free Dog Training In Waco, Texas and McLennan County!
About The Confident Hound
Our mission is to build confidence in dogs and their guardians so you can both worry less and enjoy life more.
We have approximately 8 to 15 short years with our dogs. Stress, anxiety, fear, frustration, and insecurity can take a toll on health and happiness, shortening that time and diminishing your memories together. You and your dog deserve peace of mind, to feel in control, and to have predictability and harmony in your home. We want you both to worry less, so you can enjoy your precious time together.
For both people and dogs, CONFIDENCE happens when you know what to expect, how to achieve your goal, and believe your efforts will be rewarded. This is why we don’t just train dogs – we teach people how to reach their dog training goals. When you both embark on the learning journey together, your bond strengthens and you learn how to confidently tackle problems as a team. We achieve this through positive reinforcement training methods that are free of force, fear, pain, intimidation, and coercion. We choose this method because it is ethical, effective, efficient, and works for every dog.
Your Trainers
Lisa Corcoran, VSA-CDT
Lisa is a lifelong lover of dogs, learning new things, and solving puzzles. Her background is in Psychology (B.S., Virginia Tech; M.A., Catholic University of America) and she currently works in the veteran mental health research field. Lisa is a graduate with distinction of the prestigious Victoria Stilwell Academy for Dog Training & Behavior and has been granted official status as a VSA-Certified Dog Trainer (VSA-CDT). Since 2017, Lisa has volunteered weekly at shelters and rescues to rehabilitate dogs looking for good homes.
These experiences help Lisa understand why both her canine and human clients do what they do. Lisa’s detail-oriented nature helps her to identify the cause of your dog’s behavior problems, and her creativity leads to a solution that works for both you and your dog. If you’re looking for a total dog nerd, Lisa is the trainer for you.
Mike Corcoran, CSB-D
Having grown up with dogs that displayed fearful and aggressive behaviors, Mike made it his mission to specialize in helping dogs like these be more confident and content in their surroundings.
Mike’s educational background is in Computer Science (B.S., Mary Washington College; M.S., George Mason University), which gives him a unique perspective of dog behavior problems as being similar to bugs in computer software. Combined with his experience as a rifleman in the United States Marine Corps, where he learned that true leadership doesn’t rely on using fear or punishment, Mike brings a systems-based approach to dog training.
Mike is a Certified Shelter Dog Behavior Consultant (CSB-D) through the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC) and recently completed Michael Shikashio’s Aggression in Dogs course.
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✨ DOG & BABY TIP ✨
Like most dogs, our dog Ace likes to be a part of all the family activities. With a nearly 100 lbs dog and a very mobile baby, this can be challenging!
My #1 tip to new parents is to give their dog a designated spot to relax - like a bed, cot, couch, or area rug. While your little one plays, toss treats to your dog on their spot. This will motivate them to keep hanging out there. You're also building a positive association with the sights and sounds of your baby playing!
BONUS TIP: Make this spot a safe zone for your dog. If your child begins to approach the spot, intervene and redirect them away from the spot. This shows your dog that their spot is a place they can retreat to and you will hold that boundary for them.
♥️ Share this tip with a parent
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🧦 Is your dog a thief?
Our first dog Artemis loved to take socks and rip them apart. At first, we told her 'No' and tried to take them back by force. Guess what? It didn't solve the problem. But one small change did...we started offering her a trade for something tasty!
TRY THIS ➡️ Every time your dog takes an off-limits item, go and get your tastiest treat. Offer them the treat in a closed fist right in front of their nose and let them contemplate the choice. If it's a bargain they accept, they will have to drop the object to get the treat. As soon as they drop the item, throw the treat to the side so you can swoop in and grab the object.
⚠️ Then here's the most important step...Put that object away!!! If it's accessible to them, they will get it again. Work smarter, not harder by keeping off-limits items out of reach. And provide them with an outlet to chew and shred something approved.
LEVEL UP ⬆️ Once your dog has started to anticipate the treat trade game, you can start saying the word drop as you present your treat fist. This will teach your dog both a verbal ("Drop") and visual (✊) cue for the desired behavior.
❓What object might your dog grab today so you can try this training game? 👇Let me know in the comments
🐶 The sweet pup in this video is Tyson at Fuzzy Friends Rescue. He's a friendly, affectionate, and playful little guy - the whole package!
