Who we are

My name is Ben Gordon. I’m the owner and operator of Humboldt Dog Training and have worked professionally in dog training and behavior modification for over 30 years.

My career has included training thousands of dogs and owners; owning and operating large private dog training facilities; developing and directing behavior and training programs within shelter and rehabilitation settings; creating curricula and educational seminars; placing and training dogs with police departments; and providing professional consulting for trainers, organizations, and agencies. While my experience spans a wide range of settings and cases, my consistent focus throughout the years has been working with family and pet dogs in everyday homes. My work has includes puppy foundations and development, on and off leash obedience, behavior modification, aggression and reactivity cases, and working-dog evaluations.

The methods and approach I use today reflect the evolution of dog training over the last several decades and are informed by applied learning theory, behavioral science, and long-term, hands-on experience.

A detailed summary of my professional experience is detailed below

MY TRAINING PHILOSOPHY

It’s not what you teach your dog; it’s what you don’t allow them to learn that shapes them most. Real change comes from helping dogs regulate their emotions, instincts, and drives so they can reliably respond to the guidance we give them.

  • A few minutes of leash practice can’t compete with hours of pulling the rest of the day. Dogs learn what they rehearse most.

  • Commands don’t replace structure. Saying “sit,” “heel,” or “no” doesn’t prevent jumping or pulling; managing opportunities and teaching better habits does.

  • Reactivity isn’t solved with words or treats alone. Calm exposure, neutrality, and consistent structure create stability.

  • Obedience doesn’t change emotion or instinct. Without addressing the environment and the dog’s internal state, we often reinforce the very behaviors we’re trying to fix.

When we equip our dogs not only to follow command, but to internally regulate themselves, obedience becomes reliable. That’s where lasting behavior change comes from.

Who We serve

We specialize in working with puppies, adult dogs, solving behavior problems, reactive or aggressive dogs, and anyone who wants a calm, confident, trustworthy companion. We will help you provide your dog with the right structure and clarity, so that even the most challenging dogs can transform.

All a person needs to be successful is good coaching, willingness, and consistent effort.

I want to reduce the number of dogs surrendered or living restricted lives by teaching this simple truth…It’s not so much what you teach your dog, it’s what you don’t let them learn that really matters!

Obedience takes up about 5% of your day.

We specialize in the other 95%.

MY MISSION

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE & ACCOLADES

  • My work includes:

    • Puppy development and obedience foundation

    • Adolescent behavior shaping

    • Adult obedience

    • Problem behavior prevention

    • Severe reactivity and aggression

    • Working-dog conditioning

    • Family integration and lifestyle training

  • Specialized in:

    • In-board training & private lessons

    • Long-term boarding

    • Personal protection & protection sports

    • Police K9 prospects & dogs for sale

    This facility served all of San Diego County and provided comprehensive training for pet, sport, and working-dog clients.

  • Created standardized training curricula for 26 Southern California stores, including:

    • Continued education for trainers

    • Puppy development programs

    • Basic & intermediate obedience structures

    • Instructor manuals & teaching flowcharts

    • Behavior-modification guidelines

    • Educational materials for customers

    The goal reached was increased consistency, quality, and outcomes across multiple training departments.

  • Created, implemented, and oversaw the curricula for the Behavior & Training Department from the ground up, including:

    • Full behavioral curriculum development

    • Training & supervision of assistant trainers and instructors

    • Community and adopter education programs

    • Rehabilitation programs for reactive, fearful, and aggressive dogs

    • Behavior-problem-solving systems still in use today

    This role involved hands-on behavior work and building a scalable system for all levels of training, from puppies to severe aggression cases.

  • Experienced with multiple working-dog disciplines:

    • Schutzhund

    • Mondioring

    • French Ring

    • KNPV

    • Police service dogs

      Areas of expertise:

    • Drive expression and fulfillment

    • Bite mechanics and grip evaluation

    • Threat assessment

    • Nerve strength and stability

    • Behavioral thresholds

    • Purpose-driven training

    This background allows me to evaluate working-dog potential and address drive-based behavior problems at a high level.

    For sport or police only. I do not provide bite development or bite work for personal protection dogs.

    • I provide behavior consulting for organizations that deal with dogs in crisis, including:

    • Evaluating behavioral stability

    • Creating structured treatment plans

    • Working with fear, reactivity, aggression, and anxiety

    • Improving adoption outcomes

    • Reducing returns and euthanasia rates

    • Staff and volunteer education

    • This work helps shelters place dogs more successfully and safely.

    • Developed and taught bite-prevention programs for the Arizona Postal Service, including:

    • How to assess dog body language

    • How to avoid triggering a dog’s defense system

    • How to de-escalate confrontations

    • Safe delivery-route strategies

    • What to do during an active dog encounter

    • These programs protected mail carriers and supported safer interactions between dogs and the public.

    • I provide expert testimony for dog bite and behavior-related legal cases in California, specializing in:

    • Behavioral analysis

    • Temperament interpretation

    • Situational breakdowns

    • Assessing owner behavior, responsibility, and management

    • Providing clear, non-biased expert conclusions

    • My testimony helps courts, lawyers, and insurance adjusters understand the behavioral and environmental factors behind canine incidents.

    • I provide advanced consulting in:

    • Temperament testing

    • Working-dog assessments

    • Drive and motivation profiling

    • Behavior-modification protocols

    • Household structure & environment design

    • Owner coaching for serious behavioral cases

    • Risk assessment and safety planning

    • This includes everything from puppies needing foundational guidance to dogs with complex behavioral histories.

Hopper Lupes du Soliel - MR1

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