A common theme in many of our meet and greets and future evaluations is for a client to say, "I feel so bad that my dog has developed this issue," or "I should have done a better job of training my dog myself." Many of you may have guilt around the fact that your dog...
Predatory drive is inherent in dogs; this is a fact. Though domesticated from wolves, dogs are still predators, with some breeds having retained more of these drives than others. Many of the traits that are highly desired in working dogs can cause issues when we take...
We are excited to be part of your puppy's obedience journey. We like to wait until the puppy is at least six months before starting formal training, but there are plenty of exercises and skills you can work on during this time. You want to be stimulating your pup and...
There is an age-old, open-ended phrase "To supervise your kids around dogs." What exactly is that supposed to mean? This phrase is setting families up to fail because it gives them a false sense of security. It gives the impression that if they are supervising...
Potty training is the first thing that you should start doing when you bring your puppy home. This essential life skill is much easier to teach a young dog and will be a smooth process if you are consistent. The first component is getting your puppy on a good...
Whenever you send your dog for training with us, you are a client for life. We often see clients in for boarding or group classes that we started working with years and years ago. Some of these former Full-Service dogs come for refresher dog training because they have...
A common issue that we see with dogs that come for training is that they will not jump into the owner's car. This isn't such a big deal for our smaller students, but we see some 90-pound dogs with this issue! Having difficulty getting your dog in the car can add an...
A common question that we get is when to begin training with a new puppy. This inquiry is music to our ears because it means that the puppy owner prioritizes training for their new addition. Getting a jump-start means that you can prevent bad habits, make low training...
To me, having a dog fully off-leash trained is more about the relationship you have with your dog than anything else. At the end of the day, it's about your dog choosing you instead of other distractions. People don't want to accept that this takes time, and it also...
A lot of families expect their dogs to tolerate extreme amounts of stress around small children. That is why dog bites are on the rise. Getting bitten by a dog is the fifth most frequent cause of visits to emergency rooms among kids. You are not alone if you find yourself in this position, and many families wish they knew the steps to prevent this.
The majority of families I meet have their dogs first before their baby arrives. The dog is their Furry Baby. I attend Baby Expos, and I always ask expecting moms, "Is your dog ready for your baby?" and they tell me, "Yes! My dog loves kids," or "My dog senses...
Desensitizing dogs living in your household to the cries of your baby is one of the single most surprising things to those taking the Dogs to Diapers online course. People assume that when their dogs have previous exposure to any kid, they don't need to prepare much...