In this post, I’d like to talk about components of who your dog is. Incorrect thinking on this topic is a trap that I fall into somewhat frequently, just because my overall job as a trainer is to modify a dog’s behavior to reflect what the customer is paying for and what I want for …
Today I’m going to talk about your dog playing you for a fool. It happens all the time, and there are a lot of dogs that are smart enough for it. Experts say that 90% of communication is nonverbal, and I totally believe that to be true. I think we as people learn nonverbal cues …
In today’s podcast, I’d like to discuss how to help your dog get over fear and anxiety, and the other barriers that sometimes set them back. Today, I was working with a great client who came in with some of her teenage kids. She told me that the dog we were working with was the …
In today’s post, I want to talk about something difficult: your stubborn dog! I’ve been thinking about this topic a lot because Facebook was kind enough to show me a memory of a quote that I shared three or four years ago: “In order for a dog to be considered stubborn, he must first know …
The other day I heard some barking in my backyard. I live in a very unique neighborhood. In the small block that I live on, there are about fifteen houses. Out of all those houses, my family is the only one that owns dogs. Nowhere else in America will you see fifteen houses in a …
I want to talk about leadership. This is one of those concepts that a lot of people realize they need to do better, particularly in relation to their dogs. Unfortunately, some of these people end up practicing that only looks like leadership. Some of them just try to look tougher, some say things in a …
Today, I’d like to talk about a slightly unusual topic: laser pointers. Around the beginning of my business, I got a call from an owner who had three Boston terriers. They were one of the first clients that I had while working on my own. On the phone, they told me that their dogs chased …
A lot of people like to go on off leash hikes with their dog. The problem is, though, with what happens when you have a dog with aggression and you want to go on off leash hikes. The key is that you need to train the dog to ignore other dogs, be obedient and focused …
This is such an easy concept to understand. But it so frequently gets overlooked. When you’re training your dog you’ve got to use distractions. I know, I know. It sounds like a no-brainer. But hardly anybody does it. Rather, too many dog owners teach their dogs in a sterile environment and then expect the dog …