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Ask A Dog Trainer: How Do I Encourage My Dog To Like My New Significant Other?

You’ve finally found your Mr. or Mrs. Right. You’ve been on several dates and you are already thinking it might be love. There’s just one thing left to do. Bring them home to meet… your dog. But what happens if your dog doesn’t like your new partner? Is there a way to make sure that this doesn’t happen? The following are some tips and tricks to help that first meeting go smoothly so your love can continue to grow. Before … Read more

Ask A Dog Trainer: 6 Clever Uses For Your Dog’s Hand Touch Cue

Most basic obedience classes teach a hand touch where your dog learns to put their nose on your hand. Some may even learn it in puppy class. At the time, it may seem like just a cute trick, but once your dog knows the basic hand touch, there are many useful behaviors you can teach your dog – including ways to help around the house and things that could save your dog’s life. The following are just a few of … Read more

5 Tips To Prevent Your Boxer From Pulling On A Leash

Exuberant Boxers often cause frustration when their owners try to walk them on-leash. All you want is a nice, calm walk but they want to bounce and pull. Boxers are big enough that leash pulling is not only irritating, it can be dangerous. It takes some patience, but your Boxer can learn to walk nicely. The following easy training tips will help make sure that your Boxer doesn’t pull on the leash. #1 – Start Young As soon as you bring home your Boxer, … Read more

5 Tips To Prevent Your Pit Bull From Pulling On A Leash

The Pittie personality is loving, comedic, and full of energy. That energy can often be hard to harness while on-leash, making them a difficult dog to walk if not properly trained. Coupled with their solid and strong bodies, you may find yourself being walked where your dog wants to go. The following training tips will help make sure that your Pit Bull doesn’t pull on the leash, putting you back in control of your walks. A video posted by Fight Abuse … Read more

Feeding Tips For Dogs Who Guard Their Food

Feeding a dog who guards his food can be dangerous. You can get bitten and you can even (accidentally) make the guarding behavior worse. There is a safe way to do it so that both you and your dog have a positive experience, which can actually help diminish the behavior over time.   Why Dogs Guard Food Dogs guard food (and other things like toys, people, etc.) because their instinct is telling them they need to protect their resources. Wild … Read more

How To Teach Your Dog To Heel

A formal heel is an amazing thing to behold: dog right at your leg, staring attentively up at you while you walk. It’s something even non-dog people can appreciate. You may feel it’s something you and your dog can never accomplish, but it’s actually easier than you think and can even be fun with the following tips. What Is “Heel,” Anyway? First, let’s define what we are looking for. Knowing what you want the behavior to look like before you … Read more

Ask A Dog Trainer: Why Does My Dog Not Respect My Boundaries?

Do you have a pushy dog? You know the type – jumps all over you, invades your space while you are trying to eat, barks for attention or toy throwing. They may even knock your kids over by being too friendly. These are not bad dogs. These are dogs that do not understand the concept of manners. It’s a frustrating way to live for the owner, and sadly, these are often the dogs that end up in the shelter. A … Read more

5 Signs Your German Shepherd Is Stressed

German Shepherd Dogs are intelligent, sweet and loyal to their families. If you have one, you know this is true. You also know many of them suffer from stress. As a trainer, I see a lot of nervous German Shepherd Dogs that have a hard time focusing or relaxing in new places or around new people. The first step to helping your German Shepherd Dog is recognizing when he is feeling this way so you can help him. The following … Read more

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

Did You Know Your Dog Can Feel These 5 Complex Emotions?

We’ve all wondered about what our dog is feeling or thinking. Obviously, we know dogs can feel pain, fear and hunger. But what about other more “complex” emotions? In the last decade, scientists and canine behaviorists have used technology to find out more about our dogs’ emotions than we ever thought was possible. Thanks to them, we now have a deeper understanding of our best friends and what they feel. How Exactly Did They Study It? You may be wondering … 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: How Do I Make My Dog Summer Road Trip Ready?

Hitting the open road this summer with your four-legged best friend can be one of the best ways to spend the summer. It can also be one of the worst if your canine companion is not ready for a road trip. There is so much to think about when planning a trip with your canine buddy that oftentimes people forget about the most important thing – the dog himself! Your dog needs to be “prepared” for the trip maybe even … Read more

Ask A Dog Trainer: Why Does My Dog Growl When I Approach His Food?

All you wanted was a nice family pet. What you got was a dog that turns into Kujo whenever food is involved. A dog that acts this way can be dangerous, especially in a house with kids. Unfortunately all too often dogs exhibiting this behavior end up at the shelter because the owners just couldn’t figure out how to fix the situation. Why Your Dog Gowls When You Approach His Food This is a type of resource guarding. The behavior … 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

Ask A Dog Trainer: Why Doesn’t My Dog Respond To My Cues?

