If you have a Houdini dog that manages to slip out anytime a door is opened or your pup practically knocks you over while trying to squeeze past you to get outside, you’ll be amazed at how easy it is to train your door-dashing dog! Just make sure your pooch knows the Sit command and is fully housebroken before you … Read More
Using Corrections With Positive Reinforcement Dog Training
In the world of positive reinforcement (reward-based) dog training, the term “correction” almost seems like a bad word. For many people, it conjures up images of old school trainers that use aversive, physical methods and tools to train and control their dogs. As a matter of fact, many dog training facilities that only use positive reinforcement (+R) techniques never mention … Read More
How to Teach Your Dog the Down Command
Do you wish your dog would lie down and relax on command? Whether your dog is begging for food, obnoxiously sniffing or jumping on guests when they walk through the door or getting under your feet while you’re trying to cook dinner, sometimes you just want them to lie down and calm down for a little while. Once you teach … Read More
Check Your Petiquette Quiz! – How’s Your Dog Etiquette?
I’ve been reading numerous articles lately about inconsiderate dog owners. All those rants and open letters made me realize that we focus a lot on how well our dogs behave, but not so much on how well we behave as dog owners. So, I’ve taken some common complaints and turned them into a quiz to see just how mannerly we … Read More
How to Teach Your Dog the Off Command
It’s amazing that some of the easiest commands to teach a dog can also be the most useful. Got a begging dog panting in your face? Is your dog about to roll in something nasty in the yard? Did you accidentally drop a pill on the floor but your pup thinks it’s a treat? Don’t worry, the Off command comes … Read More
Do Dogs Get Spring Fever?
How do you know when spring is about to arrive? Here in the Midwest, it’s been a long, cold winter and I’ve been searching for signs of life under all this white stuff covering the ground, but I haven’t seen a Grape Hyacinth or Daffodil bulb spouting through the soil yet. Then it happened! I got the official word yesterday … Read More
How to Stop Your Dog From Getting Into the Trash
For a dog owner, there’s nothing more joyful than coming home to a happy, wiggling pup. Until—you walk into the kitchen and find that she’s knocked over the trash can, shredded papers and containers, and pretty much consumed everything even remotely edible from the can. Urgh! You know you’re not supposed to correct a dog after the fact because she … Read More
