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When should I start working on my dog’s behavior issues?
When clients call for help with certain issues, they often do it when they are in midst of the chaos. However, the process might have been much easier had they called before their dogs were [...]
If you were gone, who would care for your dog?
We generally assume that we will outlive our dogs. In most cases, that’s true. But are you prepared in the event you and your family are gone and your dog is left behind? In some [...]
Fear of men: do NOT try this at home with your dog!
In my last post, I discussed dogs who are afraid of men, children or others, why that might be, and how to prevent it. In this post, I will discuss what to do and what [...]
Is your dog afraid of men, children, or others?
Unfortunately, it’s not that uncommon for a dog adopted through a rescue group or shelter to be afraid of men and in some cases, children. In some cases, these dogs adjust easily to the men [...]
How predictable are you in your dog training sessions?
We humans tend to be much more predictable than we realize. Our dogs know it, but we don’t. Because of our predictability, sometimes the reliability of our dogs’ training is not as strong as we [...]
Is your dog reactive toward other dogs when on leash?
You’re out walking your dog through your neighborhood and another person turns the corner with their own dog. Your dog, who was walking pretty well on a loose leash, suddenly barks, lunges at the end [...]
Our book was nominated for an award! (2013)
In 2013, our book Juvenile Delinquent Dogs book was nominated for a Maxwell Medallion by the Dog Writers Association of America! It was one of four finalists in the category of Books-Care, Health, Training, Behavior. Unfortunately we did not win, but [...]
How soon can you start training your puppy?
I often receive calls from people who’ve just brought home a new puppy. One of the questions they often ask is: “When can I start training?” The answer is, the sooner the better! Once upon [...]
Think your dog will never bite someone?
Think your dog would never bite someone? Think again. ANY dog will bite if pushed too far. Many people believe their dogs would never bite a person. Others know it could happen but hope that it doesn't. [...]
Helping a child overcome his fear of dogs
We drove to Minnesota to spend the week of Thanksgiving (2012) with my family. Romeo is accustomed to a quiet household, so a house full of adults and my nephews ranging from 4 years to [...]
Should you feed your dog before going to training class?
According to a new blog post on The Bark, we should consider feeding our dogs before going to training so they perform better. The November 8, 2012, post “The Importance of Eating Breakfast” by JoAnna Lou refers [...]
Does your dry dog food contain corn?
We could argue whether corn is good for your dog or not in the first place, but that’s not the point I want to get at today. The condition of the corn in your dog [...]
Is your dog’s diet really complete and balanced?
While at the Association of Pet Dog Trainers Annual Conference, I attended a session byDoug Knueven, DVM, CAC, CVA, CVCH titled Evolution-Based Canine Diets. He discussed some of the evidence from a variety of sources (three pages [...]
Are dog parks good or bad for your dog?
For those who follow us on Facebook, you know I promised to share some of what I heard at the Association of Pet Dog Trainers Annual Conference that I attended in mid-October. Here is my [...]
My dog is too distracted in class!
Group training classes can be fun and a great learning experience. In fact, ideally, they should be fun for everyone. However, they can also be a great source of frustration for others. Group classes are [...]
Does our dog have a time limit on his patience or easy-going attitude?
Some dogs get along with pretty much everyone. We all wish our dogs were those “happy-go-lucky” dogs who rarely seemed to be bothered or upset by anything. I’ve met a few people like that too. [...]
What does it mean to give your dog “a job”?
Dog trainers, myself included, often tell clients that their dogs need a job to do. I recommend this often, especially with highly energetic and/or smart dogs. These dogs were mostly bred for specific jobs – [...]
I’m glad my dog disobeyed me!
If you’re thinking there’s a typo in the subject of my post, you did read it correctly. And yes, that is what I intended to say! We tend to be very quick to get upset [...]
What message are you really conveying to your dog?
For those who have taken my Basic Training Course, you should already know the answer to this. Let’s see who else does. When we are communicating with someone else, we convey information through the actual [...]