While dogs that wear muzzles often carry the stigma of being “bad” or “dangerous” and while that is really unfortunate, muzzles indeed are tools that can often not only keep people and other animals safe, but they can also – believe it or not, improve the life of the dog wearing it. ANY dog – and I…
Category: Aggression
With the speed of lightning
I am stretching on my yoga mat, and when I do, I really have to work hard at not interacting with my dogs. Perhaps it’s that they can access me in a different manner as I am now more at their eye level or it might be that I am doing downward dog and they…
Shifting
I just had a major change in my life that threw me for a loop. I had been part of a women’s exercise group for the past 3 or 4 years. We worked out really hard 3 times a week at yep 6 am. From Spring to Fall our workouts were outside, once the temperatures…
The case of the wagging tail
I am working with a couple and their very aggressive dog. His displays of fear and aggression which constitutes barking, growling and lunging are quite sobering, and I really take them seriously. De-escalating the situation is part of what I need to do as well as making sure I don’t get bitten. We are giving…
At home dog & dog conflicts
One of the most difficult cases to resolve in my experience are cases that involved at home dog / dog conflicts. The motivation(s) behind the conflicts or fights can at times be difficult to parcel out. In addition, these kinds of situations require constant and competent supervision by those living with the dogs. One (still)…
When things go wrong
At times things can go very wrong. Sometimes, if we are paying attention we might not be caught by surprise but in other instances not only can things go wrong but they can do so very, very fast and as a result find us unprepared. Most of the cases I see and the ones that…
Give them what they want!
As part my training services, I offer board & train. For many folks this is a very interesting option because they can either travel or just take a break from their pup while I work with them. Because the pup is going to be staying at my home, I do have certain requirements such as…
Dogs at Play- A visual presentation
Come learn how to: Differentiate dog play from poor dog-to-dog interaction Observe different styles of dog play Understand how to manage your dog when playing How to be safe at the dog park How to best intervene if your dog gets into a fight When to call a professional to help your dog with his…
How to help your adolescent male dog with other dogs
On last week’s post I shared with you the excellent book excerpt from Dr. Dunbar about what to expect in adolescence from your dog. In this post I want to concentrate on interactions between male dogs that are not neutered because they are too young to do so, and other male dogs- neutered or otherwise….
Adolescent Male Dogs
Need I say more? Adolescence in dogs is very similar to adolescence in people in the sense that both sets of adolescents begin to look away from the comfort and security of their caregivers and begin to explore their surroundings. When it comes to dogs, owners notice that the polite social graces their dog had…