“Success is never owned, it is rented, and the rent is due every day.” — Rory Vaden I love this quote by Rory Vaden. It fits training a dog so well, how could we possibly think about it any differently now that we've thought of it in that context? I have to put in effort EVERY day in order to have success. Right! Got it..... Except.... How does one measure success. Often as humans, we can only focus on the end stage, the BIG picture - the SUCCESS, and we think about the final product as our measure of success. This often leaves us throwing our hands up in frustration when we don't achieve it ..read more

I typically don't know what my next post will be. Often, it's simply a reaction to something that's hit me in my day-to-day life, like an interaction with a student or a sentiment that seems to permeate the community. These things are often ones that resonate with me in some way. I love it when something hits me in just such a way that it challenges something I believe and I have to open my mind to new possibilities. This is truly how we grow! Another Mislabel    Today's topic is another that came up in my day-to-day. Actually, it comes up often in my day-to ..read more

Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you’re trying to teach your dog how to do something specific and for some reason they’re just not picking up on it or able to give you what you’re looking for? If so, there’s a possibility that you may be looking for too much too soon, and when your dog is not able to figure it out, they may lose the desire to try due to the lack of reinforcement.  When we’re unable to communicate effectively with our dogs and help them to understand what we’re looking for, it can cause some dogs to simply lose interest and other, more sensitive dogs, to b ..read more

There’s nothing more exciting than bringing home a baby puppy!  A puppy represents a new beginning and lots of fun adventures waiting to unfold.  But, we often find that the expectations of new puppy owners don’t always align with the reality of being new puppy owners.  Don’t set yourself up for disappointment Puppies are puppies.  They are a lot of work.  There are no two ways about that - especially when you’re determined to do it right!  I currently have a new puppy myself, and it’s almost like having a second full-time job! If you’re not prepared to take the t ..read more

There are few things more enjoyable in a dog lover's life than watching their puppy having fun while playing with another puppy!  But, as much fun as it can be, it can be detrimental to the puppy in more ways than one if certain things aren’t taken into consideration.  Not only are there safety concerns but there is also the possibility that your puppy will learn bad habits. Be selective when it comes to playmates! Choose your puppy's playmates carefully.  It’s important to know that their playmates are properly cared for, regularly vetted and vaccinated in order to reduce the l ..read more

Swimming, swimming, all summer long….. Who doesn’t love swimming? When introduced to water without worry, dogs are usually quick to embrace the fun of it.  It can be a hard intro for some dogs, and approaching it the right way will set the tone. Here are some things to consider when you set out to help your pup LOVE swimming and water fun! Water Temps Your pup’s introduction to water must be comfortable. While the air might feel warm, the water may be too cool for a youngster to enjoy. To help your pup learn that water is fun and pleasant, be sure the water is warm enough not to give them ..read more

Does your puppy like to pick up EVERYTHING outside?  Sticks, leaves, dirt, rocks, garbage, bunny poo… the list goes on, I’m sure!  Rest assured, you’re not alone!   Today's post will help!  Puppies are notorious for grabbing everything and anything they can get a hold of.  But, your puppy comes by this behaviour honestly.  They’re not trying to make your life difficult.  Dogs, by nature, are scavengers - it’s hard-wired into their DNA.  So, it stands to reason that puppies will constantly be on the lookout for things to pick up, chew on, or eat. The ..read more

I think we can all settle into the idea that ticks are here to stay in Ontario. We've been spoiled for a long time. By now, we should all see the privileged position we've been in until recent years. Having been involved in field training since I brought home my first Toller in 2001, I've watched ticks go from 'never' to 'occasional' to 'often' to 'likely every outing'.  When COVID took our activities away, it became very clear that I could live without dog shows, competitions, and organized indoor events. It was clear early on that while I missed those things, I wasn't phy ..read more

Transition can be tough for both humans and animals. At the start of the pandemic, I wrote an article, "How Isolation will Affect your Dog." It was a guide to ensure our pups didn't get too accustomed to us being home, since returning to work seemed like it was just around the corner. Here we are 2 years later... Who would have guessed?! Now that our dogs have gotten used to us being around all day, some of us are facing a transition back to working outside of the home again. The pandemic interrupted our normal work schedules and a lot of dogs got used to us being home 24/7 ..read more

As instructors, we often tell our students to not allow their dogs “too much freedom” while they’re in training and are learning the ropes.  But, what exactly do we mean by this? And how much difference does it really make? That's the topic of today's post! Many students think of freedom in terms of “physical space” only.  Even though that is part of it, it’s so much more than that.  It’s about restricting the dog’s ability to make poor choices and to make up their own rules.  It's Not Just About Space You could very well restrict your dog’s freedom to a specific room in th ..read more