Lianne Shinton (00:01)

Hi everybody, so I'm Leanne Shinton from Automation Dogs. Welcome to my podcast. today I have the privilege of interviewing Byron Flores from Canine Training with Byron. Hi Byron.

Byron Flores (00:14)

Hi, Lin. Hi, hi. It's thank you for having me here. It's a pleasure. It's you're a phenomenal human being in my you know my book. I've gotten to get to know you. We have a few conversations and ⁓ it is a privilege to be on your podcast, Leanne. And I'm really, really grateful for this opportunity to speak with you and also to your audience and to the audience b beyond. ⁓ give you guys some information and help if if anything, the information that ⁓ that I'll give possibly will help a lot of people.

Lianne Shinton (00:43)

Yeah, and that's why I wanted to have you on because when we were talking, you shared some perspectives that I think dog owners can really benefit from, and also some dog trainers too. And and I only have a select few on my podcast, a select few dog trainers. So I'm privileged to have you here joining us. And I think you're gonna bring a lot of value to helping other people.

So maybe before we dig into some tips and ⁓ information to help folks on their dog training, could you share a little bit about how you decided to be a dog trainer?

Byron Flores (01:23)

Absolutely, absolutely. Yeah. So, you know, many of us in our in our in our journey of life, we encounter situations that we don't know where it's gonna take us, right? Things started develop in my end. So I come from a background of ⁓ the pharmaceutical industry, marketing advertising. So I worked there for many years and be previous to that I was in a an academic publishing company that I worked for.

So it kind of set me up to move forward and I got headhunted and I started working in the pharmaceutical industry. However, with a period of time working there and learning a lot of phenomenal things, and ⁓ I understood that there that there's more of me than just to be in these and these big branded pharmaceutical places that I work for. Last position that I held was I I worked for the for the receiving department.

I worked directly with the FDA with F and I worked I was employed by Pfizer. And during that period of time, I I I was dating I had a girlfriend back then and ⁓ she started dog walking and ⁓ she started bringing the dogs over to my place and the dogs are really drawn to me. And I just started helping her walk dogs and being in the industry of ab marketing advertising in the ⁓ pharmaceutical industry is just it gets it burns you out.

So I got burned down and I decided to leave that. And I and me and and my ex-referend Laura, we decided to open up a dog walking business. And during that period of time, I remember National Geographic had Cesar Milan on that. And ⁓ he was very educational, he very opened. ⁓ you know, there's a lot of everybody has their opinion, but I take what it's good for me, you know, and and and the connection that I had and I understood and and I just started it on

Trying to understand what 'cause Lord starting a dog walking business, I wanted to have an understanding a a context. Like I need context. I need to understand what's w you know, 'cause I grew up with dogs, but here in America is way different. So that's where my journey began and we started taking the the the difficult dogs that other dog walkers didn't want to take. So these dogs were reactive or they were dog aggressive or they were nippers. And and you know, and that that that's that's

That's where we came in and we took these dogs. But when I started taking these dogs and started taking them out, you know, I started using a pro started just working with with ⁓ with a slip lead. A lot of these dogs, that's that was my go-to tool that, you know, and it still is like a slip lead. And ⁓ just getting to know the dog, walking the dogs, and then there will be times where the dog owners would be on the app driving by the avenue and they will like slow down and they will see this these this dog that hated other dogs.

With like three or four of the dogs just walking peacefully. They couldn't believe this. And ⁓ so then that's where I think started clicking for me. And I was like, I need to understand a little bit more of the dog world. I need to get educated. And then we had this client that she was volunteering at a sh at a dog shelter locally here in Bloomfield, in Bloomfield, New Jersey. That's where I'm from. I'm from New Jersey. And and she decided to adopt a dog and she already had two staffies.

So she decided to get another dystaffia blue nose and introduced it to her family. And it was just a short period of time that she had sent out ⁓ back then just the the the iPhone just came about and you were able to text and send photos. And then we received this message, and then when the photo of Hank, his name was Hank, popped up, I was like, wow, what a beautiful dog! Because she was a photographer, she took an amazing photo of Hank. And then I said to Laura, hey, you see this dog here? That's gonna be my dog.

Just like that, it came out intuitively. A month later, ⁓ the there was some situations that the dogs got into some serious fights and the dogs ended up in the ER with draining tubes. Very, very there was a lot of things that were done at her wrong done at her end. She didn't know any better, you know? And this isn't not to blame the human. So she put up another she sent out another message if anybody's interested in adopting this dog. So you know, I was I raised my hand and I got in contact with her and I was like, hey.

How you doing? ⁓ just gonna come by and you know, gonna take the dog. I I and ⁓ so the day the night that I went there, they were he she kept them in in her office separate from the rest of the dogs. I got there and then the and Hank was just barking and barking, and she was like, my gosh, you'll let him out. I'm like, Yeah, just let him out, it's not a problem. So when he came out, he she had some some treats on the counter in the kitchen. Before he came to me, he just stopped over. He's like, These are the things that he does.

He countersurfed too, and I'm like, that's okay. You know so he came over and he came over and put his paws on my lap, looked at me, licked my face, and I just said to him, Ready to go home. His tail just wagged. And that's where really, really things really got more serious for me in this journey. And little did I know, ⁓ his background, he was found, I think ⁓ he was backyard bred locally, and ⁓ they starved him.

And he was emanciated really bad. He had a lot of missing of his coat. So he was kind of sick. ⁓ so my journey from there, also because I'm into health and nutrition, I also wanted to t to get into like get an understanding of what really dogs what is the best nutrition value for them and how do I help this dog. So I brought him to Low Covet and ⁓ holistic, and that's where I started learning from Dr. Bukov about

health lo and health and nutrition and supplements for dogs and Hank was the excellent candidate. So that's where I started combining health and nutrition and also with the things just taking out for walks, fulfilling fulfilling the dog, playing playing with him. I just I just didn't we just enjoy ourselves. And that started like really like I I didn't know back then that I was just like playing with him, doing things with him, bringing him along, started introducing him to other dogs and making him part of a pack and my clients

You know, I had this huge pack of dogs that I would go pick him up and he became part of that. And and that's where like literally you start asking yourself, ⁓ what else is there? What else do I do from here? So that's when ⁓ there was I I got an email somehow, I don't remember like where I I dropped my email, then I got I got a reply and ⁓ Caesar was coming to New York City and I got to meet him there and ⁓ spoke to him about my dog.

Lianne Shinton (07:39)

Wow.

Byron Flores (08:03)

And I met his his back then he was married, he has he had his child his kid with him, his youngest, Calvin, and ⁓ he said that he was developing ⁓ a ranch California in LA. And he said, you know, once that's done, I will send you an email so you can come and learn. So in February of twenty thirteen, I went out to his camp and literally ⁓ I went out there and very, very important things for me, this was like learning about my own self.

Lianne Shinton (08:22)

Nice.

