Ugh, you are on a very important Zoom call and your dog will not stop barking at your feet! Or your doorbell rings and your dog begins barking, twirling and jumping on you as you go to open the door. You are frustrated. You want to stop your dog’s bad behavior. This is a reminder to you…the time to teach your dog what behaviors you would rather him do in any given situation is often NOT when that situation is happening. Plan ahead. Put management into place. Teach your dog good manners behaviors ahead of time. Practice. And practice more. [Read more…] about So, You Want To Stop Your Dog’s Bad Behavior…
Dawson
Distractions and Loose Leash Walking: Walking Dog Past Geese
Let’s talk about dog training with distractions and loose leash walking. With my maltipoo dog, Dawson, being prone to react by barking at other dogs while on leash and within close proximity, many of our walks are not on neighborhood streets. On this path we are pretty sure to not see any dogs BUT we do see geese frequently. And Dawson’s first instinct is to chase them if given the chance. How am I working on our being able to walk by the geese with a loose leash? With a dog pattern game I call SEARCH. You’ll learn more below. [Read more…] about Distractions and Loose Leash Walking: Walking Dog Past Geese
How To Walk your Leash Reactive Dog
When I ask a new client about their dog’s exercise, more often than not, the answer has to do with, ‘walking my dog in my neighborhood.’ Walking their dog on a leash – or walking their off-leash dog as I have been seeing in my neighborhood (but do not advocate for) – is just what people do with their pets. The activity can be a wonderful enriching, bonding experience…but it can also be a very stressful practice of unwanted emotions and behaviors for the reactive dog or puppy. And with practice comes a greater likelihood of reoccurrence. Continuing to expose pets to stimulus that cause big feelings and behaviors puts these dogs in a chronic cycle of stress. What is the owner of a leash reactive dog to do? Should you walk your dog? And if so, how do you walk your dog safely so that it can be a positive outing? I’ll delve more into this in this post. [Read more…] about How To Walk your Leash Reactive Dog
Your Dog’s Leave-Me-Alone Spot
How does your dog or puppy let you know he/she wants to be left alone or just wants to say NO? My Dawson has his Leave-Me-Alone spot where he sits just behind a living room seat. [Read more…] about Your Dog’s Leave-Me-Alone Spot
Four Things To Bring On A Walk With Your Dog
Here are four things you may want to on a walk your dog, for dog safety and your own safety, just in case of imminent danger from an off-leash dog. [Read more…] about Four Things To Bring On A Walk With Your Dog
What Does It Mean When Your Dog Plays Keep Away?
I was asked by a man the other day about when his dog growls during play. Specifically, he shared how his dog loves sticks and playing keep away. He described it as his dog teases with bringing the sticks up to him, only letting go with a growl. His question was whether he should wait to engage with his dog until his dog drops the stick. Below I answer that and also share some tips for playing with your dog and tugging with your dog. [Read more…] about What Does It Mean When Your Dog Plays Keep Away?