My Child is Scared of My Jumpy, Bitey Puppy – Now What?
When you bring home a new puppy, you’re probably excited to introduce them to your child. But what happens if your puppy jumps and bites, which scares your son or ......
Flavor-Packed Picky Eater Crumbles
It still amazes me that some dogs can be so picky while others eat anything that fits in their mouths. My dog is very particular about treats and food. While ......
Organic Garbanzo Crunch Single-Ingredient Treats
When you are tight on time, it can be hard to make the gourmet treats your dog expects. This one ingredient treat is the easiest thing you will ever make ......
My Dog Breaks Out of Her Crate to Look for Us. Help!
Dogs are social creatures – that’s why many of them really don’t like being left alone when we’re gone. But what about when a dog goes from just being a ......
My Dog Tries to Steal the Other Dog’s Food – How Do I Stop That?
Dogs aren’t really good at sharing. So what do you do if one of your dogs has a bad habit of stealing food from your other dogs? The situation gets ......
Yes, It’s OK To Leave A Dog In A Car
For those of you who don’t know, I’ve spent the last year of my life (April 2018-March 2019) driving from Denver to Memphis to Wisconsin to Vancouver to Los Angeles ......
My Puppy Hates the Crate But is Well-Behaved Otherwise- Should I Push the Issue?
Crate training is a common first step for new puppy owners in the United States. But what if your puppy truly hates the crate and doesn’t seem to get into ......
Stress Busting Herbal Treats
Most people know that stress and anxiety are no fun to deal with. What many people don’t know is that your dog can also suffer from these debilitating conditions. Separation ......
Sweet Potato Doughnuts with Peanut Butter Glaze
Have you ever sat down in the morning with a steaming cup of coffee and a scrumptious doughnut and, just as you are about to take a bite, you see ......
Three-Ingredient Doggy Ice Cream
Whether you are dreaming of warm weather or basking in the blistering heat of summer, sometimes a cool treat is a nice way to change it up for your pup. ......
My Old Dog Is Scared of My New Dog – What Do I Do?
When you bring home a second dog, you’re probably hoping (or even expecting) that he’ll be fast friends with your first dog. But what do you do if your current ......
How Do I Teach My Guard Dog to Accept Guests, But Protect the House From Danger?
Many of us like the idea of a guard dog who helps to keep the house safe. What better deterrent from criminals than a big, scary guard dog with a ......
My Dog Doesn’t Play With Other Dogs. Is That OK?
Dogs are social animals – right? So how come some dogs don’t play with other dogs? It can be confusing and frustrating (and even downright embarrassing) to own a socially ......
How Do You Help a Fearful Dog?
It can be hard to live with a fearful dog. On one hand, we know they’re having a hard time, but on the other hand, some of their behaviors can ......
Can You Train a High Prey Drive Dog to Live With a Kitten?
Dogs are predators – but we often don’t really want them to act out those predatory instincts. Some dogs are more “high prey drive” than others. Is it even possible ......
Paw Lickin’ Good Chicken Treats
Have you ever stood in the dog treat aisle and wondered how a treat full of “real meat” could be shelf-stable? Isn’t real meat perishable? While I do appreciate a ......
Why Won’t My Cat Use His Litterbox?
Cat litterbox problems are gross and frustrating, to say the least. When your cat is peeing and pooping outside of the box, it can feel like you spend all of ......
How Do I Stop My Dog From Herding Me and My Family?
Ah, herding dogs. Even when your dog is a Standard Poodle (like our question-asker this week), you’re at risk of some herding when you live with a dog. In today’s ......
How Do I Gain My Dog’s Trust?
Not all dogs naturally trust people. Helping shy dogs adjust to a new home – or regaining your dog’s trust – isn’t easy and can take time. Luckily, there are ......
No-Bake Antioxidant Kong Pudding
Stuffing Kongs and other puzzle toys is a great way to keep your dog busy. This simple no-bake recipe is a great way to add both fun and nutrition to ......
