Los Alamos Dog Obedience Club

09/27/2026

08/31/2026

Fall Classes at LADOC are just around the corner. Check out our fall course offerings!

Registration begins Sept 9th.

http://losalamosdogs.org/classes/

08/05/2026

🐾 Choosing the Right Breeder – Part 6 🐾

The Right Puppy for the Right Home

Every puppy in a litter is different.

Some are bold. Some are quiet. Some are full of energy, while others are more thoughtful.

The best breeders spend weeks getting to know each puppy and matching them to the home where they’re most likely to thrive.

Sometimes, the puppy you’ve fallen in love with isn’t the puppy that’s right for you.

A responsible breeder isn’t trying to disappoint you.

They’re trying to set both you and the puppy up for a lifetime of success.

The perfect puppy doesn’t exist.

The right puppy does.

Choose with your head as well as your heart, and trust the breeder who puts the puppy’s welfare before making a sale.

🐶 When the right puppy goes to the right home, everyone wins—especially the dog.

Thank you to everyone who has followed this series. I hope it’s encouraged more people to ask questions, choose breeders carefully and put health, temperament and welfare first.

🌐 www.k9manhuntscotland.co.uk

“The best breeders don’t sell you a puppy. They help you find the dog you’ll still be grateful for fifteen years later.”
— Simon Chapman

08/03/2026

🐾 Choosing the Right Breeder – Part 4 🐾

Papers, Pedigrees & Health Tests – What Do They Really Mean?

One of the biggest myths in the dog world is:

“It’s Kennel Club registered, so it must be well bred.”

The truth is, Kennel Club registration, pedigrees and health tests are all valuable, but none of them, on their own, guarantee a well-bred puppy.

A pedigree is a family tree, not a certificate of quality.

Health testing is essential, but it can’t measure confidence, temperament, resilience or whether a dog is truly suited to breeding.

Even champion dogs shouldn’t be bred from unless they also have the health, temperament, structure and genetics to improve the next generation.

Don’t be dazzled by certificates or titles.

Ask questions.

Meet the breeder.

Observe the parents.

A responsible breeder will be happy to explain their decisions and show you the evidence.

🐶 Paperwork supports good breeding, it never replaces it.

➡️ Coming next in Part 5: The First Eight Weeks – Why Good Breeders Shape Great Puppies.

🌐 www.k9manhuntscotland.co.uk

“Paperwork tells you where a puppy came from. Good breeding determines where that puppy is likely to go.”
— Simon Chapman

08/01/2026

🐾 Choosing the Right Breeder – Part 1 🐾

The Puppy Starts With the Breeder

Choosing the right breeder is one of the most important decisions you’ll ever make as a dog owner.

You’re not just buying a puppy…

You’re choosing the person who shaped the first eight weeks of that puppy’s life.

A responsible breeder doesn’t simply produce puppies, they’re working to improve the breed through:

✔️ Health
✔️ Temperament
✔️ Sound genetics
✔️ Welfare
✔️ Careful planning

Don’t fall in love with the puppy first…

Fall in love with the breeder.

A good breeder will happily answer your questions and they’ll ask plenty of their own to make sure their puppies are going to the right homes.

Remember, a polished website or thousands of social media followers don’t guarantee a well-bred dog.

Choose the breeder with the same care as you choose the breed.

🐶 A well-bred puppy is one of the best investments you’ll ever make.

➡️ Coming next in Part 2: The Questions Every Puppy Buyer Should Ask.

🌐 www.k9manhuntscotland.co.uk

“Never buy a puppy because you’ve fallen in love with the dog. Buy it because you’ve gained confidence in the person who bred it.” — Simon Chapman

07/29/2026

10 Things You Should Do… and 10 Things You Should Never Do When Training a Dog

By Simon Chapman

Whether you’re a first-time dog owner, an experienced handler or a professional dog trainer, there are certain principles that stand the test of time.

Training methods may evolve. New equipment comes onto the market. Social media influencers appear overnight claiming they’ve discovered the latest miracle technique.

