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 […]
Exception To The Rule: How To Train A Stubborn Dog
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 […]
Just A Habit: Real Obedience Training For Dogs
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 […]
Show and Tell: Puppy Obedience Training
In today’s post, I want to talk about the number one complaint that I hear from dog owners the first time that I meet with them. I’ve probably written about this before, but I’d like to do so again because I’ve gained insight on it through the years. So which complaint do I hear the […]
Staying Together: How to Train For the Yard
In today’s post, I want to give you a few tips for keeping your dog close. Many clients find themselves using these methods in the front yard, when they’re gardening, chatting with neighbors, or working on their car. You want to be outside and you want your dog to be with you, but you don’t […]
On Edge: Dog Obedience and Children
Today, I thought I’d write a post about a news item that’s been on my mind lately. If you hadn’t heard, it was recently in the news that the Obama family’s dog bit a teenage girl in the face. The story, as I’ve heard it, is that the girl got in the dog’s face and […]
Bonus Round: More About the Collateral Effect
In today’s post, I want to talk about something that I’ve brushed on before and want to explain in more depth. It’s called the “collateral effect.” The “collateral effect” is a term that I use frequently. It simply refers to the common trend that when we satisfy one need in a dog, other behaviors that […]
Touring the Core: Total Recall
In today’s post, I want to talk about a very important subject in dog training: core behaviors. I’ve found over the years that there are three of these “core” behaviors. If a dog does these behaviors, and does them well, then we can manage or solve 95% of the things that bother the owners about […]
Where’s The Magic?: Why Consistency Matters
Would you believe me if I told you that your dog lies to you? What if I told you that he lies to your trainer? In the beginning stages of our training program, owners frequently say things like: “I have no idea what’s going on; my dog does great here, but when we’re at home […]
Don’t Turn Away: Addressing Some Big Issues
In this post, I’m going to be talking specifically about jumping and biting. I’ve spoken about this a few days ago in another post, but I want to address it head-on here. I just got off the phone with a gentleman who told me: “I’ve got this young dog, and every time the previous owner […]
Drawing the Line: How to Balance Training and Life
In this post, I’d like to speak to you about how to create a healthy relationship between training time and “real life.” I find myself talking about this a lot because many of our clients struggle to find that balance. They tell me: “When I go outside to a field or park to practice this, […]
Understanding “Stubbornness”
In this post, I want to talk about stubborn dogs. Here’s the thing: even if you think you have a stubborn dog, I doubt it. You might, because they do exist. But I highly doubt that you have one. It’s common for me to be working with a client and hear something like, “Oh gosh, […]