Recommendations and ideas for enriching a dog’s life and environment.
Have you noticed your dog slowing down as they’ve gotten older? Are they playing less, jumping less, or sleeping more? Has their behavior changed–becoming less social or tolerant of petting? What about house training or relationships with other pets? Not as good as they used to be? Dogs can experience many changes as they get … Read moreGetting Older Doesn’t Have to Suck: Life with Senior Dogs
Chasing things that move, being cautious around strangers, or never seeming to get tired are just some of the many challenges that families can experience with their dogs. And while all of these behaviors can have negative impacts, it can be useful to know that they are the same traits that were purposely selected for … Read moreIt’s Not a Bug, It’s a Feature: Breed-specific Tendencies
Do you make time to stop and smell the roses? What about giving your dog time to do so? A dog’s sense of smell is key to how they experience the world. Let them sniff and enjoy it. Why Is Sniffing So Important? Sniffing is a “species-typical” behavior, meaning that most dogs, by nature, find … Read moreLet Your Dog… Sniff
Is your dog a toy murderer? Do they seem to thrive on tearing up beds, pillows, or even the trash? Let’s talk about destruction, what you can do about it, and why you shouldn’t try to completely stop it. Why Your Dog Can’t Stop Destroying Tearing things apart to get to what’s inside is a … Read moreLet Your Dog… Destroy Things
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?
Walking your dog can feel like a necessary chore, a part of being a responsible dog owner. But there are lots of reasons this task can become stressful, frustrating, or not possible. Good news! You don’t have to take your dog for that neighborhood walk, as long as you can meet their needs in other … Read moreDon’t Walk Your Dog?
Walks, runs, hikes, fetch in the park, trips to the dog park – the great outdoors offers so many ways to entertain, and tire out, your dog. But sometimes you can’t get outside. Maybe the weather is nasty or the air quality is dangerous (hello, fire season!). Or what if you’re not feeling well or … Read morePrepare for a Rainy Day: Enrichment at Home
When their dog misbehaves, most people assume that means they need training. It might surprise you that, as a professional dog trainer, my first recommendation to people isn’t always to train. Sometimes, there are simpler solutions to behavior problems. Other times, there are issues at play that can’t be solved by training alone. Without first … Read moreWhen Training Isn’t the Answer