If you live with a reactive dog, barking can feel relentless. Your dog barks at noises outside the window. They bark when someone walks past the house. They bark on walks when another dog appears. They may even bark the moment they sense something before you do. Over time, this can become exhausting. Many owners feel frustrated, embarrassed, and constantly
by Denise Mazzola, CPDT – KA Have you ever been to a party with too many people? It’s only tolerable because you are there for two to three hours. It’s a huge relief when you get home, take your shoes off and stretch out on your couch. When was the last time you flew? Talk about crowded. Flying from Boston
Double the Trouble when you adopt or purchase two dogs.
by Denise Mazzola, CPDT – KA I have worked with hundreds of family’s and their dogs, maybe even thousands of rowdy, barky, peeing in the house, run away dogs, but surprisingly, the most challenging dogs I’ve worked with are the shy, fearful ones. These are the puppies that were curled up in the corner when the family went to select
by Denise Mazzola, CPDT-KA Thor is 13 years young. He’s a yellow lab that has been with me since he was a puppy. He is what we call my heart dog. My daughters all grew up with him, playing, running, chasing tennis balls, hiking together and vacationing together. Thor and I have earned numerous titles in Rally Obedience. He’s slowing
Published on the Ledger Transcript (http://www.ledgertranscript.com) Why I Love The Underdog By Denise Mazzola, CPDT-KA Monday, November 4, 2013 (Published in Print: Tuesday, November 5, 2013) Looking back on my life, I’ve always rooted for the underdog, literally. As a high school student, I would take the city bus downtown to volunteer at the local shelter. Stray dogs found their
Published on the Ledger Transcript (http://www.ledgertranscript.com) Tips on Raising Behaviorally Healthy Dogs By Denise Mazzola, CPDT-KA Monday, October 21, 2013 (Published in Print: Tuesday, October 22, 2013) Physically healthy means keeping the body healthy. It means the same for our dogs. Living in the Northeast means living with mosquitoes, so we give our dogs’ a monthly heartworm preventative. As puppies,
Published on the Ledger Transcript (http://www.ledgertranscript.com) Dogs Have No Remorse By Denise Mazzola, CPDT-KA Monday, September 30, 2013 (Published in Print: Tuesday, October 1, 2013) Being a professional dog trainer, I should know better than to expect a dog to show remorse. I think I’ve shared that Jubilee, as well-trained as she is and having won numerous awards and titles,
Published on the Ledger Transcript (http://www.ledgertranscript.com) Concept versus Context: When it Comes to Dogs By Denise Mazzola, CPDT-KA Friday, August 30, 2013 (Published in Print: Tuesday, September 3, 2013) Every year, I work with hundreds of people and their dogs. When I ask them what behaviors their dogs know, they proudly list them: sit, down, paw, the other paw, stay
Published on the Ledger Transcript (http://www.ledgertranscript.com) Pet Corner: Why Training, Structure and Rules are Important By Denise Mazzola, CPDT-KA Monday, April 22, 2013 (Published in print: Tuesday, April 23, 2013) How and why are training, structure and rules important to a dog’s health and well-being? We love our dogs. We love them so much, that we
by Denise Mazzola, CPDT-KA He’s being dominate. Don’t let your dog out the door first, she’s dominating you. She never comes to me when I call, she’s being dominate. Sound familiar? I’ll be honest here, I cringe at the word dominant. It’s misused; especially by some well liked, commercially popular dog trainers. It’s over used and gives dogs a
By Denise Mazzola, CPDT-KA Monday, July 1, 2013 (Published in the Ledger-Transcript: Tuesday, July 2, 2013) In the more than 20 years that I’ve been training dogs and people, I’ve never once met a dog that was stupid. No, not possible. Dogs are simple creatures, determining minute by minute what is in their own best interest. Most dogs,
by Denise Mazzola, CPDT-KA Motivation and Your Dog When you touch the hot stove as a child, or as an adult, it is usually so painful, so aversive, that you avoid touching it again. That is motivation to avoid the unpleasant feeling. If you’re like me and have gotten a two hundred dollar speeding ticket you pay attention to
How to Stop Reactivity Without More Socialization, Obedience Training, or Expensive Boot Camps.
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