by Kate LaSala | Mar 30, 2026 | Dog Training, Dog Training Regulation, Fear, Aggression and Reactivity, Rescue Dogs, Resource Guarding, Separation Anxiety
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....
by Kate LaSala | Mar 9, 2026 | Dog Training, Dog Training Regulation, Fear, Aggression and Reactivity, Rescue Dogs, Resource Guarding, Separation Anxiety
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.”...
by Kate LaSala | Feb 2, 2026 | Dog Training, Fear, Aggression and Reactivity, Rescue Dogs
As a dog trainer and active foster, I have introduced a lot of dogs to a lot of other dogs. Clients’ dogs, foster dogs, resident dogs, dogs who have a long learning history of struggling with other dogs, dogs who want to play, dogs who are asocial but don’t want...
by Kate LaSala | Jan 26, 2026 | Dog Training, Separation Anxiety
With the New Year often comes transition, and for many people that includes moving. A large number of my clients relocated during Covid, and over time I noticed several common challenges that came up when moving to a new home with a dog. Personally we’ve moved 5...
by Kate LaSala | Dec 29, 2025 | Dog Training, Fear, Aggression and Reactivity, Rescue Dogs, Separation Anxiety
Happy New Year! With the start of the new year, I thought it would be a good reminder to help get you started off with some things to implement for 2026 to set your dog (and you!) up for success. Stop using punishment based methods and aversive tools like...
by Kate LaSala | Nov 3, 2025 | Dog Training, Dog Training Regulation, Fear, Aggression and Reactivity, Rescue Dogs, Resource Guarding, Separation Anxiety
Sometimes when potential clients reach out they ask why they need both me and a vet or a veterinary behaviorist. It’s confusing! I get it! It can be hard for consumers to decode and understand all the letters and professional certificates out there. My post here...
by Kate LaSala | Oct 27, 2025 | Dog Training, Dog Training Regulation, Fear, Aggression and Reactivity, Rescue Dogs
Occasionally I’ll get inquiries about a family wanting to get a protection dog. It’s natural to want to keep your family safe. In a world where news headlines can make us feel vulnerable, the idea of bringing home a trained “protection dog” may sound appealing....
by Kate LaSala | Oct 20, 2025 | Dog Training, Dogs and Babies and Kids, Fear, Aggression and Reactivity, Rescue Dogs
Halloween is a time of costumes, decorations, and spooky fun but it can also be a stressful season for many dogs. Each year, I see a surge of social media videos showing clearly scared dogs while people laugh or pull on their leash to force an interaction. Dogs...
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 | Aug 4, 2025 | Dog Training, Dog Training Regulation, Fear, Aggression and Reactivity, Rescue Dogs, Resource Guarding
Behavior Suppression Is Not Behavior Modification. What do I mean by that? Here’s an analogy I often share with clients: If you break your arm and start crying, I might be able to slap you around enough to get you to stop crying. Just stopping those outward signs is...