Few things are more frustrating to a dog owner than when a dog doesn’t respond to a known cue. You went to basic obedience class and your dog learned every cue perfectly. Not only did he graduate, but you swear he was the star student – the teacher’s pet if you will. And chances are, your dog was. So why isn’t he responding? Top Reasons Dogs Don’t Listen To Their Owners There are many reasons why a dog may not be … Read more

Ask A Dog Trainer: Why Does My Dog Give Me “The Guilty Face” ?

You come home from work and your dog has gotten into the garbage. You’re tired from a long day – maybe your boss yelled at you about your low sales. You stomp over to the garbage, call your dog in a gruff voice and glare at him as he gets near enough for you to yell. You know your dog knows he’s done something wrong because it’s written all over his face – that guilty expression.   …Or is it? Why We … 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

Follow These 5 Rules To Respect A Reactive Dog, And You Could Help Prevent A Disaster

There are a lot of articles that offer advice and support for the reactive dog owner. Even I have written a fair few. This last week I got a candid email from a reader that brought up a great point – there are two sides to every dog encounter. Yes, there is the owner of the reactive dog, but there is also another person that plays a role in how this scenario unfolds. So today we are addressing the person who … 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

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

Tips To Strengthen Your Dog’s “Stay” On Command

So you went to puppy or basic obedience class with your new dog and you learned the basics of “stay.” Your dog did a really good job at staying for 5 – 10 seconds while you rewarded him frequently. But how do you get to a 10-minute “down stay,” with you out of sight? What about staying while you open the front door or remaining in place when a cat races by? Strengthening your dog’s stay can feel daunting and … Read more

Adopt The Perfect Pet For Your Family: Expert Tips on Choosing A Dog With A Good Temperament

There is a lot to think about when picking out a dog that fits your family. What size and gender? Do you prefer long or short hair, or something in between? Do you have colors you prefer? Or maybe a breed/breed mix that you are keen on? Something that will run 15 miles a day or is more the couch potato type? The list goes on and on. But one of the most important things is often overlooked – temperament. … 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

Ask A Dog Trainer: How To Help Dogs That Fixate

While many of us appreciate a dog with focus, especially when it comes to training, some dogs have a problem with too much focus. They will fixate on something until it becomes a reaction. For example, some dogs will stare at another dog walking by, which quickly becomes lunging and barking at the dog. For these dogs, we need to help them relax and learn to break their focus. Why? This will help your dog listen to you better in situations … Read more

Treat Training Tips For Dogs

Positive reinforcement training is rapidly gaining popularity and that, for the most part, that means lots of treats! Treats are used as the primary reward at first because food is something that most dogs love more than anything else. This means they are willing to do almost anything (even a boring sit-stay!) to get a yummy morsel. Think of it as your dog’s paycheck. You wouldn’t work 40 hours a week without pay, why should your dog? But not all … Read more

5 Ways To Fit Dog Training Into Your Busy Life

We all have very busy lives. In fact, one of the things I hear most often from clients is “training takes too much time,” or “I don’t have time to do this every day.” Between working, taking the kids to school, helping with homework, housework, etc., it can be easy to let the dog training slide. RELATED: 7 Best Online Dog Training Classes Even I am guilty of doing it with my personal dogs! But, it doesn’t have to be … Read more

How To Get Anxious, Scared, Or Motion Sick Dogs Used To Riding In The Car

For some dogs, riding in the car is the highlight of their day. They love it! For others, the car is a dreaded source of fear, anxiety or sickness. Since almost every dog will need to ride in a car (for vet appointments, at the very least) it’s nice if they can at least learn to handle the ride without stress or getting sick. I currently own two dogs that used to get car sick, so I understand the nuisance it … Read more

8 Tips To Get Your Dog Used To Biking

Biking with your dog can be a great way to exercise those high-energy pups that can outrun you (either speed or distance). It can also be dangerous for both of you if not done properly. Most importantly, be sure to use a bike attachment such as the Springer or WalkyDog, do not just jump on a bike with your dog’s leash in your hand. Then, follow these tips to getting your dog used to running next to your bike. #1 – Bike … Read more

Teach Your Dog These 7 Tasks To Make Your Golden Years Easier

You think a lot about caring for your dog as he ages, like ways you can make life easier for him, products that will improve his health, etc. But as you start aging, you will need to focus on some of your own health and needs, too. And there’s no reason why your dog can’t help you out with them! If you’re in your golden years, getting a dog or teaching your current dog some handy “tricks” to help you continue to live … 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

