The Good Pup Project Dog Training

Meet Nyx. 💛
She’s two, full of big feelings, and when she gets excited… everyone knows it. Loud joy, bright eyes, and a lot to say.

This isn’t a “fix the dog” story.
It’s a learning-together story—figuring out how to work as a team, build regulation, and make space for joy along the way.

This is where we’re starting.
If you’ve ever loved a dog with big feelings, you’re welcome here.

Meet Nyx All feelings. No volume k**b.

Hey, we’re back! 🐾

This page has been quiet for a while — okay, a long while — but something new (and a little wonderful) is starting up again.

I’ve been filming real-life training sessions with my dogs — Maizee, Nyx, and Bruce the bumbling bull mastiff — and sharing them over on Substack as part of a new project called The Good Pup Project.

It’s not a how-to series. It’s a look-in series. No pressure, no perfection — just the messy, joyful reality of training and living with dogs who have very big opinions.

If you’ve been here since the early days, thank you for sticking around. I’m excited to share this next chapter with you.
🐶 Come see what we’re up to: https://open.substack.com/pub/thegoodpupproject/p/new-tricks-same-dogs-the-good-pup?r=1m9ho&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

This. I’ve had countless conversations about why I will never recommend shock collars—on my dogs or anyone else’s. Same goes for underground fencing. My heart breaks to read stories like this. I don’t care if so-called “qualified trainers” insist they know what they’re doing. Mistakes still happen—and when they do, the dog is the one who pays with fear and trauma.

You know what happens when you make a mistake with positive, reward-based training? It might take a little longer. That’s it.

I WILL NEVER STOP HONORING HIS VOICE

Jackson was a very handsome two year old Aussie that was purchased from a professional breeder.
He was a very shy, insecure, fearful pup that had no self confidence.
His family hired a trainer that thought it best to place a shock collar (“e-collar”) on him at the young age of 6 months old to help train Jackson.
Jackson’s family continued the use of the shock collar (“e-collar”) for obedience work as well for behaviors the family thought warranted getting a shock.
Jackson’s behavior started to decline as he became fearful and reactive toward family members, other dogs, bikers, runners, and strangers coming into the home.
Jackson’s behavior became more intense and more frequent the more he was shocked.
By the age of 2 years old,
Jackson had bitten 10 different people. Five of the bites were his own family members.
I was called by the family’s attorney who asked if I would evaluate Jackson and help determine if I felt he could be rehabilitated.
I agreed to try to help Jackson under the condition that I was given a full and honest account of the first two years of Jackson’s life.
When I met Jackson’s family, I asked them when the last time was that Jackson went 24 hours without being shocked.
The answer that came sent me to my knees.
They stated “Jackson has never gone 24 hours without getting shocked since the day he was first introduced to the collar.”
I asked them what they were shocking him for and they said “everything!”
I asked them to be more specific and this was their reply.
“If he doesn’t listen. If he refuses to obey. If he barks at the deer. If he jumps on us or anyone else. If he digs.”
I got the point and quickly interrupted with, “So…basically everything!”
The family then stated that they did not know if they could ever trust him again and were considering their options.
A few weeks passed and then I received a very disturbing text.
This was the text:
“I’m guessing that you have not come up with any re-homing options for Jackson. We have set his euthanasia appointment for today in our home at 1:00. Just wanted you to know.”
By the time I read that text it was 11:30. I called the family immediately and told them to call it off and that I would come get him.
They obliged and signed over Jackson’s ownership to me.
For a few days he seemed joyful, free of fear, and was enjoying his time with us and our pack.
But then the day came where I saw it. I saw the all too familiar pupil dilation.
The constant pain and fear Jackson suffered for so long and at such a young age caused his body to try to protect itself. He was suffering severe PTSD and was thrown into full blown panic attacks. Uncontrollable shaking, lunging, and barking.
He was so fearful of being shocked that it was as if he was neurologically unsound.