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The days following a dog fight are a sensitive period. The first step is of course obtaining medical attention, if applicable. But what do you do next? How do you make sure it doesn't happen again?
Dog guardians often reach out to me for training help immediately after an incident and I've noticed this more in the recent months. Unfortunately, I'm rarely able to begin working with them right away. For that reason, I wanted to compile my recommendations for what guardians can do to help their dog recover and prevent another incident until qualified help is available.
Though this post is centered on the aftermath of a fight between dogs, you can apply these concepts to incidents of aggression in your dog overall. In fact, if you have seen some minor incidents but nothing major yet - PLEASE still read through! Aggressive behavior gets worse over time, so please don't wait until the final straw to get qualified help.
An easy, first step you can take is learning how to become a keen observer of your dog's body language. To get you started, I'm giving you access to the same handout I give my clients. Download my FREE dog body language guide from the link in my bio.
As a final note, I want to start talking more often about dog aggression, fear, and anxiety on this page. I post a lot about the "happy" side of training because I know it provides value to all dog owners. But the "sad/scary" side of training is just as important and usually makes up 50% of our client load. More importantly, it's central to our mission. Because Artemis struggled with these issues, we wanted to learn how to help her. Fast forward 8 years later and here we are - doing this professionally and helping guardians and their dogs with the same issues. It's draining, but also some of the most fulfilling work we do.
#theconfidenthound #dogtrainingadvice #dogbehavior #positivedogtraining #dogaggression #dogfight #waco #wacotexas #dogsofwaco
What happens when you reward your dog's behaviors? Your dog repeats them in the future!
Video Example: My client and I have been rewarding Ginny for walking close enough to us on walks that the lease stays loose. Now she can't get enough and is basically focus heeling! We reinforced a behavior we liked and as a result it is being repeated.
The first week after the consultation, my clients often say they already see a difference in their dog's responsiveness. This happens because my first homework assignment is to simply reward behaviors they like more often. They were training reactively before working with me, but now they train proactively!
Let's pick one lovely behavior you can catch your dog doing today and reward the heck out of it! Talk to me in the comments and I'll throw an idea your way 👇
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🤓 Let's define some dog training jargon you may have heard: Using Management!
➡️ Swipe through to learn exactly what "Management" means and some examples of how we use it in the training process.
👇 Are there other words or phrases used in the dog training community that you would like explained? Let me know in the comments and your request may appear in the next Training Jargon Defined post!
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😁 TFW your dog's chew obsession and your organizing obsession converge
But seriously: I keep this many longer-lasting, digestible chew treats in stock because it is a daily enrichment activity in my house and I recommend the same to my clients.
For only 3 seconds of your time, you can:
✅ Fulfill your dog's need to chew and dissect
✅ Reduce the chance of chewing on off-limits items the rest of the day
✅ Give them a mentally stimulation for 5-10+ minutes.
That's the kind of return on investment I like to see!
My favorite situations to give a chew:
🔹When my dog is just antsy
🔹When I need to focus on work
🔹When I'm moving around the house and I need my dog to not be in the way
🔹When I'm entertaining guests
🔹When we transition to evening relaxtion time
🔹When I first get home and my dog is amped but I just need a few moments to myself
Chews seen in this video are Cow ears, Veal lungs, Codfish skins, Peanut butter bully slices, Dehydrated sweet potato slices, Lamb lung, Tilapia filets, and Nylabone Healthy Edibles. Click the link in bio to get to our Amazon list of favorites for all of these products!
👇 What enrichment solution to unwanted behaviors has become YOUR obsession? Let me know in the comments!
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#canineenrichment #giveyourdogajob #dogsmoms #dogmomaf #thehomedit #wacotexas #dogsofwaco
The biggest training pitfall I see is trying to train your dog in real life situations before they have adequately learned and/or practiced a skill.
Remember that training is...well, TRAINING! It's the prep work. It's studying for the test. It's going to practice every day before the big game. It's teaching your dog what words actually mean instead of expecting them to read your mind. It's practicing a skill instead of assuming your dog will know what to do.
Olympic athletes don’t wait until they are at the Olympics to train. And we don’t teach people what to do in case of a fire when the building is already burning!
