Companion animals are family for me, as they likely are to you. And thinking about or dealing with their loss is often a topic that just isn't talked about. And as a society, we tend not honor pet loss with the same gravity as losing a human. Or we do for a very...
Today I'm recapping a (slightly late) mid-year review of my top 5 most visited posts from this year, so far: Is Your Reactive Dog Fearful, Aggressive, Excited Or Frustrated? Sociability and Social Maturity In Dogs 5 Myths About Shock Collars Train Manners And Life...
As someone who specializes in fear and aggression cases, a few times a year, I have clients who are facing the consider of rehoming, surrendering or behavioral euthanasia. I am also a certified companion animal end-of-life death doula, so I am uniquely qualified to...
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. Recall is also...
I've written in the past about resource guarding prevention, and what to do if you have a puppy or a new dog who doesn't resource guard and how to help teach them that people approaching is good, not threatening. You can see that post and videos here. Today...
When I have my initial consult with separation anxiety clients, most, if not all of them, have some misguided understanding or belief about separation anxiety. And with all the widely found information online and given from friends, it's easy to see why...
Bringing home a new dog, whether a puppy or an adult, is exciting. But, if you have a resident dog already, you may be a little anxious about the best way to introduce them and how to make things go as smoothly as possible. It's up to us to set both your new and...
We all love our dogs and we want to show them how much we love them. One of the most common bits of information I deliver to clients is that most dogs don't like to be hugged or kissed. It's a hard conversation to have and it often shatters them. They tell me,...
Today I'm thrilled to share that my new course, Conquering The Urban Jungle: Helping Dogs With Their Fear Of Being Outside, is now available! This has been many months in the making and I am so excited to be able to finally share it with you. This course is...
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. Some contact me ahead of time, to help prepare their dog, or address concerns before the baby...
Understanding how to read your dog's communication is the single most important thing you can to improve your relationship with your dog. This is probably why one of my most popular free downloads is my infographic on dog communication. If you missed it, you can...
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 always ask clients about their dog's medical history and I'm always scanning for red flags...