Are You the Real Cause of Your Dogs Lack of Focus?
How can you have a communication ‘Dialog Loop” with your dog that gets your dog focused on YOU, instead of being distracted, reactive or worried…automatically, with no training? Let’s start with this question: what exactly is “communication”? Good communication is the successful exchange of information, ideas and feelings Let me repeat that: the EXCHANGE of […]
Are You the Right Kind of Leader for Your Dog?
How can you be the RIGHT kind of leader for your dog …without being punitive, and without having to be a non-stop treat or toy dispenser? One of the core philosophies of my work is that Dogs thrive when being guided by clear, consistent leadership that provides a framework to live by. There’s a […]
How to Help Dogs with Fear of Thunder and Fireworks
It’s that time of year. If you have a dog who is afraid of thunder and fireworks, you know just what I’m talking about. Panic, pacing, panting, drooling, running away. Those are some of the symptoms that tell you your dog doesn’t appreciate the beauty of mother nature’s storms or the city’s annual fireworks display. Should […]
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 […]
What To Do When Your Dog or Puppy is Afraid of Something (and What Not To Do)
It all starts with the best of intentions. We want to do our best to make sure that our dog is well socialized and can cope with all the interesting (and sometimes scary) things that are encountered in life. Things are going great…until, one day, your puppy encounters what must be a dog-eating monster. uh-oh. […]
To Shave or Not to Shave? What’s Best for Your Dog?
Should I shave my dog this year? That’s a question many lovers of dogs face each summer. We do want to keep our dogs cool, but what to do? This is part 3 in my series of Keeping Your Dog Safe This Summer. If you missed part 1, How to Help Dogs with Fear of […]
Avoid This Hidden Danger That Can Quickly Kill Your Dog
Summer is a perfect time for fun outdoor play with your dog. But too many families have lost their dogs because they didn’t know to watch for this potentially fatal hidden danger. This part 2 in my series of Keeping Your Dog Safe This Summer. If you missed part 1, How to Help Dogs […]
How to Easily Fix This Common (and Frustrating) Dog Training Challenge
Last year I surveyed dog lovers from all around the country…engaged in a cross section of ALL dog activities/dog sports/working dogs. Can you guess what was in the Top 3 Common Struggles? “My Dog Gets Distracted, Looses Focus, Won’t Listen.” I totally get it. A couple of years ago I wrote a blog post about […]
How to Train Your Dog When You Have No Time
A most common complaint from people about training their dogs. You know, I’ve been working with horses and dogs for a really long time, about 35+ years I guess. And, for the past 25 years, I’ve been helping teach people how to have a better relationship with their dogs, and how to get results in a […]
Games to Play with Herding Dogs Pt 2
More Games to Play with Herding Dogs When You Don’t Have Sheep in Your Backyard Remember: Herding dogs not only require serious physical activity every single day, but they need serious mental activity too. Thinking is one of the things herding dogs are great at, and they’re not truly happy without daily mental exercise. Most […]
A Fun Game to Satisfy Your Herding Dog’s “Herding Instinct” When You Don’t Have Sheep to Work.
One of the things that get herding breed dogs into trouble is not having a REAL job to do every day. A real job like grazing the sheep. Or bringing the cows home. Or putting the chickens and ducks to bed each night. You might be doing a great job of providing plenty of exercise […]