How Do I Teach My Dog to Share?
Teaching a dog to share isn’t easy. Unlike children, we can’t explain to our dogs that sharing is caring. And in the “real world,” it’s not common for a non-related ......
Stop Your Dog From Digging in the Trash: A 2-Step Solution
Dogs are natural scavengers – and they’re quite good at it. While it’s common for dogs to dig in the trash, that doesn’t mean that you just have to “deal ......
12 Tricks to Teach Your Dog
Most dog owners love spending time with their dogs – that’s kind of the point, right? These tricks are a great way to spend time with your dog. As Barley ......
Doggie Dots: Homemade Low-Calorie Treats (Just 5 Ingredients!)
Whether training a young puppy or working with an older dog, finding a treat that is motivating but small enough that you can dole out plenty can be a challenge. ......
How to Teach a Hand-Shy Dog to Like Petting
When I first adopted my Border Collie Barley, he ducked away from petting. He wasn’t abused or shy – but he was hand-shy. He didn’t like petting and seemed to ......
How to Train an Aggressive, Disabled Senior Dog
It’s not uncommon for aging dogs to get a bit grumpier. Pain and diminished sensory capacity can make the whole world seem more threatening. So how do you stop aggression ......
Help! My Dog Submissively Urinates All Over the House!
Submissive urination is a common behavior problem in dogs. Unfortunately, this behavior problem is pretty gross and quite messy. It’s easy to get frustrated with a dog that submissively urinates, ......
How to Remove Burrs, Stickers, and Dreadlocks from Your Dog
Barley and I spend a lot of time hiking, trail running, and generally having the times of our lives on the trails of North and Central America. Since he’s a ......
Shaping a Behavior: Dog Training Using Successive Approximations
Dog training using successive approximations, commonly called shaping, is my favorite way to teach dogs a new behavior. This training method was pioneered by B.F. Skinner, and it’s one of ......
Get a Free Online Dog Training Journal
I think dog training is a blast – and that means I’m often bad about doing it systematically. Since my goal for 2019 is to be more deliberate about everything ......
What Can You Put in a Kong Besides Peanut Butter? 13 Easy Recipes
My dog and I love Kongs. He gets one almost every single time that I leave the house. He eats his dinner out of his Kong some days. And when ......
23 Best Puzzle Toys for (Bored) Energetic Dogs
Energetic dogs can be a lot of work. I get it – I live with a Border Collie and I’ve fostered German Shepherds, Huskies, and American Bulldogs. Even though I ......
6 Strategies to Stop Puppy Nipping – Fast
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 ......
What Causes Separation Anxiety? Can I Prevent it Before it Starts?
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 ......
Least Intrusive, Minimally Aversive Training
I try my very best to follow the Least Intrusive, Minimally Aversive training framework when working with my dog, the shelter dogs I worked with, and my foster dogs. I ......
Help! My Cat Bites Me When I Pet Her!
Some cats bite when we try to pet them and show them we love them. This painful and frustrating behavior problem is no joke – almost a third of the ......
Enjoy Better Dog Breath with 3-Ingredient Coconut Truffle Treats
Many dog owners live in fear of their dog getting too close to their face because of a common problem: bad breath. Lots of dogs suffer from bad breath and ......
Best Dog Cameras: Supervise Your Dog While You’re Away
Some dogs sleep while we’re away, others get up to all sorts of mischief during the day. Others panic with separation anxiety. To be honest, many of us love our ......
A Dog Walks Into a Shelter and Growls at the Staff – Why?
Jack was a big, black Shepherd/Husky mix (or at least that was our best guess). He growled when the intake staff at the shelter moved him from the overnight kennels ......
My Dogs Lose Their Minds When I Pick up the Leashes
Dogs love walks – but what do you do when your dog loves walks so much that they make it unpleasant for YOU? Some dogs get so excited about their ......
