Blog Content
Our most recent posts are shown first. For a complete listing of our content, please visit our sitemap page.
Ever lost your dog?
If your dog has ever run away or gotten lost, you know how stressful it can be when you don’t know where they are or if they are OK. Imagine how stressful it might be [...]
The moving wait dog training tip
If you’ve done any training with your dog, you are most likely familiar with the “Wait” cue. Wait means “do not proceed forward until you have permission.” In my group classes, I teach this in [...]
Trimming dog nails
Many people are amazed when I tell them that nail trims for my dogs are drama-free, quick and require no restraint. Is that possible, you ask? Why yes, it is! I have worked hard to [...]
Guarding bones
When I get a call from a client concerned about a dog who is growling, snapping or even biting over bones or other valuables, people often seem to be skeptical that the behavior can be [...]
If your dog digs holes
Dogs love to dig holes! There are a variety of reasons why a dog digs holes. Some examples include: *To burn off energy *To get at something (buried treasure, rodents underground, etc.) *To escape or [...]
What are your dog’s motivators or rewards?
Do you know what your dog’s motivators are? If you train using positive reinforcement or reward-based methods, you need to know! So what does reward-based or positive reinforcement training mean? In a nutshell, it means [...]
When walking your dog is no fun
Some people don’t enjoy walking their dogs because the dogs are so over-the-top excited, they leap around and make it difficult to get leashed up; they knock people over trying to rush out the door; [...]
Can dogs be trained not to chase wildlife?
I often hear things stated as facts that really aren’t. I’m sure you do as well. In this case, the statements are about things like prey drive in dogs. Things like: “You can’t teach [...]
Close encounters of the snake variety with our dog
Zuzu had her first close encounter of the snake variety today. We generally see bull snakes on our property quite a bit during the spring and summer. This year so far, we have not seen [...]
When your dog “only does it when I have a treat”
I’ve heard it many many times. My dog will do everything I want. . . as long as he knows I have a treat in my pocket (or hand, or bait bag, etc.) I could [...]
Restricted activity after a spay, neuter or other surgery
If your vet has ever told you to keep your young active dog from running or jumping for a while after a surgery (spay, neuter, ACL surgery or others) you know how hard that is. [...]
Do you take your dog to dog parks?
Talk to any dog owner about dog parks and you can get quite a wide variety of opinions. Some go frequently with their dogs and love them. Others went, had a bad experience and never [...]
What we feed our dogs
When it comes to feeding your dog, there is no one right answer for every dog and every household. (Though some people will try to convince you otherwise.) I used to feed my dogs dry [...]
A reliable “drop it” can save a life!
Anyone who has heard me tell stories about Romeo knows that one of his favorite things in life is to chase the bunnies. There is very little, if anything, that can compete with the thrill [...]
What do you feed your dogs?
In some dog-enthusiast circles, discussing what you feed your dogs can be about as volatile as discussions on politics or religion. Some people have some very strong opinions about what dogs should be fed. My [...]
Who are your dog’s friends?
Most puppies and young dogs love to meet new dogs and make new friends. There’s a reason that most dogs in day cares and at dog parks are adolescent dogs. They are more active, more [...]
What size crate for a puppy?
While not everyone uses crates with their new puppies, most of us do. Crates can be a safe place for puppies to be confined when we can’t be watching them. It can help prevent housetraining [...]
Is walking your dog a drag?
I am a firm believer that dogs should be walked EVERY day. While there are exceptions, of course, the majority of dogs don’t get walked nearly enough. Normally, we walk our dogs TWICE a day, [...]