Byron Flores (08:33)

And how my mind, my feelings, my my stories that I would tell myself would affect my connection with the dog, would affect me when I'm walking the dog. So it it it started getting really in depth, and it made a lot of sense because when I was back in college, I took a lot of psychology dogs and ⁓ psychology courses, and I was able to relate a lot of you know this the stuff that I had in my background. So with him, I learned a lot about myself, and with Sherry Lucas was there and Brian Agnew.

I learned more about dogs about using tools appropriately, using e-collars, using a slippy properly, ⁓ temperament, how to approach a dog, ⁓ reading body language. So these these were fundamentals that I really, really like I I I've submerged myself in and I started learning a lot of just because I have a dog back home that he needs help and I need to get him into a better state of mind, and I want him to become my helper dog. And that

That's the journey I was ready deep in and and a and continue. And not only that, but then there were other dog trainers that are phenomenal, like and that I went up to upstate New York and that's where I met Josh Moran. He's known as the barefoot dog trainer. ⁓ Blake Rodriguez from New York City and the East Coast, but now he's down in Florida. ⁓ Tyler Tyler ⁓ mu Muto. Yes.

Lianne Shinton (09:51)

Muto, yes.

Byron Flores (09:53)

Him, just phenomenal people that just I just believe God put them in my life, just for me to be able to really grasp and understand if I'm gonna help dogs and people, I need to get a better understanding. So that's what really ⁓ put these tools under on my belt, and this is what really has built me up to be able to be successful and be able to help dogs and most importantly the human, the owners. You know, for me has come down to the point that being a dog trainer, it's mostly him helping the human.

Helping the human understand things with clarity. Most importantly, I like to help them when we start, I like to build a bridge of communication and just shorten that gap, right? Because they don't know any better. So we use the market training system to be able to build these cues, to you know, and and just be able to to to have this conversation with the dog. But most importantly, and it's just like also the tools that you use, it's also a brid it's a bridge of communication because when you put a

a leash collar a a leash and a collar or a slip lead, you know, you're still gonna have these conversations with your dog. And I remember Tyler, he ⁓ put out I remember he put out a video about leash conversation and it was just phenomenal. It's just like, yeah, it's just like everything started to flow, everything to I you know, and these are the things that I like to use when I'm working with a dog and a cu and and the owner.

And that's where everything starts to open up. And most importantly, I like to tap into the owner's conscience, right? I want them to be conscientious with what you're doing with the dog. Most importantly, I you're not allowed to use the phone with me. You gotta put your phone away, you gotta ⁓ put it on like on ⁓ on airplane mode. I want you to focus on me because the things that I start seeing, the things that I start I start pointing out in our surround surrounding when we're doing when when we're doing when we're doing work.

Lianne Shinton (11:23)

Yes.

Byron Flores (11:40)

is very important because when I start tapping in, I start I start tapping into the human, I'm making them self aware and I'm gonna make their life so much easier. Right? Most of and then we drop into leash mechanics. You gotta know how to teach these things to the owner. They gotta know how to posture their body. They know how to gotta know how to communicate appropriately with the leash because that's very important.

You know, then you can move on and scale up into retractable issues, whatever you want to do. But what I know nowadays is a lot of people, you know, they don't know any better. These right it's through perception. And you see them a lot with harnesses. They graduate the dog, they give them this driver's license, but they don't know how to drive. So that's where we come in and we have to be more we have to okay, great. We can use that. That's gonna be the graduation. That's that's for graduation. But let's go through the course first, so then we we're able to give the dog the diploma and you.

and you have a better understanding of how tools really work.

Lianne Shinton (12:37)

Let's dive into one topic there. Cause thank you for sharing. I love that story and how you were open enough to see hey, dogs are gonna be my future. Dogs are cool. I just love that story and how you got to meet Caesar and he invited you out. That's so wonderful. But while you're on the topic of the communication and the phones, let's talk a little bit about some maybe some bad habits that pet owners might be in at home.

right now with their dog when they're out there walking and they're checking their phone.

Byron Flores (13:11)

Yes. So a few days ago I had a lesson and I'm working with this young lady. She's from Georgia City. ⁓ literally like a few miles across the river from Manhattan. She lives over there. And ⁓ she adopted a dog, never owned a dog in her life, but she loves dogs and her family her dad is is a big time dogs. Her mom, she never owned a dog, so but but her I'd say her granddog, as I called her, she w she's

She she now loves the dog, right? Because they they've seen the transformation. So she's who's been doing like about six lessons so far, and she just wants to keep going because she just fell in off, fell in love with the things that we're doing and the transformation. And she she's just really, really opened up. I opened her up to so many things and she doesn't want to stop there. Now we're in the now we're, you know, going into doing some tricks, getting the dog to weep through your legs, calling the dog, putting the dog on a position. ⁓ so

So we she we're moving ahead and she's just having a good time and her dog just has transformed. While we were walking, right? Because when we meet, I want to see them in action. I'm just a stranger there. I want to see how you're doing. So I'm able to get a full picture of your progress and your dog's progress. So like that, I have a more understanding of what we need for the day and what how we're gonna link that new lesson with all the other lessons that are behind. So there was a gentleman coming down on the opposite of us when we were in the park.

And he had a beautiful dog on the harness. He was the dog was walking calmly. But as we were getting closer, right, I noticed that the dog tensed up, started getting tensed. And the gentleman was on his phone, right? And the phone here, and the leash here. And the dog was just guiding him. So some of the looked at me. I'm like, I'm like, yeah, I see that. I'm like, so so you know they do their lessons. I give you good instructions. You know what you got to do.

She's like, but she wasn't sure because she she started getting a little nervous. So okay, I was like, all right. So I was like, here, take my dog. I got let me get your dog. Cher her name is Cherry. So it's a it's a little bully breed mix with black lap. So as he started approaching, we get we started getting closer. I started reading him and her and his dog, and he that the dog started putting closer, pulling and pulling more, and and and I saw that he was getting a little intense.

As I was passing by, he launched at me and and and and Cherry. So Cherry has changed and dropped those bad habits. But Cherry kind of responded, but at the moment that we were using the psychic, just a little pressure, just shut that down really quick. You know, she settled down and we just kept walking, and he just kept walking. But but the owner, she was like, she took a breath, she's like, my God. She's like, she hasn't done that in a while. I was Yeah, I said it's but.

But I said, this is a great lesson. This is perfect. I want to see these are the things that are gonna happen. And with time, it's gonna go away. Even if the dog passes by and launches, the dog is just gonna take a look and just keep moving forward. The thing is, like you can't get tense. You know what you have to do. So that's where the leash mechanics come in handy. That's where the respect and the love comes in when you're paying attention to your dog rather than on your phone. Because he all this could have been avoided at his end, right? If he he already knew, my dog is pulling me.

Lianne Shinton (16:26)

Mm-hmm.

