Dogs get up to all sorts of trouble when we leave them alone. Most dogs chew, dig, or destroy at least a few things in their time. But how do we teach a dog not to chew on things when he’s alone? In the latest “Ask a Trainer” question, we’re helping a reader troubleshoot her dog’s problem … Read more
Integrating a new dog to a household is almost always a bumpy road. Things only get more difficult if the original dogs aren’t enthused about their new housemate. In the latest “Ask a Trainer” question, we’re helping a reader smooth over relations between his three dogs: Our reader writes, “How can I get my 2 … Read more
German Shepherds (and most other working breeds) can be quite the handful. It’s not uncommon to have a German Shepherd who bites at clothing, plays rough, or doesn’t listen. Let’s take a look at how to deal with this problem in our latest Ask a Trainer. Dealing with unruly German Shepherds (and other breeds) is easiest with the help of a trainer. I can help – no matter where you live. Want more on teaching impulse control … Read more
Dogs bark at people when they’re on the bed for all sorts of reasons. It can be really hard to know exactly why your dog barks at you when he’s on your bed, but we definitely know it’s a problem! Let’s look at how to fix this problem. If your dog is barking at you and you’d like help, hire me for virtual training. I offer 15 minute behavior help calls, 1 hour calls, and month-long email … Read more
Sometimes, the more our dogs are exposed to things, the worse their responses get. Why do dogs get more scared of things with more exposure, rather than getting better? This is a common problem that’s really frustrating. It seems like your dog should learn that something isn’t scary if every time it happens, nothing bad … Read more
The little dog was shaking in her skin, cowering beneath her bed in the shelter. So scared that she’d peed herself, this little dog wanted nothing to do with me. But it was my job to help this dog trust people again so that she could be adopted. And we just had a few weeks to … Read more
“He’s a bit racist,” the woman explained, clearly embarrassed, as her dog barked and lunged at just one person at the park. The woman was white, the man her dog was barking and lunging at was black. Her conclusion seems logical, right? The dog only barks at people of a certain race, so he must … Read more
Thanksgiving in my family is always barely-controlled chaos. The whole family packs into the home that was passed from my grandparents to my aunt. Most years, there’s probably 20 adults, 10 kids or teens, and 3 to 5 dogs. Food, family, dogs, and kids. Oh, and because we’re from Wisconsin, Football. It’s quite the mix. … Read more
