by Kate LaSala | Dec 1, 2025 | Dog Training, Pet Loss & Grieving, Rescue Dogs, Resource Guarding, Separation Anxiety
I can hardly believe it but last month marked 6 years that I’ve been writing weekly blog content (except for the time I took off during the decline and death of BooBoo). And like I try to do each year, I highlight my Top 10 posts. This year I also added...
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 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 | Sep 22, 2025 | Dog Training, Dogs and Babies and Kids, Fear, Aggression and Reactivity, Puppy Training, Rescue Dogs
Today I’m thrilled to share that my new self-paced course, Home Sweet Home: Helping Your New Dog Thrive from Day One is now available! Bringing home a new puppy or rescue dog is one of the most joyful experiences but it can also feel overwhelming. From...
by Kate LaSala | Aug 25, 2025 | Dog Training
Many dogs (and cats!) struggle with having normal vet and grooming procedures done and it’s not surprising if we look at it from their perspective. Often times they’ve likely been forced to “just get it done,” maybe having been pinned...
by Kate LaSala | Aug 18, 2025 | Dog Training, Puppy Training
There’s not too many things better in life than watching puppies romp around, wrestling, chewing on each other, playing and toppling over. But trainers know this isn’t just fun and games but that having age appropriate puppy play, especially during...
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...
by Kate LaSala | Jul 28, 2025 | Dog Training, Dog Training Regulation, Fear, Aggression and Reactivity, Separation Anxiety
TV trainers have done a lot of damage over the last couple of decades, especially by promoting the idea that a “calm” dog is the ideal state we should expect at all times. Sure, I like calm dogs when they’re seniors who enjoy snoozing, or when a dog is relaxed...
by Kate LaSala | Jul 7, 2025 | Dog Training, Fear, Aggression and Reactivity, Resource Guarding, Separation Anxiety
Let me first start this post with my standard disclaimer: I AM NOT A VET. 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...
