Dogpoint

GIVE ME FOOD

I'm sure we've all been there with our greedy dogs

You feed your dog well, as well as the best quality!

But when it's time for you and your family to have dinner...

They hit you the guilt-trippiest of all looks,

Like they haven't had anything in days 😂

And it's suuuuuper easy to just give them and let them have some of your dinner.

But this a big mistake that will seem inconsequential in the moment.

However, you will pay massively for it in the future.

They will give you this look, EVERY SINGLE TIME.

They may whine and make noise.

They will even try to stare at you with laser vision,

Or telepathically will you into sharing your delicious steak, like the way Spock did with the Vulcan mind meld.

(All the Star Trek fans get it)

But stay strong you must.

Don't give in!

It's all manipulation on their end 😂

It's all about setting your boundaries and having them respect it.

They aren't allowed to demand and receive from your dinner.

PS- I only make exceptions for my dogs when they're senior. At that point, they've earned leeway 😂

-Marc Windgassen
No Drive... No Joy

Feedback like this always feels amazing.

It lets me know that my method of training is yet again validated and proven effective.

And all of my 1-on-1 training with Graham has been completely done online via Zoom.

It goes to show you that Online training (mine specifically) is highly effective, even for extremely difficult dogs.

Of course you also have to be a committed and dedicated for this to work,

But that goes without saying!

Together with Graham Beal, we have completely transformed Honey the Golden Retriever for the better.

He now fully enjoys all the time spent with her and actually has fun training.

Whereas, it was previously a nightmare and quite embarrassing for Graham whenever Honey acted up.

So if you've been on the fence about starting online dog training with me,

Or you're just naturally a skeptical person...

Graham's feedback tells you everything you need to know!

Now the question is...

Are you going to be real with yourself and start training with me now?

Or are you going to keep postponing your dog's training while they keep embarrassing you, stressing you, and destroying your house?

I can tell you for sure that ALL the serious dog owners I've worked with, such as Graham, wanted to get started right away!

Be like Graham and start training today!

-Marc Windgassen
No Drive... No Joy

𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗵𝗮𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗵𝗲 𝗸𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗚𝗼𝗹𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘀

Then he got Honey 😂

And everything that worked for his other Golden,

Straight up didn't work with her.

Honey is a working line field Golden Retriever.

That one detail changes everything,

Because despite Graham thinking that she would behave like every other Golden he had owned...

She did not 😆

Working-line dogs carry far more drive than the show line version of the same breed.

This is the trap most 'experienced' dog owners walk straight into.

You had the breed before, so you expect to get the same dog twice.

It's an honest mistake.

Here's what most dog owners miss...

Genetics inside a single breed swing wildly, especially once you split show-lines and working-lines.

Here is where Honey was when Graham first came to me:

✅ Pulled on the leash constantly
✅ Walks were a nightmare
✅ Reactive and stalking other dogs
✅ Recall was non-existent

Here is where Honey is today:

✅ Walks perfectly
✅ Recall is almost perfect strong
✅ Reactivity has drastically reduced
✅ Graham enjoys training with Honey

And the best part of all of this...

Every bit of it happened through my live, 1-on-1 Zoom sessions.

I watched it play out in real time and coached Graham through the corrections and rewards, as well as the timing in which they needed to happen.

No cookie cutter program 🙅‍♂️

I gave Graham specific guidance for his specific dog.

Here's Graham's experience below:

"I've seen great progress with Honey since we started working together.

Walks that used to be a nightmare are now getting better every time.

Encounters that would have triggered werewolf mode no longer bother her.

Her recall went from zero to vastly improved.

She now walks at heel. My wife calls Marc 'Honey's Yoda.'"

— Graham Beal

-------------------

So if your dog drags you down the street and tunes you out when it matters most,

DM me "PULL" and I'll solve your problems, just like I did with Graham 😁

PS- Does your dog have any of the same behavioral problems that Honey did?

- Marc Windgassen
No Drive... No Joy

MERCURY UPDATE #7

Mercury was nervous at his first post-adoption vet visit.

Which is completely natural but he still let them clip his nails.

This was his first vet visit since I brought him home from the shelter, where he grew up with almost no handling and barely any contact with the outside world.

(outside of the wonderful shelter staff)

So sitting on a cold clinic floor while a stranger touched his paws was a big ask.

You can see it on his face, and he did it anyway.

✓ Nails clipped, no meltdown

That kind of calm, slightly uncomfortable visit is worth far more than people realize.

Every time a dog gets through something mildly stressful without it turning into a fight, you bank a positive association.

Especially if you reward them for it!

The next visit gets easier, and the one after that is even easier.

