Is your dog protecting you?
I hear people all the time stating that their dog is being reactive because they want to protect the owner. This is almost never the case. Dogs are primarily looking out for their own interests. If a dog is acting protectively or defensively, it is because they feel the need to protect themselves, not anyone […]
The creep at the bar
Imagine you’re out in a bar. If someone shares a glance with you and gives a small smile, you may not take much notice. People in a crowded place are going to occasionally look at each other – no big deal. Perhaps you may even be flattered. But imagine you look around and find someone […]
Why you should always question whether pain is the cause
A vast majority of the time, a dog with new or “unpredictable” aggressive behaviour is experiencing pain. I’ve seen too many owners seeking help from a trainer when they instead should be consulting a vet. Here are some examples of behaviours I’ve been approached about for training that turned out to have a medical cause:-Suddenly […]
Stop feeding rice
I will start this one with the preface that I am not a qualified canine nutritionist. However, feeding chicken and rice still seems to be such a common practice for dog owners facing upset stomach issues and it needs to stop! Here are the reasons rice is not good for your sick dog: 1 – […]
“No-pull” doesn’t exist
Marketing is a powerful tool. Companies making dog equipment know that a lot of owners suffer through unpleasant walks due to their dogs pulling. They know those owners want peaceful and enjoyable walks, so they’re advertising their product as doing just that to make a sale. But the “no-pull” harnesses should be called “easier restraint” […]
The hard work starts after training the command
You’ve taught your dog a new command – they new understand it and perform it for you at home. Amazing! You’re done now, right? Wrong. If you want that command to be functional in the real world, you’ve only just begun. Teaching the dog a new command at home in a low-distraction environment was the […]
The earlier, the better
3 reasons to address issues and make changes for the better when you START to see a problem and not when then the problem has already driven you to breaking point: 1️⃣ The longer you wait to address an issue, the harder it will be to solve. The more a dog has practised a behaviour, […]
Genetics matter
All modern breeds were bred with specific jobs or purpose in mind. Herders love to herd because of genetics. Beagles will obsessively follow scent because of genetics. Retrievers will enjoy retrieving because of genetics. German Shepherds bark at strangers because of genetics. Malinois loves to bite because of genetics. Livestock guardian breeds are independent because […]
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
I want to thank all of our family, friends, clients, and followers for your amazing support this year. I hope you all have a restful and joyful holiday period! 2023 has been a big year for me and Ava – I bought my first house and we’ve made it our own. I started seeing clients […]
Check your emotions at the door
Dogs and humans perceive things differently, including training tools. If you don’t have direct experience with a tool and you want to know the truth about it, look at direct evidence of how it is perceived by dogs, not how it is described by people. How can you tell how something is perceived by a […]