Why Does My Dog Keep Peeing on the Carpet?
Potty training can be a total drag. It seems like our dogs and puppies learn all the wrong lessons at first! With young puppies, we can chalk this up to ......
How Do I Get My Dog to Listen Without Treats?
One of the first questions my clients ask me when they realize that I train using treats is, “But how do I get my dog to listen without treats?” It’s ......
How to Teach Your Dog to “Go Lie Down”
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 ......
The “Can You Listen When…?” Game Teaches Your Dog to Ignore Distractions
Teaching your dog to listen around distractions is one of the hardest parts of dog training. It’s also one of my favorite parts! Trainers call this process proofing. I created ......
My Puppies Play Really Rough. Is that OK?
Many dogs really love rough-and-tumble play. But how do you know when your dog’s wrestling has gone too far? In today’s Ask a Behavior Consultant, we answer the question, I recently ......
How Do I Get My Dog to Listen at the Park?
Most of our dogs love their off-leash playtime. But what do you do when you can’t get your dog to come back to you at the park? Trying to chase ......
Why Does My Puppy Prefer to Pee in His Crate?!
Puppies pee in their crates a lot – but what do you do when it seems like your puppy prefers to pee inside his crate? In our latest Ask a ......
Will A Furbo Fix My Dog’s Separation Anxiety?
I was a bit skeptical of buying a Furbo for Cyber Monday of 2018. Though the training tool and pet camera was 50% off, I wasn’t quite sure if I ......
Why Does My Puppy Think I’m a Chew Toy?
Most puppies are born with a strong desire to chew. The need to chew on things – anything, anyone – gets worse as they age before tapering off as they ......
Peanut Butter-Boullion Training Treats
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 ......
How Do I Teach My Dog to Play Nicely With Other Dogs?
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 ......
5 Reasons Dogs Bark When Left Alone (Is It Separation Anxiety?)
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 ......
My Puppy Bites Kids: What Do I Do?
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 ......
Dealing with Dog Sibling Rivalry
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 ......
My Dog Chews On Things When He’s Home Alone: How Do I Stop That?
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 ......
How to Deal with an Unruly German Shepherd Mix
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 ......
Why Your Dog is Skittish: How Exposure Makes Canine Phobias Worse, Not Better
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 ......
How to Make a Shy Dog Trust You – Building Bonds with Fearful Dogs
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 ......
Why Is My Dog Racist – And How Can I Fix It?
“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 ......
5 Tips to Have a Successful Dog-Friendly Thanksgiving
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, ......
Are Dog Treats Bribery? Do Treats Make My Dog Beg or Only Listen When I’ve Got Food?
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 ......
Why Does My Dog Bark and Lunge at Other Dogs?
Just as you’re starting to enjoy walking your dog, she explodes into a frenzy of barking and lunging. She almost pulls you off your feet as she strains towards another ......
The Ultimate Dog Trainer Gifts Guide: Trainer-Approved Gifts for Dog Nuts
Dog trainers do their job because they love dogs, not because they expect gifts, riches, or fame. But if your dog trainer has made a huge difference in your pup’s ......
The 72 Best Dog Training Books and DVDS: From Puppies to Old Age, Aggression to Tricks
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 ......
Why Trainers Hate Retractable Leashes (But I Own One Anyway)
Retractable leashes are one of those things that dog trainers love to hate. This is partially due to the fact that retractable leashes are made with convenience, not training, in ......
Will an Escape-Proof Crate Fix My Dog’s Separation Anxiety?
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 ......
Puzzle Toys for Cats: Kitty Tested, Trainer Approved
The average cat spends most of its day doing nothing. Cats (and most other predators) do tend to spend more time sleeping than herbivores. However, our domestic cats generally spend ......
The Best Treats for Training a Dog Wearing a Muzzle
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 ......
