by Kate LaSala | Sep 26, 2022 | Dog Training
Understanding how to read your dog’s communication is the single most important thing you can to improve your relationship with your dog. Dogs very rarely “bite out of nowhere.” More commonly, we’ve ignored (or in some cases, the dog has been...
by Kate LaSala | Sep 19, 2022 | Dog Training, Puppy Training
The myth, and frankly, dangerous, outdated “advice” breeders, rescues and even vets are giving to new owners that puppies can’t go outside until all their vaccines are complete, has reared its ugly head again. (Note: I am not a vet, so there may be...
by Kate LaSala | Sep 12, 2022 | Dog Training, Rescue Dogs
So you’ve brought home a new rescue dog (or are preparing to do so)! Congratulations on your new addition! I bet you’re excited to show off your new bundle of joy to everyone! And that’s understandable! But first, let’s look at some important...
by Kate LaSala | Aug 29, 2022 | 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. But as a trainer in the US who specializes in fear, aggression, reactivity and separation anxiety, I get asked a lot about medication and non-pharmaceutical interventions like calming...
by Kate LaSala | Jun 13, 2022 | Dog Training, Dogs and Babies and Kids, Fear, Aggression and Reactivity, Rescue Dogs
As I recently discussed, behavior is never random. And it’s also not a slippery slope. Dog-dog issues don’t predict dog-human issues or vice versa. There are plenty of dogs who are great with other dogs but who are afraid of strangers. Just as there are...
by Kate LaSala | Apr 25, 2022 | Dog Training, Dogs and Babies and Kids, Fear, Aggression and Reactivity, Rescue Dogs
Behavior is never random. Often clients will come to me saying their dog has bitten “unprovoked” or “out of the blue.” Bites happen fast, so it can seem like they happen out of the blue but when we dig into it, we uncover that the dog was...
by Kate LaSala | Feb 28, 2022 | Dog Training, Fear, Aggression and Reactivity, Rescue Dogs
When you have a dog who is afraid of stranger and leash reactive, it can make walks and just living your life, very challenging. It’s embarrassing, disruptive and in some cases, possibly dangerous. But there are things we can do in the course of training...
by Kate LaSala | Feb 14, 2022 | Dog Training, Puppy Training
Puppies are hard work. They’re usually harder than people anticipate and that’s assuming you have a well-bred, generally problem free puppy. I’ve had puppy clients with severe fear issues and I’ve had puppy clients with medical issues...
by Kate LaSala | Feb 7, 2022 | Dog Training, Dog Training Regulation, Fear, Aggression and Reactivity, Separation Anxiety
If you’ve been here a while, you know I’m a huge advocate for evidence based training, continuing education and debunking myths that can be harmful or misleading. In all my work with rescues and shelters, every single one has ascribed to the myth of...
by Kate LaSala | Nov 29, 2021 | Dog Training, Dogs and Babies and Kids, Fear, Aggression and Reactivity, Rescue Dogs
As a quick reference guide, I’m compiling my posts and downloads about dogs with kids and babies here in one place (and I will try to update it moving forward). Self-paced Pre-Baby Prep Course: Bringing Home Baby Free Downloads: 10 Dos and Dont’s...
