How to Teach Your Dog to Use a Scratchboard You’ve built a size-appropriate nail scratchboard, and now it’s time to teach your dog how to drag her front nails across it. You’ll need a clicker, lots of yummy treats (about the size of a pea), scratchboard and a room with a door. Room With a Door During the beginning stages, choose a small room with a door for dog training … [Read more...]
How to Stop a Begging Dog
Use Your Begging Dog to Your Advantage Oh, begging dogs, it's time to change your begging ways or we'll use begging to our advantage. :) Here are myths about begging dogs dispelled plus tips on preventing, fixing and using the behavior to your advantage. Myth: People Food Causes Begging This is a common myth. Many dog owners refrain from using bits of baked chicken or … [Read more...]
Do Different Dog Breeds Learn Differently?
No, Different Dog Breeds Learn the Same "Do different dog breeds learn differently?" is the most asked question, and it's usually asked by purebred dog pet owners. As a professional dog trainer, I'm always happy to answer this question. If you're curious if certain dog breeds learn differently, read below for a professional dog trainer's take on different-breed dog … [Read more...]
11 Common Questions Dog Trainers are Asked
From Your Dog's Perspective: 11 Common Questions As a dog trainer, I'm frequently asked the same questions over and over again during my dog training classes. Hey, it's OK to ask since you'd never know the answer if you didn't! Interestingly enough, many of the same questions are usually asked during the first or second class. This is because dog behavior is totally … [Read more...]
When Positive Reinforcement Doesn’t Work
Tips for Getting Your Dog Back on Track A hot topic among dog trainers and owners lately is when positive reinforcement doesn't work. Many dog owners are hesitant to use positive reinforcement training because they assume their dogs won't respond unless they have a treat in their hand, which is a valid concern. On the other side, dog trainers have a tendency to panic … [Read more...]
Tips For Dogs Barking At Passersby From Inside Their Home
Stop Dog Barking From Inside Some dogs just love barking at people and other dogs from inside their home. Dogs will peep through windows, doors and even holes in fences just to get a glimpse of someone walking by. Barking is not only annoying, but it’s also not fair to the passerby. Stop dog barking from inside with these management tips. Windows By far, dogs enjoy … [Read more...]
Help! My Puppy Just Growled At Me, What Should I Do?
How to Handle Puppy Growling When dogs growl, it can be scary. However, when puppies growl, it can become very confusing and concerning. As a professional dog trainer, I can tell you most clients are more concerned when puppies growl than when adult dogs do it. Let’s discuss why puppies growl and how to prevent the behavior. What Causes Puppies to Growl? Many pet owners … [Read more...]
Help! My Dog Is Scared Of Ceiling Fans
Helping a Dog Afraid of Ceiling Fans This was the email subject line from a client, and I couldn’t help, but wonder if this was really true. After scheduling a private consult with this client, and viewing videos she recorded of her dog and the ceiling fan, I had a pretty good idea what was going on. Was it the Ceiling Fan? Oh yes, this dog was definitely afraid of the … [Read more...]