One night, Roger was petting him without using direct eye contact. When Roger’s hand went from rubbing his chest to petting his neck, Jackson snapped and got Roger pretty good on the hand.
A few mornings after that, Jackson tried to get between one of our foster dogs and one of our pack members while they were playing. Let’s just say, Jackson got the raw end of that the deal.
I knew his ear was hurt but I didn’t see blood and he would not let me get near it.
Thankfully he was getting a dental and x-rays that day so I waited to let them check it out under anesthesia. Thank god they were able to get his ear cleaned and stitched up without him knowing a thing. The vet needed to remove a few teeth and the x-rays showed nothing of significance.
I had to rule out all things that might be causing
Jackson pain or discomfort.
In the time we had Jackson, he would react fearfully when touching his neck or rear. He was fine if you would touch his chest or face. He would even give kisses on occasion.
I wanted to help Jackson if rehabilitation was at all possible. Not gonna lie, I had my doubts.
Jackson was doing very well with us for about a month. He was loving walks with our pack, the mental stimulation,
the outings in the car, and the structured calm consistent environment we provided.
Then, in the blink of an eye, the extent of the damage from the shock collar (“e-collar”) was revealed.
It was just like any other morning. I was feeding the dogs breakfast and Jackson was in the same crate he was always in during meal time.
I got to his crate, and went to open it. Before I was able to unlatch it, Jackson lunged so hard at the door to the crate that I fell back and dropped the contents of his bowl on the carpet.
His pupils were fixed and dilated. He was barking and growling with tremendous fervor that I could not get near him.
This went on for over 10 minutes. All I could think of to get him to calm down was to leave the room.
That did work until Roger or I would walk back in the room toward his crate, then the rage would start again with extreme intensity.
After several hours and a few more attempts it was clear that something had snapped inside his brain.
We called our vet who was already familiar with Jackson and his history.
He suggested giving him a tranquilizer to take the edge off so we could bring him in.
After their examination and observing the videos we shared, everyone came to the same conclusion. Jackson sustained too much exposure to being shocked. Jackson was at such a young age when he was first exposed to the shock collar, (“e-collar”) his still developing brain could not handle the impact.
It was determined that Jackson’s neurological state was forever changed. The responsible and humane thing to do was to give Jackson the peace and freedom he deserved.
I will never forget that day.
Once the drug was given, Jackson could finally relax. I was able to lay with him while we just looked into each other’s eyes. When it was time to administer the final injection, I couldn’t hold back the tears any longer.
You know when you try to stifle a deep profound cry and your throat starts to ache……me too and it was awful. My heart broke in that moment for Jackson and his senseless suffering. 💔
To the irresponsible trainer who first introduced the shock collar (“e-collar”) to Jackson, and to the family who continued the use and abuse, “ I made a promise to Jackson as I was laying with him and watching him take his final breaths. I told him that I would never stop educating people about the dangers of shock collars (“e-collars”) and how sorry I was that he had to suffer due to their ignorance.”

Shock Collars (e-collars) are now banned in the following countries:

England: Banned shock collars in 2019.�France: The French Assemblée Nationale voted to ban electric pet collars in early 2023. �Germany: Banned shock collars in 2006.�Norway: Banned shock collars in 2018.�Sweden: Banned shock collars in 2020.�Wales: Banned shock collars in 2010.�Austria: Banned shock collars in 2019.
Denmark: Banned shock collars in 2019.�Finland: Banned shock collars in 2021.�Iceland: Banned shock collars in 2021.�Slovenia: Banned shock collars in 2023.
Quebec: Banned shock collars in Canada in 2014.�New South Wales, South Australia, and the Australian Capital Territory: Banned shock collars in Australia in 1995.

Take a good hard look at the articles and studies below to see why there is currently a massive wave of dog behavior professionals and advocates joining forces.
It’s time to shine a bright light on the use of archaic methods that cause dogs pain, fear, uncertainty, distrust, ptsd, and other psychological and neurological issues.

Written by-Deb Nabb

“The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.”
Gandhi~

https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/blog/animal-emotions/202409/is-balanced-training-fair-to-dogs-or-is-it-a-cop-out

https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14182632��