Force-Free Dog Training In Waco, Texas and McLennan County!
Check Out Some Of Our Confident Hounds!
๐ Halloween time can be fun for humans, but also confusing and even scary for your dog!
๐ฃ๏ธ Join us LIVE on Wednesday (10/21) at 7PM CT (8PM ET) to learn about how you can make this spooky holiday more enjoyable for your dog.
๐ Whether your dog barks at every doorbell ring or wants to befriend every trick-or-treater, we've got you covered with some helpful tips.
๐ฌ What plan does your neighborhood have for trick-or-treating this year? Let us know in the comments!
๐ Doggie Language Book has finally arrived!!!
๐พ We can't wait to use this cute book to teach our clients how to better understand their dog! If you are a dog trainer, dog owner, have kids & dogs, work at a doggy daycare, shelter/rescue, vet or groomer, I highly recommend picking up this book.
๐ Thank you so much to @lilita_yaya for continuing to provide wonderful canine education resources.
๐โ๐ฆบ Oct 1st-7th is National Walk Your Dog Week!
๐ To celebrate, we'll be going LIVE on Instagram Wednesday at 7 PM (CT) / 8 PM (ET) to talk about walks. We'll cover what equipment to use, our favorite products, what to bring with you, how to maximize your walks, and more. So mark your calendars and we will see you then!
๐ค This weekend we are attending (virtually) The Aggression in Dogs Conference to continue our education by learning from experts in the field. About half of our cases involve dog aggression, so we know we'll learn something new to help us continue serving our community.
๐ฅฐ Thank you to all our current clients for understanding why we needed to take this weekend off! We are ethically committed to ensuring we provide high quality training and these types of learning experiences help us achieve that standard.
๐ TIP: Whether you work with us or not, we always recommend seeking a certified trainer who prioritizes professional development opportunities like this. A trainer who believes they know everything and doesn't think they have room to grow should be avoided.
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#Repost @thelooseleashacademy
๐ We had a good laugh last night with Nala. Mike has been training her how to use the ArfPets Food Dispenser. Nala's job is to press a button which makes a BOING! sound, which makes the dispenser release food. (To start, Mike is just throwing the food into the tray).
๐ถ Well it seems like Nala was enjoying the sound the button makes SO much that she just kept pressing it over and over before going to get her reward! Working with this 8 month old puppy has been awesome and she has come a long way.
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#theconfidenthound #forcefreetraining #forcefree #fearfreetraining #fearfree #trainwithoutpain #youdonthaveto #ditchthedominance #positivereinforcement #dogtraining #positivedogtraining
#positivedogtrainingmethods #choicebasedtraining #powerofchoice
#clickertraining #giveyourdogajob #canineenrichment #havefunwithyourdog #sciencebaseddogtraining #snackleadernotpackleader #dogsofinstagram #pupsofinstagram #goldendoodle #wacotexas #waco #wacotx
Anyone else feel like their dog is an expert at NOT swallowing pills? We've gotten a lot of practice giving pills between going through canine cancer and now having an aging dog with mental health issues. Do you want to hear our tips for successful pill administration? We're going to be doing short Facebook/Instagram Lives more regularly and can add it to our list of quick topics. Let us know in the comments what topics you want us to cover!
๐ฅฐ REMINDER: Please handle your pet with care!!
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๐ปโโ๏ธ That means not using force, fear, pain, intimidation, or coercion.
๐ถ Instead focus on giving them choice, control, and opportunities to succeed.
๐ We had some Torani syrup bottles delivered and I couldn't resist this photo opportunity. Outtakes are in our stories!
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#theconfidenthound #forcefreetraining #forcefree #fearfreetraining #fearfree #trainwithoutpain #youdonthaveto #ditchthedominance #positivereinforcement #dogtraining #positivedogtraining
#positivedogtrainingmethods #clickertraining #giveyourdogajob #canineenrichment #havefunwithyourdog #sciencebaseddogtraining #snackleadernotpackleader #dogsofinstagram #pupsofinstagram #germanshepherd #gsdofinstagram #forcefreegsd #rescuedogsofinstagram #rescuedog #wacotexas #waco #wacotx
๐ถ Meet handsome boy Ace
๐พ You may remember Ace from previous videos when he was at Fuzzy Friends Rescue (fka "Hank"). We had the pleasure of introducing him to his new family and the joy of working with them in his new home.
