Pet dog training and behavior modification
As I write this, I am working with a sweet pair of smaller labra-doodles, from the same home but each with their own issues. One, I am working on the standard prong collar that I tend to use for most of my clients. The other, I elected to take a
In many areas of the world, dangerous snakes are simply a reality. They co-exist with humans (and our dogs) in sometimes not-so-harmonious ways, popping up in backyards, long hikes, and sometimes even inside the home. In my home of Port Orchard, Washington, we don’t have much in the way of
Learn more…Are Dogs Naturally Afraid of Snakes? (Plus Snake Avoidance Training)
Dogs are highly social creatures. Most dogs crave time side-by-side with their humans, and yes, other dogs. But many dog owners notice, upon giving their dog time at the dog park or making “dog friends” with a neighbor, that their dog seems to be pushing boundaries more, or showing more
The use of an appropriately-selected crate is one of the most effective ways to prevent many issues that arise in pet dogs. From house training to destructive behaviors, travel, separation anxiety, counter surfing and managing multi-dog, multi-pet, and even households with children, the crate is both an amazing training tool
Throughout a lot of our media, you’ll find that cats and dogs are regularly represented pitted against each other as enemies or bitter rivals. From old cartoons and childrens’ movies to the extended rivalry between “dog people” and “cat people,” it always seems like dogs and cats are naturally at
One thing that a lot of dog owners end up struggling with at some point in their lives is largely non-behavioral issues in housebreaking. Things like incontinence and submissive urination can leave messes in the home, even when the dog already understands the boundaries of house training. One of the
A lot of dog owners are, understandably, cautious about e-collars and their less-favorable cousins, shock collars. There is a lot of nuance to using e-collars well. There’s also a lot of rumors about e-collar training, mostly by trainers that have never touched one or assume that all electronic collars (and
Learn more…The Side Effects of Shock Collars: Facts and Fiction
As a professional dog trainer who implements e-collar training into many of my programs, I’ve had to dispel a lot of myths and misconceptions regarding these tools to dog owners. This is understandable and something I am happy to do, as I want all my clients to feel confident that
One of the most frustrating things can be when you think a dog is fully house trained, and then they go and do their business while with you in a store. It’s icky, embarrassing, and not exactly fun to other patrons of the store. So why do dogs do their
As someone who regularly house trains new dogs as a part of my day-to-day life, I know the frustration of losing track of things and suddenly having to clean up a mess in the house. As I talk about in my article, How to Potty Train Any Dog, the real
