The post “My Dog Is A Turkey, But I Love Him Anyway” CHALLENGE! appeared first on TheDogTrainingSecret.com ..read more

The post “My Dog Is A Turkey, But I Love Him Anyway” CHALLENGE! appeared first on TheDogTrainingSecret.com ..read more

Choose The BEST Dog Food, Without Getting Ripped Off We all know that a varied diet is important for human health… … It’s how we get the nutrients we need from our food to live long, healthy lives, free of disease. No single food provides the complete nutrition the human body needs.  So we’re encouraged from a young age to “eat the rainbow,” filling our plates with a variety of fruits, vegetables, along with some dairy and protein and complex carbohydrates. But what about our dogs?  Do they need this same variety? Is it REALLY okay to feed your dog the same brand of dog food, year af ..read more

I am the proud owner of multiple dogs.  I like having more than one dog and I’ve always had at least two since I was eighteen years old. Growing up, my parents were reluctant to let me have ONE dog.  We finally got ONE dog, a Chow Chow, and I begged for another, but my mom always said, “then she’d be part of a pack and would need and love us less.” I think this was just an excuse. So anyway, when I moved out and got my own house, it wasn’t long before I owned two dogs.  The most I’ve ever had was four dogs; currently, I’ve got three living with me. And it highlights for me, the ..read more

If you enjoy kissing, hugging, and just generally snuggling your dog, you’re not alone! It’s very common for humans to express their affection for one another with smooches and squeezes. And there’s nothing quite as wonderful as having your favorite canine furball snuggled up in your arms while you’re watching television or just relaxing on the couch. But while we humans ENJOY expressing our affection with kisses… … It’s important to take a step back and observe your dog: Does your dog ENJOY being kissed and hugged? When he licks you, is he expressing his affection for you? Or is he perhaps co ..read more

Dogs are amazing!  They have amazing noses and the ability to detect or use scent.  A dog’s nose is 100,000 times better than yours!  Even your pup has this amazing ability. And scent work can be very rewarding for dogs! So, let us talk about getting started on how to teach your dog to track!  Because any dog can be taught this skill… even if your dog doesn’t know much basic obedience yet! German Shepherd, Blood Hound, Belgian Malinois, Dachshund, Shih Tzu… breed doesn’t matter. My experience comes from both teaching Service Dogs how to find lost items (like their owner’s d ..read more

This morning as I sat trying to wake up, sipping some water and watching a bit of TV my 18-month-old Belgian Malinois came up for a snuggle. I have been sad, mourning the loss of my almost 13-year-old Belgian and I think we both needed a little lovin’. As I leaned in for a little kiss (something my other Belgian LOVED) and my Jovi leaned away, it reminded me of how often we misinterpret doggy behavior and infer our human behavior on them. In the dog world, it is called anthropomorphizing or giving them human traits that they really don’t have. He leaned away from me, not because he was being ..read more

I get this question more often than you would actually believe! And I must be honest it isn’t always the “husband” sometimes it is the “wife” or even the kids or everyone “else” in the family.  Often I think it is the husband or the male because they tend to be slightly less nurturing than the woman in the relationship, but it certainly works both ways! The problem is that these dogs can ruin relationships. They can also end up in shelters or die because of their abusive relationships. You see, THEY are the abusers. They often sit in the lap of their “chosen” (person) and growl, hackle, a ..read more

I have been a dog trainer for over twenty-five years now… Yikes, I feel old saying that!   But it’s true… And I mention this because I have to admit: what I believed was true about dog aggression at 20 versus 45 years of age has changed… a LOT! I have trained police dogs… worked in a bite suit… and seen the purest forms of dog aggression.  With so much experience that I now see the very subtle changes in a dog’s countenance and behavior right before he bites. So much that the hairs on the back of my neck stand up when I see certain changes in a dog’s behavior… … Changes that m ..read more

True or False… Dogs should wear sunscreen, too. The ANSWER? It’s true! Just like humans, dogs are at risk of sunburns. Dogs are even at risk of getting skin cancer! And sunburns can exacerbate pre-existing health conditions like autoimmune disorders and dermatitis, making them worse. So when we head outdoors to enjoy the summer sunshine with our dogs, we need to be aware—they need sun protection, too! How Do I Know If My Dog Needs Sunscreen? Any dog with exposed skin would benefit from the protection of sunscreen. Dogs who are most at risk are those with less hair, light skin, and/or white h ..read more