by Kate LaSala | Feb 13, 2023 | Dog Training, Fear, Aggression and Reactivity, Rescue Dogs, Resource Guarding, Separation Anxiety
One of the biggest differences working with a qualified trainer and trying to DIY your training is knowing when or how to make your training more challenging for your dog. One of the recent survey questions submitted was “how do I know when my dog is...
by Kate LaSala | Jan 23, 2023 | Dog Training, Dogs and Babies and Kids, Puppy Training, Separation Anxiety
It can be confusing for dog guardians to know if their dog or puppy is experiencing separation anxiety or just having normal “dog stuff” going on, since often there can be a lot of crossover between how behavior presents. Is the dog being...
by Kate LaSala | Jan 16, 2023 | Dog Training, Fear, Aggression and Reactivity, Puppy Training
I have many clients that find themselves to me because their dog, whether newly adopted from a rescue or purchased from a breeder, discover their dog is afraid of being outside. This is especially prominent in dogs who come from quiet rural settings and then...
by Kate LaSala | Dec 26, 2022 | Dog Training
2022 was a hard year for many, including my own family losing Mr. Barbo in August. I’ve had clients struggling with separation anxiety, and other fearful or aggressive situations: dogs biting children, resource guarders, dogs who don’t like to be...
by Kate LaSala | Dec 19, 2022 | Dog Training, Dogs and Babies and Kids, Fear, Aggression and Reactivity, Rescue Dogs
This past Halloween and holiday season I’ve seen a rash of social media posts, usually videos, of clearly scared dogs and people laughing at them. Dogs startling at lawn inflatables. Dogs backing away from people in costumes. Dogs barking at toys or decorations...
by Kate LaSala | Nov 21, 2022 | Dog Training, Dogs and Babies and Kids, Fear, Aggression and Reactivity, Rescue Dogs
During this week of Thanksgiving, I’m reflecting on the many things I’m thankful for and that includes all of you. I am thankful for dogs, and their people, who care so deeply about them and want so desperately to help their dogs live a better life....
by Kate LaSala | Nov 7, 2022 | Dog Training, Fear, Aggression and Reactivity, Puppy Training, Rescue Dogs, Resource Guarding
Social media is full of posts from people asking for trainers who are breed experts for their specific dog’s breed. It’s also full of terrible advice that certain breeds require certain dog training methods while other breeds need a different type...
by Kate LaSala | Nov 1, 2022 | Dog Training, Dog Training Regulation, Dogs and Babies and Kids, Fear, Aggression and Reactivity, Puppy Training, Rescue Dogs, Resource Guarding, Separation Anxiety
Download my free guide: 3 Reasons Not To Use A Shock Collar. I talk more about why not to use these tools, a deeper dive into regulation and give you citations to the research if you’d like to look at it for yourself. There are better, more humane, more...
by Kate LaSala | Oct 31, 2022 | Dog Training, Dog Training Regulation, Dogs and Babies and Kids, Fear, Aggression and Reactivity, Puppy Training, Rescue Dogs, Resource Guarding, Separation Anxiety
I am not a betting person but if I had to bet, I’d wager you got a dog because you wanted a companion, a family member, something to love and nurture – not something to control with force, fear or pain. Whether it is out of desperation, poor guidance from...
by Kate LaSala | Oct 10, 2022 | Dog Training, Puppy Training, Rescue Dogs
When we first adopted Barbo, and left him alone for the first time, we came home and I started to make dinner and couldn’t find the baguette I was certain I had purchased earlier that day. I checked the car, my receipt and just assumed maybe it got left...