When Relief and Grief Live in the Same Breath
Feeling relieved after a behavioral euthanasia doesn't mean you didn't love your dog. It means you carried something heavy for a long time.
When Relief and Grief Live in the Same Breath
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What I’ve Learned After Working With Over 3,000 Dog Training Clients
What I’ve Learned After Working With Over 3,000 Dog Training Clients
Three thousand clients. I've been eyeing that 3000 number for a while and when I updated my master client log earlier last month I sat trying to figure out how to write about it and commemorate it without it sounding like a humble brag. It's something I'm very...
Even Trainers Make Mistakes | Rescued By Training
Even Trainers Make Mistakes | Rescued By Training
Let me tell you about one of the most humbling (embarrassing?) moments of my dog training career. It involved a Halloween costume, a jack o'lantern, and Gertie making a break for it while I stood there in my front yard yelling something I thought I'd never...
Don’t Wait and See: Why Puppy Behavioral Issues Need Early Attention
Don’t Wait and See: Why Puppy Behavioral Issues Need Early Attention
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 of it doesn't....
How Long Should Your Dog Training Sessions Be?
How Long Should Your Dog Training Sessions Be?
A while back I wrote about the importance of interval training in dog training. The idea of mixing higher-intensity practice with periods of rest is something I encourage all my clients to use, especially when working through separation anxiety or fear-based...
My Grief Journey Two Years In
My Grief Journey Two Years In
My pet loss grief journey, two years in, reflecting and sharing heartfelt lessons to help you heal.
Behavior Is Not a Slippery Slope | Rescued By Training
Behavior Is Not a Slippery Slope | Rescued By Training
Behavior is never random. It is also not a slippery slope. Dog-dog issues do not predict dog-human issues, and vice versa. There are plenty of dogs who are completely comfortable with other dogs but fearful of strangers. And there are plenty more who are...
Why Reddit and AI Are Not Enough for Dog Behavior Problems
Why Reddit and AI Are Not Enough for Dog Behavior Problems
If you are struggling with your dog’s behavior, I want you to hear this first. You are not failing. You are not behind. And you absolutely deserve qualified help. But I want you to also know that the quality of information you get and who you hire matters. A lot....
Quality of Life Assessment: Practicing What I Preach
Quality of Life Assessment: Practicing What I Preach
A little over a year ago, we adopted a new dog, Gertie. Full name: Gertrude Wigglebottom, because if you've seen some of my videos of her...well, it's obvious. If you’ve been here a while, you might remember that just four days after making her adoption official,...
Are You Just Lucky When Your Dog Listens To You?
Are You Just Lucky When Your Dog Listens To You?
Do you ever feel like your dog listens to you better than your spouse? Do you wonder if you're just lucky or maybe the dog "likes you better"? Sure, your dog might be more attached to one person over the other, but maybe instead of luck, it's the matching...
How to Spot Red Flags When Hiring a Dog Trainer
How to Spot Red Flags When Hiring a Dog Trainer
Professional licensure is not required to call yourself a dog trainer nor is there any industry specific government regulation. Anyone can wake up tomorrow, print business cards, make an Instagram account, and call themselves a trainer or "behaviorist." There is no...
Helping Dogs Grieve Human Losses
Helping Dogs Grieve Human Losses
Over the holidays I watched a new movie, whose premise was a couple that had broken up and were sharing custody of their dog. But when the dog was only with one of them, he was "depressed" as the vet diagnosed him. I'll spare you the whole rom-com plot - I'm...