Over the past few weeks, I’ve been working closely with a small dog and his devoted family to help him feel more comfortable being approached, picked up, and transported in the car. This little guy struggles deeply with anxiety—he trembles like a leaf whenever someone walks toward him, and the shaking continues as he’s being…
Category: Anxiety
Is Love Enough? Rethinking What It Means to Truly Care for Our Dogs
Is Love Enough? Rethinking What It Means to Truly Care for Our Dogs I have a bone to pick with many rescue organizations that equate a good home for a dog purely with love. Yes, really. This raises an important question: 💡 How does our love for dogs translate into our daily lives with them? Let me explain. Not…
Understanding Your Dog’s Bark: A Missed Opportunity
I’m sitting at a local eatery, waiting for a friend, when a group arrives with a dog. The owner immediately positions the dog beside her, away from foot traffic. Nice! I think to myself. Someone is paying attention. The dog remains quiet, likely lying next to her, calm and composed. But then, suddenly, something shifts—a…
🐾 Free Webinar: Supporting Your Emotional Dog
Caring for an emotional dog can be challenging, but with the right tools, you can make a world of difference! Join me as I share insights on: 1️⃣ Understanding their unique needs2️⃣ Managing their environment3️⃣ Behavior modification through neuroscience4️⃣ Finding the right support 🗓️ Date/Time: Wednesday, October 30th, 12:00-1:00 PM MST. 👉 Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwpf-usqj8tGd2gxBa_RRYBaas6wIGTCHIn#/registration…
Living with an Emotional Dog: Navigating the Journey Together
Caring for an emotional dog—one that is constantly stressed, fearful, anxious, or aggressive—is a profoundly complex and often overwhelming experience. Many pet parents find themselves facing these challenges alone, unsure of how to help their beloved companion. In my 18 years as a professional dog trainer, I’ve seen firsthand the emotional toll this takes on…
Living With and Supporting an Emotional Dog Free Webinar
As a pet owner of an emotional dog, it’s essential to be well-versed in the challenges of supporting them. In all my years of working with pet parents and their dogs, I’ve seen the toll it takes. But with the proper knowledge and support, emotional dogs can live their best lives. An emotional dog is…
Does your dog have thunder phobia?
It is the rainy season here in New Mexico (yes, we do get rain in the high desert) and with rain often comes thunder. Deuce has always been afraid of noises such as thunder, gun shots, fireworks and the like. This is actually very typical especially for working breeds. The reason is frankly not really…
Getting in the car is fun!
I am busy this morning trying to get Deuce ready to go sheepherding. I know that if I do not leave in a few minutes I will be late. I have Deuce on a leash as we step outside the front door. He puts on the breaks. Darn! The car issue is becoming worse. For…
Drastic improvements in a once fearful dog
I recently received a testimonial from a client that came to meet with me because of her severely fearful dog named Che. I met with Haley and Che. Che was so concerned with my presence that most of the work I did was at a distance – for this reason, we met outside and with…
Basic principles of learning and counter-conditioning
I am sitting at a local eatery waiting for a friend to arrive. A group shows up with a dog and sits almost in front of me. I like the fact that the owner of the dog immediately positions the dog next to her and away from foot traffic. Nice! I think to myself. Someone…