Behavior Tips

LA LA LA, I Can't Hear You!: Why Your Dog Doesn't Come When Called

Ever feel like your dog just gave you a middle finger when you asked them to come to you? Did you ever stop to think though, why aren't...

So Nice to Meet You! Or Not: Best Practices for Dog to Dog and Stranger to Dog Interactions

It has come up quite a bit with my clients lately. How do I introduce my dog to a strange dog? How do I get my dog and a new person to...

Aggression Pt2: A True Protection Dog vs An Insecure Jerk Dog

Many dog owners have a misguided idea about their dogs willingness and ability to protect them in a dangerous situation. They may have...

Naughty or Nice? Dispelling Myths About Canine Aggression

I hear it almost daily from owners. "My dog is aggressive to XYZ". When I ask more questions about the situation, more often than not, it...

It's a Marathon, Not a Sprint: Measuring Training Progress

In our industry there are two types of trainers; the quick fix sell you anything type and the realists. Some will come and promise they...

It's More Than an Annoyance, It Can Be Dangerous: Why Pros Hate Flexi-Leads

As a balanced trainer, I use tools that people want banned. But in those tool's defense, there is right way and a wrong way to use them....

A Dog's True Purpose: How Much Do You Know About What Your Dog Was Bred to Do?

It's a main stay of the rescue world. "I got this puppy, have never owned the breed before, and it got too big or energetic or it herds...

Would You Work for Free??: The Role of Rewards in Training

So often I get clients who misunderstand rewards and the roles they play in our training work. They refuse to reward their dogs for...

The Crate Debate; When and How to Use Them Correctly

Crate training. A highly debated topic in dog circles. Should you use them at all? If you do, how long is too long? Which type do you...

Hello, Nice to Meet You!: How to Greet Unfamiliar Dogs

I'm not really sure the origins of "put your hand out for the dog to sniff you". Maybe from the horse world? But I digress; the fact is...