Is My Dog A Red Zone Dog? 28 Questions to Ask Yourself
Sometimes, people come to me asking if their dog is a dangerous or “red zone dog.” The reality is, all dogs can bite and would in the wrong situation. Some ......
Reward-Based Boundary Training: Get Off-Leash Obedience without an E-Collar
Off-leash obedience is one of the most coveted skills in dog training, especially among my fellow Coloradoans. Friends who know that I don’t like using e-collars ask: how do I ......
Six Easy Ways to Keep Kids Safe Around Dogs
Whether you have a dog that’s aggressive towards children or just want to keep your kids safe around dogs in general, there’s a lot you can do to keep kids ......
The Six Best Dog Muzzles for Tough-to-Fit Dogs
Getting a dog muzzle is often one of the first steps towards safely living with, training, and rehabilitating an aggressive dog (check out our Aggressive Dogs E-book for more on ......
Why SMART x 50 is a Way Better Training Method than Nothing in Life is Free
Nothing in Life is Free has been a centerpiece of dog training since long before I first picked up a leash – but I’ve recently dropped it in favor of ......
My Dog Doesn’t Want to Please Me: How Do I Train Him?
“He’s not a people pleaser,” Will said as he looked at his dog, Buddy. “Not like your boy, Barley. How do I train him when my dog doesn’t want to ......
13 Dog Training Games and Exercises to Make Dog Training Fun
Playing dog training games is one of the best ways to teach your dog useful skills (like impulse control) and bond with your dog. You might remember our popular post ......
Management in Dog Training: Lazy and Mean, or Necessary?
I had an interesting (and heated) conversation with my boyfriend last night about management in dog training. We were discussing our dog Barley’s counter surfing escapades — yep, he’s back ......
How to Train a Velociraptor
It probably isn’t easy to train a velociraptor, but I was excited to see that many of Owen’s interactions with Blue in Jurassic World were almost identical to my interactions ......
The Best Dog Training Tips that Dog Trainers Have Ever Heard
When I was just starting out as a dog trainer, I felt like I was constantly jotting down dog training tips. The trainers at Canis Major Dog Training in Denver ......
What You Do After You Say No to Your Dog is What Matters
Dog trainers love drawing lines in the sand: positive reinforcement, force-free, balanced, old-school. As much as we hate labeling dogs, many dog trainers seem to love to label other dog ......
How should I manage dog-dog resource guarding?
Managing dog-dog resource guarding in the home is always a bit of a challenge. When you’re a foster family for a rescue or shelter, you’re constantly dealing with dogs that ......
Nosework: Exhaust Your Dog & Teach Impulse Control (No Shoes Needed)
Many behavior problems in modern dogs come down to dogs being bored, underexercised, and confined. They spend much of their days indoors. When they’re outside, they’re rarely allowed to sniff, ......
How Knowing Your NOLS Leadership Style Makes You a Better Dog Trainer
When it comes to dog training and leadership style, are you a hot tamale or a cool cucumber? Thinking about what your leadership style is can help you grow as ......
Be More Patient with Your Dog & Deal with Frustrating Dog Problems
As I reached for the door, Barley surged forward, wagging so hard that his tail hit his ears. I paused and glanced at him, and he struggled into a sit. ......
What To Do When Your Dog Doesn’t Like Puppies
We brought home a five-week-old puppy last night. Brindle, stubby-legged, and smoosh-faced, Mia the boxer puppy toddled around our apartment whimpering. A Good Samaritan purchased her in a parking lot ......
It’s Like Talkspace, but for Cat Behavior Problems
You don’t have to just deal with a cat who bites you, uses your furniture as a scratching post, or poops outside the litterbox. You can get help with your ......
How Your Morning Routine Ruins Your Dog’s Day
Your morning routine ruins your dog’s day, every single day – but it doesn’t have to. I had a eureka moment last week while I drove home from training a ......
Why Do I Stick (mostly) to 1 Operant Conditioning Quadrant?