Yet the fundamentals remain exactly the same.

Dogs haven’t changed nearly as much as people like to believe.

Successful training isn’t about finding a magic wand.

It’s about understanding the dog in front of you.

So here are my 10 Do’s and 10 Don’ts that I believe every dog owner, handler and trainer should keep in mind.

✅ 10 Things You SHOULD Do

1. Build the Relationship Before Expecting Results

Every great dog begins with trust.

A dog that enjoys working with you will always outperform one that simply obeys because it’s worried about the consequences.

Spend time together.

Play.

Walk.

Train.

Rest together.

Create value in yourself.

Remember…

Dogs don’t follow titles.

They follow leaders.

2. Be Consistent

Dogs don’t understand:

“Sit means sit on Mondays… but not when Grandma visits.”

If one family member allows jumping up while another tells the dog off for it, guess who becomes confused?

The dog.

Consistency creates clarity.

Clarity creates confidence.

3. Reward Good Decisions

Dogs repeat behaviours that work.

That reward might be:

* Food
* A toy
* Praise
* Freedom
* Access to something they want

Reinforcement isn’t bribery.

It’s communication.

Catch your dog making good choices.

You’ll be amazed how quickly those choices become habits.

4. Keep Training Sessions Short

The best sessions often last just a few minutes.

Five minutes of focused training is worth far more than forty-five minutes of repetition until everyone is bored.

Always finish while your dog still wants more.

Leave them thinking,

“That was brilliant! Can we do it again?”

5. Train in Different Environments

A dog that sits perfectly in the kitchen hasn’t necessarily learnt to sit.

It has learnt to sit…

…in the kitchen.

Generalisation doesn’t happen automatically.

Practise in:

* The garden
* The park
* The high street
* Woodland
* Car parks
* Outside cafés

Real-life dogs need real-life training.

6. Be Clear

Dogs don’t speak English.

They read:

* Timing
* Body language
* Tone
* Movement
* Patterns

Keep your cues simple.

Avoid giving five commands when one will do.

If your dog looks confused…

Ask yourself whether you’ve been clear.

7. Allow Your Dog to Think

Don’t micromanage every step.

Give the dog opportunities to solve problems.

Confidence grows when dogs discover answers for themselves.

Training isn’t simply teaching behaviour.

It’s developing thinkers.

8. Be Patient

Learning isn’t linear.

Some days everything clicks.

Other days it feels as though your dog has forgotten its own name.

Progress often looks like this:

Two steps forward…

One step back…

Then suddenly five steps forward.

Patience nearly always wins.

9. Finish on a Success

Never underestimate the power of ending well.

Even if the original exercise isn’t going to plan, make the final repetition something your dog can achieve.

Success builds confidence.

Confidence builds future success.

10. Train the Dog in Front of You

Perhaps the most important lesson of all.

Don’t train:

* Your neighbour’s Labrador.
* The dog you saw on YouTube.
* The police dog on television.
* The world champion’s Malinois.

Train your dog.

Every dog has different:

* Genetics
* Motivation
* Confidence
* Experience
* Learning speed

The best trainers adapt.

❌ 10 Things You SHOULD NEVER Do

1. Don’t Compare Your Dog to Others

Comparison steals enjoyment.

Every dog develops at its own pace.

Some mature quickly.

Some take years.

Your journey is your own.

2. Don’t Repeat Commands

“Sit.”

“Sit.”

“SIT.”

“SIT!”

Congratulations…

You’ve just taught your dog that the first three requests are optional.

Say it once.

Help the dog understand.

Reward success.

3. Don’t Train When You’re Angry

Dogs don’t understand bad days at work.

If you’re frustrated, stop.

Have a cup of tea.

Reset.

Come back later.

Training should improve relationships, not damage them.

4. Don’t Expect Perfection Overnight

Social media has created unrealistic expectations.

Many videos show the finished product.

They rarely show the hundreds of mistakes that happened beforehand.

Progress beats perfection.

Every single time.