Byron Flores (16:31)

Let me move him on the outside and I stay in the inside. But he didn't even move his dog. Right. But there was a lot of enough space to for people to pass through, even runners and and and joggers and people on on on skateboards. Like people just pass by, zoom by, not a problem. But so that was for me that was so so great to see where we are. And I was just okay, I gotta do a little bit more work with you with the own with the handler. That's a more of a handler situation. I was just like, we can't panic.

Lianne Shinton (16:36)

Yeah.

Byron Flores (16:58)

Because the moment that you panic, also the dog is gonna feel that because dogs feel that, you know, they smelled it right away. So they feel like, okay, you if you don't have this, I don't believe, I truly don't believe you are in control of the situation. So I'm gonna help. We cannot let that get to that point. We have to really, really give the dog context. Because dogs are brilliant, you know, phenomenal. When you give your dog a lot of context, the dog understands. Dog's like, yeah, okay, I got you got this. I'm not probably just gonna keep going.

And that's that's the goal. That's that's the goal. And the more we do this continuously, right over and over, repetitively, guess what? We just cut and paste. We cut the bad behavior and boom, we paste it in the new behavior. This is the new you. The old you is forgotten. And that's where the magic happens.

Lianne Shinton (17:46)

I like how you said that. That was cool. I wish we could do that for like other areas of our life too. Like, don't eat all that food. Go work out. Paste in the new me. ⁓ That was a the cool thing you said. I see it here all the time when I walk my dog and I'm walking around the lake and there's geese and the geese have babies. And I'm looking and I'm like, this is so beautiful. And I see everybody's on their phone with or without their dog. There's just everybody's on their phone nowadays and it's

Just doom scrolling. I I don't know how I could walk and check my phone and walk my dog, like, wow. And the other day we saw some fella and he had the pit bull breed and checking his phone and you could just see the dogs starting to eyeball the geese and the little babies. And you know, he just I we had to go the other way because we were gonna say something, just running these geese out and the guy's just still on his phone getting dragged around. But it's just such a disrespect to the dog.

Byron Flores (18:31)

Well.

Yeah, but so let's let's let's let's let's let's let's use this analogy. So can you imagine if you are out walking in a beautiful day with your date and all of a sudden you decide to pop up your phone because later on you're gonna go you're gonna go watch the Knicks and the Spurs and the Spurs play the pla in the finals and your friends are texting you, hey, psyching you out, and you're holding hands with your date.

Lianne Shinton (18:45)

And that

Byron Flores (19:15)

And all of a sudden it's just like, man, I need to get to that bar soon. You start dragging your date. Your date's gonna pull her hand off and probably yell and you be like, Hey, you are so disrespectful. Why are you on your phone? Why are you stopped talking to me? And all of a sudden you're all about your phone. So yeah, it's like this is us, this is the us time. This is the time that we we talk about things, we put things in perspective.

Lianne Shinton (19:35)

Yeah, this is your time together.

Byron Flores (19:44)

We have plans to move in together. And this right here is making me think that I don't know if you're really ready because you're ignoring me. You're I I have to be your priority. The priority when we're handling our dogs, that's our time. That's their time. It's our time. And that's that's where you really grow and where you really develop. You know, and literally when you get dogs with issues, and when we start working on a professional dog trainer and they start helping you and you start putting in the work.

Lianne Shinton (19:58)

Mm-hmm. Yes.

Byron Flores (20:12)

You s that's the magical that's the magical kingdom that you're walking into. That's where things get erased. That's when things start really happening, you know. And then you're just gonna come home so psyched and you're gonna text your your your doctor, Hey, I it was such a great walk. I did what you told me and and I was paying attention to my dog. I was so aware of my surroundings, I was aware of the people walking their dogs, and and then and that's that's that that's really our then you did your job, right? That's when we're like, Yeah, did my job. I'm so happy. She's

Lianne Shinton (20:40)

Yeah.

Byron Flores (20:42)

Things are clicking. And really that's what puts you ahead of the game. And that's what really I think you get those recommendations because you make people feel safe. You you empowered. You are coaching. That's our job, right? Clear communication, examples, samples. Show them the body language, show them how to handle the leash. Call it out when they're not really focused on the lead, they're not focusing on the leash handle.

Right, because we at first like handling a leash is like riding a bicycle and we have to show them how hold the leash. You know, once these things start disappearing, then you can just one hand walk, a lot of slack. You're and the dog is making contact with you, walking happy. Hey, this is great. I'm feeling good. You're feeling good. Yeah, me too. Yeah. And that's that's literally that's what we want on the walks. You know, that's what we really want. We want to enjoy that moment because dogs don't have a long lifespan.

Lianne Shinton (21:34)

Yes.

Byron Flores (21:39)

And the period of time that they're here to help us and to be partners with us and to be our best friend, it's not that long. It flies by, time flies r by and and and all you're gonna have left are memories.

Lianne Shinton (21:52)

Yeah, it it's kind of making me think too, because you mentioned, you know, you're into health and things like that. Like if you're at the gym and you're working out, but you're really just checking your phone, those repetitions are basically useless. And every time you walk your dog, you're getting out there, you're getting in this repetition, this walk with your dog, but you you're not putting in 10% maybe effort to just hold the leash.

You're missing all those little things like the ears come up, the body changes. You missed it because you're over here on your phone and it's it's just not good quality work.

Byron Flores (22:27)

Yeah, and I think that also kind of like builds frustration because the handler gets frustrated. ⁓ you're doing this, this again, it's just like, well, well, you're not paying attention to me. I'm in my own world, you're in your own world, and and this is this is the result. You know, and that's why also it's very important, like the things that we do outside, it always has to have a context, and the context is indoors, right? When I go in people's homes, there's gonna be times that I'm gonna ask you to tether your dog.

Lianne Shinton (22:39)

Yeah.

Byron Flores (22:55)

Because it's just much easier to help your dog. Right? We gotta give them context. Like if you're working on your dog and we're using the place cue or we're just holding it there. You know, but we want the dog to have freedom. It's not about imprisoning. Many people use the the place command ⁓ in like an imprisonment, an encampment, like you don't move from there. Like, no, the dog's allowed to move. It's just like you just gotta let them know if he's if my wife if I had a wife and she was cooking and all of a sudden

I'm just where we just came back from a walk and and then he wants to go sneak over there and start like, you know, because dogs are very smart. They'll come and they'll push their cold nose into you and be like, Hey, you got anything for me? And and then and then you're f you're you're using the stir fry. You're like, Hey Byron, can you can you handle this? And I'm like, and then that's when you just call your dog, Hey, like, hey, Kahlua, over here, go to place, stay down, girlfriend. You know what I mean? So it's just like we ha everything that we do with dogs, it has to be done in a way that it makes sense.

It's not restriction. It's not boot camp. It's part of life, but we have to show the dogs. We can't just have an expectation that, ⁓ he'll figure it out, she'll figure it out. It doesn't work like that.

