When Should My Dog Be Off-leash?
Sometimes when I ask humans about their goals for their dogs, they respond, “I want eventually to trust Sammy off-leash.” Of course Sammy might be four months old and... Read more
No Embarrassing Dogs
Your dog is perfect just the way he is. He’s an individual with a personality and quirks and things he’s good at and others he’s slower to learn. And... Read more
Rules vs Freedom
My seven-month-old pup is now almost completely part of the household routine. It has been so fun to watch him develop and learn the doggie systems we have in... Read more
Weaning Off Treats in Training
A client recently told me she didn’t want to use food as a reward anymore. She has a five-month-old large-breed, energetic puppy, but she has decided he can start... Read more
Wait for It . . .
We humans are all about instant gratification, and so are our dogs. Patience can be difficult to find sometimes, but waiting can really pay off. When you’re teaching a... Read more
Shock Collars
I am in a mood. In NO world should you shock your dog, period. And lately even some “trainers” are using them. Shocking your dog is not “training” in any form. It’s... Read more
When Should I Get a Puppy?
The cuteness. Impossible to resist. But is now the right time? Are you the right human for this puppy? Would an adult dog be a better fit? Raising puppies... Read more
Can You Teach an Old Dog New Tricks?
I’ve been asked quite a few times lately about older dogs learning new things or unlearning unwanted behaviors. Can an older dog learn new tricks? Of course! Yes, you... Read more