by Kate LaSala | Mar 24, 2025 | Dog Training, Fear, Aggression and Reactivity, Puppy Training
Socialization is critical to a happy, behaviorally healthy dogs. Unfortunately there are a lot of mistruths, myths and bad information out there on socialization, including that puppies shouldn’t go out until they’re fully vaccinated. Socialization is not...
by Kate LaSala | Nov 11, 2024 | Dog Training, Fear, Aggression and Reactivity
Can dogs be racist? This is a question I get from clients when they sheepishly bring this up in consults and sort of whisper “I think my dog is a racist.” I assure them, first, that they’re not alone and second, that as embarrassing as this...
by Kate LaSala | May 16, 2023 | Dog Training, Fear, Aggression and Reactivity
I’ve written about the importance of enrichment how giving your dog outlets for normal dog behavior like sniffing is important and how enrichment isn’t optional. But, let’s face it. We all have busy lives. And sometimes the weather may not...
by Kate LaSala | May 15, 2023 | Dog Training, Fear, Aggression and Reactivity
I’ve written about the importance of enrichment how giving your dog outlets for normal dog behavior like sniffing is important and how enrichment isn’t optional. Often we overlook social interaction as part of our enrichment plan. Remember, dogs are...
by Kate LaSala | Apr 3, 2023 | 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 | 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 | Jan 17, 2022 | Dog Training, Dog Training Regulation, Rescue Dogs
Today marks what would have been Betty White’s 100th birthday. We lost a great champion for animals – not just shelter dogs and cats but primates, birds and zoo animals. Betty White advocated for better zoo conditions, protecting endangered species...
by Kate LaSala | Jan 18, 2021 | Dog Training, Fear, Aggression and Reactivity
With the horrible events in our nation’s Capitol recently, I’ve been struggling a bit with how to appropriately provide relevant, but sensitive content for this week, so it seemed fitting to broach the topic of racism, or at least racism in dogs. ...
by Kate LaSala | Dec 21, 2020 | Dog Training, Fear, Aggression and Reactivity, Puppy Training
This is the fourth and final installment in my Fear in Dogs series discussing all the various ways dogs can acquire fear. Last week I released this helpful, downloadable infographic that you can download on my Free Downloads page. This week, I’m...
by Kate LaSala | Dec 14, 2020 | Dog Training, Fear, Aggression and Reactivity
This is the third installment in my Fear in Dogs series discussing the various ways dogs can acquire fear. This week, I’m talking about the most commonly known (and assumed) way dogs get fear, through bad experiences. When I have a fear and aggression...