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puppy training

Litter Lessons: What Your Dog Learns From His Littermates & Mother

A litter of puppies may seem like they don’t do much – eat, sleep, play a bit, repeat. But you may be surprised at just how much those puppies are learning and how what they learn will affect the dog they become. In fact, behavioral problems you are dealing with now may likely have stemmed from what happened (or didn’t happen!) before you bring your puppy home. Those First Several Weeks While those puppies are certainly eating and sleeping a … Read more

Ask A Dog Trainer: Why Does My Dog Whine?

If your dog whines when it needs to go outside, chances are you figured that out pretty quick. But what about the other times? Why do some dogs seem to whine all the time or at odd times of day when they clearly don’t have to “go”? If you live with a dog that whines, you know how frustrating it can be to hear it. But also how frustrating it is to not be able to understand what your dog … Read more

Help For Dogs That Bark At Every Noise

Do you have a dog that barks at every little noise? Whether it’s another dog barking, the doorbell, or simply you opening a cupboard, your dog feels the need to bark. Dogs who are overly sensitive to sound – sometimes called “alert barkers,” can make daily life extremely unpleasant and even require you to post signs on your door! Luckily, there are ways you can help your dog stop the incessant barking. Why Some Dogs Bark At Noise So why are … Read more

What’s In A Name: A Trainer Explains The Importance Of Your Dog’s Name

My last several dogs had all been adults when I got them and had come with names, so when I finally got a puppy, I agonized over just the “right” name. I think it took me three weeks to finally settle on the call name “Merlin.” Why did I have such a hard time? Because your dog’s name is something you are going to use more than you could ever possibly imagine, and choosing the wrong name can cause trouble … Read more

Ask A Dog Trainer: Will My Dog Grow Out Of These Bad Behaviors?

Your puppy just ate your shoes, bit your ankles or had an accident on the rug. Your adolescent dog won’t respond when you call him, barks at everything in sight, or won’t stop jumping up. Whatever it is, chances are someone close to you has said, “He’ll grow out of it.” But is this really true? The short answer is no. Dogs don’t grow out of behaviors like they grow out of collars. A puppy that bites and is never … Read more

Ask A Dog Trainer: Why Do Puppies Bite & What Can Be Done About It?

Puppies are wonderful bundles of fur and joy, until they sink those razor-sharp baby teeth into your skin. That’s about that time that many dog owners start question why they got a puppy (that, and potty training!). It can even get so bad that the puppy, now an adolescent, gets relinquished to the shelter. So why does that adorable puppy that you just want to cuddle bite you? There are several reasons and knowing why can help you curb the … Read more

Are Verbal Cues Or Hand Signals More Effective In Dog Training?

Choosing whether you train your dog with verbal or hand signals has always been just that – a personal choice. Most dog trainers have a preferred cuing method that they teach their students. Those wishing to compete in AKC obedience usually choose hand signals, but you will see someone using verbal cues in the ring from time to time. But does one type of signal produce more reliable responses from the dog? A new study set out to answer that … Read more

Ask A Dog Trainer: Why Does My Dog Bark At Other Dogs While On A Leash?

Many of us get a dog for the opportunities they provide us – going on walks, to the beach, dog parks, or maybe even taking training classes and competing in sports like agility. All of those hopes and dreams can come crashing down the day your dog first barks at other dogs while he’s on a leash. Suddenly, everyone is looking at you with judgement, as if to say, “Why did you bring that awful dog out in public”? It … Read more

Why Dogs Sometimes Bite & What You Can Do To Prevent It

There are many sides to this story, and everyone that interacts with dogs has a responsibility to help prevent bites. This includes learning dog body language (see charts below) and exercising caution, especially when allowing children and strangers to interact with them. Understanding why dogs bite is the first step towards prevention. Why Dogs Bite The answer to this is simple: communication. Dogs don’t speak our language. But they have vocal cues that they use as well as body language … Read more

Ask A Dog Trainer: What’s The SIMPLEST Way To Potty Train?

