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During obedience lessons, I often ask the dog’s family if their dog knows how to respond to a word or hand signal to lie down. Fairly frequently, someone in the family gives me a slightly puzzled look and responds, “No, should they?” While teaching your... Click here to read more

One of the most common reasons dogs struggle with training has nothing to do with the dog at all. It's not a lack of intelligence. It's not stubbornness. And it's not because the family isn't trying hard enough. More often than many people realize, the... Click here to read more

In my previous blog post, I used the phrase "offer behaviors.” I’ve received several questions about what that phrase means and why it’s helpful in dog training, so here’s a blog post answering those questions! One of the most enjoyable moments in... Click here to read more

Most of us enjoy being successful. Whether we're learning a new hobby, playing a sport, or tackling a project at work, success feels good. It boosts our confidence, keeps us motivated, and encourages us to keep going. Dogs enjoy success, too! When... Click here to read more

One of the most valuable skills a dog can learn is a solid stay. A reliable stay helps keep dogs safe, makes daily life easier, and teaches dogs patience and self-control. Yet many families discover that their dog’s stay seems dependable in one... Click here to read more

Trips to the veterinary office are an essential part of your puppy’s life, but for many dogs, they can also be a source of stress. The good news is that you can practice a lot of what happens during a veterinary exam at home in simple, gentle ways... Click here to read more

When people bring home a new puppy, they often focus first on house training and basic commands like sit and come. Those skills are certainly important, but there’s another part of early training that may be even more critical to your puppy’s... Click here to read more

Many dogs develop attention-seeking habits that start out sweet and end up… not so sweet. A gentle nudge, a paw on the leg, or a soft nip can easily turn into something disruptive if it’s regularly reinforced. That’s exactly what happened with... Click here to read more

I frequently hear a version of that question from clients, usually followed by “I tried looking online, but the explanations were full of technical terms and didn’t have any real-world examples. Help!” I’m happy to help! Clicker training is a... Click here to read more

I often work with families who are very frustrated that their dog is unable to reliably respond to “stay.”  Sometimes they hold their stay until a family member calls them; other times they get up before the family member calls . Occasionally, the... Click here to read more