Because I said so. You may have used this phrase with a partner, child, or stranger. You were likely exhausted when you said this to someone. You didn’t have the patience nor resilience to explain your position.  Dogs say it too. And I imagine that they too have reached their stress limit when they say, “Because I said so.”  Think of an empty bucket that fills with stress as the day progresses. Your dog barks while watching dogs parade in front of his home. Your dog barks at the letter carrier delivering mail. Your dog barks when the delivery person knocks on your door and leaves a ..read more

March 26, 2024 marks Behavior United’s 6 year business anniversary and Jackie Moyano’s 11th year as a dog trainer. Let’s look back to how Jackie pivoted from a long career in respiratory therapy to dog training! Jackie is a dog trainer because of her cat and mom. In 2007 her mom passed away from breast cancer. Suddenly, life for Jackie was so finite. Why was she wasting time in a career she no longer enjoyed? What did she enjoy? She didn’t know what her next step was, but she knew she didn’t want to be a respiratory therapist for the rest of her life. Time to make another dream come true, beca ..read more

Does harnessing and leashing up your dog have you feeling like you're wrestling an alligator? Does your dog grab the leash and thrash while on a walk? What's up with that?  Harness Hurdles The harness might not be the best fit for your dog. Does the harness strap cut across your dog's shoulder? If so, this can impinge shoulder movement. This can be uncomfortable if not downright painful.  Consider purchasing a harness that allows your dog's shoulders to move freely.  Perhaps your dog did not receive proper socialization when it comes to handling and equipment. Perhaps your dog w ..read more

Some young dogs are the life of the party with other dogs, only to become more dog selective as they age. This is very typical and should be considered if your dog is going to the “principal’s office” at doggie daycare or being put in “time out” at the dog park on the regular. If your dog is so over dog parks and doggie daycare, don’t despair! Just because your dog isn’t thriving in a larger group dog setting, doesn’t mean your dog wouldn’t enjoy a smaller group of pals. Create small neighborhood dog play dates, like the one with my neighborhood friends called Lunch Bunch. It all started with ..read more

Potty training and potty breaks in the winter can present extra challenges. Continue to follow the potty training gold standards of crating, direct supervision, setting timers (pottying within 20 minutes of eating, drinking, playing, waking up), starting the walk/fun after pottying, and feeding high value treats as soon as your dog finishes pottying outside. Our tips below are designed to help you survive potty training and potty breaks in snowy, rainy, wintry mix weather.   If you have to put on layers, it may take you longer than normal to get outside. Rather than play “Beat The Clock ..read more

Whenever someone tells me they want to raise a puppy, I laugh and think, “No you don’t.” Puppies are cute and exhausting. Think toddler who never wears a diaper and is leaking pee and poo everywhere. Raising a puppy is a full time job unto itself. If it’s been about 12 years since you last raised a puppy, remember you are also now 12 years older. A lot can change in 12 years. You may have a selective memory. You may have forgotten about the sleepless nights, house training challenges, and worrying, “What has she put into her mouth again?” Puppy and new-to-you young dog behavior can be ove ..read more

Do you traditionally re-watch holiday classic films this time of year? Here's a fun way to relate the classics to dog training tips.  National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation "And why is the carpet all wet, Todd?" "I don't know, Margo!"  Whether your dog is fully potty trained or not, make sure your dog potties before going into a new home. New homes and changes in routine can be stressful, especially for dogs. Give your dog extra potty breaks so they're not tempted to improvise a "present" under the tree.   Elf “He must be a South Pole elf.”  If your dog trends towards bei ..read more

It’s happened to most everyone. Your dog lunges forward and the leash is jerked out of your hands. What happens next? You chase your dog. Does your dog stop? Nope! Your dog runs away, most likely enjoying this game of chase and newfound freedom. Below are two must have skills if the leash is jerked out of your hands: an emergency break stop and a recall. An emergency break stop is when your dog stops walking as soon as the leash is dropped. I call this behavior, “Drop It Like It’s Hot”. Want to know how to train this? Watch the video below! Train your dog to stop whenever the leash is dropped ..read more

If you’re spending more time indoors with your dog, you may be noticing some behavior challenges. However, cooler temperatures and less daylight may have you feeling sluggish about training your dog. Read on for free training tips addressing dogs who bark at other dogs on TV and/or dogs who counter surf. If that’s not your dog’s issue and you’re just looking for some indoor fun things to do with your dog, scroll to the bottom for ideas. Make sure to share this post with friends and family! Follow @behaviorunited on Instagram and Facebook to join our 25 Days of Sniffmas challenge. Does your dog ..read more

Are you entertaining family and friends in your home more now than before? Whether it’s for football watch parties, Sunday brunch, fire pit nights, or upcoming holidays, these events can present a big challenge for our dogs. So what do you do if you have an upcoming gathering where there will be lots of people in your home and you are concerned about how your dog will behave? If your dog has a history of nipping, snapping, biting, or jumping, use these management tools. Many trainers continue to have waitlists, so you may not be able to start training this close to the holidays. Remember, a go ..read more