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

Dog Names What’s in a name? Turns out, there can be a lot significance to the name you choose for your dog. There was a time when dog names were separate from human names; Rover, Fido, and Rex ruled. Nowadays ‘people’ names lead the pack. Olive, Annabelle, Lucy, and Leo... 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

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

As a professional dog trainer I am quite often asked if there was just one bit of advice I could offer to pet parents, what would it be? My response is usually along the lines of encouraging people to focus on management to set their dogs up for success.... Read more

It is no surprise that people are distraught and perplexed when their otherwise lovely dog behaves in ways they deem egregious, specifically when they growl at or bite people. A gentleman with a 3 year-old Jack Russell Terrier, Lido, contacted me regarding his dog’s tendency to growl at him.... 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 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

Are You Connected to Your Dog Walking through the park the other day I passed by all sorts of dogs; a few adorable terrier mixes, a Vizsla, two very elegant Standard Poodles, countless lab mixes, a very goofy Beagle, a tiny Chihuahua, a Maltese, a Briard, a trio of... Read more