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 | Sep 15, 2025 | Dog Training, Dog Training Regulation, Puppy Training, Rescue Dogs
Much like the lack of transparency in dog training, there’s also a lack of transparency in sheltering and rescue organizations. In 2018 eight prominent animal welfare organizations and foundations released a joint mission statement regarding...
by Kate LaSala | Jul 21, 2025 | Dog Training, Puppy Training, Separation Anxiety
It can be confusing for new puppy parents to know if their puppy is experiencing separation anxiety or normal “puppy stuff” since there can be a lot of crossover between the two. Puppies inherently have separation anxiety – vocalizing to reunite with mom...
by Kate LaSala | Jul 14, 2025 | Dog Training, Fear, Aggression and Reactivity, Pet Loss & Grieving, Rescue Dogs
Recently I submitted my one year grief update to The Pet Loss Companion podcast, because they had graciously shared my story about BooBoo shortly after she passed away, and I wanted to give them an update. My Lessons and Gratitude in Grief One Year in was...
by Kate LaSala | May 30, 2025 | Dog Training, Fear, Aggression and Reactivity, Pet Loss & Grieving, Rescue Dogs
I was recently honored to be a guest on the The Pet Loss Companion podcast, episode #212, talking about fostering, how fostering helped with my grief journey with BooBoo, and 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...