Dogs who have separation anxiety, even mild separation anxiety, can be restless at best, or self-harm at worst. What happens when your dog needs to rest quietly for her health and safety, but cannot be in a crate and left alone? In today’s Ask a Behaviour Consultant, we tackle this puzzle for Lily and her … Read more
Nipping is one of the most common concerns that puppy parents have. It can be frustrating and painful. Puppy teeth are very sharp! Unfortunately, nipping almost always gets worse before it gets better. Puppy nipping is a normal behavior. All puppies explore their world with their mouths. This is especially true for herding (Heelers and … Read more
I have treated cases of separation anxiety in all types of dogs―young, old, those who have only had one family, those who have had many. Separation anxiety can manifest in many ways. Some of the more prominent and problematic symptoms of distress caused by separation anxiety are: Destruction of items in your home Self-harm Urination … Read more
Go lie down. Kennel up. Go to your bed. Place. These are all the name of my favorite behaviors to teach every dog. Young or old, big or small, this will help all dogs learn manners and independence. Imagine this: someone comes to your front door. Instead of jumping, barking, or running amuck, your dog … Read more
Almost all dogs bark. It’s normal for dogs to vocalize! When is my dog’s barking a problem? Let me tell you a story. I have a friend that lives in an apartment with her dog. The dog is a small, older dog and this a great living space for her. Except, when my friend leaves … Read more
There is a common misconception that if you use treats to train your dog, that you are just using bribery. Or, that your dog will ONLY do what is asked of them if there is food present. Or, that your dog will begin to beg for food all the time if you use food, particularly … Read more
There is a lot of dog training material and advice out there on the information superhighway. Unfortunately, not all of the books on display on Amazon are created equal. How do you know what to is useful and what might be wrong or even potentially harmful for your dog? Here is a breakdown of some … Read more
Do you find yourself wondering where you can buy a better, stronger, indestructible crate? Is your dog escaping their kennel, or destroying it while you’re away? This issue may be less about the quality of the crate you’re using, and more about the quality or your training. Let’s be clear here: an escape-proof dog crate … Read more
Treats are an important part of training. They work to reinforce behaviors we would like our dogs to do more of. Treats also work to create positive associations with new items, like truck backfires or men in hats. In other words, treats help us teach our dogs to do more of what we like and … Read more