8 Tips To Help Your Dog Conquer Their Fears

A lot of dogs live with fears. Fear of people, other dogs, nail trims, baths, cars – the list goes on and on. Fortunately, there are ways to help your dog overcome their fears, which makes both of your lives better. The following is a list of tips to help your dog living in fear. You will have the best luck if you employ a positive-based dog trainer with behavior modification experience to help you train. #1 – Counter Conditioning … Read more

8 Tips For Choosing A Good Dog Trainer

So you’ve decided to take some training with your dog – awesome! It’s one of the best investments a dog owner can make. But making that decision is the easy part. Now comes the hard part – choosing a trainer. After all, dog training isn’t cheap and you don’t want to waste your money or your time. But how do you know if a dog trainer is good? Here are a few tips to choosing a good dog trainer. Related: … 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

Your Top 5 Dog Training Questions Answered

Since January is #NationalTrainYourDogMonth, we went on Facebook and asked our readers what one question they wished a dog trainer would answer. The response was incredible! We received lots of great questions. Many of you had the same concerns, which can sometimes help – just to know someone else is in your boat, so to speak. We went through the questions and rounded up the “most asked” to answer here. And remember no dog is too old to learn something new or … Read more

9 Common Training Mistakes Everyone Makes

What’s that old saying – “To err is human,” or something like that? Basically, we all make mistakes. And that is definitely true in dog training. While 99.99 percent of the time these mistakes are not life-threatening or something that can’t be fixed, they can definitely slow up the training process, creating frustration on both ends of the leash. The following are common training mistakes everyone makes so you can avoid them next time you train! #1 – Train your … Read more

What To Do With An Anxious Dog When You’re Having People Over

Having an anxious dog can take all the fun out of having people over. You stress about how your dog will react, which actually just stresses your dog out even more. The good news is, you can successfully have people over with an anxious dog–but you just have to do a little planning beforehand. Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT) member Casey Newton, CPDT-KA, founder of Wonder Puppy dog training facility in Portland, Oregon, has provided the following tips on … Read more

Top 10 Dog Training Tips

Training your dog is one of the most important things you can do as a pet parent, but it can also be one of the most time consuming and expensive. The following ten dog training tips will help you get the most out of your dog’s training so both dog and owner are happy with the results. In addition to the tips below, be sure to check out our 7 Best Online Dog Training Courses we recently reviewed. #1 – … Read more

What’s The Difference Between A Hybrid Dog & A Mutt?

When I was young, there was pretty much two types of dogs: purebred, registered dogs that were sold by breeders for high prices, or the “mutt,” who was sold in the paper for $50, or even given away for free. And it wasn’t a big deal. Your dog was purebred or just a good ‘ol mutt. Mutts, of course, were looked down upon by breeders of “purebred dogs,” but it certainly wasn’t anything people would actually stand around to argue about. … Read more

Top 10 Dog Feeding Tips

For most dogs, mealtime is the best part of their day – Charles Shultz got it right when he depicted Snoopy dancing in glee at “suppertime.” Of course, not all dogs like mealtime, for some dog owners, getting their pup to eat can be a very big chore. Others may take it a little too seriously and guard their food from humans and/or other dogs. The following 10 dog feeding tips can help you at mealtime regardless of the type … 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

Tips & Tricks To Get Through The Holidays With A Well-Mannered Dog

The holidays are approaching quickly and that means guests! You’ve thought of everything – scheduled the carpet cleaners, planned the meal, filled the freezer with everyone’s favorite desserts. You even changed out that painting that your Aunt Millie always says is ugly…even though you love it. Your entire house is ready – but what the dog? Suddenly, you are in a panic! Maybe he’s a new addition that hasn’t learned all his manners, or maybe you are having flashbacks about … Read more

8 Tips To Help Your Nervous Dog Relax

Having a nervous or scared dog can be challenging for a dog owner. It takes a lot of patience and understanding. Whether your dog was born with a shy personality (the type that would rather hide than greet a new person) or had some bad experiences that made them fearful, you (understandably) would like them to be able to function in the world. The following are 8 tips that you can use to help your nervous dog to relax, which … Read more

Ask A Dog Trainer: How Do I Get My Puppy Used To Grooming?

It may not be something you are thinking about when you first bring your furry little bundle of joy home. After all, puppies don’t (usually) need a bath or nail trim right away, or even their teeth brushed. However, if you start young, grooming can become a quick, painless activity, that some dogs even come to enjoy. But, you need to work on it often (every day for just a minute or two is best!) and you have to be … Read more