Walking your dog should be a relaxing and enjoyable activity, but for many pet parents, it turns into a constant battle against pulling. Whether your dog is excited, curious, or just eager to explore, leash pulling is a common challenge. The good news? With patience, practice, and the right training techniques, you can teach your…
This morning, I took Thor, a charming and incredibly handsome 5-month-old puppy/adolescent, on a socialization walk. The goal was to help him become comfortable with various stimuli, including cars, people of all kinds, especially men and children. We started at a quiet, familiar park but soon ventured into downtown Santa Fe, known as “the Plaza.”…
Adolescence in dogs mirrors that in humans, with both seeking independence and exploring their surroundings. Here are key points to understand this phase: Behavior Changes: Polite behaviors from puppyhood often diminish, causing concern for owners. Understanding that this is a normal developmental stage can alleviate frustration. Hormonal Influence: Hormones, such as testosterone in male dogs,…
Adding a new dog to your home could be one of the most challenging things you might have to do with your existing pup (s). But it doesn’t need to be so. If you plan ahead and follow a few simple rules, your dogs will stand a better chance of getting along and even becoming…
I am taking Thor a lovely and super handsome 5 month old puppy/adolescent for a socialization walk this morning. The intent is to get him super comfortable with all sorts of stimuli such as cars, people of all types, but mainly men and children. I park by a local and not too busy park where…
So what happens when someone acquires a dog that is not a puppy anymore? Since socialization has such a short window, a lot of people will not have the opportunity to socialize their new dog. While this is true, the good news is that dogs never stop learning. Yes, indeed, it is not the same…
This post is about the interactions between male dogs that are not neutered because they are too young to do so, and other male dogs- neutered or otherwise. There is substantial evidence regarding the importance of not neutering (or spaying) dogs until later on and definitively beyond puppy-hood – the gradual transition between 4 months…
I am meeting with first-time clients regarding inter-dog aggression. This is one of those instances where I brace myself for potentially delivering news that the owners most likely do not want to hear. As I read through their questionnaire, I realized that their situation is not an easy one and that a good outcome where…
I am exercising the dogs this morning and I notice that Rio is sort of inspecting the whippet (toy) instead of playing. We had to change toys because the last one basically tore away from the whippet. Now instead of playing by chasing the toy she is smelling and looking at it – perhaps making…
For some unknown reason Deuce’s guarding of certain objects, such as his precious ball, has gone up in frequency. I noticed just the other night that he began to vocalize in his typical high-pitched tone when he was lying on the couch next to me as Rio was cruising by. For the most part, when…