by Kate LaSala | May 25, 2026 | Dog Training, Puppy Training, Separation Anxiety
One of the most common things I hear from new clients is some version of this: “My dog has separation anxiety. He freaks out every time I put him in his crate.” I understand why those two things feel connected. In many homes, confinement and being...
by Kate LaSala | Apr 27, 2026 | Dog Training, Fear, Aggression and Reactivity, Puppy Training, Rescue Dogs, Separation Anxiety
We have a tendency to give puppies a pass. They’re young, cute, still learning and “just being a puppy.” And yes, some puppy behavior is completely normal and does settle with age, consistent training, and appropriate socialization. But some...
by Kate LaSala | Feb 16, 2026 | Dog Training, Puppy Training, Rescue Dogs
One of the trickiest parts (and best parts!) of dog training is that dogs are excellent at connecting dots. It’s one of the ways dogs learn. Sometimes they connect dots that we don’t want them to connect and that’s where clients can run into...
by Kate LaSala | Jan 5, 2026 | Dog Training, Puppy Training, Rescue Dogs
Barking is completely normal dog behavior. Barking is completely normal dog behavior. Barking is completely normal dog behavior. While it may be annoying, barking is your dog’s way of communicating something. There are many reasons why a dog might bark...
by Kate LaSala | Dec 8, 2025 | Dog Training, Dogs and Babies and Kids, Puppy Training, Rescue Dogs
During the holidays, a lot of dogs find their new homes, and many of these are being integrated into homes where there is already a resident dog. While gift giving a dog isn’t a great idea (everyone in the family needs to be on board with making the commitment...
by Kate LaSala | Oct 6, 2025 | Dog Training, Dog Training Regulation, Dogs and Babies and Kids, Fear, Aggression and Reactivity, Puppy Training, Rescue Dogs, Resource Guarding, Separation Anxiety
Today I want to take a closer look at the fallout effects of aversive training tools such as prong collars, shock collars, bark collars, electric fences, and noise aversives. These methods all have one thing in common: they rely on fear, pain, or intimidation...
by Kate LaSala | Sep 29, 2025 | Dog Training, Puppy Training, Rescue Dogs
Because I work primarily with fearful dogs, I see a lot of people who describe their dog’s fear as a “problem” that needs “fixing.” But fear is not disobedience. The more I thought about this, the more I realized it highlights a bigger issue in dog training....
by Kate LaSala | Sep 22, 2025 | Dog Training, Dogs and Babies and Kids, Fear, Aggression and Reactivity, Puppy Training, Rescue Dogs
Today I’m thrilled to share that my new self-paced course, Home Sweet Home: Helping Your New Dog Thrive from Day One is now available! Bringing home a new puppy or rescue dog is one of the most joyful experiences but it can also feel overwhelming. From...
by Kate LaSala | Sep 15, 2025 | Dog Training, Dog Training Regulation, Puppy Training, Rescue Dogs
Much like the lack of transparency in dog training, there’s also a lack of transparency in sheltering and rescue organizations. In 2018 eight prominent animal welfare organizations and foundations released a joint mission statement regarding...
by Kate LaSala | Aug 18, 2025 | Dog Training, Puppy Training
There’s not too many things better in life than watching puppies romp around, wrestling, chewing on each other, playing and toppling over. But trainers know this isn’t just fun and games but that having age appropriate puppy play, especially during...
