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 isRead more “Puppy training that might save your dog’s life.”
Committing to feeding a raw diet for dogs took me a while. Before I made the switch I was using what I believed to be a high quality kibble. Now that I’ve been feeding my dogs differently for over a decade, the idea of feeding dry dog food seems like a foreign concept. My interest in feeding my dogs a biologically appropriate diet was ignited by the desire to create a healthier lifestyle for them. I had heard about theRead more “Raw diet for dogs? How I made the switch.”
We just finished up with Thanksgiving and are now full steam ahead into the holiday season. If your household is anything like mine, you probably include your furry friends in the seasonal traditions. Those traditions might include something as simple as walking together to enjoy the sparkling lights, or a special gift under the tree for Fido. Perhaps it’s a bit more complex like posing for photos with Santa while wearing those reindeer antlers!Whatever the tradition is, my guess isRead more “Dog food or Human food? What is the difference?”
“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 aspiredRead more “Thank Dog for “old school” dog trainers!”
If your dog is a picky eater, he might be trying to tell you something.
You can see it coming. The child rushing toward you, hand outstretched, a caregiver lagging behind while reminding; “remember to ask”… The gleeful woman broadcasting, “he just wants to say hi”…as she desperately clings to a retractable leash while her pooch digs in, determined to come pounce on your pup. All those feelings that are bubbling up inside of you. If you’re lucky, and have a dog that can tolerate the intrusion, you may only feel a slight annoyance. ButRead more “When saying NO isn’t enough.”
In a previous article about intermittent fasting, I shared tips on how to make fasting part of a dog’s routine without causing undue stress. It referenced several of the known health benefits that intermittent fasting can provide. However, there was one important benefit left out of the conversation. At the time, I didn’t believe I was leaving it out intentionally. But as I sit down to write about it now, I realize my palms are slightly sweaty! I failed toRead more “Is my dog overweight?”
One thing you can do to help solve your dogs behavior problems.
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 ofRead more “The Only Seven Words Your Dog Needs to Know.”
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.