Pet Training Tips & More

Recently I heard about a man who was re-homing his dog had a bad situation when introducing the dog to prospective new owners. Many people do not understand canine body language and then when the dog nips or bites, claim that it was unprovoked. The late Dr. Sophia Yin, a veterinarian with a masters in animal behavior, published great materials on dog body language and bite prevention. The same information applies when you have company over for a visit. Here are some key takea

Dogs often jump up on people because they are excited or want attention. The problem is that people inadvertently reward that behavior, and so it continues. What do I mean about inadvertently reward? Most people will look at, speak to the dog, or touch the dog to get it off of them. All of this is giving the dog attention that he wanted. In addition, if you move fast or harshly, the dog this that you like to play rough. Here is how I fix the problem: If my dog jumps up on me,

The under command is useful for several applications. I like the versatility for fearful dogs, anxious dogs, distracted or hyper dogs, and reactive dogs. It can be used in an engagement game as well for added fun. I use it when sitting in a public place, by having the dog get under my chair or table, or under my legs. This provides a safety den for your pet like a barrier. This helps your dog feel safe from unwanted strangers reaching out to pet or other approaching dogs. You

I read and hear it all the time: people tell me their dog just will not listen or is stubborn. If you talk to a dog behaviorist, they will tell you that dogs do not really possess that emotion. So why is it that one time the dog does what it is told to do and the next time just looks at you like you are an alien? In a word: engagement. Dog's do not understand spoken language very well. They do understand your body language, your emotions, and your smile. So if they don't real

Puppies can be prone to nipping and biting for up to a year. Although it is most prevalent during teething and diminishes after 6 months, there are measures to take to reduce the problem. First of all, dogs naturally play with others by mouthing. This is different from an aggressive bite. Puppies around children less than 10 years of age quite often “bite” the child. Most dog bites occur by the family dog to a child in the household under 10. Supervising kids and dogs doesn’t

Today I was under anesthesia for a medical procedure, so am sharing something from a fellow trainer- George Van Huyssteen- regarding rewards and training methods. I could not have said it any better. He clearly explains the many questions that I commonly get. George Van Huyssteen 4 days ago · Today I heard another person spreading the word that using food for behaviour modification in dogs is ridiculous, so here is another solid explanation of why we use food when working wi

Many behaviors are erroneously believed to be due to hormones. Often, it is a matter of understanding your dogs and his needs, and providing appropriate training. Here are a few examples: Humping. Neutering does not fix this issue because humping is generally due to being overly aroused and either sex will engage it. Sometimes dogs that are highly excitable will get their owner's attention by humping. And it usually works! So then the behavior is reinforced. Redirect the dog

I have heard many people say that their dog steals almost everything: from socks, to remotes and children's toys. If a dog ingests a non-food item, the chances of having an emergency surgery to remove the foreign object can be very expensive, not to mention the chance of killing your dog. I heard of two dogs just this week that had to have surgery! Stealing is not just young puppy behavior either. Dog tend to have a keen sense that everything belongs to them. Your dog is thin

While it is important to have the right equipment for training your dog, there are risks to consider. For ID purposes, all of my dogs are micro-chipped and the registration kept up-to-date with multiple organizations. Except for training and leaving our property, my dogs remain "naked", meaning not wearing any type of collar or harness. Whether your dog wears a slip collar or a flat buckle collar, there is a risk of entrapment that could result in strangulation. The hanging "

Distraction can be difficult for many owners who want to take their dogs out but the dog seems to suddenly not even know it's name. Think of your dog as a young toddler with ADHD. Asking your dog to pay attention when there are distractions is a big ask. Here are some ways to start building your pup's ability to pay attention in public spaces. Start indoors without noise or other people or pets in the room. Keep it fun and short. As the dog understands the commands, it is tim

In reading various posts on some social media dog groups, I notice that so much of the advice there is uninformed, outdated, or downright harmful. I started training dogs for pay in the 1960s as a kid. I learned how to do this from the library books I checked out on the topic. One of my favorite sayings is, "As we know better, we can do better". Dog training is no different. There is more evidence-based research showing better ways to train, and information in veterinary jour

Not too far back I took a course called "Savvy Socialization" taught by a veterinarian and a canine behaviorist. Although I was aware of the fear period around 9 weeks of age, I didn't know about the other fear periods. Understanding these various stages a pup may go through has really made my training better informed and fear-free. This in turn has increased the reciprocal bond between me and my dogs. Stage 1: Three weeks. The pups now have their ears and eyes open and are s

On social media and of the many people who call me about training issues, pulling is a problem that is one of the most frequent. There are all kinds of tools, but many are aversive. When I am training a young puppy or fearful dog, I start teaching "Heel!" in the house without even a collar. First off, I make sure my dog's needs are met. Trying to mold the dog to into our human world can be difficult if we don't meet their needs first. They need to feel safe and to trust us. T

You may have heard it said that for your dog to understand what he is getting punished for, you have to "catch him in the act". While this may be true, I prefer to train using positive reinforcement rather than punishment. Nonetheless, for the dog to make the connection, your reward must be well- timed in the same way. Dogs understand our body language and sense our emotion far better than our words. When I an teaching my dog a new skill/command such as "down", I use a food l

One of the most basic needs is for our dog to feel safe. If our dog is stressed, we might notice they are panting when it is not hot, drooling excessively, have a worried look on their face and possibly trying to escape away from the situation. If we attempt to force our dog to ignore or approach that stressor , he may develop fear or make fear worse. When the brain is flooded with a flight response, the dog cannot learn. I want to build the trust with my dog so that if he is

This blog is not about being the "alpha" dominating your dog. There are many outdated ideas in dog training that are still common. One of my favorite sayings is, as we know better, we can do better. We have well-researched scientific evidence in the field of dog behavior. Dogs will mirror your emotions and energy, so what you are seeing in your dog may be a reflection of you. So how do I show my dog that I am boss when I have a large, powerful breed like a Rottweiler? The ans

Yes, you CAN teach an old dog new tricks! While puppies are cute, they are a lot of work. If you are looking to add a dog to your household and you work full-time, consider perhaps getting an adult dog. Decades ago I bought a five year old female Rottweiler. She had been a ranch dog and was never leash trained, crate trained or housebroken. The benefits to me at that moment outweighed the problems, so we brought her home. It can take a dog up to 3 months to fully adapt and se

Often times my weekly topics are based upon issues clients have with their dogs. Today, I decided to do a "myth buster" because a group that I am part of on Facebook, has people responding with harmful and outdated advice. My answers and advice are always based upon scientific research and veterinary journals, not just my own experience. Research relies on having a large sample size for the results to be reliable and able to generalize. So, here we go! Q. As long as the puppy

Many dogs go missing during fireworks. With Independence Day just a few days away, I am well aware that many dogs are very anxious when they hear loud noises like thunder, gun fire, or fireworks. It is helpful to prepare in advance, but sometimes that is not possible. We need to keep our dogs inside and secure at least. Here are some things you can do at home to help: Pheromones can naturally help calm a dog. You can purchase a plug in spray or buy a collar. I recommend the b

When people get a puppy and the puppy starts misbehaving, the most common thing they tell their dog is "No!" Dogs do not understand the meaning of words and have to be taught what each word means, such as sit. What does "no" actually mean for your dog? If you notice, using no may temporarily interrupt the behavior, but then the unwanted behavior comes back. Dogs will do naughty behaviors as they seek our attention, so by interacting with them (touching, looking at them, talki