Due to the unprecedented crisis of COVID-19 people are quarantined at home. Thankfully, many of us have dogs to help make our days a little brighter during this immensely stressful and challenging time. We all know about the studies that show the positive impact that sharing your life with... Read more

In the over 25 years I have been training dogs professionally, I have seen a dramatic increase in the percentage of people who contact our dog training school who have a puppy (or better yet, prior to getting their pup) to focus primarily on preventative measures as opposed to... Read more

We have all heard the term ‘The Honeymoon Period’ used to describe the first, deliriously happy months of a relationship. Everyone is on their best behavior and feeling giddy and optimistic about the future. Of course, this time of what seems to be limitless joy and no issues usually... Read more

Teaching a dog to walk nicely on leash is, in theory anyway, a fairly easy task. It comes down to teaching the dog to enjoy following you and to consider it more rewarding than other endeavors, such as pulling ahead or lagging behind. The hard part of teaching your... Read more

I named the voice in my car’s GPS system Martin. I thought it was a suitably proper, British name for a voice that sounds remarkably real for being computer generated. At times, Martin provides me with a bit of amusement, such as when he says “At the roundabout, take... Read more

Politeness matters in all manner of daily life. Considering that we walk through doorways with our dogs many times each day, this is a location where we should focus our attention to help our dogs learn how to do so in a safe and mannerly fashion. Teaching your dog... Read more

I usually begin classes and private lessons with an introduction to the many benefits of taking a positive, dog friendly approach to teaching. I am always pleased to see nods of approval from students as I explain how punishments more often than not result in a dog engaging in... Read more

Marta from Long Island sent me an email today asking how to stop her five year old West Highland White Terrier from sabotaging her social life by barking up a storm whenever she holds a phone to her ear. Connor had been crowned with the title of Sir Barksalot... Read more

Teaching your dog to rest calmly in a crate for short periods of time is a valuable skill for many reasons: As an aid for housetraining. As a tool for helping to prevent separation anxiety issues. In case you want to travel with your dog and they need to... Read more

The usefulness of a crate to help your dog learn to be mannerly (and eventually enjoy as much freedom as is safe and reasonable) knows no bounds. Once you have chosen the appropriate crate, be sure to consider these crate safety tips before introducing your dog to his new... Read more