๐ A couple months ago, Ace was struggling to calm down and leave his new sister JoJo (also an FFR alumni!) alone around bed time, keep his mouth to himself, and keep his paws on the floor when guests come over.
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This good boy has come so far and really *ACED* his training ๐. He's learned how to gently touch and kiss hands, wait at doors, sit to request affection, come when called, settle on a mat at night, and not be bothered by neighboring dogs at the fence.
๐ชHis mat skills are super impressive: he can stay when the front door opens and when his humans are working in the kitchen!
๐ฅฐ Best of all, he's learned that snuggling with JoJo is the best way to end the day. Way to go, Ace!
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#theconfidenthound #forcefreetraining #forcefree #fearfreetraining #fearfree #trainwithoutpain #youdonthaveto #ditchthedominance #positivereinforcement #dogtraining #positivedogtraining
#positivedogtrainingmethods #clickertraining #giveyourdogajob #canineenrichment #havefunwithyourdog #sciencebaseddogtraining #snackleadernotpackleader #dogsofinstagram #pupsofinstagram #muttsofinstagram #rescuedogsofinstagram #rescuedog #fuzzyfriends #wacotexas #waco #wacotx
๐พ Happy National Dog Day! ๐พ
๐ถ We're obviously passionate about dogs and love spending time with them. But we want to know what YOU love about your dogs and what makes them unique. Do they have a special quirk that always makes you laugh? Do they have a favorite activity that you love to watch them do?
๐ฉTell us about your canine companions, share a photo in the comments or tag us in your stories.
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#nationaldogday #theconfidenthound #forcefreetraining #forcefree #fearfreetraining #fearfree #trainwithoutpain #youdonthaveto #ditchthedominance #positivereinforcement #dogtraining #positivedogtraining
#positivedogtrainingmethods #clickertraining #giveyourdogajob #canineenrichment #havefunwithyourdog #sciencebaseddogtraining #snackleadernotpackleader #dogsofinstagram #pupsofinstagram #wacotexas #waco #wacotx
๐ถ This very good boy is named Cooper and he shares our enthusiasm for dog training.
๐ He's particularly enthusiastic about the part where we give him chicken when he relaxes. He says it's a win-win!
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#theconfidenthound #forcefreetraining #forcefree #fearfreetraining #fearfree #trainwithoutpain #youdonthaveto #ditchthedominance #positivereinforcement #dogtraining #positivedogtraining
#positivedogtrainingmethods #clickertraining #giveyourdogajob #canineenrichment #havefunwithyourdog #sciencebaseddogtraining #snackleadernotpackleader #dogsofinstagram #pupsofinstagram #wacotexas #waco #wacotx
โจ The Treat & Retreat Game โจ
We love playing this game with dogs who are nervous/fearful of new people. It's super simple:
1๏ธโฃ Throw a treat in front of the dog's feet (Treat).
2๏ธโฃ Throw a treat behind the dog (Retreat).
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That's it! Rinse and repeat. By throwing a treat away from you, it gives the dog a breather from socializing. Then the dog gets to *CHOOSE* to come back to the stranger and that earns them a treat as well.
๐ Once the dog gets more comfortable, you can try throwing the treats closer to you or even offering them in your hand.
๐พ Fuzzy Friends Rescue dog Snoopy is learning how to be brave around new people thanks to this game. Let him know what a good boy he is in the comments!
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#theconfidenthound #forcefreetraining #forcefree #fearfreetraining #fearfree #trainwithoutpain #youdonthaveto #ditchthedominance #positivereinforcement #dogtraining #positivedogtraining
#positivedogtrainingmethods #clickertraining #giveyourdogajob #canineenrichment #havefunwithyourdog #sciencebaseddogtraining #snackleadernotpackleader #dogsofinstagram #pupsofinstagram #wacotexas #waco #wacotx #rescuedogsofinstagram #rescuedog #fuzzyfriends
We advocate for EVERY DOG to be muzzle conditioned. Your dog could get hit by a car and bite someone who is trying to transport them to safety amidst the pain and terror. Whether it's an emergency situation, a regular trip to the vet, or your dog reacts negatively to a trigger, a muzzle is a safety precaution that allows your dog to otherwise act normally. We are experienced in muzzle training and would LOVE to help incorporate this tool into your dog's options for safely living their life. #muzzleup
#Repost @canineengineering
Credit to @summitdogtraining for the image
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Muzzles are not just for "vicious" dogs and they aren't torture devices. Seeing a dog wearing a muzzle means seeing a responsible dog owner taking steps to keep everyone safe. Give them smile and then move along!
