Recommendations and suggestions on the who, what, when, where, and how of solving behavior problems.
Dogs are wonderful in so many ways, but they can also annoy us, damage things, and leave a trail of chaos in their wake! If you find yourself constantly saying “no” to your dog, it can get exhausting. Turn things around by saying “yes” instead, and see how this may be even more effective. Why … Read moreA “Yes” For Every “No”: Alternatives to Problem Dog Behavior
Could your dog be in pain? None of us want that to be the case, but knowing how to identify pain is key to supporting your dog’s well-being. There is No Test for Pain There is no test or diagnostic that your vet can run to definitively rule out pain. This includes bloodwork, fecal or … Read moreNo Test for Pain: What You Need to Know to Care for Your Dog
Teaching your dog “tricks” can be about a lot more than fun and games. Tricks can create more options for desirable behaviors and build confidence. From your dog’s point of view, there’s no difference between being taught an important life skill and “trick,” so let’s explore why teaching tricks can have so many positive effects. … Read moreNot Just Fun and Games: The Value of Trick Training
Have you ever found yourself repeatedly asking your dog to do something, only to have them ignore you? It can be frustrating and embarrassing! What can you do with a dog who doesn’t listen to you? Why They Don’t Listen It can feel easy to label your dog as “stubborn”, “dominant”, “lazy”, or any number … Read moreWhat To Do When Your Dog Doesn’t Listen
The common adage says “a tired dog is a good dog.” Sounds reasonable, right? Like most things though, it depends! Getting enough exercise and mental stimulation is important but so is getting enough rest. In fact, some dog behavior “problems” can be a direct result of being TOO tired! Why Rest is Important While we … Read moreIs a Tired Dog a Good Dog?
We throw around the word “stress” a lot – stressed at work, stressed by money, stressed because my favorite show ended on a cliffhanger. What is stress really? And what does it mean for our dogs? Would you recognize signs of stress in your dog? The answers may surprise you and will definitely help you … Read moreThe “F’s” of Stress in Dogs
Random. Out of the blue. Unpredictable. Inconsistent. It is stressful enough when your dog is behaving in a way you’d rather they didn’t. When you can’t predict if or when the behavior will happen, it can range from embarrassing to terrifying. There can be many reasons why a dog’s behavior may be difficult to predict. … Read more“Random” Behavior – Understanding Trigger Stacking
Food rewards are a very powerful tool for changing behavior. They are generally very easy to use, as well. Pairing something a dog doesn’t like with a tasty treat can change their feelings. Rewarding a behavior with a bit of food will encourage them to repeat that behavior. Food is easy to use for training … Read moreNot Food Motivated?
Annoyance, frustration, embarrassment – the feelings that come from that moment when you ask your dog to do something and they ignore you. The world is full of obedience classes and quick fixes for the disobedient canine companion. What actually works? How can you deal with a disobedient dog? Disobedient or …? The most important … Read moreThe Disobedient Dog
“How do I stop my puppy biting?” “Why does my puppy bite so much?” “What do I do when my puppy bites?” These are the top questions in my puppy classes. It’s an incredibly common behavior, in puppies as well as some teenagers and beyond! What is “Mouthing”? For this article, “mouthing” refers to a … Read moreSurviving Puppies: Play Biting or “Mouthing”