Jean Donaldson of The Academy for Dog Trainers “Informed consent means no obfuscating language regarding motivators. Owners should ask any dog trainer what actual physical events will be used to motivate their dogs, as well as whether there are less invasive methods and procedures available to achieve outcomes.” Jean is my brilliant mentor and that is her gorgeous Chow Chow, Buffy. Ask me these questions, and I will be happy to answer you. When I train dogs, motivation is fun {Read More}
You Can Change Your Opinion
March 6, 2014 by
I often wonder if, out of all the careers on the planet, dog training isn’t the one with the most old wives’ tales still on the table and being used by some industry professionals. Or old husbands’ tales. Let’s not be sexist. One of the big reasons for that conundrum is the fact that dog training is an unregulated profession. Anyone, and I mean ANYONE, can call themselves a pro dog trainer, have their set of old wives’ tales playing {Read More}
Separation Anxiety in Dogs
March 2, 2014 by
Not all naughty behavior stemming from your absence means a dog is suffering from separation anxiety. And suffering is what a dog with true separation anxiety does. To put a sep anx dog’s feelings and reactions into perspective, imagine this. While on a walk alone in the wilderness, you trip and slip into an abandon shaft and land on your rump 20 feet further into the ground than where you’d started. Except for the light at the shaft’s opening, which {Read More}
Hyper Dogs
February 17, 2014 by
Hyper dogs are a lot of fun, but you may get frustrated when looking for the switch that turns them off. That’s because hyper dogs wake up with a certain amount of fuel in their tanks each day and need to spend that fuel some way. Their fuel tanks are bigger than other dogs’. The best ways to help them spend that energy are through training and activities that will keep them occupied both mentally and physically. Otherwise, they’ll find {Read More}
Counter Surfing
February 1, 2014 by
Surfing is great for those who love to do it and it involves the ocean and a surf board. A dog who surfs the counter for food, though, may be having a great time, but rarely is such behavior appreciated. Even if it’s a Kong on the counter that is destined for his dinner bowl, a dog’s paws should be off the kitchen counter at all times. This is not only for the convenience of having a civilized dog in {Read More}
