Training tips

Positively Interrupting Behaviour

With all the dogs we’ve had and all the training and learning I’ve done over the years, there are certain cues that stick out as particularly valuable. Every class I teach – Puppy, Teens, Manners and Reactive Dogs – it’s always a cue I include in my curriculum. 

Ruff Housing.  

Do you know what good play between dogs looks like?
There’s nothing dog owners love more than watching their best buddy happily romping and playing with another dog. It just seems right and natural for dogs to have play buddies and to have many opportunities to play.

Get Ready – Baby!

I get a lot of calls for help from families who have welcomed a new baby into their lives only to discover that their dogs are less than thrilled about the new addition.  One of my goals is to find the best way to reach people who already have dogs and are planning a family.

Terrific and Sometimes Terrible Teens!

(aka “How did my friendly puppy become a reactive dog?!”) It’s not uncommon for young dogs to start displaying some reactivity on leash as they leave puppyhood and enter adolescence. It’s also common for them to start being slow to return when you call them.

Leash Your Dogs!

The skill of “walking on a loose leash” is not a terribly complicated skill, but it’s a challenging one for dog owners.  Google “no pull dog” and you'll find a huge variety of “solutions" and equipment from the reasonably humane to the downright barbaric.

Can You Handle It?

As a dog trainer, one of my top priorities is to convey to clients just how important it is that their dogs be able to tolerate handling. Handling can be defined as a dog’s ability to tolerate being touched all over in many different contexts. 

The “Hi!” Jump Challenge (aka - “He just wants to say hi.”)

One of the top complaints we get from clients is that their dog jumps up on people. It’s a difficult problem for most dog owners and it’s not an easy one to solve - the longer it goes on, the harder it can be to change the behaviour.

Pandemic Puppy Pointers

There has been A LOT of puppies show up on the scene during the Covid 19 Pandemic to date.  Many of us have been inundated with requests for puppy classes and private training help. 

Piranha Puppy!

Have you had those moments where the angelic light of your life is happily cuddling, snuggling and gazing adoringly into your eyes with sleepy contentment . . . . . . . then suddenly Piranha Puppy appears?!!