Thanks to @summitdogtraining for this page.
#canineengineering #dog #dogtraining #dogtrainer #dogadvice #dogowner #positivedogtraining #loveyourdog #dogsofinstagram #dogs #fearfreetrainer #professionaldogtrainer #positivereinforcement #muzzletraining #responsibledogowner #bekind
๐ Today is National Mutt Day!
๐ถ If youโve got โem, show โem off โ drop a picture of your mutt in the comments or tag @theconfidenthound in your post. Use the hashtag #NationalMuttDay and let the world know how much you love your mixed breed pup!
๐ฅฐ This is our beloved first dog Artemis, who was the mutt that made us fall in love with dog training.
#theconfidenthound #muttsofinstagram #dogsofinstagram #pupsofinstagram #rescuedogsofinstagram #rescuedog
โจ Start your walks off on the right foot! โจ
๐คฏ If your dog is already overexcited before you open the door, then they will not be calm outside on leash.
๐ชTraining leash manners starts inside, before you even grab the leash! Here you see 30 seconds of nice door manners from Ace. But, we took the time to break his training down into:
1๏ธโฃ Sticking his head through the harness voluntarily
2๏ธโฃ Standing still while we put the harness on and leash him
3๏ธโฃ Waiting at the door as we open it
4๏ธโฃ And finally walking through the door at a human pace.
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#theconfidenthound #leashreactivity #leashtraining #forcefreetraining #forcefree #fearfreetraining #fearfree #trainwithoutpain #youdonthaveto #ditchthedominance #positivereinforcement #dogtraining #positivedogtraining
#positivedogtrainingmethods #clickertraining #giveyourdogajob #canineenrichment #havefunwithyourdog #sciencebaseddogtraining #snackleadernotpackleader #dogsofinstagram #pupsofinstagram #germanshepherd #gsdofinstagram #forcefreegsd #rescuedogsofinstagram #rescuedog #wacotexas #waco #wacotx
๐ Happy Friday! We will occasionally throw #funfacts at you because when we know better, we do better!
๐๐ You may have thought your dog's vision was in grayscale, but they actually can see blue and yellow! This is why dog sport equipment (like for agility) is blue and yellow.
๐งธ Does your dog have any toys that are blue or yellow?
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#theconfidenthound #caninecognition #forcefreetraining #forcefree #fearfreetraining #fearfree #trainwithoutpain #youdonthaveto #ditchthedominance #positivereinforcement #dogtraining #positivedogtraining
#positivedogtrainingmethods #clickertraining #giveyourdogajob #canineenrichment #havefunwithyourdog #sciencebaseddogtraining #snackleadernotpackleader #dogsofinstagram #pupsofinstagram #wacotexas #waco #wacotx
๐ Is there anything cuter than an enthusiastic flop into a "down"?
๐ง Nala learned how to lay down with just a finger point (no food lure) within minutes!
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#theconfidenthound #forcefreetraining #forcefree #fearfreetraining #fearfree #trainwithoutpain #youdonthaveto #ditchthedominance #positivereinforcement #dogtraining #positivedogtraining
#positivedogtrainingmethods #clickertraining #giveyourdogajob #canineenrichment #havefunwithyourdog #sciencebaseddogtraining #snackleadernotpackleader #dogsofinstagram #goldendoodle #wacotexas #waco #wacotx
๐จ Cute Puppy Alert ๐จ
๐ถ Nala is a 6 month old Golden Doodle pup. We're implementing our puppy curriculum:
1๏ธโฃ Addressing common problems like mouthing/nipping, jumping on people, counter-surfing, etc.
2๏ธโฃ Learning basic cues for laying down, dropping a toy, making eye contact, etc.
3๏ธโฃ Teaching manners that make your life easier like loose leash walking and going to a mat/bed.
4๏ธโฃ Acclimating your pup to being touched so it doesn't make them afraid or overexcited. Nala is getting groomed this week, so this has been an important focus!
5๏ธโฃ Proactive, positive socialization to help them grow into a confident dog who can handle novelty in stride.
๐พ As expected, Nala is friendly, playful, energetic, affectionate, and smart. But, these traits can be difficult to handle when they become excessive or happen at inappropriate times. Plus, a smart puppy will find ways to entertain themself in ways you may not like!
๐ But with some strategically placed enrichment and by channeling these tendencies into appropriate activities, you can have a well-behaved pup too!
