Dog Blog
Q & A: Is it OK to use an E-collar to Stop a Dog from Jumping Up on People?
Warning: I strongly believe that E-collar training should never be taught without in-person coaching. Therefore, nothing I share regarding E-collars is intended to be used as a D.I.Y. training program. It is only intended to be food for thought or supplementary to...
Deciphering Dog Food Labels pt 2: The Ingredients List
In part 1 of this series we looked into the macronutrients (proteins, fats and carbohydrates) that make up the calorie content in dog food. In part 2 we are digging deeper to discover where those macronutrients are coming from. We will also unravel a few other...
Deciphering Dog Food Labels pt 1: The Macronutrients (Proteins, Fats & Carbohydrates)
Have you ever looked at the label on your dog’s food and found yourself asking questions like… What is pyridoxine hydrochloride? Is crude protein better than regular protein? What is chicken by-product meal? Don’t worry, you are not alone and this series of...
Canine Good Citizen: Test Items in Detail
Thriving Canine offers a Canine Good Citizen Course and/or Private Lessons to help you prepare for the CGC Test. You may also opt for taking the test without taking any of our preparation options. Either way, below is a summary of the test items with the details...
Therapy Dog Test Items
Pet Partners Therapy Dog Evaluation Overview Important Note: Thriving Canine is not affiliated with Pet Partners or any other Therapy Dog organization. This information is being provided for educational purposes only, primarily for our Canine Good Citizen students who...
Advanced Off-Leash Socialization Groups: Rules and Guidelines
One of the perks of taking Thriving Canine’s Advanced Drop-In Class is that it includes the option of pre-class off-leash socialization at no extra charge. (for dogs that qualify) These socialization groups are NOT officially part of the Advanced Drop-In Class and...
The “Growling is Good” Theory part 2: Will Correcting a Dog for Growling Lead to Biting without Warning?
In The “Growling is Good” Theory part 1 we learned that “growling is good” is really just a provocative way of saying “growling is less bad.” We also saw some examples of how going “viral” can make a good idea go off the rails. We also saw some quotes warning us that...
The “Growling is Good” Theory in Dog Training part 1
The theory that “growling is good” has gone viral and, like many concepts that go viral, it has been liked, shared, misinterpreted, exaggerated and distorted but, in spite of all that, there’s still a worthwhile message in there. We just need to dial it back into the...
Knowing Where You’re Going part 2: Trick Training vs Obedience Training
“If you don’t know where you’re going, any road will get you there.” - Cheshire Cat The reader is asked to analyze the following content very carefully to avoid any misinterpretations. The author is making no accusations of any particular type of dog training being...
Knowing Where You’re Going part 1: Working Dog vs Pet Dog Training
The reader is asked to analyze the following content very carefully to avoid any misinterpretations. The author is making no accusations of any particular type of dog training being right or wrong, good or bad, better or worse, per se. The purpose of this article is...
