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...
by Kate LaSala | Jun 30, 2025 | Dog Training, Fear, Aggression and Reactivity, Resource Guarding
One of the most common things I hear from new clients—either on their intake forms or during our first consult—is this: “I think my dog is trying to protect me.” Often, this belief comes up when a dog barks, growls, or even snaps at strangers or when...
by Kate LaSala | Jun 23, 2025 | Dog Training, Puppy Training, Rescue Dogs, Separation Anxiety
The problem Do you live in a place where people leave their dogs in the yard all the time and all you hear is dogs barking? Sadly, in many places in the country, this is the norm and animal welfare being what it is, in most places if the dog has water and some...
by Kate LaSala | Jun 9, 2025 | Dog Training, Separation Anxiety
When your dog is suffering from separation anxiety, it’s completely natural to want to do everything in your power to help them feel better. A quick internet search will turn up countless suggestions that promise fast results. But for dogs with true separation...
by Kate LaSala | Jun 2, 2025 | Dog Training, Dogs and Babies and Kids, Fear, Aggression and Reactivity, Rescue Dogs
Last week, I was a guest on The Pet Loss Companion podcast (Episode #212) where I shared how fostering became an important part of my grief journey after losing Boo. I also talked about my self-paced course, Fostering 101: Fundamentals to Being a Successful...
by Kate LaSala | May 26, 2025 | Dog Training, Dog Training Regulation, Puppy Training, Rescue Dogs
I often hear from potential clients who are torn between hiring a private trainer like me or sending their dog to a “boot camp.” Let me be clear: boot camp is not the answer. The term itself conjures images of military-style training—pre-dawn wake-ups, yelling, rigid...
by Kate LaSala | May 12, 2025 | Dog Training, Dogs and Babies and Kids, Fear, Aggression and Reactivity, Rescue Dogs
Today I’m thrilled to share that my new self-paced course, Fostering 101: Fundamentals To Being A Successful Foster is now available! This course is perfect for those who are fostering or if you’re considering fostering. The course is comprehensive...
by Kate LaSala | May 5, 2025 | Dog Training, Dog Training Regulation, Fear, Aggression and Reactivity, Puppy Training, Rescue Dogs
I’ve previously written about 5 Myths About Shock Collars and have my free download 3 Reasons Not To Use A Shock Collar where I talk more about why not to use these tools, take a deeper dive into regulation and give you citations to research if...
by Kate LaSala | Apr 14, 2025 | Dog Training, Fear, Aggression and Reactivity
There are few joys better than watching a dog enjoy a car ride, with their head poking out of the window (while they’re safely tethered), watching the world go by. But for some dogs, they seem to hate car rides, showing signs of clear anxiety like...
by Kate LaSala | Mar 31, 2025 | Dog Training, Fear, Aggression and Reactivity, Rescue Dogs
As someone who focuses on fear and aggression, a majority of my clients have fear of strangers, or “stranger danger.” This includes subsets of strangers, like fear of children, fear of men or fear of people who look or act a certain way. When your...