๐ฅ Check our follow-up posts to see more of Nala!
โ๏ธ Drop us a message or email if your pup could benefit from our puppy curriculum!
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#theconfidenthound #forcefreetraining #forcefree #fearfreetraining #fearfree #trainwithoutpain #youdonthaveto #ditchthedominance #positivereinforcement #dogtraining #positivedogtraining
#positivedogtrainingmethods #clickertraining #giveyourdogajob #canineenrichment #havefunwithyourdog #sciencebaseddogtraining #snackleadernotpackleader #dogsofinstagram #pupsofinstagram #goldendoodle #wacotexas #waco #wacotx
Yesterday was the 1 year anniversary of our first dog, Artemis, passing away at the early age of 5 from an aggressive, terminal cancer. Her struggle with fear and anxiety led us down the path to learning more about dog training and to eventually opening The Confident Hound. In her memory, we wrote the story of the hound that started it all.
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๐ LINK IN BIO
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#theconfidenthound #forcefreetraining #forcefree #fearfreetraining #fearfree #trainwithoutpain #youdonthaveto #ditchthedominance #positivereinforcement #dogtraining #positivedogtraining
#positivedogtrainingmethods #clickertraining #havefunwithyourdog #sciencebaseddogtraining #snackleadernotpackleader #dogsofinstagram #pupsofinstagram #rescuedogsofinstagram #rescuedog #wacotexas #waco #wacotx
๐ง The most important knowledge we can provide to dog owners is how to read dog body language. Dogs use every part of their body to communicate with other dogs and with YOU! Plus, they're paying attention to your body language.
๐ฃ๏ธ Learning how to read and speak 'dog' is truly like learning a new language and every dog has their own *dialect*.
๐ We can't wait for this fabulous book to arrive in October so we can keep teaching our clients how to understand their dogs better!
#Repost @doggielanguagebook
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Hi everyone! We are slowly approaching October. I cannot wait. I have added some preview images to doggielanguagebook.com (viewable on a computer browser only for now) Check these out!
#doggielanguagebook #dogbodylanguage #howtolistentoyourdog #dogcommunication
๐พ Meet Lady Bird ๐พ
๐ญ Do they make puppies cuter than this??? Lady Bird is one of the sweetest, smartest, and chilliest 4 month old puppies we've ever met.
๐๐ We were called because Lady Bird has an important job to do: Guarding two goats named Rose & Sophia. Except Lady Bird thought they could be good playmates and tried to chase and nip them instead.
๐ This is a case like we've never taken before and it has become one of our favorite experiences! As a German Shepherd/Lab mix doing a job typically suited to a Great Pyrenees, we weren't sure if she'd be able to fill this position.
๐ But she surprised us with how quickly she learned, proving once again that โจBREED IS NOT DESTINYโจ In 3 sessions, this little girl has learned to make eye contact, calmly watch the goats, come when called, go lay down on a mat, play fetch, and follow the goats without chasing them.
๐ฒ Did we mention her amazing handler is only 14 years old?!
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#theconfidenthound #puppytraining #livestockguardiandog #clickertraining #forcefreetraining #forcefree #fearfreetraining #fearfree #trainwithoutpain #youdonthaveto #ditchthedominance #positivereinforcement #dogtraining #positivedogtraining
#positivedogtrainingmethods #havefunwithyourdog #sciencebaseddogtraining #snackleadernotpackleader #dogsofinstagram #pupsofinstagram #rescuedogsofinstagram #rescuedog #wacotexas #waco #wacotx
About The Confident Hound
Our mission is to build confidence in dogs and their humans so they can make the most of their precious time together.
We have approximately 8 to 15 short years with our dogs. Things like stress, anxiety, fear, frustration and insecurity can take a toll on health and happiness, shortening that time and diminishing your memories together. We want you both to worry less, so you can spend that time enjoying life instead. You both deserve peace of mind, to feel in control, and to have predictability and harmony in your home. We can help make this a reality. We are passionate about helping dogs feel confident in their environment, which in turn helps owners feel confident in their dog and strengthens the human-animal bond. We achieve this through force-free, positive reinforcement-based training methods.
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.ย 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. Lisaโs detail-oriented nature helps her to identify the cause of your dogโs behavior problems, and her creativity leads to a solution that works for both you and your dog.ย If youโre 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.
Mikeโs 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 doesnโt 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 Shikashioโs Aggression in Dogs course.
Get In Touch
Use the social media links above or the form below to contact us!