Recently I hosted a free Q&A on training deaf dogs, with my friend and colleague, Zach from Evolved Dog Training, who specializes in training hearing impaired dogs. Here are some of the key takeaways from the Q&A: Train hand signals Train gentle,...
Introducing Dogs and Cats
Dogs and cats can, in many cases, live in harmony or peacefully coexist. But there's several things that can be done to help boost the chances of success. First, while it's common for people to think cats cannot be trained and that if dogs and cats are going to...
When Can I Stop Using Food?
This is probably one of my most asked questions from clients. And if it's not that, they're telling me "But, my dog isn't food motivated." I understand - having food on you all the time is annoying! But more often than the annoyance of having food is the...
Behavioral Medication In Training
Let me first start this post with my standard disclaimer: I AM NOT A VET. But as a trainer who specializes in fear, aggression, reactivity and separation anxiety, I have a lot of clients who benefit greatly from anti-anxiety medication to help them live...
8 Essentials For Coming When Called (Recall) Success
Getting your dog to come when called (recall) is a potentially life saving behavior. In a worst case scenario, you drop the leash or your dog slips out of a harness and takes off. You want to know that when you call him, he will come back. So why is recall...
No Is Not A Behavior
Humans seem to love the word NO when it comes to interacting with their dogs. And they're surprised and a little confused when I tell clients "No isn't a behavior." "But I want him to stop doing {fill in the blank} so I tell him no." Here's a newsflash - dogs...
What’s Your Dog Trying To Tell You?
Humans who live with dogs tend to spend a lot of time trying to stop behavior their dog is doing. Stop chasing squirrels. Don't chew on the table leg. Don't shred that paper. Don't steal the food. Stop jumping on people. Don't be mouthy. Stop tugging on my...
8 Keys For Housetraining Success
Housetraining issues can be super frustrating and really zap the joy out of having a new puppy or dog in your home. Nobody likes to clean up constant messes or live with pee and poop. Luckily, there are a few key things you can do to get your pup on the right...
Why Remote Training for Separation Anxiety (and more!)
Remote training isn't new in dog training. In fact, decades ago, separation anxiety trainers would drop camcorders off at their clients' homes so they could record their training. Thankfully we don't need to do that anymore thanks to technology improvements...
My 5 Top Enrichment Choices
Enrichment is one thing I chat with clients about often. Dogs come pre-wired with many skills like sniffing, chewing, dissecting and scavenging that many domesticated dogs don't have a good outlet for. Family dogs often find themselves with endless hours of lounging...
Living With and Loving Senior Dogs
I currently share my life with two senior dogs. Mr. Barbo, turned 13 last week and BooBoo will be 13 in October. And I'm here to say, it can be heartbreaking going through this aging process. Barbo has been with us since he was about a year and half old and...
Separation Anxiety Recovery Is Possible
One of the most common myths I encounter, from clients, other "trainers" and even some vets, is that separation anxiety is not treatable or that dogs can't recover from it. This is completely untrue. Myself and other qualified, certified separation anxiety...
9 Requests On Behalf Of Your Dog
If your dog could talk, he'd have a lot of requests. And I bet you'd be a little surprised at how simple some of those things are. So I'm here, begging you on his behalf. And I hope you'll listen. 9 Requests, From Me, On Behalf Of Your Dog: Please don't use...
Is Your Dog Really “Protecting You”?
I commonly have clients write on their intake form or tell me during our initial consult that they think their dog is "protecting them." Maybe their dog barks or growls at strangers so people jump to the conclusion their dog is guarding them. Maybe that's an...
The Myth of the Calm Dog
TV trainers have done a lot of damage over the last couple of decades, and one of those things is pushing the idea that a "calm" dog is the ideal state we want to achieve for our dogs all the time. I like calm dogs when they're seniors and like to snooze. Or...
But, He’s Fine At The Vet – Understanding Learned Helplessness
Often clients will tell me all about their dog's issues and then say something like "But, he's fine at the vet. He doesn't try to bite or growl or do anything. He just stands there." Thinking the dog is "fine" in those super scary situations because the dog is...
5 Mistakes You’re Making With Your Fearful Dog
It can be exhausting and emotional living with a fearful dog. Whether your dog is struggling with stranger danger, separation anxiety, resource guarding or any other fear based behavioral issue, as much as you love your dog, on some days I'm sure you've wished...
Fearful Dogs and Hand Feeding
I have a request and it may seem weird, but please stop having people try to hand feed your fearful dog. Nearly every client that comes to me with a dog who is afraid of strangers tells me at one point they've tried to get people to hand feed their dog. And I...