Lianne Shinton (24:05)

And like you said earlier, you take away one behavior, we're replace it with another good behavior. For you know, the situation that you just described in the kitchen, we're gonna take away the bad behavior, we're gonna replace it with the good behavior of putting them on their place. Maybe the humans also need to take away that behavior of scrolling on my phone while I'm walking my dog, ⁓ or driving my car and

create a new behavior of I put my phone in my pocket and I don't touch it while we're on that walk and I focus on my dog or focus on my driving, for example.

Byron Flores (24:42)

Yeah, and and and it's be you know the thing about I'm glad that you mentioned that because when we start working on the out on the outside, I usually ask them, I'm like, okay, so here are the rules. I give the human the rules, right? Rule number one, no phone, no communication. Unless you're a doctor ⁓ and you got a nine one one call from the hospital, that's an exception. Unless you have some kind of you gotta put out some fires or something. But you know, it's our time of I want you to develop. I want us to be successful. The goals that we have that we place that you have

And we're working together to making these goals happen. Let's make them happen and but let's do it the right way. So that's where like no phone, pay attention and and it's like the only phone that I probably that that's gonna be used is gonna be my home because I'm probably gonna be recording it and I'm gonna send you the video of what you're doing. So you you keep this in mind how beautiful the work that we're doing. So you look at this, you inspire yourself before you go on a walk and and and and and you start seeing the changes. And that's why for me personally it's like I need to tap into the human.

Right? Because w those habits that you you have, you they're gonna start going away with me. I'm gonna I'm gonna I'm gonna be like, hey, remember, this is what we're doing. This is what we're doing. You know, you have to be mindful of yourself. And that's the the that's that's that's part that's part of coaching. That's part of coaching. It's just not the the you know, the the markers and the cues and the practice and this and no, it's more so the humans more important because they're the driver behind that.

Lianne Shinton (25:49)

Mm.

Byron Flores (26:10)

You know, and we need to have power steering. We gotta know how to use power steering correctly, smoothly, be able to make a turn, be able to bubble out of situations. If the if you see the dog, your dog is getting a high stress and you start feeling distressed because there's a group of people and they're all walking their little yappers and they're all yuck and they're all barking and barking and barking and nothing's being done because the people are just talking and their dogs are doing their own thing. So what you gotta do? We have to be very smart. We have to be in this this situation. What I would do and I do it.

I just bubble out of that situation, give them space, give myself space, bring down the intensity, the level, the cortisol level, don't let it escalate. Rather, I want the dopamine. I want to change, you know, that I want to I want it to be fun. I want it to be good. I want the dog to feel good. You know, I don't want my dog to be under that hormone stressor, that ⁓ no, we're just have these that's where we come in. That this is where we come and teach. Learn to bubble out of the situation and come back in. Just give yourself space, give them space.

You know, it's just like there's no need for me to be, hey, ⁓ pay attention to the dogs. No, I'm not there to be for I'm not there for that. I'm here for you. I'm here for my dog, and I'm just gonna be the wise, you know, the the person that's more intelligent and just s go around. That's it. Simple things like that give you give gives also the dog a better context, a better perspective of how things are done, and the es you the escalating and you giving the dog a better choice, right? And and at some point.

Lianne Shinton (27:13)

Yeah.

Byron Flores (27:37)

When you run into a situation like that again, the dog is gonna do one of these. Like, hey, you you already see that over there, you know what we gotta do, right? And that's the communication, that's being that's what I like to tap into the human. Hey, this is being conscious. Now, watch how your dog starts reading you. Next, the beautiful thing now is like when you s the dog starts walking in, now it's always checking in with you. It's always like, Are we doing good? Yeah. And that's that's the beauty of really when you give good instruction to the human, good teaching.

Lianne Shinton (27:45)

Yeah.

Byron Flores (28:07)

And also you handling the dog, me doing it hands-on first, then giving it to you, and we and that's through practice. And and and really the practice is what's gonna help the human because we're not trying to convert a hu a dog owner into becoming a dog trainer. No, we're there to make the life, the life of the dog, the life of the human pleasant. The goal is pleasant, happy, and joyful. You know, they go out happy, they come back home happy rather than going out.

Making this a frustrating situation and coming home pissed off.

Lianne Shinton (28:39)

And I like that you you use the word de-escalating. And I have to encounter other dogs all the time where I just don't like the way they're looking at my my flirty. And you know, I don't want her in that situation. I'm fine to give a little bit of space, but I'm also thinking 10 steps ahead. Is that dog going to slip that harness and be loose and come after my precious angel? And now what do I do? And I'm thinking those 10 steps ahead.

I'd rather just de-escalate, give everybody some space, get out of their threshold, and ⁓ yeah, set everybody up for a as much of a positive experience as it can be, because we can't control those other people and their dogs.

Byron Flores (29:22)

Yes,

a hundred percent. And you know the thing about that you just mentioned it's so important is that ⁓ using backup backup collars, whether it's on a slip, whether it's just on a flat collar or whatever or a pinch collar or even if your dog is on a harness, you need to back that up. Because anything can happen. Anything. It's a catch twenty two, you know, and ⁓ dog your dog get hit by a car. If it slips out of that, freaks out of noise.

Lianne Shinton (29:31)

Mm-hmm.

Byron Flores (29:51)

Or something happens or the dog slips out and go out goes and wants to chew on another dog. And you know, those the we don't want to go on that route. So therefore for me, I also like to very important for me as as a precaution and also a safety ha habit that I like to let them know is like I I introduced back up a backup. Just back it up to your flat collar. Whatever you just back it up because dogs if especially if you're working with a reactive dog and then and depending on the intensity.

they also try they shake their head, they try to get out of that that they don't want to be in control and they want to do their thing and that's where we have to at times use a little bit of defensive handling just to s a de escalate that and bring the dog back into calmness. You know? So but there are times that ⁓ people have lost their pets also, have taken off because of a loud sound. They've no backup came off the harness and see ya. You know, and that's very detrimental.

Lianne Shinton (30:46)

Yeah, I used to work in emergency, animal emergency and July fourth, the next day, like that night, and the next day it was just people bringing in these stray dogs that hopped a fence or whatnot, because they behave differently in a fear state. Just like I would behave differently in a fear state. Like when I have to deal with heights, I'm like I I can't even barely walk. Like my legs just turn into jello and like things are different ⁓ than normal state. So I I really think that's such great advice.

And maybe folks may think, well, my dog's never pulled out of the harness. ⁓ but maybe just pointing that question at yourself, can you ever think of a time where they would have pulled out of the harness if they could have or they tried to? And if that is something that's ever happened, it could happen. They could get away, have that extra safety. Maybe it's a slip leash, or they have clips where you could clip the harness to the flat collar.

So you have something else in place there.

Byron Flores (31:46)

Yeah.

Yeah, yeah, it's that's that's very, very ⁓ I think is a safe safety precaution. Like, my dog's never gonna do that. We can't never don't say never. There's always a chance that that can happen. You know, a loud noise, a loud bang, you're walking, and you know, you're walking, all of a sudden maybe ⁓ s somebody's pulling out that's parking, somebody's not is on their phone and crashes into the car that's pulling out, that's a loud bang.

