April 16, 2020 I hope this finds you sane, healthy and safe! I have taken Right Start Puppy Class, 1-1 coaching and consultations live and on-line. I understand that for some of you this is a new and unfamiliar way of connecting and learning. I too was new to this technology when I starting taking on-line dog behaviour courses but … Read More
Dog needs a farm! Really?
In how many rehoming ads have you read …’Great dog for sale. Needs a farm or large property to run.’? Its so common to see this statement in rehoming advertisements. Unless the dog is in fact a working/guarding breed of livestock such as an Anatolian Shepard or Great Pyrenees and instinctually would probably be happier outside in a large space … Read More
‘You’re soft’. Thank you!!
I’ve been told a time or two that I’m soft with dogs. It was meant in kindness but the intention was to suggest that I needed to be harder on the dogs. I used to be offended and hurt by this comment. I thought I must be doing something wrong! But my instincts told me I was doing just fine … Read More
No ‘dog whispering’. Just train the dog!
We all know about the idea that a select few just ‘have it ‘ with dogs. A ‘special way’, ‘dog whisperer’ and on it goes. Don’t sell yourself short because the truth is, everyone can train dogs, but it just might be a trainers style (you), their nuances, that stands out more than others. Every trainer and every dog guardian connects … Read More
Egos, Choices and Mirrors
‘Its just behavior’ she says! Working with dogs for many years, I’ve experienced allot of behavior that I could have taken personally. From humping, lunging, nipping and outright jaws clamping on my arm to ignoring me completely. Through all of it, I’ve never taken offense to these behaviors because dog behavior is neutral to me; its just behavior. My responsibility lies in how … Read More
Moving through the grief
Still moving through the grief of letting Sadie Mae go. 6 weeks since I’ve become dogLESS. Taking 1 day at a time as I’ve done with the passing of all my dogs. However, the most notable difference this time: no other dog to distract me. No excited greetings when I come through the door. No whining, shoe carrying, wiggly butt to … Read More
Puppy Nipping: Normal & Not Personal Pt.2
In my last post, I talked about how to get proactive to help yourself and your puppy get through the nipping stage that ALL puppies go through. This stage in a pups life is a very short one but getting through it can tax even the most patient person so setting yourself up for success just makes sense and involves … Read More
Puppy Nipping: Normal & Not Personal Pt. 1
Something you need to know before you get a puppy: They Bite! They can bite hard. It can hurt. It can look like aggressive behavior (its not). It can be very frustrating if your not prepared and ready for it. Whether you call it nipping or biting, the fact is that all puppies do it. Some nip harder than others but … Read More
Premack Principle: Give the dog what he wants in order to get what you want!
The Premack Principle Definition: more probable behaviors will reinforce less probable behaviors I love the Premack Principle. I’ve really taken to applying it to Sadie Mae’s training and teaching my clients to use it in their own dog’s training regime. It might be a little hard to understand at first but when you see it in action, its easy … Read More
‘Go Sniff!” Say Whaaat?
If there is one thing I’ve learned working with dogs its that physical exercise is not the complete answer to giving our dogs a ‘work out’. They also need a mental work out. Dogs need to use their brains more often than we give them opportunity to. Unfortunately, its often not considered as important as physical exercise. There is no Sudoku for … Read More
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