This morning I’m juggling Frisbees and the last bit of my motivation to get the dogs moving. Deuce and Rio are buzzing with excitement—or so I think. I lob the first Frisbee for Deuce, and he just stares at me, like, “Really? What do you want me to do with this?” Yesterday he was a…
As September rolls in, CHACO Dog Training is excited to bring two unique opportunities for you and your pup to connect, move, and grow together. Whether you’re looking to get active, strengthen obedience, or try something totally new—this September is packed with tail-wagging adventures! Event 1: Fit Pups Hybrid Walks Fridays, September 5, 12 &…
We all know that taking a walk with our dogs is one of the healthiest ways to spend quality time together. It gets us moving, boosts our health, and—bonus!—helps melt away stress after a long day. I personally miss those walks with Laika around our Berkeley neighborhood. After living in the San Francisco Bay Area…
Only If You’re Truly Bringing Them. When vacations are on the horizon, many dog owners ask themselves: should I bring my dog or leave them at home? Sometimes the destination makes the decision for us. But when we have the choice, it’s important to ask a better question: can I meet my dog’s needs while…
Allergies can be deeply disruptive, especially when they affect our relationships with beloved family pets. When someone in the household develops an allergy to dogs, physicians often recommend a range of actions—some of which can significantly affect your dog’s well-being. Common medical recommendations include: While these suggestions may help minimize allergic reactions, they are often…
Morning chaos. I’m in the middle of my usual AM routine — dogs fed, coffee somewhere on the way, and I’m hustling to get out the door. John is in town, toggling between his home office and the kitchen, while the dogs — in true form — are already on post-breakfast patrol. Once their bowls…
I’ve written before about why the old idea of dogs as “pack animals” blindly following a dominant “pack leader” is not only incorrect but harmful to dogs. Today, I want to focus on something more subtle and fascinating: the daily social negotiations dogs engage in with each other. Yes, social dominance does exist in animal…
Are you looking for a fun and innovative way to bond with your dog while enhancing obedience training and fitness? Look no further than FitBO™—a low-impact sport modality I’ve developed to increase subtle communication between you and your dog. With FitBO™, you can hone your obedience training with precision while also incorporating elements of canine fitness…
You may have come across studies exploring laterality—the dominance of one side of the body over the other. This phenomenon is well-documented across species, including dogs. Canines exhibit preferences in how they use their paws, how they gaze at humans, and even how they sniff their surroundings. But what about tail wagging? Could laterality play…
I recently noticed that my dogs showed little interest in chasing a poorly thrown Frisbee. This led me to rethink our training sessions using key principles of animal learning—concepts that anyone working with animals, whether professionally or as a pet owner, should understand. One of the most effective ways to modify behavior is by changing…