I love operant conditioning and the science of behavior change. I love the jargon, the details, the studies. What researchers find in their studies really impacts what I think about ......
How to Exercise Your Dog When You Feel Like S**t
Being sick sucks – but how do you exercise your dog when you’re sick? Owning a high energy and smart dog usually makes me feel great. But Barley’s boundless energy ......
I’m Not Mad, I’m Disappointed
Let’s be honest here: my dog Barley frustrates me to no end some days. Don’t let my glowing Instagram fool you. Earlier this week, I reached out to a group ......
Why is My Cat Pooping on the Floor?
It’s no fun to have a cat pooping on the floor, especially if your cat is suddenly pooping on the floor. This frustrating problem can often be solved by changing ......
How Do I Get My Puppy To Stop Eating Everything?
Sarah A. writes — I just got a new puppy, and would love your advice! I’d love to teach my puppy to stop eating everything. She seems to want to ......
Help! My Cats Are Fighting – And Now We’ve Got Litterbox Issues
Cat-cat aggression is no joke. The screaming, clawing, hissing, biting, and… the litterbox issues. When cats are stressed, they often slip up in their litterbox habits. So how do you ......
Stop The Bloodshed: Four Steps to Stop Parrot Biting
Why I Love My Bird – Even Though He’s a Velociraptor I love my monk parakeet, Francis – so why do I need to stop parrot biting? Well, my life ......
Why I’m Obsessed with Karen Overall’s Relaxation Protocol
I love mat training – and specifically Dr. Karen Overall’s Relaxation Protocol. It’s one of the first things I recommend in many online training cases. “Why?” you may ask. How does ......
Three Tips For Dealing With Demanding Dogs
Dealing with demanding dogs can be pretty exhausting. Many dogs bark or paw at their owners to get what they want. How do you reduce or manage this behavior? In ......
What Do I Do When My Dog Is Aggressive Towards Children?
What do you do when your dog is aggressive towards children? Dogs and children can be majorly cute – or majorly scary. It’s challenging to know whether or not to ......
How To Control Dogs With High Prey Drive
Dogs with high prey drive aren’t always fun to take for wilderness walks. But there’s hope – many dogs with high prey drive can learn to control themselves around bunnies, ......
Basic Steps For Reactive Dog Training
I’ve gotten more “Ask A Trainer” questions about reactivity than I can count. Let’s just roll them into on generic post, with specific posts to come if needed. Get extra ......
But What About Dominance In Dogs?
Do you think your dog is “alpha” or “dominant?” It’s ok if you do – this is a very common way of speaking about our pet dogs. It’s easy to ......
What’s Up With Light Chasing In Dogs?
iLight chasing in dogs is a common behavior. In the latest “Ask A Trainer: How To Train Your Dog,” Kim M. asks: Can you tell me more about my GSD’s ......
How To Exercise Your Dog Effectively With a Crazy-Busy Schedule
It’s totally possible to exercise your dog effectively when you have a busy schedule. I work four ten-hour days per week I also have private clients on my “weekends” and enjoy ......
To The Human Who Gave Up My Dog: Thank You.
To The Human Who Gave Up My Dog, Thank you. You’ve given me a new best friend. I’m really, truly glad that you decided to give your dog up to ......
Make Your Dog Want To Work With You in 4 Quick Steps
Training is much easier when your dog is excited to work for you. Some dogs don’t naturally love training, and that’s ok. Some are fearful, overaroused, or just seem to ......
Why We Punish Our Dogs
I’m writing this article to talk about something I don’t hear people talking about enough. It’s intensely personal for me, but I think it needs to be said. It’s about ......
Reward-Based Training Versus Punishment: Which is Better?
Dog training methods: their use, effectiveness, and interaction with behavior and welfare EF Hiby, NJ Rooney, and JWS Bradshaw Animal Welfare 2004, 13: 63-69 Abstract The authors set out to ......
