Puppy Fear Stages. When is it OK to say “It’s OK”? Puppy fear stages are typical, but don’t count on your dog “growing out of it” without your leadership and help. Parenting instincts to soothe may kick in during puppy fear stages, but dogs do not understand comforting like we do. When going through puppy…
Puppy Training During Fall. An Important Time for Exposure. Puppy training during the fall months is a great time for natural distractions. The leaves are falling, Halloween decorations are up and the weather is not too hot, not too cold, which is ideal for puppy training outside. Fall is very distracting for puppies and adult…
Adopt a Dog Not the Past Going to adopt a dog can be an emotional experience, but choosing to adopt a dog based on the story of their past can often lead to an unhappy ending for all. Behavior problems sometimes get a free pass because the dog has a sad past. If you adopt a dog,…
Puppy Resource Guarding. Warning Signs to Watch For Puppy resource guarding should be identified and addressed before it gets worse or carries over into adulthood. More importantly, you want to be careful not to accidentally enable puppy resource guarding. This can start when you reach for a bone and your puppy moves away from you. Do you…
Training a Dog to Behave in all Situations Starts at Home Training a dog to behave in all situations may sound impossible, but it’s very attainable. Having a well-mannered dog starts at home. Waiting until you go on a walk, to the park or on vacation to expect your dog to act correctly really isn’t fair to…
Getting a Second Dog? Own Two Dogs Successfully. Getting a second dog seems like a great idea. After all, two is better than one, right? They can play together and snuggle on the couch when you’re not home. Maybe your dog is lonely and getting a second dog will give him a friend. There is…
Dog Crate Training. Why You Shouldn’t Stop Using a Crate. Dog crate training is agreeably the easiest way to potty train a puppy, but for some reason owners are in a rush to “phase out” using a crate. There are many benefits to keeping your dog’s crate a part of their lives, but there are also many…
Driving Cross Country With a Dog. Travel Training Tips. Driving cross country with a dog this summer? Whether taking a vacation or moving, driving cross country with a dog is much safer than flying, but can still be very stressful for your dog. Here are a few tips that will eliminate some of the strain on…
Dog Training with Distractions. Be Successful by Slowing Down Dog training with distractions is a great way to take your training into the real world. However, many times this leads to owners moving too fast and pushing their dogs into situations that they are not ready for. The best way for you and your dog to…
Dog Park Training Tips. How to Choose and Use a Dog Park Taking your pup to a dog park can be a great way to get you both out for some fresh air. First make sure your dog has a solid recall, is healthy and is not dog or human aggressive before taking them to…