Blog Archives

Alpha-Shmalpha? No topic gets more muddled by myths than dominance. I recently had two different students ask me how to deal with a dominant dog because an established person in the field gave them questionable advice. One was advised by … Continue reading →

Take the “Bribe” Out of the Equation As we reviewed in our last post, getting behaviors without showing food first is called fading a lure and it is something you must learn! Fading a lure can be achieved in 5 steps. Skilled trainers adapt … Continue reading →

No Trick (if) No Treat! In the world of human relationships, food “sets the table” for shared fun and positive memories. From first dates to 50th anniversaries, good food plays an integral role. As funny as it may sound, it’s … Continue reading →

What is Your Dog’s Play Persona? Picture dogs in a dog park or similar “play” setting. The dog owners are there, some are even paying attention (wink). But, do they know what they are watching? With this question in mind, … Continue reading →

Food in a Bowl Can Be So Much More Some dogs eat so fast that when they’re done they look at you and say, “You kidding me? That’s it?” Others won’t touch the food you put down because it’s SO … Continue reading →

Life Rewards Make Obedience Stick One of our students recently asked me a great question about “life rewards”. Before I tell you the question and the answer – let’s quickly review this useful concept for dog training. Life rewards are … Continue reading →

So Much Energy, So Little Time Every dog owner knows that exercise keeps a dog healthy in mind and body. The trouble is, most of us can hardly find the time to exercise ourselves, let alone our pets!  Many owners … Continue reading →

Growling at Me?  What Do I Do? In Part 3 of our “Growls and Barks” series, we look at the most disturbing noise of all – a dog growling directly at you.  If you’ve ever had your own “best friend” … Continue reading →