This is a PSA post. Right now I’d like to encourage you to see the world through your dog’s eyes, and to approach and treat all dogs accordingly. I have plenty of clients with dogs that are big and cute. Some of these dogs also, unfortunately, have aggression issues. Frequently the owner will be walking […]
How To Think About Dog Aggression
In this short post, I’d like to talk specifically to people who treat their dogs as if they’re kids. Now, I love both my dogs and my kids. Sometimes even I feel that I love my dogs as much as my kids. But even if you do, there has to be a distinction drawn between […]
How to Deal With Separation Anxiety
Separation anxiety is a tough one to deal with. Dogs who get destructive when you’re gone need help in learning how to deal with that pressure and stress from being anxious. There are several tips and tricks you can use, though, to combat this separation anxiety.
Let It Snow: Winter Stimulation for Your Dog
As I write this, it’s cloudy and windy and chilly outside, and that means that soon we’ll start getting a certain type of call from some of our clients. Oftentimes, we train a dog in the spring or summer and have some great results in fixing aggression or house training. But sure enough, come the […]
Pressure’s On: How To Use Rewards Responsibly
In today’s blog post, I want to talk to you about pressure. you’ll hear many dog trainers, including myself, talk about something called “pressure and release.” This is essentially a training strategy that uses the combination of a pressure—like a leash or body language—and a rewarding release. Maybe you have a leash pulling towards you, […]
Busting the Aggression Myth: Why Some Dogs Act Out
In today’s post, I want to talk to you about dog aggression. Specifically, I want to address one of the questions I receive a lot. This is a topic that makes a lot of people frustrated, and come to me saying: “I’m sure I’ve done something wrong, I feel like such a bad dog owner.” […]
Day In, Day Out: Coping Effectively With Stress
I want to spit some science at you today. A lot of you out there know me as an esteemed, renowned scientist—and if that’s the case, I don’t know who you’re watching! I’m not a scientist at all. But I was talking with a client today, who happened to be a psychologist, about a recent […]
It Doesn’t “Just Happen”: Solving Problems Early
Tomorrow, I’m going to the dentist for a root canal. I’ve never had one before. I feel lucky that, in my entire life, I’ve only had one cavity. All those years ago, when I was eighteen, I got the cavity filled and then I didn’t think about it for the next fifteen or twenty years. […]