Anyone out there that has baked bread has heard of proofing your dough. It is the final step of allowing the shaped dough to rise before baking. Proofing is also a term that is used in dog training and much like in baking, proofing is one of the final steps before completing the training process. Proofing your dog’s behavior is simply a fancy way of saying that you are teaching… Read More
Lets face it, most people have busy, hectic lives filled with work, cooking, cleaning and a thousand other tasks. The average dog on the other hand does not have a “job” to keep them busy and is often bored. Some dogs handle this boredom well, but others develop anxiety or other behavioral issues. For millennia, we’ve bred dogs for utility; herding livestock, pulling sleds, hunting, and many other useful activities…. Read More
To teach a dog to heel you first must know exactly what you want the dog to do. When heeling the dog should be even with your heel and focused mainly on you or the road ahead. The main reason for teaching a dog to heel is not just to stop him from pulling on leash. The main reason that I train a dog to heel properly is to be… Read More
I have posted this in order to answer some common concerns I hear from dog owners, this is by no means a complete list of how to live with your dog. Every piece of advice that you read or hear can be construed in many different ways. Unfortunately many dog owners are confused or misled about how much love they can give a dog, or when is the proper time…. Read More
As the proud owner of a new puppy you are probably dealing with two very common “issues” that are typical of young dogs. Cute little puppies can easily test your patience as you are trying to potty train them and teach them not to bite everything in sight, including you! Raising a puppy takes work, but with a little knowledge and some specific rules it can be much easier than… Read More
Socializing your puppy is one of the most important things you can do for them. Socializing is simply the process of teaching your puppy what is normal in the human world. The good news is that this is not hard and will be a fun and positive experience for both of you! Unfortunately many people wait too long to socialize their dog and set them up for a difficult… Read More
Household dogs are frequently bored in their daily life and a large selection of toys and bones can certainly help. The more things your dog has to play with the less of your things he will feel the need to chew on. Having one or two dog toys is not enough for the average dog. I typically suggest to clients to find around ten toys or bones that their dog… Read More
Training dogs with treats is a polarizing topic in the dog training world. Some trainers say that it is awful and others will tell you that if you don’t train with treats then you must be cruel. The truth about treat training a dog is that there is a time and place for it. The two main times that I will use food rewards to train a dog are when… Read More
If your dog climbs or jumps fences you know how frustrating and scary this can be. A fence is there to contain a dog and now he is loose on the other side. This is an easy way for your dog to get lost, get into a fight, or even get hit by a car. I frequently receive calls about stopping fence jumping and I explain to clients that there… Read More
Many people get dogs both for the love that they give us and because they are such natural guardians of their home and family. I love all dogs, but I tend to gravitate towards the guarding breeds for those very reasons. I enjoy having a dog that is great with children, friendly towards all adults, but will also guard my family if needed. Unfortunately many people have issues with their… Read More
Leash aggression is one of the most common issues that we deal with as trainers. Unfortunately, a dog with leash aggression is severely limited in their ability to enjoy life to the fullest. Can you imagine going through life with the stress of wanting to lunge and bark at every member of your species that you pass? With a little training and patience you and your dog can have a… Read More
I frequently receive calls about all types of issues that people are having with their dogs, and I have to make sure that I take each call with an open mind. Many times people will tell me that they have a very dominant dog that simply will not listen and is openly defiant. Sometimes that is true, and other times they are misreading the situation. I am a big believer… Read More
Do you know the only two creatures on the entire planet that have been proven to understand the gesture of pointing? The answer is humans and dogs. Growing up around dogs and working as a professional trainer and behaviorist, I have long known that most dogs understand the gesture, but I recently read an article in TIME magazine that really surprised me. It showed research that had proven that even… Read More
When reading this article please understand that it is not meant to replace professional advice when it comes to aggression, and it is by no means a complete write up on canine body language. This article is meant to be a handy quick guide to some signs your dog may be giving. Clients frequently call me and say “he just snapped out of nowhere, without warning.” There is almost always… Read More
The infamous “Small Dog Syndrome” comes up often in my line of work. I hear it from veterinarians, rescue groups, and countless clients. Everyone is pretty much in agreement that small dogs have a “Napoleon” complex. People often ask me if it is possible to prevent a small dog from yapping, jumping, peeing in the house, snapping at people etc. My answer is a resounding yes. “Small dog syndrome” doesn’t… Read More
Does your dog have the disgusting habit of eating either their own or another dogs feces? This issue is surprisingly common in dogs and can be very tough to overcome. Many people will give you well intentioned advice that is VERY unlikely to show any results. The first thing that I ask a client who is encountering this issue is what do they feed the dog. If the diet isn’t… Read More
Digging is a natural thing for dogs to do and isn’t always bad behavior. If you live in the country and your dog occasionally digs for grubs or to look for a mole then it probably isn’t a problem. If you live in the Chicago suburbs with a perfectly manicured lawn and your dog is digging holes everywhere then you probably aren’t too happy with the situation. Whenever I give… Read More
Bringing home a new baby can be a very stressful experience and the last thing that you need is to have to worry about how to introduce your dog to your new baby. Introducing dogs and babies can be an easy, peaceful, and safe experience if you do the necessary prep-work before the baby is born. The first step is to make sure that you teach your dog to be… Read More
Fear is unfortunately all too common in dogs and can be traced back to one of two causes. The causes are either a genetic predisposition to fear or fear they have learned in their lives. Fear can be learned in a dogs life by human mistreatment (which includes physical, mental, and social mistreatment) or it can be learned by a traumatic event that has not been dealt with properly by… Read More
Many dogs lick their paws and they do it for a variety of reasons. Before you start correcting your dog for the constant licking, it is important to figure out the cause. One very common cause of dogs licking their paws is allergies. Allergies can be environmental or caused by their diet. Pay attention and see if the licking corresponds to a certain time of year. That will typically tell… Read More