You you know, you're gonna jump like you're gonna jump from like you're gonna get startled, your dog is gonna get startled. And that's might be the opportunity the dog takes off. And maybe I know a lot of people that they use flat colours when they're walking their dog as well, and I and they're not really fitted really well. You can see them hanging and it's just like that concern that's concerning. 'Cause them like I I I I know people have lost dogs for days and eventually have found them and thank god that they got that lucky, but not many people are that lucky. They when your dog is gone.

It's gone. ⁓ you know, and and another thing is just what people have the bad habit is leaving dogs unattended and in in their backyard. And you know, in your backyard you have birds, you have squirrels that come by and they want to entertain themselves, maybe they want to chase it. And and if you have a a a young dog, and depending on the breeding, I know man many dogs love squirrels. They kind of squirrels are very smart, they entice, they communicate to them, you know, and it's just like and I've seen dogs, like you said, jump a fence.

end up down the road, you know, like or in somebody's backyard. And ⁓ and I had a client that Bu his n the dog was a chocolate lab. His name was Buzz. And she also had ⁓ she had the electric fence and she used to leave the dog unattended. And I used to tell her I used to be like don't leave your dog unattended because Buzz loves birds and he wants to retrieve them wherever they go and he wants to chase squirrels. And you know, little you know one day I was in her area

I was actually walking one of her neighbors' dogs and and I came out and all of a sudden I hear something but behind the bushes. I'm like, is that a dog? And then Buzz comes out. I'm like, Buzz, what are you doing here? I'm like, my God. And he had his c I'm like, ⁓ man. And I and I was just I I I brought him back home and I was like, ⁓ ding done. ⁓ we did talk about this. I just found your dog by the park. It came out of the bushes.

I'm like, you know, something can happen to him. You could get bit by a car. Yeah, you could you're on a main road. So she was like, my gosh, I'm so embarrassed by her. I'm like, Well, just you know, this is a bad habit. I said, Don't leave him on attendant, because you know, and ⁓ but that was a learning experience for me. But it was it was kind of a funny thing just to see Buzz because he was a really goofy, funny dog, like in the sense of like he was such a sweet dog, very intelligent, but he had this thing, he was escape artist. And

Lianne Shinton (34:13)

Yeah.

Byron Flores (34:38)

Her fence wasn't high enough and the electron fence he he and he had the electric the electric shot collar on them. He just blew right through that. And and you know, and I found them and I was like, Wow. So

Lianne Shinton (34:47)

Yeah.

Wow, lucky

you were there. And you know, I I've had had this advice before when us as dog trainers ask clients, potential clients, like, hey, has your dog ever escaped before? They may think, No, no, no, he's never escaped. But if you ask the question a little bit differently, can you think of a time where your dog almost escaped or escaped? Because maybe the dog ran out that front door.

And you tackled him and you got him back in. So he didn't technically escape. So it might not come to mind. But just as dog trainers asking, hey, can you think of a time where your dog almost escaped or where you were out with your dog and you thought, hey, if he got away right now, he probably wouldn't come back. Maybe the thunder or the loud noises. And I think it's good for dog trainers to ask those types of questions, but also for owners that might be listening to turn that question on themselves.

And make sure they share that information. Like when I drop my Belgian Malinois Extreme Vertical World Champion off at the vet, I tell him he can hop right out of your kennels. no, our kennels are 12 feet high. No problem. He can hop right out of your kennels and he will just meet you in the front office while you're having your lunch. And sure enough, they call me to tell me that. I'm like, I told you to put a lid on it, but make sure you disclose this information to the poor people who are watching your dog.

like buzz so that the the pet sitter, the dog walker, the vet knows and then you don't end up in a sticky situation like that where something bad could happen.

Byron Flores (36:25)

Yeah. And it's funny because ⁓ her neighbor when they told me a story that she found Buzz by the pond swimming. Like going It's like she's like, is that Buzz? I was like and she called Buzz and 'cause Buzz has such a great recall. He was literally you know, he was retreat he wanted to retrieve some bird from the pond.

You know, and she called them and she had to place that call and she's like, Hey, I got your dog here, he's at the pond swimming. Like, ⁓ buzz again. But you know, this is bef this is that was that time, this is before I found him again. Like by the bushes, he just popped out and with a smile, you know. He we you know dogs, they come at like with a cool smile. I was like, Well, he's and he's smiling at me, I'm like, Hey Buzz, that's you. It was so funny, you know, but these are the kind of things and thank God like

Lianne Shinton (36:58)

That's a question.

Ha ha ha.

Byron Flores (37:19)

These are experiences versus, you know, you find your dead dog on on the side of the road. You know, and ⁓ and that's why you have to be careful kinda the dog the kind of dogs that you get as well. And, you know, if you're gonna get a retriever, they're smart dogs and you know, they always want to dogs have their own in their own mind. They want to experience the world their their way. That's why it's so important for us to experience it with them and show them. Give the context, give it to them, create those thresholds for them, create the you know, it's like

How far you can go? How if you if you want to run them off leash, you know, get an e-collar. That's that's that's your insurance policy. An e-collar is your insurance policy. Make sure you know how to use it properly. It's not to light up a dog. That's that's you know, that's one of the things that I don't advertise. It's just because ⁓ I get calls and people just wanna ⁓ use e I was like, I have my dog a knee collar and it's very s you know, my dog has anxiety and I've been using knee collar. I'm like, how do you think, how is that helping the dog out? I said,

Do me a favor, take that off. Don't use that. That's not that's not for a situation of str stress, for anxiety that your dog is going through. So there's something going on that maybe your dog doesn't need that. We can use more, something better. Maybe I I can help you I can help you. I could do a consultation. Come and look at your dog and see what's going on. So, you know, and it that's that's one thing is just like ⁓ the way I remember ⁓ and and I think some of these big platforms, these stores that they sell

like Amazon and and ⁓ and and these other big platforms are selling these collars and it's just like those are na those are they they come they're they're they come from China and no you don't want to use that and first of all that's a language that needs to be layered that's not you just don't put a collar on and start zapping a dog. No no no no that's a language we have to teach the dog. We have to you know transfer everything from s from from from a regular collar whatever you've been using it has to be layered into the dog.

Everything is a process. You you can't just have the expectation, I can use this tool and the dog the dog the dog gets it. Really? Yeah, the dog will get it, but you have to teach them step A, B, C, D, E, and you keep going down. And and then when you get to the final lesson, it's like then you will see the results. So so for me, yeah, definitely. I love I love e-collars, they're great. You gotta know how to use them properly, humanely, with with kindness. And you also have to that's another language that you have to teach that to the to the handler, right?

