Your Dog Thinks Loose Leash Walking is Silly

Lisa practicing loose leash walking with Keaton during a dog training class

No matter what you call it—polite walking, loose leash walking or walking nicely on leash—if we asked a dog’s thoughts about the necessity of walking slowly on leash next to their human, they’d shout out loud and clear, “Absolutely not!”  When do you ever see a dog walking slowly in a straight line looking ahead? […]

The Poop Patrol. Steps for teaching your dog to help clean up.

Is your dog a member of The Poop Patrol? If you teach your dog to “find their poop” then it makes cleaning up much easier!  When we were on vacation visiting Bob and Susan Ryder of Pawsitive Transformations some time ago, I watched Daisy help Bob clean up. I thought it was so fun that […]

Tug of War, What is it Good For?

I actually prefer the term Tug of Love. It’s hard to imagine that it was once thought that playing tug with your dog would cause him to become aggressive. Thankfully, we now know that’s not true. What “is” true is the number of benefits derived from playing tug with your dog.  There are many! Let’s take […]

New Year’s Resolutions

An estimated 40 to 45% of American adults make one or more resolutions this time of year. By far, the top 3 new year’s resolutions are: – weight loss, – exercise program, – stop smoking. Other popular resolutions deal with debt reduction and better money management in the year to come. But what about including […]

Dog Training is Dog Teaching

If you’re reading this, you can thank a teacher. Someone taught you how to read when you were younger. They provided you with an important skill that’s expected in our society. In fact, another person taught us most of what we know and do.  The same applies to dog teaching. So, it’s surprising that so […]

Teaching Your Dog to Give Up a Prized Possession

Teaching your dog to give up a prized possession willingly in return for something superior is an important skill. We teach dogs in our classes and in our in-home training sessions at CNC. Teaching your dog to “trade” helps your dog stay happy and comfortable.  This is especially true when you approach her while she’s […]

A Barking Interruptor – The Quiet Cue

I received a call this week from a couple whose only complaint about their dog was her incessant barking. I could tell they were frustrated. They used the phrase “driving us insane”.  They also shared how much they love her and what a wonderful companion she is. This is a call I receive multiple times […]

Catch This! How to get more of what you want from your dog.

What do a phone, a remote control, a clicker and a jar of treats have in common? They’re all within easy reach! What does your dog do? Here’s question for you: does your dog ever do something you like, on her own, without being asked? For example: Does your dog sit politely when you’re working in […]

The Box Step – Prelude to Loose Leash Walking

Have you ever considered how terribly hard it must be for your dog to walk slowly, on leash, in a straight line beside you? We get lots of requests about to get a dog to stop pulling when on leash.  The answer is the box step. Think about it. When have you EVER seen a […]

Moving with a Dog Tips: How to Help Your Dog Adjust

Moving with a Dog: Shouldn’t a dog just “go with the flow” and adjust to a move? Ideally, yes. But moving with a dog (or any pet) can be a very confusing and potentially scary.  Most dogs are comfortable with a predictable daily routine and a move suddenly changes almost everything in their world. While we […]