Potty training is easily one of the most frustrating aspects of living with a dog. I didn’t say “puppies” for a reason. There are a lot of circumstances under which you can find yourself living with an adult dog who has no idea how or where to potty. Most shelter dogs over a year or… Continue reading Potty Trainng
I have so many clients who worry about the cue “come”. Honestly, I don’t. It is the first word in our business name, and undoubtedly one of the most important cues in a dog’s life. But we never once address this cue in our beginner class. Don’t mistake me: it is on the test. It is… Continue reading A Foolproof “Come”
Operant Conditioning is a fancy way to say “how animals learn”. Its a scientific theory which has four quadrants, or categories. The quadrants are these: positive reinforcement, negative reinforcement, positive punishment, and negative punishment. If you want to learn more about those, I suggest employing our mutual friend Google because I haven’t written that blog… Continue reading Your Dog’s Paycheck
Next to crate training, teaching a dog to be quiet is probably the most common complaint I hear from dog owners. I can’t stand a yappy animal myself, so I sympathize. But I adore Chihuahuas, so how does that work? Simple, I ask them to hush. (Ok, let’s be honest, maybe the word I use… Continue reading How to teach “Hush”
I get a lot of questions about how clients should go about getting a service dog. Most ask for a recommendation for an organization that will pair them with a dog, thinking that this is the first step in their quest. It isn’t. The first stop you need to make on your journey will be… Continue reading How to get a Service Dog
“Well we tried crate training him. We stuck him in there and we waited until he was quiet. But it only lasted a couple of nights and then now he just barks and howls and I’m not sure I can stand it anymore. I don’t know what else to do.” Does this sound familiar to… Continue reading Crate training
So you have dogs who don’t get along (maybe we can say “yet”). You love these dogs. You’re devoted to making this work. You need some peace and quiet. You won’t put them into an already-overloaded rescue and shelter system that won’t do them any favors. You’re an amazing person! But you’re struggling. Because it’s… Continue reading Crate and Rotate
This may seem like a really obvious question, but the truth is that it isn’t. Not even close. Service dogs can and do mitigate a wide variety of disabilities, but they’re not always the best solution for every person. The first consideration in deciding to go down this path, is your health. Are you disabled?… Continue reading Do You Need a Service Dog?
If you know me, have stood next to me in a grocery store queue, or have hired me to help you train a dog, you’ve probably heard me say “Five minutes, five times a day.” When clients ask how much they should practice with their dog, I tell them “five minutes, five times a day.”.… Continue reading 5 Minutes, 5 Times a Day
We’re often in a position that clients ask us what type of harness, collar, leashes, etc. While it is important to mention that ALL equipment has the potential to be aversive (something that causes a dog fear, pain, or distress), we try to recommend equipment that is suited to both dog and handler in the… Continue reading Recommended Equipment
We encounter a wide variety of “jealousy” in dogs. It is hard to tell how many of these behaviors are benign or manageable because if it were, you probably wouldn’t go to the expense and trouble of contacting a trainer about it. We get a slightly skewed perception of how common a problem is. All… Continue reading Resource Guarding
I’ve written before about WHY we use food puzzles and toys. I’ve mentioned a bit about HOW and even which food puzzles to use. Here, I just want to make a more complete list of the food puzzles we currently own and use, or those we love but had to “retire”. I’ll also rate them… Continue reading Food Puzzles part 2
Please bear with me. This isn’t going to be comprehensive or universal, no matter what I do. Service dogs come in all shapes, sizes, and personalities. There is no “one size fits all” and sometimes the dog you never even thought of turns out to be the best fit. Other times, the dog you thought… Continue reading What to Look for in a Service Dog
You’re looking for a puppy! Yay! How exciting. And nerve wracking. How do you find an ethical breeder? What does an ethical breeder do differently? There are a million questions you’re likely to be asking yourself or researching. We’re here to help. First, let’s discuss the concept of an ethical breeder. Good or “ethical” dog… Continue reading What to Look For in a Breeder
Any positive reinforcement trainer is likely to give you this same bit of advice. Clients who take the advice seriously and remember to practice the habit frequently will enjoy a better relationship with their dogs. Ditch the dish. Ban the bowl. Stop feeding your dog for free! Dogs enjoy hunting, fishing, and generally scavenging food… Continue reading The Most Important Advice
I train and help train hundreds of dogs each year. Almost every dog I encounter, no matter how advanced, how delayed, how remedial, or how extensive their training, has never learned to “stand” on cue. It seems to be the most difficult basic cue for owners to teach their dogs, despite the incredibly easy methods… Continue reading The Forgotten Cue