5. Don’t Ignore Genetics

Training matters enormously.

So do genetics.

A Border Collie may naturally notice movement.

A Beagle is likely to use its nose.

A Labrador often enjoys carrying things.

Good training works with genetics rather than pretending they don’t exist.

6. Don’t Be Inconsistent with Rules

Today’s “No.”

Tomorrow’s “Maybe.”

Next week’s “Go on then…”

Dogs love predictable rules.

Humans are often the unpredictable bit.

7. Don’t Forget to Reward Yourself

Seriously.

Training dogs takes effort.

Celebrate the small wins.

Every improvement matters.

You deserve a biscuit too.

(Tea is also acceptable.)

8. Don’t Assume Every Problem Is Stubbornness

Very few dogs wake up each morning plotting world domination.

Behaviour usually has a reason.

It may be:

* Confusion
* Fear
* Pain
* Stress
* Over-arousal
* Lack of understanding
* Insufficient reinforcement

Before labelling a dog as stubborn…

Ask why.

9. Don’t Rush the Process

Foundations matter.

Skipping them is like building a house on wet sand.

Take the time to build:

* Engagement
* Focus
* Motivation
* Clarity
* Confidence

Everything else becomes easier afterwards.

10. Don’t Stop Learning

Dogs continue teaching us every single day.

The moment we believe we know everything…

…a clever Spaniel, determined Terrier or mischievous Labrador will politely remind us that we don’t.

The best trainers remain students forever.

Stay curious.

Read books.

Attend seminars.

Watch experienced trainers.

Ask questions.

Keep learning.

Final Thoughts

Dog training isn’t about domination.

Nor is it about becoming a vending machine that dispenses treats every five seconds.

It’s about communication.

It’s about understanding.

It’s about fairness.

It’s about building a relationship in which both dog and handler enjoy working together.

When training is done well, it strengthens the bond between you and your dog.

When it’s done poorly, it creates confusion, frustration and conflict.

So the next time you head out with your dog, remember these simple principles.

Be consistent.

Be fair.

Be patient.

Keep learning.

And perhaps most importantly…

If your dog has just performed the most spectacular zoomies known to mankind immediately after you proudly removed the lead…

Take comfort in this:

Dogs have an incredible talent for keeping us humble.

That’s probably why we love them so much.

07/02/2026

Summer classes at LADOC
Sign ups are happening now!
http://losalamosdogs.org/classes/

04/27/2026

DAY 4 – HOW TO BUILD ENGAGEMENT

Now we get practical.

First thing to understand:
👉 Engagement is not just eye contact.
It’s about your dog choosing to stay connected through movement, awareness, and decisions.

Key shift:
Stop only rewarding positions…
Start rewarding choices.

That moment your dog:
• checks in
• notices your movement
• comes back into your space

That’s the gold. Reward it.

Simple ways to build engagement:

🔹 Voluntary check-ins
Stand still. Say nothing.
When your dog looks at you → mark & reward.

🔹 Move and matter
Change direction, pace, stop/start.
When your dog follows → mark & reward.

🔹 Toss & return
Dog checks in → mark → toss food →
Dog comes back → mark & reward again.
Teaches: leaving is fine… coming back pays.

🔹 Play & pause
Short burst of play → pause →
Dog re-engages → game starts again.

🔹 Lead-on = connection
Don’t rush out the door.
Wait for focus before moving.

Important:
Keep sessions short.
Build reps.
Don’t rush into chaos too soon.

Key takeaway:
Engagement grows when your dog learns:

👉 “Staying connected to my handler pays.”

Make your presence matter… and everything else gets easier.

04/15/2026

Registration is now open!

Classes SPRING 2026 CLASSES Registration is April 15-17, 2026 Classes begin the week of April 27th Sign up for our newsletter to stay up to date on announcements. Online Registration Registration for spring classes is April 15-17, 2026 The below link will become active April 15th --> Register Online...

04/08/2026

LADOC Classes begin soon!
Registration begins April 15th!

http://www.losalamosdogs.org