Puppies are absolutely the cutest thing on this Earth…until they have their first accident in your house. On your brand new carpet. That’s when a lot of new pet parents start rethinking their decision to own a dog. But it doesn’t have to be that way! As an adult, I had always adopted older shelties. When I finally got my first puppy, I was a bit nervous about potty training. To be honest, it was one of the reasons I … Read more

5 Ways To Continue Training When Your Pup Is Laid Up

There is nothing worse than a dog with an injury. You can’t tell him why he can’t fly around the house or explain to her why she can’t go for that two mile walk she is used to. I just went through this with my youngest dog, Merlin. At almost 3, he is full of energy and is used to doing herding or agility – or both – every day. So when he tore his paw and had to wear a … Read more

Helpful Dog Just Loves To Shovel Driveways

While some of us are enjoying nice, mild winter weather, parts of the country are getting plenty of snow. But this dog’s not complaining, he just LOVES it when it snows. But not to play, roll around in it, or eat it. Nope, he takes this snow stuff very seriously. Snow means work and that’s HIS job. According to his family, this German Shepherd Dog hates it when they use their 4-wheeler to plow the drive way. He gets mad! … Read more

Ask A Dog Trainer: How Do I Fix A Pushy Dog? (Hint: You May Be Reinforcing The Behavior!)

Do you have a pushy pup problem? Don’t worry, you are not alone! Pushy dogs quickly become a nuisance, and some even end up in the shelter because of their bad behavior. However, there is no reason why you can’t reform your pushy dog and live happily ever after. Why Do Dogs Become Pushy In The First Place? Dogs are opportunists, meaning they are going to do what works for them. That’s why once your dog has gotten food from … Read more

Ask A Dog Trainer: How Do I Get My Dog To Stop Chasing Animals?

Many dog owners struggle with dogs that chase anything that moves, particularly wildlife or outdoor cats in the neighborhood. It is possible to modify your dog’s behavior, but it takes a lot of time and patience. One article cannot possible cover all the methods and scenarios, but I can give some general tips on how to start teaching your dog to be calm around other animals. You will be most successful if you work with a professional positive reinforcement trainer … Read more

Ask A Dog Trainer: What Toys Should I Give My Puppy?

One of the keys to having a well-behaved puppy is having the right toys. The amount of toys out there is quite incredible and it’s easy to be sucked in to buying the “cute,” the “inexpensive,” or even the “most expensive” (thinking it must be the best) or a toy simply because it has the word “Puppy” in the name. However, there are some things you should be thinking about before buying any toy for your puppy, and it’s none … Read more

Ask A Dog Trainer: How Do I Become A Dog Trainer?

I have received many emails in the last couple weeks from people asking me how I became a dog trainer. Rather than respond to each one individually, I thought I’d share this information with everyone, in case others are thinking of a career change. Related: SpiritDog Online Training Review: Is It Worth The Price? There are many roads to becoming a dog trainer. Which path you choose will probably be determined by a few factors, including time and money you … Read more

Ask A Dog Trainer: What’s the Best Harness For A Dog That Pulls?

Leash pulling is one of the most complained about dog behaviors. It’s not just annoying, it can be dangerous if your dog is stronger than you, gets away from you, or causes you to fall. Obviously, the only way to stop leash pulling is training. But while you are working with your trainer, some may need help managing the behavior until their dog has learned leash manners. What’s “managing a behavior”? Managing a behavior is a way of helping to … Read more

5 Ways To Foster Confidence In Your Puppy

Those first several weeks when you bring your puppy home are the most critical when it comes to socializing. If your puppy came from a reputable breeder, they should have received desensitization and environmental stimuli training from the day they were born. Unfortunately, most puppies do not come from an ideal environment, which makes what you do even more important. The following are ways you can help foster confidence in your puppy, making them less likely to develop problems later … Read more

10 Important Cues To Teach Your Puppy ASAP

Bringing home a new puppy is one of the most exciting things you can do. Everyone wants to snuggle, play with, and take pictures of the furry bundle of joy. Because of their size and cuteness, and our human tendency to think of them as “babies,” training your new puppy may be the furthest thing on your mind. However, by the time you get your puppy at around 8 weeks old, they are definitely able to learn. This means if … Read more

Top 10 Puppy Training Tips

Puppies are one of life’s greatest joys. They are also one of the cutest things on the planet. There is a reason for this – if they weren’t, no one would put in the immense amount of work it takes to train a puppy. Luckily, you don’t have to go at it alone. There are many professionals out there to help you with whatever your training goals are and you should plan before you even bring your puppy home. To … Read more