You’ve been told your dog is aggressive. Maybe by a trainer, maybe by a vet, maybe by the look on your neighbor’s face after a walk that didn’t go well. And now you’re carrying that word around — aggressive — trying to figure out what to do with it. Treatment for dog aggression isn’t simple. I want to start by
Whether your goal is competing in dog sports or simply having a dog who greets visitors politely at the front door, it helps to understand how dogs learn. Dogs are learning all the time. Not just during formal training sessions, but during everyday life with you. When you understand how dogs learn, you can begin to guide behavior intentionally. Instead
by Denise Mazzola, CPDT – KA “Our dogs are not broken. Dog Training is a broken and an outdated concept for helping modern dogs & their families.” – Kim Brophey, author of Meet Your Dog. I couldn’t agree with her more. There are more dog behavior problems in the 21st century than ever before. And there are even more dog
by Denise Mazzola, CPDT – KA Does it ever feel like your dog just won’t stop barking? Maybe you feel like she has supersonic hearing, barking constantly at noises you can’t even hear. She’s always at the door or windows, or running along the fence outside and making a racket. Even when you know what your dog is barking at,
Teaching your dog to come when called is one of the most valuable skills you can teach your dog. Given that our 21st-century dogs are living in captivity, a reliable recall allows your dog to enjoy more freedom, autonomy, and allows them to simply be a dog, sniffing, running, and rolling. Whether you’re hiking on trails, visiting the beach, or
An Effective and Humane Way to Change Behavior Our training focuses primarily on teaching dogs what we want them to do. We work to place heavy value on sits, downs, stays, come when called and other behaviors we want the dog to perform reliably. There are instances where ignoring a behavior we don’t like will reduce and eliminate that behavior,
Is Your Dog’s Barking Driving You Crazy? Read On! We are often asked by clients, “How do I stop my dog from barking?” Interestingly, people who cannot tolerate barking tend to have dogs that bark, a lot. Seems counterintuitive doesn’t it? The fact of the matter is, from the dog’s perspective, barking is often reinforced by the person who hates
Give Your Dog a Safe Space of Her Own What is a Crate? A crate can be made of plastic or wire, and can be purchased at almost any pet supply store. Size is important; your dog’s crate should be just large enough for your dog to lie down comfortably, fully stand up and turn around. You can make the
The First Week with Your New Dog Congratulations on your new dog! We’ve put together some helpful tips to get you and your new best friend started off on the right foot together. Keep in mind that the transition into a new home is potentially stressful for any dog, so keep the environment quiet and predictable for your new pet
