Home Independence

stewie_bessie

Have you been thinking about giving your dog more independence while you are at work? It is critical to make this leap with slow and deliberate steps to prevent injury, housetraining issues and major destruction. Many people learn the hard way that crating a dog while at work one day then giving full reign of the …Read More

Barking

Betoresize

In many homes, a common response to a dog’s bark is screaming, “no, stop, quiet, no, no“. Indulge me for a moment and say those words out loud. It sounds like barking, doesn’t it? It sure sounds that way to your dog as well; which can make the behavior worse. Even negative attention can reinforce …Read More

Socialization 101

Spartan

Socialization does not mean pushing your dog to do something he is clearly uncomfortable doing. Unfortunately, well intending humans often do just that and the results can be very detrimental. I recently witnessed a common situation in which two on leash dogs walked towards each other and their guardians stopped to allow them to interact. …Read More

Aggressive Dogs Are Not Bad

notbad

Many have responsible guardians who do the right thing by veering off to the side to give you space to walk past. Others will redirect their dog to “sit” or make eye contact. Aggression is not something to be afraid of or to label your neighbor’s dog as “bad”. What scares me more than a …Read More

Teaching Kids to Say Hi to an Unknown Dog

Saying Hi

Many dog lovers’ initial response when seeing a dog walking towards them is to say hello while bending over and petting their new friend. This innate human behavior can send many dogs running for cover or even put them on the defense. Children tend to move more quickly, make higher pitched noises and touch dogs …Read More

Gentle Leader Training

Gentle Leader

The head halter is a great training tool. It is very helpful in redirecting attention and preventing pulling. It’s usefulness does require proper fitting, appropriate use and a training period so your dog learns to love putting his Gentle Leader on before he walks around the neighborhood. Here are some ways to train your dog …Read More

Separation Anxiety

Separation Anxiety

What is it? Separation anxiety is a serious behavioral issue that the dog panics upon the departure and absence of his guardian.  It is extremely sad to see dogs with full-blown separation anxiety as even the mildest departure triggers can cause severe emotional and behavioral responses such as: Chewing to get out of crate or …Read More