I would argue that some dogs are gaining too much weight because they are given too many treats during training, and perhaps high caloric treats in addition to their daily meals. A dog that is even a few pounds overweight can be considered obese so it is really important that we do not end up…
Tools such as a Flexi leash are supposed to help us accomplish something either in an easier or more efficient way. The Flexi leash has been around for a while and I would argue that its use is quite popular. Most folks that use a Flexi leash to walk their dog might do it for…
In the world of dog training, a dog that chases balls, bikes, cats, or a dog that tugs with power and determination is a dog with a high-prey drive. Trainers even speak about their preference for having such a dog as a competitor in a myriad of sports or even just as their pet companion….
Teaching your dog to wait without dashing out the door or jumping off the car seat is really a must-train behavior for any dog. Not only can learning this save your dog’s life, but in the process your pup is also learning some self-control. I have seen time and time again, how dogs thrive when…
I just came from visiting with a family whose dog decided to take a paw at landscaping design. The dog was thrilled with the results; the owner not so much. As I explained to them, unfortunately for us digging comes naturally to dogs. It is part of their ancient wiring that frankly as all natural…
I am not a people psychologist. My comments then are based on my own experience as a dog behavior “pro” that gives advice to my clients as to how better understand their dogs (from an ethological perspective), as well as teaching and training their dogs. My other lens of investigation is my hands-on experience as…
I am talking to my colleague about a recent case he had. We are discussing different possibilities as to why training or behavior modification might not produce the results we would like. We toss around ideas and I settle for three possibilities: 1. The technique or techniques employed are either not appropriate or they are…
I am sitting at a local restaurant just watching the world go by as we wait for the food to arrive. I spot an older man with a youngish Golden Retriever. It appears they are both going for a walk. The dog is in close proximity of the owner and occasionally moves away from the…
I am behind a closed door and I cannot attend to it at that moment. Deuce has followed me around and now he is lying on the other side of the door gently pawing at it and barking. I asked him to stop (the barking and pawing) and immediately after that I tell him what…
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…