In the over 20 years I have been training dogs professionally, I have seen a dramatic increase in the percentage of people who contact a training school who have a puppy (or better yet, prior to getting their pup) to focus primarily on preventative training as opposed to those... 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

Hosting a puppy party is a terrific way to enlist the help of your friends and neighbors in your efforts to socialize and teach your new pup. It is also a great opportunity to show off your new bundle of cuteness! As a rule of thumb, to be adequately... Read more

An article in the March 21, 2010 New York Times magazine titled “No, A negative word that is doing battle with its positive counterpart” about politics, health care reform and other initiatives is a valuable read. While it was probably not the author’s intent, it is especially so for... Read more

For a dog lover like me, I find it easy to see qualities in each dog that are unique and appealing. With that said, my friends have gotten used to walking down the street with me and having me point out just about every dog we pass and giving... Read more

For the past 25 or so years there has been a lot of talk in the dog world about being your dog’s leader. Some feel this aptly describes the role we should take with our dogs and others feel it is a word too closely associated with a sort... Read more

As a whole, dogs are superbly adaptive creatures. Just about everywhere you look you will see dogs of all shapes and sizes taking part in all manner of activity with their human companions. But, as impressively skilled as most dogs are at becoming part of the human world, life... Read more

Moderating puppy play groups is definitely one of the highlights of my job. After all, there are few things that are cuter than baby animals frolicking and playing. Hence the popularity of Animal Planet’s Puppy Bowl. But, for a trainer who is required to moderate these groups there is... Read more

Lydia M. of Akron, Ohio, was understandably upset when she contacted me for help. Her family had been begging her for years to let them get a dog, but she resisted because she didn’t think her husband or three children (ages 7 to 13) would help care for it.... Read more

One of our apprentice trainers asked me last week if I have a preference for teaching private lessons or group classes. This was one of the many good questions on his list that day and an example of how working with apprentice trainers is a wonderful way for an... Read more