So think of a training session like a fire drill: Practice the skills you want when the stakes are low and distractions are minimal.
EXAMPLES:
🔹Work on polite guest greetings every day in the weeks leading up to a party.
🔹Practice body handling and veterinary procedures for at least a month prior to your dog's next check-up.
🔹Master loose leash walking skills inside your home and in the backyard before taking it to the neighborhood streets.
👇 Do you have a dog training goal but you're not sure where to start? Let me know in the comments and I'll do my best to help your figure out what your Level 1 should be.
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Just a compilation of Ace living his best life 🥰
We adopted Ace when he was about 7 years old. Before coming home with us, he lived outside for nearly all of his life and not by choice.
Ace still enjoys spending time outside, but now it is on his own terms. Nothing makes me happier than watching him enjoy life. Plus, it's a good reminder to me to stop and take in a beautiful sunrise on occasion.
#theconfidenthound #seniordogsofinstagram #rescuedogsofig #canineenrichment #dogenrichment #wacotx #dogsofwaco
❤ Favorite Long-lasting, Digestible Chews ❤
🐾 These are my top 3 recommendations for dog chews. I'm not talking about a plush or plastic toy you give your dog and they're bored with it after a week. I'm talking about something digestible that will captivate them for 15+ minutes EVERY time! For only 3 seconds of your time, you can efficiently meet your dog's need to chew and dissect something safely. We give our dog Ace a chew every day to help him transition into settling down for the evening!
🛒Check out the link in bio for our Amazon list to grab some easy enrichment chews for your dog.
😍 Have you ever tried a chew like these for your dog? Let me know in the comments! 👇
#theconfidenthound #dogtrainingtips #canineenrichment #dogenrichment #giveyourdogajob #dogsmomaf #wacotexas #dogsofwaco
👶🐶 DOG & BABY PREP: Introducing The Stroller
The most common advice given to expecting parents is to bring home the baby blanket from the hospital for the dog to smell. While there's certainly no harm in doing this, it doesn't prepare your dog AT ALL for how their life is about to change.
When we prepared our dog Ace for our baby's arrival, we focused on building positive associations with the new objects (e.g., stroller), sounds (e.g., baby cries), and activities (e.g., being gated out of the nursery) he would encounter on a daily basis. The Treat & Retreat game was our go-to for acclimating him to any new baby gear.
Ace has handled the transition to big brother fantastically! Part of the success is due to his unique personality, but I give us a lot of credit for being proactive and preparing him before our baby came home and life got hectic.
How does your dog react to baby strollers? 👇 Let me know in the comments!
#theconfidenthound #dogtrainingtips #dogsandbabies #babiesanddogs #dogmoms #expectingmom #wacomoms #wacotexas
✨ TRAINING TIP! ✨
If you're working on leash pulling with your dog, try doing a training session in the last minute of the walk.
As the walk progresses, your dogs pace will likely slow down and they will have gotten many opportunity to sniff. Training on a full emotional cup is optimal!
Plus, I often find getting started is the hardest part of sticking to daily training with my dog. Since you're already outside and suited up for a walk, take advantage!
I'm curious: How many minutes into the walk does it usually take your dog to slow down to a pace that is good for you? 👇 Let me know in the comments!
#theconfidenthound #dogtrainingtips #walkyourdog #dogmomsofinstagram #wacotx #dogsofwaco
🤔 When you already feel out of control in your relationship with your dog, it can seem backwards to give them more freedom and autonomy.
🐶 But when you think about it, we already control so much about their lives: when and where they go to the bathroom, when and how they exercise, when and what they eat, and where they get to go when we let them leave the house.
🥰 Moreover, giving your dog choices reduces stress, which helps prevent behavior concerns. Here are 5 simple ways you can give your dog choices in their day without having to compromise your own boundaries.
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Let's define some dog training jargon you may have heard: High-Value Treats.
➡️ Swipe through to learn exactly what that means, some examples, and when to use them.
👇 Are there other words or phrases used in the dog training community that you would like explained? Let me know in the comments and your request may appear in the next Training Jargon Defined post!
#theconfidenthound #dogtrainingtips #dogtraining101 #dogsmoms #wacotx #dogsofwaco
Puppy training should prioritize socialization
When working with puppy clients under 4 months of age, I do very little "basic manners" training. Why? Because it can wait. You know what can't wait? SOCIALIZATION.
