EDUCATE | ENGAGE | EMPOWER

Part 6 - Turning Play Into Purpose Play is powerful — but only when it has structure. Structured play gives a working dog a chance to use their instincts within rules that build focus and control. Games like tug or flirt pole become teaching tools: wait before you chase, release on cue, focus under pressure. These moments don’t just burn energy; they build discipline. For high-drive dogs, structured play isn’t optional — it’s essential. It gives them the mental satisfaction of a job well done, right in your backyard. At EDT, we call this “purposeful play.” It’s fun, fair, and transformative.

Part 5 - Why a Walk Won’t Fix Everything Many owners try to tire out their dogs with long walks or trips to the park — then wonder why their dog still has energy to burn. The reason? Movement alone doesn’t fulfill a working dog’s brain. four dogs watching training Working breeds need mental  exercise as much as physical. Scent games, structured tug, obedience drills, or tracking sessions all tap into their problem-solving instincts. A tired dog isn’t necessarily a fulfilled dog — but a fulfilled dog is always calmer. When you start training the mind instead of just the body, you’ll finally see balance take shape.

Part 4 - Jobless Dogs Find Their Own Work — and It’s Usually Not the Kind You Want A working dog without a job will always invent one. Sometimes that means herding the kids, guarding the couch, or chasing shadows for hours. Other times it means tearing up the backyard out of sheer boredom. It’s easy to label these dogs “bad,” but that misses the point. They’re not misbehaving — they’re under-employed. Leadership doesn’t mean dominance; it means direction. When we give a dog a clear job through structured play, obedience, and boundaries, we replace chaos with clarity. Purpose isn’t a luxury for these breeds — it’s their peace. German shepherd laying on his back

Part 3 - Understanding What Drives Working Breeds Every breed was designed with purpose in mind. Border Collies herd. Malinois protect. Huskies pull. Cattle Dogs push and chase. Those instincts run deep — generations deep. That’s why a Border Collie circles kids, why a Cattle Dog nips at heels, and why a Malinois patrols the backyard fence. These aren’t “problems.” They’re genetics expressing themselves. Our job as owners is to respect those instincts and redirect them. Instead of fighting nature, we can shape it — through training, structure, and meaningful work. Once you understand what your dog was bred to do, you can finally give them what they need to feel fulfilled. border collie laying against the couch

Part 2 - Inside a Trainer’s Home: Life With Four Working Dogs For me, this isn’t theory — it’s daily life. I share my home with four working-breed dogs, each with their own intensity, instincts, and quirks. They’re not lapdogs or Netflix companions; they’re teammates who need structure, challenge, and meaningful engagement. It’s work — every single day. But it’s also deeply rewarding. When a dog with boundless energy learns to channel that drive into focus, confidence, and calm, it’s magic. It’s not about perfection; it’s about partnership. Living with working dogs keeps me sharp as a trainer and humble as a human. They remind me that leadership isn’t control — it’s guidance. And when you give a dog what they were built for, you get back peace, not chaos.

Part 1 - The Hidden Struggle of Working Breeds three dogs eating in a row They’re beautiful, intelligent, loyal — and sometimes overwhelming. Breeds like the German Shepherd, Belgian Malinois, and Border Collie capture hearts with their intensity and focus. But here’s the truth most owners don’t realize until they’re in over their heads: these dogs weren’t bred to be pets. They were bred to work. That drive to herd, guard, or protect doesn’t disappear in a suburban backyard. When it has no outlet, it often turns inward — showing up as frustration, anxiety, or destructive behavior. None of this means a working dog is “bad.” It simply means the instincts that once kept flocks safe or protected property now have nowhere to go. The key to a peaceful home isn’t suppressing those instincts — it’s channeling them. At EDT, we teach owners how to give those powerful drives purpose, so their dog can finally rest easy.

