One of the biggest mistakes owners make is asking their dog to do too much, too soon. Whether you’re teaching recall, Place, Down, or Heel, every exercise becomes more challenging in one of three ways: Distance The farther away you are from your dog, the more difficult the exercise becomes. A dog who can come…
One of the most common concerns we hear isn’t about commands or training techniques, it’s about personality. “Max is such a good dog, but he runs off” “Sadie is so loving, but pulls and lunges when she sees another dog” “Fluffy is 99% great, but then that 1% of the time he bites our neighbor’s…
Most people focus on what happens during dog training sessions: lessons, commands, and techniques. But after more than a decade working with families and their dogs, we’ve learned that what happens after the trainer leaves often matters just as much. Dog Training Is About More Than Teaching Commands Many owners come to us because something…
One of the most common things we hear from clients is: “You’re really training me, not the dog.” We usually laugh, but there is some truth to it. Most people contact us because something feels hard. Walks have become stressful. Visitors are difficult. The house feels chaotic. Their dog is pulling, barking, jumping, reacting, or…
Many dog owners feel like they are constantly trying to tire their dog out. Long walks. Games of fetch. Trips to the park. Lick mats. Toys. More play. More activity. But sometimes, that’s not actually the right question. What started as a 30-minute walk becomes an hour. Then two. And your dog still seems restless….
Conflict with your dog often starts with expectations. When we talk about expectations, we mean behaviors you believe your dog should reliably perform in a specific situation. Not a hope. Not a wish. A skill you believe your dog already knows and can do consistently. If that belief does not match reality, frustration follows. Too…
Dog reactivity is a term used to describe dogs who have exaggerated emotional responses to certain triggers. “Reactive” dogs overreact to something with behavior that is overexcited, angry, frustrated, or anxious. Often characterized by excessive barking, pulling, jumping, or lunging, dog reactivity is a disproportionate emotional response and usually a symptom of an underlying issue…
Picture this: your doorbell rings, you say to your dog, “Place.” The command stops her in her tracks, and she trots over to a small rug, her place. You open the door, accept the pizza delivery, and she remains on her place. You close the door and head to the dinner table to enjoy your…
You want a better-behaved dog, but where do you begin? Simple steps can help you start to change your relationship with your dog. While the following tips may not change or eliminate behaviors completely, starting on the basics will help if and when you decide to work with a professional dog trainer. Dog Coach teaches…
Planning for challenging, unsafe, or uncomfortable situations can help you better navigate life with your dog. Just like fire drills help us prepare for emergencies, understanding unsafe or stressful incidents with your dog is also helpful. You’ve thought through how to respond in advance of any stressful dog-related situation, so it takes the work (cognitive…