I’ve helped train some interesting and memorable dog car travel issues for clients in the 20 years I have been training dogs and their people. Some issues associated with dog car travel that stick out include: a long-haul trucker whose Heeler was scared to jump in or out of the truck cab a […]
5 Tips for Travelling in a Car With a Dog Read More »
Puppies and dogs do not arrive in our lives already understanding our house rules. If you have a new dog in your life, spending time on puppy training will serve both you and your dog for the rest of your dog’s life. Month one of puppy training This is the most critical month of puppy
2-Month-Old Puppy Training: Preparation & Crucial Actions Read More »
The holiday season is upon us — and by “us,” I mean both our human and our canine families. Dogs are affected by changes in their environments, and from October through the new year, dogs will experience many changes in their homes with visitors, celebrations, and highly distracted humans. Prepare and protect your canine best friend
Dogs and Holiday Guests: How to Prepare Your Pup Read More »
Dog bites are a serious problem. The American Veterinary Medical Association estimates that there are 4.5 million people bitten by dogs every year in this country. In my new book about helping troubled dogs, The Midnight Dog Walkers: Positive Training and Practical Advice for Living with a Reactive or Aggressive Dog, I devote an entire
How to Prevent Dog Bites: Tips On Reducing the Risk Read More »
I live in Utah (and in Colorado before that), and there’s nothing I enjoy more than to be out on a mountain hike with my dogs. There are many things that could injure our dogs on such an adventure: other dogs (the biggest danger if owners have no control over them), bears, aggressive deer, mountain
Rattlesnake Training For Dogs: Tips To Get Your Pup To Avoid Snakes Read More »
Resource guarding in dogs can be similar to what a toddler might do on a playground with other toddlers when he comes across something shiny, new, and at once coveted. Sometimes he’ll clutch the new object to his chest, announcing: “THIS IS MINE!!” Dogs do something similar with objects and people, only instead of hollering,
Why Do Dogs Guard Their Food? Common Reasons Read More »
I often feel sorry for dogs, even those living in the lap of luxury. One reason I do is because dogs are masters of human communication, both in how we communicate with each other and how we communicate with them. Human beings, for the most part, have very little clue what dogs are saying with their
My Dog Doesn’t Like To Be Touched: What Should I Do? Read More »
It all started back in the early 2000s, with a tiny yellow Lab who Thomas Aaron and his wife, Linda, found abandoned in southern Colorado’s high desert. They named the active puppy Alie and quickly decided she needed training and a job. The Aarons wanted her to become a hunting dog, but were unwilling to subject Alie to force and aversive training techniques, which
How To Train A Hunting Dog: Tips & Tricks Read More »
I recently received a question from a reader: Chance is a Boston Terrier I found on the street. He was skin and bones and had marks all over his body that looked like bites. I think a lot of his teeth were either pulled or knocked out. We believe he was a bait dog for a backyard
Do Boston Terriers Bite? Facts & FAQ Read More »
There is no need or valid reason to shock, poke, hang, hit, or throw chains at your dog, or to spray water in his face or hurl him to the ground on his back (called an alpha roll). None. Please read that sentence again. If someone in your circle insists that a dog is attempting to
Are Shock Collars Illegal? Legality & Ethics Explained Read More »
This isn’t a training question but a question from the heart: What do dogs make you most thankful for? Ellie K. Salt Lake City, Utah What a beautiful question, Ellie! And it comes at a time of year when we humans are practicing gratitude and sharing the joy of the holiday season. I am grateful for so many things
Thankful For My Dog Day: When Is It & how To Celebrate? Read More »
Everyone loves presents, even dogs. But what does your four-legged companion really want for Christmas this year? Does he want a new bed? How about a nice shiny collar? Perhaps a new sporty harness? Awesome dog gear is fun, but does such a gift make the dog — or the human — happier? Since dogs
What Should I Get My Dog For Christmas? Pawfect Ideas Read More »
Should you give or get a puppy as a holiday gift? Many dog trainers will tell you no. I am going to buck that trend and say: Go ahead! Or rather, get or give that darling little puppy as a gift IF and only IF you are prepared to do these 30 things that will set
Getting a Puppy for Christmas: Important Considerations Before Getting One Read More »
I recently received this question from a reader: I keep hearing the term “loose leash walking” regarding walking a dog on leash. What does it mean, and how do you teach a dog this skill? — Laura B., Aspen, Colorado Terrific question! “Loose leash walking” means the dog has learned to enjoy staying close to the
How To Loose Leash Train a Dog: Tips & Tricks Read More »
Here’s a question I recently received from a reader: I want to start training my older dog to do dog sports. I think she would enjoy it — and so would I — because she loves to run and jump and try new things. The problem is that she doesn’t seem to care about food
Why Are Dogs So Food Motivated? Facts & FAQ Read More »
Here’s a question I recently received from a reader: I have a new, very large German Shepherd I recently adopted. He’s great in every way, but he does rush out the door in front of me. I have read that this is a sign of dominance. Is that true? How do I get him to
Why Do Dogs Sit By The Door? Possible Reasons Read More »
I recently received this question from a reader via Facebook: When walking Watson, my 2-year-old Beagle, he grabs and swallows anything — grass, dirt, a hornet, worms. I’m training him to “drop it,” but my method of praise and reward isn’t working. Please help — I want to keep him safe! — Barb C. Dear Barb, Hello Barb,
How To Teach A Dog To “Leave It”? Simple Steps Read More »
The most “liked” column I have written for Dogster was about why it is critical to observe leash laws. Nearly 20,000 of you clicked that button. The article struck a nerve because owners who flout these laws exist from coast to coast. Some of them angrily responded to my article, insisting they had every right to have
What to Do When an Off-Leash Dog Approaches Your Leashed Dog Read More »
Let me be blunt with you, dear reader. We have a big problem in the canine community, and it’s ruining dogs. We require leashes for valid reasons, No. 1 being safety for all concerned: safety not only for you and your dog but for all of the dogs and humans out and about. There are leash
Dog Leash Laws By State: Where Do I Need To Keep My Dog On A Leash Read More »
Blind and deaf Helen Keller needed her teacher, Anne Sullivan, to learn to speak. It happened when Sullivan ran Keller’s hand under running water and then repeatedly spelled out w-a-t-e-r on her palm. Learning to communicate the way all other humans communicate — through language — changed Keller’s life. What if dogs need that
Best Border Collie Toys in 2024 – Reviews & Top Picks Read More »
I knew what I was doing when I started looking for a German Shepherd puppy. As a trainer and dog foster mom, I know how much work puppies really are. That’s one reason I hemmed and hawed about accepting a gorgeous puppy from a friend when the time came: puppies are a TON of work!
Confession: Introducing a New Puppy into My Pack Was Harder Than I Hoped Read More »
A dog died in a training class, and the pet supply giant is in the spotlight.
Are Petco’s Dog Training Methods Outdated? Shocking Story Read More »
Before you start scolding, find out what your dog is up to and how you can redirect that energy.
Why Do Dogs Dig? Reasons & What You Can Do About It Read More »
In my work as a professional dog trainer, I specialize in helping difficult, stressed dogs cope with their lives in a human-run world. After working with a delightful woman and her rescued dog, she told me about two puppies her daughter recently rescued and hinted that they were a handful. A month later, I met
Have You Ever Met a Dog Who Is Terrified of Leashes? Read More »
Growing up in a dysfunctional family, everything I know about unconditional love came from animals — and they’re still teaching me.
What Loving My Dogs Taught Me About Empathy Read More »
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