'Cause they're they're fantastic tools. You people love going on hikes, especially summers here. People want to take their dogs for hikes. But also when you take your dogs for hikes, well remember there's a lot of there's a lot of wildlife out there as well and something might come around, a beaver or, you know, deer and they wanna go and and chase it. They wanna have a little fun and and have, you know, you might wanna let your dog go. That's l as far as you I can see, but then recall your dog back.

You know, and just a little tap tap, come back, and then it's just like, okay, coming back. I know what that means. Right. So then then you create your threshold. It's it's ⁓ it's easy stuff, but you have to put in the time and you really, really like lift you have to do it. If you want this success, I like to work with people that totally are 200% down to do the work and they have fun in doing it. It's not something boring and it's not something that

You know that many people look at it a as as you be it's it's not a boot camp. It's not. It's like people call, do you offer any boot camps? I'm like, Well yeah, for humans but not for dogs.

Lianne Shinton (40:46)

Yeah,

and you mentioned too, you're you're you're getting success by putting the work in. Also, if someone's out there with their dog and they're getting those negative repetitions of he's just running after squirrels, I'm calling him, he's not listening at all. It's just reinforcing that behavior. So it makes it so that you have to work a lot harder when you're trying to change things because they've

Created this pattern of I do this, I'm addicted to this behavior. And now it's going to be even longer to get that success. So the sooner you can get started with a consultation, I think with Byron, that way you could start moving away from that like negative behavior and into closer to that success.

Byron Flores (41:35)

A hundred percent, yes. And and everything, you know, starts in a quiet place. Everything that we start because you the owner has to learn to communicate. And we have to start indoors, quietly, practicing the the the things that we want to set the dog up for success and the owner, you know, with through repetitions, through repetitions over and over, and it's not boring, and then then we take the dogs out to the big leagues and we start testing it out.

And that's where we get that constant context from them. Okay, I still need to work a little bit more in this. I need to work a little bit more on that. And then you just go back into the lab and you start doing it again, the more repetitions over and over. And then if your dog has ⁓ wants to chase squirrels, this will be the great opportunity because if you if you're 200% with your dog on the recall, as soon as you let the dog chase a little bit, right, and the the squirrel runs up the tree and it's like 300 yards from you, then you just call your dog back. The dog is like, okay, I'm coming back.

But you can also, but then you you're you you now you have the now that you're paying attention, now that the dog understands, now that your relationship with the dog is amazing and the dog believes everything that you tell your dog because you have created this relationship of kindness, of love and and and respect with the dog. That's what really for me, these are the important ingredients that we as dog trainers have to teach the owners that it's not much different than when you're hand when you're teaching your toddler things to the how to eat with a fork.

You know, how to dr how to how to how to how to use a cup, a sippy cup the right way. You know, it's it's just the same. You just have to be very patient. Don't have that expectation like the dog doesn't speak our language. There's a different species. But with patience, patience will take you very far and repetition. And and and then you have to have somebody that understands this really well, a dog trainer that's really gonna help you understand these concepts and and walk you through this journey.

And and and you're gonna enjoy doing that, that you're just gonna st be like, Wow, I I wanna hang out with you more. When when are you going out with dogs? Like, I wanna bring my dog out. Can you bring your dog? Let's go for a walk. Right? We we wanna create that environment where it's just like they're calling you, hey fire now, I'm gonna be at the park, you're gonna be around, like I wanna I wanna go ahead and go on a nice walk and I want I want you to see what we've been working on, I wanna see the progress, I want you to see like that's that's

Lianne Shinton (43:49)

Love it.

Byron Flores (43:52)

That's a beautiful thing because yeah, I you know, I I want to take my dog out as well. I want her to enjoy the outdoors too. And she not only that, she gets to meet these dogs and she knows them, you know, right away. And I also one thing that I love to use my dog at times is just with these reactive dogs because she knows how to communicate with me when the dog is is is getting better. Whenever she sees a dog that we're working and he's in a bad state of mind, my dog gives the dog space, she moves away. If he tries to get close,

She starts moving away from the dog. And I'm like, okay, you know, and then when we start working and we start going through these lessons, she's just like, you know, kids up close, they they kiss each other on the nose, and that kind of that they build that respect. And the owner's like, my God. I'm just like, yeah, I'm like, you know, and and and that's how it is in there when a dog is a little, when the dog is a little bit too much, too hyper, and the dog wants to say hello, and the breath coming into the into my dog's face, my dog is just like, no, I'm moving away. I don't like that.

And and then then she looks at me and she's Hey man, you gotta handle that. I don't like that. And it's just like, Okay, okay, I got it, you know. So it that's why we have our dogs too, because they're they're they're helpers, right? They they know what we're doing. They they they're riding this this this they're they're part of the journey. They're riding this this this this ride with us. And for me personally, I could speak for myself. I don't know anybody else, but this I love using my dog for certain things, especially when we're going out and use her as that thermometer for

for for for for for the that reactivity or for that aggression that is starting to to disappear on my client's dog. You know, she she would just move away. She's like, Nope, uhuh, I I don't trust him.

Lianne Shinton (45:29)

Smart dog, smart dog. Now I wanted to pivot a little bit because we have about 15 minutes left and I I know that you work with shelters and you've worked a lot with fostering dogs to place them in the right home. Could you share a little bit about that stuff?

Byron Flores (45:41)

Yes.

Whoa, a hundred percent. ⁓ man. So I worked with ⁓ the Clifton Shelter. It's a local shelter in Clifton. I worked with them. I've worked with Brick City Rescue. They're they're really well known. ⁓ for they they like to rescue bullies. Bully the bully breed from ⁓ the big shelter in Newark is one of the big shelters with this is where the dogs come from, the south, ⁓ southwest. They all they all come and get loaded there, and that's where the rest of the

small shelters go and get dogs and bring them to their shelter. So they also go and pull dogs out of that shelter. And what happens is just that ⁓ been working them with with them for years and I've been able to help a lot of the adoptees that they the adopters that adopt these dogs. And ⁓ but there's also times where I have taken dogs that have been a little bit difficult that they really cannot go into a home until I reset the dog, until I get to know the dog really well.

So I you know, I want to get as much as information and the dog comes and lives with me. So I foster the dog. So while the dog is in training, I'm also gonna have take dogs and I've kept dogs for three months at times, you know, until we find the right home. And for me that's very important because remember the dog is coming out of a shelter. We don't want the dog going back to to any shelter or the dog return. So cases like that.