This matters most for the serious stuff.

The day your dog actually needs care is not the day you want him learning that the vet is terrifying.

With a rescue you start after they've decompressed and settled in with you.

You expose them to handling, new places, new sounds, the vet, the groomer, all of it, calmly and early.

The goal is a dog that reads the Vet Clinic as safe and not a threat.

DM me if your dog falls apart the second you walk into the clinic.

PS- What do you think was going through Mercury's head when I took this photo?

Let me know 😂👇

-Marc Windgassen
No Drive... No Joy

MERCURY UPDATE #6

Trust the process when rehabilitating your rescue

And here's why I say this...

A few weeks ago, Mercury would have never been this comfortable,

Where he willing comes on the bed next to me.

He was affectionate but still very skeptical.

What did I do to get him to open up?

I let him figure everything out with distant yet supportive guidance.

I let him initiate EVERYTHING.

I let him approach me for attention,

Then I pet him.

I didn't force or rush anything.

And this where most new rescue owners go wrong.

They feel so bad for their poor dog that they end up overcompensating with attention and affection.

This is actually extremely counterproductive.

Why do I say this??

Because it keeps them in a constantly anxious state as they never got a chance to adjust and decompress.

So if you just got a rescue dog and you've been struggling with their visually anxious or fearful behavior,

You could actually be the cause.

And yes, I know it isn't nice to hear,

But I am not saying this to condemn you...

I am saying this to help you make the necessary changes that will help your rescue!

If you've been struggling with your rescue and need urgent help,

DM me "HELP"

PS- How did you get your rescue to open up to you?

-Marc Windgassen
No Drive... No Joy

MERCURY UPDATE #5

He's now on the bed with me!

I'm so happy that Mercury now feels comfortable enough to be so close to me on the bed,

And with his back facing me as well 😄.

For those of you that don't understand the huge significance of this:

Dogs only lay down with their back facing you, when they completely trust you and no longer see you as a threat.

Based on how skeptical Mercury behaved when I first got him,

This is welcomed progress and a big step.

It also means that soon, we can actually start obedience training.

Which means more Mercury content for y'all.

(And I'm sure you'll be excited for these vids)

To those rescue/ shelter dogs like myself...

You need to have TONS of patience and wait until your dog trusts you,

Before you can even think of training.

Because without trust you don't have much.

The best thing to do in the meantime, is to do activities that your rescue dog that your dog instigates themselves.

Did they come up to you for a pet?

Great! Pet them until they look like they're content.

Did they bring a tug toy or ball for you to play with?

Great! Do that for 5-10 mins each time.

Playing and restrained affection, are generally two of the easiest ways to gain a dog's trust.

But it requires PATIENCE!

Which is something most of us lack...

Including me 😂

Therefore, If I can do it, so can you ✅

PS- What got your rescue/ shelter dog to trust you more?

Let me know 👇

-Marc Windgassen
No Drive... No Joy

Graham 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗛𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘆 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗯𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗚𝗼𝗹𝗱𝗲𝗻

And boy was he wrong 😂

(I say this in jest)

Honey is a working line field Golden Retriever.

That detail matters because Graham initially assumed she would be like the Goldens he had before.

She definitely was not.

Working-line dogs possess significantly more drive than the show line version of the same breed.

This is the trap most 'experienced' dog owners fall into.

You owned the breed before, so you expect the same dog.

It's an innocent mistake.

Here's what most dog owners don't know...

Genetics within a single breed vary massively, especially when you have show-lines and working-lines.

Here is where Honey was when Graham came to me:

✅ Pulled on the leash constantly
✅ Walks were a nightmare
✅ Reactive and stalking other dogs
✅ Recall was non-existent

Here is where Honey is now:

✅ Walks perfectly
✅ Recall is super strong
✅ Reactivity has drastically reduced
✅ Graham enjoys training with Honey

And to top all of this off...

It was all done via my live and 1-on-1 Zoom sessions.

I watched what was happening in real time and coached Graham through the corrections and timing as it unfolded.

No cookie cutter program 🙅‍♂️

I gave Graham specific guidance for his specific dog.

Graham Beal's words below.

-------------------------------

"I've seen great progress with Honey since we started working together.

Walks that used to be a nightmare are now getting better every time.

Encounters that would have triggered werewolf mode no longer bother her.

Her recall went from zero to vastly improved.

She now walks at heel. My wife calls Marc 'Honey's Yoda.'"

— Graham Beal

So if your dog drags you down the street and ignores you when it matters most,

DM me "PULL" and I'll solve your problems, just like I did with Graham 😁

PS- Does your dog have any of the same behavioral problems that Honey did?

