Dogs go to where they are rewarded. Well, who wouldn’t, really? But where dogs are concerned, a quick example happens when you feed your dog; if you feed him his meals in the same place every day, he will learn go to that spot at meal times. Some dogs will even go the spot, without […]
If you’ve never taught your dog tricks, you are missing out on some serious fun. While it’s true that we often refer to the good manners behaviors (sit, down, come, etc.) as tricks, that’s just the beginning. There are so many more clever and entertaining behaviors your dog can learn – and for good reason. […]
Heel position. It’s one of the first things I teach my puppy. Being in heel position, for my puppy – or dog, means to be next to me on my left side with her neck/shoulder area in line with the seam of my pants. If I’m standing still, my dog will sit calmly to me, […]
The dog’s nose and scenting ability are impressive to say the least. Here are some facts from Bruce Fogle’s book, The Dog’s Mind – Understanding Your Dog’s Behavior: 1) The average dog has around 220 million scent receptors in his nose; we have around five million. 2) The average dog has about seven square meters […]
Impulse control. It’s definitely a buzz phrase in the dog training world. But what exactly is it? Does your dog need it? Does your dog have it? If not, how do you teach it to your dog? One great example of impulse control can be seen at any agility trial, where a dog, who has […]
As pack animals, dogs like to contribute to the survival and the success of their pack. They like to have jobs, they take direction well, and they are programmed to obey a leader – you, assuming you have taught them what to do and have earned their respect. However, absent a good leader – someone […]
You train our dog at home, often in the same spot – the kitchen usually. And why not? You and your dog spend a lot of time there, that’s where the treats are, it’s convenient. And guess what? Your dog learns to sit, lie down and pay attention perfectly. It all goes so darn well! […]
A student recently expressed frustration over the bad habit his dog has developed of jumping on people – especially at the dog park. He is annoyed that people don’t mind when his dog jumps on them, and they even allow it instead of pushing his dog away. A couple of thoughts came to mind immediately. […]
I get asked a lot about digging. More specifically the question is “How do I get my dog to stop digging?” There is no simple answer to this question and, sadly, no real solution to the problem of digging. The truth is that some dogs could care less about digging so they either never start […]
Years ago, tugging with your dog was frowned upon by most every pet dog trainer. People were told NEVER tug with your dog! It will make him aggressive; it will make him wild and crazy and out of control; it will make him think he’s in charge; it will make him not listen to […]
