Category: Dog Behavior & Rehabilitation
Want to have some fun and improve your dog’s behavior? Then spend a weekend at this dog training event near Des Moines, Iowa. Join me in the beauty of rural Iowa for an immersive three-day training experience designed specifically for committed pet owners who want more — more clarity, more confidence, and more connection with their dog. The 2026 Dog Camp will be held at my training facility, located about 40 miles SE of Des Moines. This won’t be the […]
One of the most important principles in dog training is this: Reward the behavior you want, and you’ll get more of it. It sounds simple, but the key lies in understanding what your dog actually finds rewarding. A reward doesn’t have to be food—it can be anything your dog enjoys. And for many dogs, play ranks at the very top of that list. Why Play Is So Powerful? Play is one of the most effective and underutilized motivators. Not only […]
Having trouble getting your dog to listen to you? Learn the biggest reasons behind why your dog is not doing what you ask.
How do you feel when you see your puppy dealing with stress? Do you immediately step in and “rescue” them from anything uncomfortable? What if I told you that stress and dogs can go together to create beneficial experiences? When a young Weimaraner recently joined my board-and-train program, I informed his owner that his life was about to change. He’d be living under some new rules, including crate training at night, learning to walk politely on a leash, and participating in […]
There are numerous ways to add dog enrichment activities into your daily routine, even when you don’t have a lot of free time available. One solution is to simply take advantage of your dog’s feeding schedule. Feeding the dog is a once or twice a day routine (more often for young puppies). Why not use that time effectively? Rather than just dropping food in a bowl and walking away, meals can do double duty as an enrichment activity. Feeding time […]
One thing you can do to help solve your dogs behavior problems.
1. Exercise – Because a dog’s naughty behavior is often the result of pent up frustration It is important to remember that dogs have descended from wolves, predators that were on the move for many miles each day. Today’s companion dog no longer needs to hunt to survive, but they still need movement. Unfortunately, far too many dogs are lucky if they get even a short walk around the block each day. Lack of exercise is one of the most […]
I’ve been helping people train their dogs for many years. When someone is new to training there is a lot to learn, which means I’ve heard some questions pretty routinely. One of the common ones is, “What should I say?” This question comes up when people want to stop the dog from displaying an undesirable behavior, but they aren’t certain what to say. If the dog spots a squirrel and tries to chase it. or darts for the edge of […]
Pet dog trainer, field dog trainer, working k9 handler, service dog trainer, competitive bite sports decoy, competition obedience master. The list of areas of expertise is long. Many areas overlap and intersect – but sometimes important nuances don’t.
I’d like you to answer the following question with the FIRST response that comes to mind. Do you have a stubborn dog? Over the years, it has been my experience that many people respond with an affirmative, yes. Many times, the yes is accompanied by either a sigh of frustration or a defeated sense of acceptance. I celebrated my birthday recently and it got me contemplating the mindset we have about personalities that are “stubborn”. A friend of mine wished […]