Category: Dog Training Info
In decades past, a dogs freedom to roam was more widely accepted. Mindset about that has changed, even though some haven’t caught up. These two showed up at my place recently. They weren’t accompanied by any humans; they came in from the west. Friendly, tails wagging, happy for a meal and a drink of water. I didn’t know they had even been on the property until one of the construction workers building our new home asked about them. He told […]
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.
Safety is the reason that recall training is necessary. But joy is an even better reason to teach your dog to come when called.
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 […]
I recently returned from a trip to Mississippi, where I attended a training workshop. The focus was upland bird dogs. If you’re not familiar, these are dogs that point and flush birds that nest on the ground, such as quail, partridge, dove, pheasant, etc. Gimli and I logged 1500 miles to get there and back to Iowa in a whirlwind six days, but it was worth it! You might wonder why a pet dog trainer would go to such lengths […]
There are many reasons to include teaching your pup to tolerate handling in your early puppy training lessons. Dogs that allow the feet, mouth, and ears to be manipulated are easier to groom and examine. Having worked as a vet tech years ago, I can attest to how appreciative the vet and the staff are if they do not have to wrestle a dog for a routine examination. Of course, not only is it easier on the staff, it is […]
“Cutting edge.” “New.” “Innovative.” “Modern.” “Science based.” “Humane.” Force free.” “Balanced.”… The list of attributes dog trainer’s use to describe themselves is overwhelming. Almost as overwhelming as walking through the dog food isle trying to pick the best food for a new puppy. It’s hard to keep pace with which rendition is trending and which has become So yesterday. 🤢 There does seem to be one commonality amongst the influencers today though, and it isn’t a description that is aspired […]
One thing you can do to help solve your dogs behavior problems.
I often advise students in my professional e-collar training course to “Trust the Process.” Learning to persist is one of the bigger challenges I see people struggle with. We live in an age of instant gratification. And while e-collar training has played a role in helping people speed up seeing results, it has also falsely mesmerized people into believing changing behavior will always come fast and easy. E-collars help us gain off leash reliability. They are an enormous advantage to […]