Dog Blog
Dealing with Aggression Around the Dog Dish
It is not at all unusual for my dog training clients to call me with concerns regarding their dog's aggression around their food bowl. In many cases, dogs don't like people to get near their dog dish when eating and can get very possessive when people are too...
Extinction: Don’t Reward Behavior You Don’t Want
Extinction is a behaviorist's term and has nothing to do with the disappearance of the dinosaurs. Simply put, extinction is the disappearance of a behavior through lack of reinforcement. One technique of solving certain types of behavior problems is to do nothing....
Dream BIGGER!
As the saying goes, we don't get what we want, we get what we expect. With this thought-provoking idea swirling around, ask yourself, "what am I expecting from my life? What do I expect from my job, family, friends and, yes, my dog?" I've heard my...
The Makings of a Good Puppy Class
Ask any dog trainer about any dog related subject and they're likely to agree on some points while disagreeing on others. That's perfectly normal and healthy in my opinion. The one topic I have yet to find any argument about within the dog training community...
Hey, Smell My Hand! – (Why You Don’t Stick Your Hand in a Dog’s Face)
Imagine a complete stranger coming up to you and giving you a hug and then asking for directions. Unless you're at a party with many margaritas in your system, this "I love you man" moment won't be well received. But if a stranger comes up...
Top 10 New Year’s Resolutions: How to Incorporate Your Dog
As we toss the last slice of unclaimed pumpkin pie into the trash and move into a new year full of fresh starts and new potential, I can't help but wonder how many of our typical resolutions can serve dual purposes that include our four-legged friends. According to a...
Dogs And Holidays
The holidays bring with them a lot of new temptations for dogs. Should your dog decide to get into trouble with these seasonal and tempting items, the results can range from frustration to a trip to the animal hospital. On the "what dogs should avoid" list,...
Book Review on the BARF Diet
I can recall a handful of books in my life that were so impactful that they not only altered major life decisions but actually changed my views and outlooks to the point of altering my entire life's path. One of those life changing books for me was "The BARF...
GRANNY’S RULE: If You Don’t Eat Your Meat, You Can’t Have Any Pudding
"If you don't eat your meat, you can't have any pudding! How can you have any pudding if you don't eat your meat?" That classic line from The Wall by Pink Floyd can send you flashing back to lava lamps and laser light shows but it is not only a...
Letting Dogs Meet: The Three Second Rule part 1
As a dog owner, I'm sure you have been in the situation where your dog had to meet another dog he didn't know. If you haven't yet, you will. Whether you're having a friend and their dog over for a BBQ or you happen to run across a new dog on a hike, there are some...
