Getting a new pet can be an exciting and confusing time for both the humans and the animal. While dog training is my specialty, being a trainer has also led to numerous opportunities to work with other pets as well, particularly cats.
One of the things I have found very helpful is to get creative with [...]
Imagine you just finished grilling a beautiful filet mignon steak. You realize that you forgot the steak sauce, so you walk away from the table to go to the refrigerator and get it. Out of the corner of your eye, you see your dog staring at the steak, walking straight toward it while salivating as [...]
Dog toys are a very important part of owning a dog or puppy. Since dogs enjoy chewing, the purpose of dog toys is to provide your pet with appropriate items to chew so he doesn’t chew other things around your home. Also important is that dog toys, such as balls, frisbees, sterilized bones, dog stuffed [...]
When it comes to dog training, there are many aspects that contribute to the success of working with your dog. Things such as supervision, practice and providing leadership are all necessary in order to obtain your goals.
However, another factor which is perhaps the most important is consistency. This means doing the same things and enforcing [...]
Getting a new puppy is such an exciting time… and also a big project for humans! Young puppies in particular need to learn every single thing “from scratch,” ranging from housebreaking to obedience to even simple things such as wearing a collar and leash.
Young puppies (under 16 weeks of age or so) usually aren’t yet [...]
“What kind of dog is the easiest to train?” This is one of the most common questions asked of a dog trainer. Most of the time, people are wanting to hear about a certain breed that is more malleable, expecting an answer such as “Golden retrievers, German shepherds or poodles.”
However, most people find the actual [...]
Ask anyone who has ever had a puppy and they will surely tell you that one of a puppy’s favorite activities is mischievously snooping around the house and finding items to “steal,” such as socks, paper towels, Barbies and more. In fact, this is apparently so fun to dogs that without proper training, even many [...]
With the average life span of a dog being about 15 years, getting a puppy or dog is a huge commitment. It means that you will have to pay for food, veterinary care, grooming and other expenses, as well as paying attention to, training and taking care of the pet for at least 15 years. [...]
“Dogs are pack animals.” This is a widely known fact, but although we might know it, it can be quite challenging for humans to truly understand it and apply it in our daily relationships with our pets.
To summarize, applying a pack mentality to your relationship with your dog means providing leadership. By acting like his [...]
Some dogs have a problem wherein they urinate a bit when they’re very excited or feeling submissive. This can be very frustrating for pet owners who often feel that they can’t even say hello to their dog without having to clean up a mess, and to some it may even seem spitefully done, particularly for [...]
