When Your Dog Has Something He Knows He Should Not Have

Is your dog REALLY staying away because he has something he knows he should not have? Or is your dog staying away because he has something he values, and he does not want you to take it from him? More than likely, it is the later.

Let’s talk about dog resource guarding. Have you ever said this about your ‘bad’ dog? “My dog stays away from me or growls at me if I come close, when he has something, he KNOWS he should not have?” I hear this from dog owners enough so that I thought it would be worth talking […]

Should A Child Lay On A Sleeping Dog?

Parents, please do not encourage or allow your child to lay on your sleeping dog.

It is so easy to find photos and videos of kids and dogs like this online. A young child showing affection to her dog by laying on top of her family dog while he is sleeping. In this image, it even looks like it may have been posed. In other words, someone (perhaps a parent […]

Are dog parks good for socializing your puppy or dog?

Should you take your dog to a dog park? Cincinnati certified dog trainer has some consideration.

Are dog parks good for socializing your dog or puppy? I am a regular guest on WCPO’s Cincy Lifestyle with Pete Scalia, Michelle Hopkins and Mikhayla Hughes-Shaw. Last month we talked about this topic. Below you can see our discussion.

Bathing Your Puppy: Teaching Cooperative Care

Now is a great time to teach your puppy to enjoy bath time, and have control over the grooming activity. As a Fear Free certified dog training professional, we call this training cooperative care. It greatly reduces an animal’s stress by giving that animal agency (choice and control) over what happens. This video and post shares puppy training tips for doing this.

When it comes to bathing your puppy or dog, now is a great time to teach your puppy to enjoy bath time, and have control or agency over the grooming activity. As a Fear Free certified dog training professional, we call this teaching cooperative care. It greatly reduces an animal’s stress by giving that animal […]

The Problem With Begging Your Dog To Train

The problem with begging your dog to train. . It is applying pressure, coercion, even force. You may notice more dog stress signals or avoidance.

Something to think about when it comes to dog training (or parrot training, or training any other animals) …if you demand or beg for participation, it is not REALLY about cooperation. It is applying pressure, coercion, even force. You may notice more dog stress signals or avoidance. You probably will not see an eager willingness […]

Hack For Dog Calm Door Greetings

When it comes to your dog's calm door greeting manners, many wish their dog would stop jumping on guests and keep four paws on the ground. Here is a hack for calm dog greetings using a Kong dog toy.

When it comes to your dog’s calm door greeting manners, many wish their dog would stop jumping on guests and keep four paws on the ground. Let me introduce you to one story. Once upon a time, Brutus was afraid of me as he was afraid of many new people and things in his environment. […]

Why This Quote About Teaching Talks To Me

“Our learners should respond to requests because they have the skills and motivation to do so, and not because they are forced to behave in order to avoid punishment.” ~ Dr. Susan Friedman. I love this quote from Dr. Friedman. This talks to me on so many levels as it relates to dog training, parrot training, and training any other species.

“Our learners should respond to requests because they have the skills and motivation to do so, and not because they are forced to behave in order to avoid punishment.”  ~ Dr. Susan Friedman. I love this quote from Dr. Friedman. This quote about teaching talks to me on so many levels as it relates to […]

Your Dog’s Basic Needs Piggy Bank

Are you investing enough into your dog's basic needs piggy bank?

Have you ever stopped to think about your personal needs, those parts of your life that help you to feel satisfied, fulfilled, happy and safe?  Ask yourself, “Are you investing in your dog’s basic needs piggy bank?”  (or really any captive animal you share your life with) Those are things that really should be considered […]

Greeting A Sensitive Dog

Maisey, a very sweet Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, tends to do submissive behaviors when greeting people and dogs. She is a sensitive dog and tends to approach with a wiggly but lowered body posture and tail; and will roll over and expose her belly when she gets to the person or dog. In this blog post, I’ll talk about sensitive dogs (also referred to as soft dogs), and how I helped Maisey have confidence in coming to me.

Maisy, a very sweet Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, tends to do submissive behaviors when greeting people and dogs. She is a sensitive dog and tends to approach with a wiggly but lowered body posture and tail; and will roll over and expose her belly when she gets to the person or dog. In this blog […]

Choice, Empowerment And Agency In Dog Training

Agency is the ability to have control of your environment, decisions and life. Agency, choice and empowerment are important words when it comes to dog training (and other animal training) and animal welfare.

Choice and empowerment are two words I have used a lot over the years when it comes to modifying behaviors AND enhancing quality of life.  Rather than using force and aversive strategies as much as possible, I prefer to teach and create change in the most positive and least intrusive ways (now called LIMA training […]