Where the dog has been difficult, or ⁓ a case not so long ago, two cases that the dogs were deaf. And these dogs have spent like nine months in a shelter and nobody knew that the dog was deaf until I got to see the dog. And I'm just like, well, he's not responding. Like I think there's something not right with his hearing. So then the then they will send them to a specialist to just get tested to the veterinarian and

Make sure that the dog is deaf. And yeah, they confirmed, yeah, the dog is deaf. So for me at that time, it kind of like frustrated me and said, I'm like, how can you not know that this dog is deaf? And this beast was there, and the dog is not there when you spent with you nine months, and the dog is over a year old. And out of out of being like 12 months, nine of those months, the dog you picked them up from the street, and you didn't realize the dog was deaf. You know, and this is where like these and I and I and I tip my hat to these people that ⁓ these groups of people that take these dogs from shelters.

and try to do right. But we we need we need more fosterers, you know, people to foster these dogs. We need that. The the the shelters are full and I have a big heart. And and and not only that, it it it it it's just that the experience that these these dogs come from the shelter that they give you personally. They are so grateful. After you know after this few three days and this three weeks and then three months with you and it's just like this dog is completely transformed. We went from how he was to how he is now and

And and I and then we find them the right home and I I it's just so fulfilling for me internally. It gives me so much peace and it just gives me a lot of joy internally because it's just I feel so bad. I don't know if many people have been inside these shelters. They're they're they're overcrowded, very loud. A lot of these shelters don't offer vetting for the dogs, so you don't really know what some what's wrong with some of these dogs are sick, you know, so that

Lianne Shinton (48:53)

Mm-hmm.

Byron Flores (49:01)

And you get to find out only when you pull some of these dogs out of there. And you know, and then there's so much that these small groups that can do, like Brick City, Brick Brick City Rescues. There's so many dogs that they've done that I mean they have done phenomenal work and and and and I love working with them because they're so so about the dog. They want the best for the dog. And you know how they raise money to pay for the vet bills. You know, that's not cheap. It comes out of them. It's it's a non for profit. The people are they're not profiting from this. They're they're they're trying to make

Profit to pay for the bill. You should sheet that $10,000, $20. There were at one point like $40,000 in debt and vet bills. You know, so that for me is just like, I'm gonna pitch in, I'm gonna do me, and I'm like, I got that dog. Let me get I'll foster it. I'll do my training, I I'll work with the dog, I do my thing, and then I start posting things up with the dog. This dog is it's is it's for adoption. And then you think, and then people, you know, start calling, they get interested, and they they get in contact with the organization. Environment is like, hey.

They're gonna call you, let me know what you think. ⁓ I'm like, okay, I'm gonna let them know to come and check out the dog. So I wanna feel the person out and person out by the phone. So we you know, they come and check out, and then next thing you know, it's like ⁓ I had that experience with this deaf dog, Marco, like his whole family. I'm talking about mother, father, son, daughter, grandma, and grandpa came to check the dog out. I was I was like, wow. When when I got a call from concierge downstairs, like Byron, you have some visitors, and I'm like, okay, I'll be right down.

Lianne Shinton (50:20)

Nice.

Byron Flores (50:26)

already knew who they were. So I brought down the dog and I was like, my God. I was just like, which which one of you is adopting the dog? And then, you know, introduced myself. And it was like, it's me and my husband. These are my kids. This is ⁓ this is my mom. This is my dad. And it's just like right away and it's because these these these are people who love dogs. And once they hear the story behind with Marco being deaf and being at a shelter that for nine months and nobody knew that he was deaf until he was pulled out.

You know, and i it it's just beautiful, be beautiful stories that they start negative but it ha they have a happy ending and and and and a forever home for the dog. And these dogs thrive. And for me, working with these deaf dogs, you know, the the now this is a little bit more and more of of a case where now I gotta teach, you know, body language, sign language that I use with dogs to communicate with them.

You know, many people that they go into an e-collar right away and they start using, you know, not not the stem, but they start using the ⁓ the ⁓ the vibration. But I like to start first, like I always say, like for me it's always like let me just use the slip lead, let me start with these things that I know that I want to connect with the dog first. I want him to open up to me. I want him to trust me first. These are this is very important. And even when dogs go from my home to another home, I'm just like, hey, give the dog like seventy-two hours to settle in. We have to educate.

Lianne Shinton (51:26)

Vibration.

Byron Flores (51:48)

the the owners and it's like the dog might not feel comfortable at first but just just i he's gonna he's gonna he's gonna start feeling comfortable he's and certain certain dogs just go and they're like okay I know this is my home and I'm staying here and not even not even 24 hours and they're sending you a video my god look what he's doing he's hanging out with us here he's eating his food he we're enjoying the dog we're walk he walks nicely on a s on a on a on a leash he doesn't pull we love what you know and then I'm like great

You know, I'm like I I'm looking forward to doing our lesson on the weekend. And and and and that's that's the beauty about this this this career, you know, when w as a the true dog training career is just like you get to meet amazing, beautiful dogs. They have some of them that come from shelters have this horrendous story, but that's the past. We stay in the present moment. He's in safe hands. Now he has some good food, some some you know, filter water to drink. He's hanging out now with other dogs, he's in a nice place.

And and the transformation, that's what we need to do, right? The transformation of dogs, the transformation of humans. It's just that it goes hand in hand. So that's that's that's the work that I like that I do that I've learned, you know. And for me to get to this point, it's just you you you develop this by learning and learning from your mistakes. Because we make mistakes, okay? We all make mistakes and we learn from them. No matter how of an expert you are, you will make a mistake here and there and over there. But those mistakes.

Are are are valuable because that mistake is not going to happen with the other dogs that are coming in down the road. Right. But but that's part of the lesson. It's like me as a dog trainer, yeah, I I'm open to always to learn, you know, because I don't have all the answers. But I will get those answers and I will be able to deliver those answers.

Lianne Shinton (53:35)

Now, in working with the shelter and working with the the rescue, it would definitely be such a value to someone to get a dog that you've fostered because you've done the training and you really know that dog. ⁓ would you recommend if somebody is looking for to rescue a dog, that they maybe reach out to a rescue that sounds like they might know more?

About the dog versus the shelter.

Byron Flores (54:07)

Yes. ⁓ I think if some if you're looking for a dog and you go to you have to go to a really a reputable dog shelter 'cause some of these dog shelters do hire dog trainers that come and work during the day with the dogs and help them. Right. But then also you have ⁓ rescue groups that really put work in and and and and money into the dog and ⁓ and they will be able to like

to tell you to give you more of a context and understanding of what the dog wa how the dog was and how the dog is and what the dog really is all about. Right? But there's certain dogs that for some reason, ⁓ from backyard breeding, they're always get these the five weeks, they get pulled, they don't have that full that that that full socialization and and nurturing from the mom and and and the siblings that are in that, you know, they it creates an issue, behavior issues down the road that

Yeah, the dog is gonna be comfortable. And those dogs from my personal experience that have cannot be around other dogs just because they could be around humans or a cat, but with other dogs, it's just they get very uncomfortable, right? It's a fearful, it's a fear thing because they never ex had that upper experience that as and it so comes down to genetics at that point. So ⁓ but I've also seen that those dogs can hang out with a calm dog. And sometimes I've

I've seen dogs like that that have thrived and a at a home where the senior dog is a senior and it's is really calm and that dog really has has become best buddies with the dog. Like even though this dog couldn't stand other dogs, it becomes good friends with that other dog. But but it takes ⁓ a an experienced dog trainer to help you with situations like that. But for me personally, I think that to go yeah, go with with with ⁓ with a with a rescue group.

