Training Methods

Often, when people think of obedience training, they think of “perfect” dogs. Show dogs, police canines, or at the very least, extremely obedient pets who follow every given command. While having a very obedient dog does have its benefits, even … Read More

Dogs love riding in the car, right? Most do, and some may even seem to love it too much! Jumping around, trying to sit on your lap, barking at everything; for some dogs, a ride in the car gets them … Read More

As spring warms the soil, our lawns, flowers, trees and bushes begin growing. It is at this time of year that many people work on sprucing things up to make their property look pretty. However, many dogs and puppies seem … Read More

Some might say that summer is a season of strange noises. With fireworks frequently fired on Memorial and Independence Days, and thunder that often accompanies storms, many dogs find these strange sounds difficult to deal with. Whether your dog barks, … Read More

Does your dog seem to think that many things around your home are canine cuisine? Many dogs, especially puppies, tend to munch on things like remote controls, paper towels, food trash, and even unmentionables from the bathroom wastebasket. For many … Read More

Socializing your dog is a very important aspect toward having a well-adjusted, well-behaved pet. Of course, it’s also usually fun to take your dog for walks, to the park, or even for a ride in the car. But even if … Read More

One of the most misunderstood commands in dog training is the “come” command. For some reason, we humans realize that we have to teach our dogs how to “sit” and “stay,” but somehow we expect them to automatically know what … Read More

When the weather starts getting cold, I often start receiving calls and emails from folks wanting to know how to get their “outside dog” to behave inside. Some people say that they had been doing their dog a favor by … Read More

Getting a puppy is a very exciting time. Perhaps you’ve been waiting for the time to be “right,” or maybe you just fell in love with a puppy at an adopt-a-thon. Either way, once you get the puppy home, the … Read More

Most people who have a dog want to make sure he’s properly trained and well-behaved. Some things that are of top priority include being reliably housebroken (no accidents in the house), and behaving nicely both indoors and out. One of … Read More

Getting a new pet can be an exciting and confusing time for both the humans and the animal/s. While dog training is my specialty, being a trainer has also led to numerous opportunities to work with other pets too, particularly … Read More

Imagine you just finished grilling a beautiful filet mignon steak. You realize that you forgot the steak sauce, so you walk away from the table to go to the refrigerator and get it. Out of the corner of your eye, … Read More

Dog toys are a very important part of owning a dog or puppy. Since dogs enjoy chewing, the purpose of dog toys is to provide your pet with appropriate items to chew so he doesn’t chew other things around your … Read More

When it comes to dog training, there are many aspects that contribute to the success of working with your dog. Things such as supervision, practice, and providing leadership are all necessary in order to obtain your goals. However, another factor … Read More

Getting a new puppy is such an exciting time… and also a big project for humans! Young puppies in particular need to learn every single thing “from scratch,” ranging from housebreaking to obedience to even simple things such as wearing … Read More

Ask anyone who has ever had a puppy and they will surely tell you that one of a puppy’s favorite activities is mischievously snooping around the house and finding items to “steal,” such as socks, paper towels, Barbies, and more. … Read More

“Dogs are pack animals.” This is a widely known fact, but although we might know it, it can be quite challenging for humans to truly understand it and apply it in our daily relationships with our pets. To summarize, applying … Read More

Grass, sticks, dirt and even rocks… these are a few of the things many puppies and some adult dogs will pick up and play with or eat when spending time outside. While simply chasing a stick and bringing it to … Read More

Chances are, you wouldn’t consider bringing a wild animal into your home. After all, if you caught a squirrel and brought it into your house to live, you probably wouldn’t be surprised if it chewed your couch, ate your plants … Read More

For some families, having two puppies can be double the fun. Sometimes it’s a matter of not being able to choose just one, and other times they simply want two pups so they’ll have each other to be with. There … Read More

Contrary to the adage, “fighting like cats and dogs,” most dogs and cats can get along nicely together. Perhaps you’d like to add another pet to your family or maybe you will be caring for a friend’s pet while they’re … Read More

Spring and summer are times of year that can be difficult for some pets and their owners. While most dogs are fine with thunderstorms, others are downright traumatized. With symptoms ranging from barking when they hear a thunderclap, to severe … Read More

Most dogs like to make friends with other dogs. As pack animals, when dogs meet one another they immediately check each other out through sniffing and body language, to establish their pecking order. This is best accomplished by giving the … Read More

Socialization is one of the most important aspects in having a well-behaved dog. Those who are not socialized properly may exhibit all sorts of behavior problems ranging from fear and timidness, to dominant behavior or even aggression. If you have … Read More

Dogs can be fun traveling companions, and some people are lucky enough to have friends and family who welcome their furry friend. The majority of dogs love to go on car rides, but there are some who are very afraid … Read More

How do you serve your appetizers when company visits? Do you put your cheese and crackers right on the coffee table, at dog eye level? Or is that something you would not do because it would be a free-for-all for … Read More

What is it about the telephone that makes others want attention? Not only do children come running as if the phone is a magnet, and spouses often interject repeatedly, but many dogs bark for attention too! Whether it’s while you’re … Read More

Jumping up. Pulling like a maniac. Zooming through the house while intermittently ricocheting off of furniture. Wanting to play 25 hours a day. Too much coffee? Of course not. It’s goofy dog syndrome! When most people imagine getting a dog, … Read More

Some dogs or puppies have a problem wherein they accidentally tinkle a bit when they get excited or are feeling submissive. This can be very annoying when visitors arrive and get their shoes sprinkled on, or at the very least, … Read More

One thing dogs and humans have in common, is that we’re both creatures of habit. Once we settle into routines, doing the same things day in and day out, some behaviors become a habit… and habits can be hard to … Read More

Chewing is an issue which occurs most often with puppies, but sometimes adult dogs have this problem too. Puppies tend to explore the world with their mouths. A shoe with an interesting odor?… Let’s see what it tastes like! However, … Read More

A common problem for many dog or puppy owners is training pets not to run out when doors or gates are opened. Particularly in households with children (who often go in and out of the house or yard) or lots … Read More

What do you think of when you think of dogs and cats together? Many people envision the traditional cartoon of the dog who is constantly plotting about how to catch the cat, while the cat is always planning how to … Read More

As Independence Day approaches, many pet owners become concerned about their dog or puppy’s reaction to fireworks. While some pets may be completely unaffected, others can become downright traumatized! By understanding how dogs think and working on some simple training … Read More

Many gardeners are also avid pet lovers. A common dilemma is keeping lawns in tip-top shape in spite of the family dog! Land mines are definitely not a virtue when it comes to your landscape, but there are steps you … Read More

As promised, here is the housebreaking checklist directly from my book, Everything You Need to Know About House Training Puppies & Adult Dogs. House Training Supplies Checklist from “Everything You Need to Know About House Training Puppies & Adult Dogs”, … Read More

Some dogs are boisterous, outgoing and brave. Others are more timid and shy. Just like people, each dog has their own personality. Sometimes these differences can be a matter of genetics (nature), or can be learned through their life experiences … Read More

While some dogs will dig at any time of year, digging is a problem which typically becomes more prevalent in warmer weather and/or during rainy seasons. With many smells beneath the surface, temptations of scampering squirrels and chirping birds, and … Read More

Remember the rolled up newspaper? Used by our grandparents and those before them, this was the accepted method of correcting one’s dog for any infraction. Perhaps you yourself have used a rolled up newspaper, either to whack the dog, or … Read More

Springtime in particular is a time of year when mud becomes an issue for many homes with dogs. Not only does the rain cause mud, but for our pets there are many new smells to explore on the ground. More … Read More