Your puppy has a prime socialization window up until ~16 weeks (max). During this time, they are more open-minded and optimistic about new people, places, object, situations, etc. That window is your critical time to lay a foundation of belief that the human world is safe and fun.
It can be so tempting to teach your puppy sit, stay, come, etc when they first come home. But guess what? They can learn 2+2=4 at any age with relative ease. What's more tricky is trying to teach an adolescent or adult dog to FEEL confident in their daily life. I still make room for troubleshooting puppy problems and learning cues in my training plan, but the emphasis is on socialization first.
If you only have 5 minutes to spare for training at the end of your day, I recommend spending it on proactive socialization rather than teaching your puppy to heel on a leash.
If you have a new puppy under 6 months of age or will be getting a puppy soon, my Puppy Primer guide was meant for YOU! It'll get you off on the right foot so you can make the most of this important time in your puppy's life. Click the link in my bio to check it out!
#theconfidenthound #puppysocialization #dogtrainingadvice #puppyproblems #positivedogtraining #wacotexas #dogsofwaco
🐶 What Is Tug Of War Good For?
You've probably heard a lot of myths about tug of war, like:
❌ Playing tug makes dogs aggressive
❌ Letting the dog win makes them think they're in charge
❌ Tug of war encourages stealing things
🎉 As a certified dog trainer, I am happy to tell you that you should ABSOLUTELY play tug-of-war with your dog!
🤝 Humans may use tug-of-war to be competitive, but the origin in dogs is actually cooperative. Tug-of-war simulates canines working together to rip apart a carcass. Ever notice that when your dog gets the toy, they run off to dissect it? They're enjoying their meal ration!
Tug-of-war is great for:
✅ Physical exercise
✅ Mental enrichment
✅ Bonding with your dog through play
✅ Redirecting dogs who get mouthy
✅ Meeting their need to chew and dissect
✅ Teaching dogs to carry objects
✅ Teaching dogs to drop objects
✅ Building a foundation for fetch skills
✅ Creating a non-food reward option
✅ And maximum ear floppage 😂
🏆 And by the way - YES, you should let them win often! Who wants to play a game that they always lose? Just remember these rules:
***Always tug side to side or backward/forward, never up and down.
***Only play tug with an item you're comfortable with your dog having.
👩🏼⚕️Talk with your veterinarian if you have any concerns about your dog's teeth, but rest assured that playing tug is safe from a behavior perspective!
#theconfidenthound #dogtrainingtips #dogtraining101 #dogbehavior #positivedogtraining #mythbusting #tugofwar #playwithyourdog #wacotx #dogsofwaco
❤ Favorite Food Puzzle Toys ❤
🧩 These are my top 5 recommendations for dog puzzle toys. Puzzle toys are a great way to stimulate your dog's brain during a time of day when they already get food. We recommend to every dog parent that they incorporate puzzle toys into their dog's daily mealtime. It's as easy as filling a bowl, but so much more fun for your dog!
😍 Does your dog love any of these puzzle toys? Let me know in the comments! 👇
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Thank you for voting me the #5 force-free trainer in Texas! Click the link in my bio to see all of the top Texas trainers.
🐶 Enrichment Tutorial: How To Stuff A Dog Food Toy! 🐾
Curious about any of the products shown in this video? Ask me in the comments! 👇
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✨ TRAINING TIP! ✨
The underlying cause of unwanted behaviors is usually an unmet need. Enrichment is a great training tool because it prevents the behavior by meeting the need. You can take this a step further by strategically providing enrichment during a time when the unwanted behaviors occur.
Swipe for some suggestions of strategically timed enrichment!
What are some times or situations each day where your dog does a behavior you'd like to change?
👇 Let me know in the comments!
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🤯 Ready to have your mind blown? Leash training has little to do with the leash.
It's about motivating your dog to stay close to you and being a good dance partner in return. If you need to use the leash to train, you're turning it into a crutch.
So the next time someone says you need to pop the leash to get your dog to stop pulling, send them this video 😎
Shirt and fanny pack are by @woofcultr
who I thank for giving me a way to boldly wear my training philosophy with confidence ♥️
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