Lianne Shinton (55:51)

Definitely.

Byron Flores (55:58)

Because they will be able to give you more of a of context. And the shelter, remember, the dog is in the, you know, he's in a kennel, they take him off for walks. Some trainers will work with them, but you're not really getting that full context, that full understanding of their personality, how they really are. You know, so when they they ask, are they good with cats? We don't know. You know, we don't know if they're good with cats. Because because I have a cat in my house and I I I'm a I'm a dog person, but I

But my husband loves cats too and and I've and ⁓ now all of a sudden I love cats too. But we want to bring a dog into the house and it's just like, Hey, yeah, ⁓ I can help you with that. We c and and then the the thing about that is through training, teaching the dog, giving the dog contacts, asking you know, just teaching you have to create thresholds in your home. And eventually I've seen dogs and cats hanging out down the road. It's not a twenty four hour, forty eight hour

Think that that's going to happen like that within two days. No. It takes a little bit of time and it comes from us. I teach you the things that you need to do. You follow the protocol, you stay on the protocol, you don't experiment, don't get out of the protocol. And you will see that next thing you know, all of you are watching a movie together. The cats right there, the dogs right there, and you're all hanging out together, right? Because you did things right.

But if you're gonna go and experiment, try to do this and that, you know, now you created more work and then we'll we'll now in order for us to get to that point, we're gonna have to do more work. But it's doable. A hundred percent it's doable.

Lianne Shinton (57:33)

And I like your advice that you folks could go to a rescue and get more data about the dog. Not that you don't want to help them all, but I definitely think there is a layer of compatibility. Just like if I'm looking for a spouse, ⁓ you know, there's just certain things that are gonna match up better than maybe another. So having more data to make sure you're gonna the dog's gonna be compatible.

with your lifestyle, your family, kids, cats, all of those different variables, just to make sure it's like the perfect match. I think having more data can always help.

Byron Flores (58:15)

Hundred per yes, a hundred percent. That's why like now I realize that Marco being deaf and the whole entire family came and the whole family fell in love with him just because he's such a great normal dog, except that he was deaf. Right. But they even loved him more because of that. They were drawn to him even more because they were to see the sweetness and when I communicated with the sign language, giving him commands with through sign language.

Lianne Shinton (58:35)

Ha ha ha.

Byron Flores (58:42)

And they were like, my God, my God, you know, and it's just like, Hey, they were like, that's so easy. I'm like, Yeah. I said, It's just you're just using some signs and he understands, and this is what we worked, and you're opening the doors to his home, and he and he lives a wonderful life, you know. So he's they love him. ⁓ you know, and things come up down the road, and ⁓ I will show up at their home and then we'll just tackle a little situation here and there, and they're like, my god, we never thought about that, Byron. And I'm like, Yeah.

It's you know, it's something simple, simple simple little thing sometimes. But there you go. They're not dog trainers, right? They're dog owners, and that's why they call the the professional to help. And that's where we come and just you know, make that they happy for I I I make them happy. Yeah, yeah, here you go. This is this is what we have to do. This is it, not a problem. I'm here to help you. And and we tackle the situation and that's and and at the end of the day everyone is happy and the dog it's good.

Lianne Shinton (59:37)

Yeah, and it's simple too. I like that. Keep it simple, stupid the kiss method. And sometimes people overthink it or they just don't realize, you know, 'cause they got other stuff going on with their life. They're in chaos with taking care of the kids and everything. But hire an expert 'cause maybe, you know, someone like Byron, you can come in and just simply just resolve the situation that they didn't even think.

Byron Flores (1:00:01)

Yeah, absolutely. You know, and if any any anyone that ⁓ wanna has some goals that they want to ⁓ help their dog have a better a better relationship, you can always reach out to me through my website. It's letter K number nine. T it's all one whole word, letter K number nine, training with Byron dot com. ⁓ just reach out to me and I'll be more than happy to help you out. And you know, we c if you want to ⁓ learn how to run your dog off leash, I'm here to help you.

You want a better relationship between your dog and your cat. I'm here to help you. If you want to get your your walks better, I'm here to help you with that. Your dog is reactive. I'm here to help you with that. Your dog is human aggressive, dog aggressive, I'm here to help you with that. We we we will be able to I'll be able to help you with these situations and just get your dog into a better state of mind and and and and make them see the world differently than how the dog is the dog is seeing that world right now. We could change that up.

Lianne Shinton (1:00:56)

Awesome. Thank you for sharing that. Is there any other things you'd like to share today before we wrap up?

Byron Flores (1:01:02)

Well no, I yeah, you know, I just wanna say I wanna share with you guys that ⁓ you know, for me, I I've never owned a dog from a breeder, but the dogs that I have rescued that are my dogs have been phenomenal. Just phenomenal. They just have given me a beautiful life, you know, just how they are and and how they bec how how grateful they are. So don't be afraid to to to get in getting a dog from a shelter. You know, you're doing you you're doing a great deed, you know, but if you prefer

to get a dog from a breeder because you because you care about the genetics, make sure you find yourself a reputable a re a reputable breeder. You make making sure it's not a backyard breeder because there's a lot of that going on right now and it's hurting ⁓ the shelters. They end up in the shelter. We don't want dogs end up and ending up in the shelter. You know, so just be conscientious of that when when you want them when you're ready. And if you want me to help you find a dog

Reach out to me again. I'll be more than happy to help you find the dog that you need. Not the dog that you want, the dog that you really need for that's gonna fit your lot of stuff.

Lianne Shinton (1:02:01)

Ooh.

Yeah, well said. The dog the dog that you need, not necessarily the dog that you want. Well said.

Byron Flores (1:02:11)

Yeah. So I wanna thank you from the bottom of my heart for having me on your podcast today. Really, really grateful for this opportunity to be able to talk to you and to be able to share a little bit about who I am and the the work that I do and how I do it and and and I welcome everybody, you know, that I ⁓ I'm not racist. There's a lot of that out there. I I welcome everybody, you know, that I'm a dog person, that's our common ground right there. I love dogs, I love humans, I love helping humans.

You know, I like to service myself to others and that's what I'm here for.

Lianne Shinton (1:02:44)

Awesome. Awesome. Well, thank you so much, Byron, for joining us again, everybody. So it's canine training with Byron. Thank you, Byron. That was just such a wonderful conversation. I'm sure it will help people.

Byron Flores (1:02:56)

Thank you so much for having me. I really appreciate this. And I hope yeah, I hope this helps anybody that's that's struggling with their dog that something that you might hear here might my might hit home, you know.

Lianne Shinton (1:03:07)

Yeah.

Well, thank you everybody too for listening. Again, I'm Leanne Shinton from Automation Dogs and have a fantastic day.

Byron Flores (1:03:15)

Thank you. Have a great day.