Does your dog act shy or fearful around new people or situations? If so you're not alone. A lot of dogs have confidence issues, even when we try our best to socialize them well. Luckily there are a few things you can do to boost your dogs … [Read more...]
10 Dog Training Tips I’m Tired of Hearing
Dog Training Has Come A Long Way I've been obsessed with dogs for years, and I still remember vividly all those dogs books I owned back in the 80's with all sorts of "solid" advice. Piles and piles of books, each one telling your how to choose and … [Read more...]
The Importance of Adding Mental Exercise to Your Dogs Routine
Have you seen those people that walk their dogs by letting them run alongside their car? In my neighborhood there's a few people that do that, and although they are providing physical exercise I question how safe and effective it is. But at least … [Read more...]
Is Positive Reinforcement Training Finally The Norm?
Did you have a dog growing up? Think about how your family approached training. If yours was anything like mine (or the majority of people before the 1990's) there was probably a lot of punishment and a lot of yelling. Yes, there was always … [Read more...]
5 Methods That Will Help Reduce Resource Guarding
Disclaimer: Resource guarding (commonly referred to as food aggression) is a serious behavior. If your dog exhibits any aggression or guarding that you're uncomfortable with please seek the help of a professional. Resource guarding won't just go … [Read more...]
Do Yourself a Favor and Teach Your Dog to Chase Bubbles
Entertaining a dog doesn't get much easier than blowing bubbles. When it comes to keeping your dog busy and active you're golden if you can teach your dog to chase bubbles. I'm not sure how this came about but Laika had an epiphany this month. It … [Read more...]
Are Squeaky Toys Too Stimulating For Your Dog?
I keep reading that squeaky toys can cause aggression, resource guarding, and predatory instincts in dogs. I've yet to see any of those behaviors with my dog, but they certainly create extremely high levels of excitement. Is it just innocent fun or … [Read more...]
5 Of Our Training Goals For the Fall
I suck at keeping goals, but when I write them down, well that's another story. As soon as I let someone else know what I'm planning it gives me extra motivation to actually stick with it. Our Fall Training Goals Here's the training goals I'd … [Read more...]
Please Stop Asking “Whose Walking Who?”
Not only do I allow my dog to walk in front of me - I even let her walk through doors before me. I know what you're thinking; "but letting a dog walk ahead of you means they're in control." Does it really? In control of what? My home, my thoughts, … [Read more...]
How to Make Dog Training Fun
A few years ago I was your standard 'always use treats for training rewards' kind of gal. It wasn't until I started experimenting with different rewards that I realized how boring my training had become. I Was Making Dog Training Boring Do you want … [Read more...]