Be Your Dog’s Advocate | What to Consider
Be an advocate for your dog. Have you ever stopped to think about what it means to “be an advocate for your dog”? Merriam-Webster defines advocate as “one that supports or promotes the interests of another.” As a professional dog trainer, I’m always encouraging my clients to be advocates for their dogs. To me, this […]
Why Do We Train Our Dogs?| What to Consider
Here we are at the start of a new year. How did we get here so quickly? In this past year, I’ve had the privilege of working with some amazing people and their dogs. Sometimes, however, even with amazing people and amazing dogs, things don’t go as planned. Oftentimes a dog comes into the home […]
Dog Management & Training – The Dynamic Duo
Dog Management & Training | Oh those well-known duos we often speak about – peas and carrots, salt and pepper and wine and cheese just to name a few. I particularly love that wine and cheese duo! In the world of dog training “management and training” is the quintessential dynamic duo and I think most […]
Tips to Help Your Dog Love Grooming – At Home or the Salon
I think we can all say that keeping on top of your dog’s grooming routine at home can some days feel a bit of a chore, especially if your dog isn’t so keen on the idea. But never fear – once you get started it can actually turn out to be quite a rewarding task and a positive one too! […]
Strange New Things Part 3 – Helping Mercy Love the Weave Poles
I’ve recently written about using classical conditioning to help your dog be comfortable around strange new things. The previous two articles were about helping my dog, Mercy, learn to interact with a big long blue tunnel. I’ve wanted to do Agility for Fun, so we’re training for that enjoyable activity. I’ve been successful in getting […]
Stubborn Dog?
Would you be comfortable if your child’s math teacher described her as headstrong or stubborn because she wasn’t doing well in class? Would you assume the teacher is right and your child is willfully choosing not to learn her multiplication tables? Or, would you consider that your child may not fully understand her lesson and […]
Strange New Things Part 2 – Helping Your Dog Learn to Love New Things
The last time we talked I told you about introducing Mercy to the new agility equipment we purchased over the holidays. I shared how important it is to help her form a positive association with all this “new stuff” on her porch and deck by using classical conditioning. I’m pleased to report the tunnel is no longer […]
Are You Forcing Socialization?
Perhaps you’ve heard it’s vitally important to socialize your new dog or puppy to help set them up to be confident, well-adjusted dogs. However, simply increasing exposure to scary or threatening things is not “socialization.” If your dog doesn’t enjoy other dogs, taking him to a dog park or dropping him off at a daycare […]
Strange New Things – Helping Your Dog Learn to Love Them
When introducing new things into a dog’s environment it’s important to consider how a dog will perceive the new object. Dogs, like people, learn through association (classical conditioning) and develop a positive, negative or neutral emotional response to new people, places or things. Any new first interaction and experience needs to be a positive one. […]
Thinking of a Puppy for Christmas? Think again.
There’s nothing that evokes the “Normal Rockwell Christmas Experience” like the picture of a family with a soft, cuddly puppy next to a Christmas tree. My sincere hope is that the family was wise and did their homework in order to be well prepared before bringing the sweet puppy home. If they did, they’ll be […]
