Halloween is a time of costumes, decorations, and spooky fun for humans but it can be a stressful season for many dogs. Every year, I see a slew of social media videos showing clearly scared dogs while people laugh or pull on their leash to force an...
The Hard Dog Support Circle Waitlist Is Open I’ve been working on this since February, and I’m glad to finally announce it! The Hard Dog Support Circle is a monthly membership for people living with fearful, anxious, reactive, and aggressive dogs, and the...
As a licensed Family Paws Parent Educator and multi-credentialed, certified behavior consultant whose speciality is fear and aggression, I work with a lot of families with dogs and kids. If you're expecting or trying to adopt or get pregnant, you may be wondering...
Would you ever tell someone afraid of spiders to just get over it by dumping a bucket of spiders in their lap? Of course you wouldn't but that is essentially what happens every time a separation anxiety dog is left alone longer than they can handle, even just once...
If you have a Velcro dog, does that automatically mean they are at risk for separation anxiety? It would make a lot of sense to think that. I mean, if you can't walk from one room to another without your dog following you, that she must completely fall...
Owners often come to me saying their dog is "stubborn" or "lazy" on walks when what they are actually describing is likely a dog who is afraid. Being comfortable outside is a learned skill and one that is often missed during the critical socialization window...
As a licensed Family Paws Parent Educator and a certified behavior consultant whose speciality is fear and aggression, I work with a lot of families with dogs and kids. If you're expecting or trying to adopt or get pregnant, you may be wondering when you should...
One of the hardest moments in caring for an animal is realizing that the medical treatment they need costs more than you have. It happens every day, in emergency rooms at 2am, in exam rooms after a scary diagnosis, and in the quiet panic of trying to figure out how...
Can dogs and cats live in harmony? In many cases yes! In some cases, absolutely not. How can we best set everyone up for success? Read on! Dogs and cats can often live in harmony, or at least peacefully coexist, but it's not likely to happen on its own, so...
This might surprise you, but I think teaching a dog to sit is one of the the skills your dog really doesn’t need. Now hold on, hear me out before you hate me. It might be convenient but it’s not essential. It’s not a life or death skill, like leave it or...
If you have ever found yourself frustrated because your eight-week-old puppy will not stop biting at your hands, had an accident on the rug for the third time this week, or completely ignored you the moment another dog trotted by, you are not alone, and you...
When you're caring for a sick, senior, or end-of-life dog, it's easy to get so immersed in their daily needs that you push your own entirely aside. Every decision, every schedule, every outing gets filtered through the lens of what your dog needs right now,...