Blog

Many of my clients are concerned that if they don’t train their dog to be obedient, he might become the “boss” of the household. They fear nipping will turn into aggression. They worry their dog is going to get out of control, display bad manners, or become unmanageable. On the other hand, my biggest concern is always this: does this dog feel safe? Does this dog trust his handler? Is the dog able to express natural behaviors without being punished or reprimanded? A dog who feels secure can develop a deep attachment with his owner, and therefore naturally becomes obedient. Without...

If there is something about your dog's behavior that is triggering you, look at it as is a great opportunity to look within. Because "where there's a trigger, there's trauma." (Thank you, Phil Good). You may ask yourself, "What part of me feels: unsafe/anxious/fearful/angry when my dog displays this behavior?" And then, "How can I show that part of myself: love, compassion, understanding, and patience?" It's a process of clearing old patterns. If you can then simply hold space for your dog (in a non-reactive state) when he or she displays this behavior, you've cleared a path of healing for...

Calm: Gives you mental fortitude.  If you are not calm, you can’t learn, and training is as much, if not more, founded in learning about your dog as it is teaching him anything. Calmness creates space for observation. Your calmness also helps your dog feel safe.   Neutral: Unattached to outcomes. If you remain emotionally neutral, you can remain present with what’s happening right here, right now. Observe your dog and ask yourself questions. Asking questions is a great way to to train yourself to be responsive to the dog. Just think: if I want my dog to respond to me, I...

Photo by Reed Shepherd on Unsplash Commands vs. Labels It's a natural thing that people do: they start giving their dog a "command" before the dog knows what the command means. Some dogs are quick learners and they pick it up right away. The problem I see is that many people point at their dog (why?!) and say "SIT!" about 20 times when the dog has NO idea what "sit" even means. The more you say a word while the dog is confused, the less meaning the word has. It's like those Peanuts cartoons when the teacher is talking and it's just "Wah,...

Puppies are tons of fun, and equally tons of work! They are fragile little beings, physically and emotionally. If you protect their emotional health, they can grow up to be social, friendly, and well-adjusted members of the family. Here are my top five tips for raising a happy, healthy dog: 1. Puppies need patience, not discipline. Puppies never know that they are doing something "wrong." They are only ever doing what is completely natural to them. If you get irritated with your puppy, do your very best to stay calm and self-regulate your emotions. Raising your voice or handling your puppy...