Fulfilling Your Dog the Way Nature Intended Every dog has a story written in their DNA. Beneath the fur, the play bows, and the wagging tails lies a set of instincts — the very drives that once helped their ancestors survive and thrive. While modern life has made things more comfortable, it has also left many dogs without meaningful outlets for those natural behaviors. True fulfillment comes when we honor who our dogs are , not just who we want them to be. Understanding Drives and Instincts Your dog’s breed, genetics, and individual temperament all influence what drives them. Some dogs were bred to chase and retrieve, others to guard, herd, dig, or track. Even within a single breed, the intensity of those instincts varies. Recognizing and working with  those natural tendencies — instead of against them — is key to creating balance and harmony in your dog’s life. For example: • A retriever finds satisfaction in fetching, swimming, or carrying items. • A herding breed thrives on structure, problem-solving, and mental stimulation. • A terrier feels most alive when using their nose and digging or searching for something hidden. • A guardian breed finds peace when they feel their environment is secure and predictable. Fulfillment Beyond Exercise A long walk or a game of fetch might burn energy, but true fulfillment goes deeper. It’s about meeting your dog’s mental, emotional, and sensory needs in ways that are biologically appropriate. That could mean scent games for the nose-driven dog, controlled tug for the prey-driven one, or structured obedience sessions for the dog who craves clear leadership and purpose. Why It Matters When a dog’s drives are channeled properly, you’ll see confidence, calmness, and connection flourish. When they’re ignored, frustration and unwanted behaviors often surface — barking, digging, pulling, or even anxiety. Fulfillment isn’t about spoiling a dog; it’s about giving them what nature intended so they can live balanced, content, and cooperative lives alongside us. Creating the Right Balance At EDT, we help clients understand their dog’s individual makeup — their breed traits, personality, and unique needs — and then teach practical ways to fulfill them in everyday life. It’s not about over-stimulating; it’s about creating healthy outlets that make sense for your lifestyle and your dog’s instincts. When you meet your dog where they are — mentally, emotionally, and biologically — you don’t just train better behavior. You build trust, satisfaction, and a bond rooted in understanding. And that’s where the best relationships begin.

Laying a foundation of behavior and training with your dog so you can move forward with lifestyle dog training. Like a maintenance plan for your dog. We discuss lifestyle training quite a bit on the website and with clients. But what does that really mean? Set expectations early with your canine friend and then hold them accountable to those expectations. In any relationship, with people or pets, I am a firm believer that if you don't set expectations then you cannot manage your disappointments. How can you be disappointed in a behavior that you've never offered an alternative for? Dogs need a guideline and boundaries for what is acceptable. If we give them boundaries and we aren't wishy washy on holding them to those boundaries then we will have a dog who naturally looks to us for leadership. Once a foundation of solid training is instilled in the dog; lifestyle training means that instead of actively "training" your dog; training becomes part of your everyday life. If you've taught your dog the place command, have them place while you vacuum, once they know wait / stay, have them wait for you to give them the command before they go out a door or get out of the car. The things they know (your expectations) are reinforced through everyday actions and activities that don't require much effort from you. It becomes second nature to have your dog do things throughout the day that have several purposes. It makes your dog feel fulfilled to please you. It makes your dog feel secure that you are capable of leading them. It keeps your dog accountable to the training principles you've instilled. It reinforces the structure you want in your home. Teaching your dog the behavior you expect is the first step and affirming it by incorporating it into your everyday life activities is the second. The basics apply in almost every situation and there is always a new way to use something that your dog knows to keep it fresh and fun.

I’d imagine most of us can spend an absorbent amount of time looking at puppies on Tik Tok, Pinterest and Insta. They are so cute it’s easy to forget how much time and effort must be dedicated to raising a puppy into a great dog. Before we got Waylon, it had been 15 years since we’d brought Weechee home as an 8 week old puppy. The memory had certainly faded of what a firecracker he'd been as a pup. The ankle biting, the hair pulling and the night time whining just to name a few. But Waylon was all too happy to refresh our recollections. Getting a puppy or adopting a dog is such an amazing life experience, but it's also important to remember a dog is a living, loving being that requires more than just food, water and pets. We always recommend doing research on breeds to make sure you know what taking care of that specific dog entails and that they will be compatible with the lifestyle and family you have. Once you've done your research and know which dog is right for you then you want to find out how to provide the right structure for them at the beginning of your relationship to set up for future success. So many dogs end up in shelters, have behavior problems, or worse being put down because they once were cute puppies and ended up being more than someone could handle. A little work can go along way to having an amazing relationship with your best fur friend. It's never too early to reach out to a trainer when getting a puppy. The best time to deal with problems is before they begin. Good vibes everyone!

