Blog
Tips for Hiking with your dog
We’ve had a long string of nice weather here in Alabama, and it
just screams that it’s time to get back to the great outdoors. One of my favorite things to do is spend some time hiking the beautiful trails we have here with my furry kids. While I was on a recent short hike dusting off the cobwebs...
Demi (my dog) and me… true confessions
Do you find it hard to carve out time to train your dog? So do I!
I have watched my dog’s behavior recently in several real life situations. I was not pleased with what I saw.
She constantly tested my loose leash rule. She not only jumped on me, but tried to jump on others as well. She was...
Food bowl guarding
The Food Bowl Test
Issue: Guarding the Food Bowl
Our dogs are always communicating with us. Sometimes we just do not understand what they are really saying! For instance, I
don’t believe that dogs bite ‘out of the blue.’ I believe that dogs send us clear body language cues we fail to...
Are you a guardian or an owner?
Have you wondered why I say ‘human’ instead of owner or guardian?
There is a debate happening in ‘dog land’. Some humans think of themselves as ‘owners’ while others think of themselves as ‘guardians’.
These humans spend time arguing with each other over the correct term to use. I prefer to...
The use of retractable leashes in dog training
Retractable leashes need to come with a warning: ‘Avoid use on un-trained dogs’!
Every activity you do with your dog is a dog training exercise. Think about what using a retractable leash trains your dog to do. The use of this leash encourages your dog to move away from you!
You take your dog...
To treat, or not to treat
Treats are not the reason that dogs become dependent on them! The way that you use the treat is the culprit.
Use the treat as a lure to easily move your dog into the position you desire. As your dog learns to reliably move into the position, the role of the treat changes. The treat is now a...
Love, trust, and respect
Love, trust, and respect
These are the building blocks for a great relationship with your dog. What happens when one or two of these are missing from your relationship with your dog?
Imagine that you and your dog love each other with a good bond between you. You have mutual respect for each...
‘My dog won’t…..’
‘My dog won’t …(come, stay. Go outside etc.)
I have discovered four reasons to explain why dogs don’t learn what their human is trying to teach! These four reasons are based on 25 years of working with dogs and humans.
- the human gives up
- the human gives in
- the human ‘forgets’ to do the...
