Pet Training Tips & More

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In reading various posts on some social media dog groups, I notice that so much of the advice there is uninformed, outdated, or downright harmful.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

I was recently asked if I just teach my dogs some basic commands or do I actually train it to heel formally and follow commands out in public. My reply that I do both! Most people contact me about trying to fix a bad habit and manners at home. Even my competition dogs are pets first! Therefore, I would start with training home manners, then proceed to manners in public. I would encourage most people to strive to train their dogs to reach two goals: Pass and earn the AKC title

Many people are unaware that it is illegal in most states to sell or give away a puppy before 8 weeks of age. If the breeder or other person tells you that the puppy is weaned and ready to go younger than that, refuse to take the puppy, and report them to the authorities. Reputable breeders will not release a puppy prior to 8 weeks and many not until 10+ weeks of age. The puppy needs to remain with it's mom and litter mates to learn bite inhibition and manners. In addition, m

I have owned a variety of breeds from various groups. Some breeds may often be labeled as "stubborn". Many hounds may fall into that category, and so do Rottweilers, etc. So really? Dogs are sentient beings and have feelings, but they do not have the same set of complex emotions as humans. When it appears that my dog won't listen or just plain ignores me, I need to re-think the why behind that behavior. Breeds that get the stubborn label are often independent dogs. They were

A dog that rushes the door (or gate) is not only exhibiting bad manners, it can turn harmful. In earning a Virtual Home Manners title through AKC, door manners is part of the test. Since 1986, I have always owned several dogs at a time. Whether I am opening the door from the house to the yard, out front, or the gate, I teach my dogs to only come through when I call their name. I can tell you that it is dangerous to have a big dog knock you over in their rush through the openi

Recently I have seen where some counties or states are trying to pass a dangerous dog law. In reviewing these proposed laws, a dog could be labeled as dangerous if it threatens to bite (or actually does bite) "unprovoked". The underlying problem is that people do not understand dog body language or how to properly approach a dog. The American Kennel Club has a program called Canine Ambassadors. The ambassador with their dog will teach any group about safety around dogs or res

I know this might not sound like a dog training issue. Unfortunately, children under age ten make up the majority of dog bite victims, and often by the family dog. Parental supervision does not always work because the parents do not understand dog body language sufficiently to know when a dog is fearful or uncomfortable. Most dog bites are out of fear rather than aggression. Here are some tips to guide child interactions, and tips for recognizing dog fear. Have a crate set up

During the pandemic when most people had to stay at home, many dogs developed separation anxiety. Here is a list of things the owner does that can create this problem: •Pet your dog, all the time •Talk to your dog, all the time •Allow your dog to follow you, all the time •Allow your dog to be on your lap or laying on your feet, all the time •Pet, soothe, comfort your dog when it whines or barks for attention...or is simply anxious •Allow your dog to demand affection/interacti

There are several reasons why a dog becomes food aggressive. If he was in a shelter, or was a stray, or there were issues with food scarcity or bigger dogs taking his food, we may have a dog that growls or snaps at anyone or any dog that approaches him while eating. Another problem is the dog that jumps and knocks the food from your hand in his rush to get it. Here are some tips to help your dog get over this problem. Be sure to feed your dog in a quiet secure place away from