Follow the leader is definitely a game we can play with our dog. After all we should be our dogs funnest and most valuable resource. But having a dog that follows us constantly can evolve into a problem pretty fast. When you become a resource the dog can't function without, separation anxiety is inevitable. This can manifest in a variety of ways. Whining, barking, destroying household items and doors, and endless pacing to name a few. During the pandemic this situation increased exponentially for many pet owners because the amount of time they spent with their dogs increased drastically. It was a very mentally challenging time for all of us and the reality is, the mindset you pet your dog with and the reason you pet them matter more than you might imagine. I believe it was Sean O’Shea that I heard say “you get what you pet”. Petting is a form of positive reinforcement. So when we offer free pets for a dog that is nervous or anxious we are reinforcing that as a desirable behavior. And when we pet our dog because we are emotional and need support, our dog feels that and they will begin to try and overcompensate for our lack of strength. We tend to talk about this a lot but boundaries and structure are amazing tools for avoiding or minimizing separation anxiety. Duration place and crate time foster mental well-being and an ability to settle on their own for your dog. A calm mind is so important for a canine. Loving our dog and giving them their best life doesn’t mean only looking out for their physical needs. We have to educate ourselves and set aside pre-conceived notions and truly focus on what our dog needs to be their best self. - Good vibes everyone

It can be difficult to be patient when working your way through behavior problems with your dog. Think about how difficult it is for us as humans to develop new habits and behaviors. Likewise it is difficult for our dog to change their default behavior; especially when they have relied on a behavior or reaction for a long time. Once you are armed with good, solid information for working on behavior problems, patience and consistency will prove extremely valuable to achieving your goal. Your dog will read your emotions similar to how you might read a good book. Staying patient and being a strong, fair leader will prove far more effective than losing your temper with your dog. Many times I've heard the expression "take a breath" or "take a beat" when it comes to parenting your kids. I've always thought it was good advice to take a moment when you are angry so you don't end up saying words you will later regret (with all other people, not limited to just your kiddos). With kids they understand our feelings and we can explain to them why their choices were wrong. We don't have that luxury with dogs. Unfortunately, with our canine friends we can't use logic or rational to explain what went wrong. They don't hold onto information the same way we do either. In the moment when the behavior is occurring is the same moment you have to communicate your pleasure or displeasure. For instance, when you come home and the dog you left loose in the house has destroyed all the pillows, because they have separation anxiety, putting the shredded pillow in front of their face and yelling at them produces zero positive results. They have absolutely no idea why you are mad or what behavior led you to those feelings. It's sad when people throw judgement and shame on people with dogs that have behavior issues. Most of these dog owners are just good folks that are trying to give their dog the best life possible without having a clue how to fix these issues. The battles they face and the emotional turmoil over their dog's behavior or the limitations it may cause in their life, don't need piling on from other people, well-meaning or not. It's okay to get outside help, that specializes in rehabilitating your dog's behavior and it's okay that you can't do it alone. It takes time, patience, and a willingness to make changes, but there is rarely a situation that is without hope. A dog's behavior doesn't change overnight and that's okay. We don't change overnight either ;) - Good vibes everyone

Chilling with your dog at the park can be just as fun and rewarding as playing chuck-it. Your local park can be a fantastic place to work on further proofing commands, socialization skill building, sniffing, playing fetch and other fulfillment activities for your pooch, but it can also be an amazing place to keep building the calm, relaxed mindset you are instilling in your pup at home. We want our dog to have an on / off switch. If you want to be able to visit with neighbors or have a picnic with the family then showing your dog how to relax in the same places they have fun is an essential element. Next time you hit the park take a blanket and a bone instead of a ball. It's good to mix it up. - Good vibes everyone