Wait is probably the most used cue that I use with my dogs on a daily basis. The behavior teaches your dog impulse control and makes many situations much safer. Wait means don’t move forward, I don’t care what position you are in. Different from the traditional “stay” which is usually a sit or down … [Read more...]
Teaching your dog English as a second language
Dogs don’t come into this world knowing English, so it’s our job to teach them a little bit of English so we can communicate with them. Pairing the behavior with the word at the same time or having the word just before the behavior will teach the dog the word, rewarding with a tasty treat afterwards … [Read more...]
How to “Pick Up” your small dog
If you have a small dog, you know you have to pick up your dog at times. Sometimes it is to help them into the car or onto something high, but other times it’s because they like to be picked up or the most important, in an emergency situation. Romeo is my first really small dog. I taught him … [Read more...]
Tired dog is a Happy Dog?
The phrase “a tired dog is a happy dog” has been debated by trainers over and over again. I’m a big believer in getting the right amount of exercise every day for you and your dog. Everything in moderation, right? But as you know, life gets in the way and things can get out of balance. I ran … [Read more...]
Teach your Dog – Sit for Everything!
What is it? A training strategy that uses everyday situations to reward good manners without setting aside hours of special practice time. Simply put, it’s a way to teach your dog a little impulse control. Applying the principle of Sit-For-Everything is simple. Whatever your dog wants, he … [Read more...]
Barking! How to stop it
Excessive barking can be upsetting to you and your neighbors. Everyone always asks "How do I teach my dog to stop barking?" One solution is to teach your dog to be quiet on cue. But first we have to put the bark on cue. It might sound crazy, but this can be very effective. Use a word for … [Read more...]
Best Solutions for Jumping Dogs
Got a jumping social butterfly of a dog? This simple little trick is a great solution to dogs who jump or are just over excited to see others. Also it's a great solution to keep your dog quiet and under control when you need to take a phone call, check out at the Vet or get a cup of coffee. A … [Read more...]
Dog Trail Trick – On a Rock!
Anyone who hikes with the boys and I are always amazed at some of my dog’s trail tricks, their favorite being “on a rock”. My friend Ann Bond does this with her dogs and when I saw it years ago, a lightbulb went off for me. “What a great focus tool” I thought to myself. At the time I had newly … [Read more...]
Got Dogs? Got Problems? Solutions for Multi-Dog Households
I may have only 2 small dogs now, but there was a time that I pet sat in my house, and usually had 2-6 additional dogs in my home, that was on top of the three I was Mom to. So managing a many dog household became a daily duty. Minnie my Jack Russell Terrier was not fond of having all those dogs in … [Read more...]
Leash Lessons (kinda like life lessons!)
Leash Lessons, kinda like "life lessons", we've all had them. Here's the good, bad and the ugly on different types of dog leashes and my recommendations as a Dog Trainer. A leash for a dog is a love hate relationship for me. I lived in the wilds of Colorado for so long that several of my dogs … [Read more...]
