Hard Lessons from a Heart Dog
We all have high and low points with our dogs. Things don’t always go as planned and many of us are left feeling downhearted, frustrated, and disappointed when our dog doesn’t act or behave like they’re ‘supposed’ to. I’ve had a lifelong love affair with animals and many of you who have been following me […]
It’s Your Choice – Transactional vs Relational
Do you have a transactional or a relational lifestyle with your dog? And…is one better than the other? If you’re scratching your head (and your dog is doing the same) – don’t worry, I’m going to explain all of this further as we go. But first, let me grab my white lab coat and talk […]
Cognitive Dog Training: Small Changes = Big Rewards
Have you ever noticed how we are really attracted to BIG rewards? I mean, who would seriously step over a $10 bill to get to a penny? Would you? What if I told you that the $10 bill is a one time deal, end of story. And the penny was the start of a trail […]
One Dog’s Transformation from Trash to Treasure
When I adopted Maya, she had been labeled as ‘untrainable’ by her 3 previous homes, and was ready to be put down because of it. You may know my sweet and sassy Maya…or you may know of her story. She is quite a gal, with a jaded history. 😉 She was kicked out of […]
The Biggest Myth About Dog Training
Is “training” REALLY the best solution for a misbehaving dog? Or … is it the one thing that should be SKIPPED? I think back to my very early dog training classes where I was so wowed by how easy it was to shape behaviors in my dogs … and how amazing my dogs were in class. […]
Why you should Stop Training your Dog … Until You Read This…
The most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart. -Helen Keller You’ve heard the story of Helen Keller and Anne Sullivan? Helen was struck by a fever as a toddler that left her in a dark, silent place … “blind, deaf and dumb”, according […]
Maya’s Journey of Transformation
Another Story of Transformation I Want to Share with You. You may know my sweet and sassy Maya…or you may know of her story. She is quite a gal, with a jaded history. 😉 She was kicked out of 3 homes, and stood on death’s door because of her impossible behavior. She was labeled ‘untrainable’, […]
Dirty Secrets Revealed: Confessions of a Professional Dog Trainer
Or: How I (almost) Wrecked My Dogs… There’s one thing that I’ve learned from all of my years of living with and training dogs that stands head and shoulders above the rest: If you don’t have a good sense of humor, you might as well just throw in the towel and live a boring and […]
The Long, Hard Road to Dog Training Success.
Dreams and Transformations. Love Stories, really. Sometimes things aren’t what they seem, you know? Sometimes it feels like there’s not much happening, like time is standing still and we’re in the same place we’ve always been. Then, one day our life is completely changed. The thing we thought we might never get to is right […]
Dog Walking Nightmare Transformed
Heidi and Bailey: A Personal Story of Transformation Let’s Walk…Together! (this is a guest blog by Heidi Thorne) I am on the Board of the Friends of DuPage County Animal Care & Control, a foundation that supports the DuPage County animal shelter which receives no taxpayer funding. My friends at the shelter and on the […]
Miscommunication and Training Failures Transformed
The Long and Winding Road to Partnership…it’s a beautiful ride! (This is a guest blog by Debra Smilie Blomgren) I was born wanting a dog. Thanks to my beloved Grandma, whose family raised Boxers in Germany, my gift for my 12th birthday was a dog. My wish was for a German Shepherd. Instead, a wrinkled […]
Dog Barking-Lunging Fits Transformed
Connie and Rowley: A Personal Story of Transformation An Adventure in Learning. (This is a guest blog by Connie Burnet) Some people, when they get into middle age, buy a sports car. Me? I adopted my first Border Collie! Being single and in my 50s, my dogs are my immediate family. I have several Shelties […]