- Marc Windgassen
No Drive... No Joy

Your dog isn't pulling because they're "bad"

They're pulling because you taught them to..

Most owners walk their dog on a tight leash from day one.

The second a dog feels constant pressure, the opposition reflex kicks in and they pull harder against it.

You created the very thing you're frustrated by.

The other half of the problem is engagement.

Your dog comes outside and gets hit with new scents, new sounds, and new sights,

Which means that you become the most boring thing on the walk 😂

So they drag you toward whatever is interesting.

𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲'𝘀 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘄𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝘅 𝗶𝘁

The leash stays slack. Always.

The moment your dog moves to tighten it, you give a small tug and turn 180 degrees in the opposite direction.

Then you keep walking that way until they catch up and pay attention.

The point is to make pulling annoying and unfavorable.

Dogs only repeat what is efficient and gets them the outcome they want.

If pulling toward the squirrel results in them ending up further away from it every single time, pulling stops being worth the effort.

When they come back to your side, they get rewarded with verbal and physical praise/ affection.

(an encouraging 'good boy!' in a high voice for example)

When you stop walking, they sit.

No shooting forward, no choking themselves, no dragging you down the street.

You need to have relaxed arms, slack leash, clear communication.

That's how you achieve loose leash walking.

If your dog turns every walk into a workout and has you looking like you're water-skiing behind them...

You know who to message...

Spoiler, it's me 🫣

PS- 97% of my clients have been able to stop their dog's leash pulling in 30 days or less!

PSS- Have you stopped going for walks with your dog because it's too stressful?

I won't judge, I'm here to help you as best as I can

-Marc Windgassen
No Drive... No Joy

If you think online dog training can't possibly work, you are the problem. Not your dog...

I hear it constantly, "Zoom training? That can't actually work for my dog."

Said with full confidence by people who have never tried it once.

Here is what they are really saying.

They want someone to come fix the dog for them.

They want to outsource the responsibility

OR

They don't want to get out of their comfort zone.

Because the moment you realize you are the one training your dog regardless of the format,

Your excuse is null and void.

In person or online, your hands are on the leash.

It's your responsibilty.

Your voice is the one your dog has to listen to... not mine!

Your consistency between sessions is what creates the change.

A trainer cannot magically fix the dog without you doing anything.

Now here is the part that should make the skeptics uncomfortable.

A huge portion of my online clients are middle aged, retired or full on senior citizens.

The exact group everyone assumes would struggle with technology and learning a new format.

They show up every week, follow the plan, implement changes based on my advice and their dogs transform.

If people the age of your parents and grandparents can do this successfully, what is your excuse?

Your dog is not getting better while you wait for the "right" trainer to magically appear in your area.

Every week you delay is another week of pulling, lunging, jumping, separation anxiety, or barking getting more ingrained.

DM me "VIRTUAL" and I'll show you how it actually works.

PS- What part of online dog training makes your skeptical?

- Marc Windgassen
No Drive... No Joy

Your puppy is destroying everything

And you're losing your f*cking mind 🤪

Its extremely frustrating and it's costing you lots of money in property damage and vet bills.

But here's something that you may not know...

Puppies don't destroy things because they're "bad."

They destroy things because their needs are not being met, and they have no other outlet.

Three reasons it happens:

𝗣𝗲𝗻𝘁-𝘂𝗽 𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗴𝘆

Most puppies are underexercised mentally and physically.

A walk around the block does not cut it. They need engagement games, not just movement.

𝗦𝗹𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝗱𝗲𝗽𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

Puppies need 18 to 20 hours of sleep a day.

Most owners play with them constantly and never let them rest.

An overtired puppy becomes anxious and highly irritated which results in destruction.

𝗦𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝘅𝗶𝗲𝘁𝘆

When you're gone, a stressed puppy has no safe way to release that energy.

So your couch, shoes, and baseboards become the outlet.

The fix is pretty simple.

They need rules, boundaries, structure, routine, and engagement.

✅ Tug of war, food puzzles, scent work, and obedience drills to drain the mental and physical battery

✅ Crate train them so they actually sleep, undisturbed, for the hours they need

✅ Stop the dramatic hellos and goodbyes, stop being a helicopter parent, and start enforcing real rules and boundaries from day one

A special note... Crate training is not cruel.

It is one of the most important requirements for raising a balanced, secure puppy who is not chewing through your house out of stress.

So if you're struggling with your puppy that's wrecking your house,

DM me "CHEW" if your puppy is destroying everything and you want a clear plan to fix it.

PS- What has your dog destroyed?

I'm curious to know 😂

- Marc Windgassen
No Drive... No Joy