If you have a puppy you know just how important training treats are, and just how quickly you go through them! Store bought treats are often expensive and full of preservatives and ingredients that aren’t the best for your treasured pup. With just a few simple ingredients you can make your own treats that are … Read more
Not all dogs are natural social butterflies. Some dogs are born a bit more aloof with others, while other dogs learn to be socially standoffish after a bad experience (or just too little social experience). But as humans, it’s really hard for us to teach our dogs to play nicely with other dogs! What to … 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
Puppies can be bundles of joy and holy terrors, often within the same minute. They like to bite, chase, tackle, and play rough. While they’re not as big as adult dogs, they often lack the skills and control to live nicely in our homes without help. In the latest “Ask a Behavior Consultant” question, we’re exploring what … Read more
Just like people, some dogs really struggle with sibling rivalry. In fact, dogs that go home with their siblings often struggle with aggression issues more than dogs who are raised without a “sibling” – whether or not they’re actually related. In the latest “Ask a Trainer” question, we’re helping a reader troubleshoot the sibling rivalry between his … Read more
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