Koinonia Dogs Blog
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Leighann is the doggy problem solver and human behind Koinonia Dogs. As a dog trainer, she empowers owners to turn their busy puppies, out-of-control adolescents, and sweet but struggling adults into well-behaved dogs who choose good behavior. Here are some highlights from her journey from dog-lover to certified professional dog trainer!
Koinonia Dogs Blog
3w ago
My top 3 three recommendations as a Certified Professional Dog Trainer ..read more
Koinonia Dogs Blog
4M ago
Leash pulling.
Was there ever a more ubiquitous dog behavior problem?
When I work with owners on this, one of the first things we do is determine whether we have a pulling problem or a panic problem.
Some dogs pull because of a lack of education — they are excited to be out of the house, they naturally move faster than we do, and they haven’t been taught to slow down. Their pulling is just pulling.
Some dogs pull because of emotions — they are actually anxious about the environment or something in the environment. Their pulling is what happens when panic wears a leash.
The panicked dog ..read more
Koinonia Dogs Blog
1y ago
Earlier this year, a client and I were discussing their dog’s troubles in the car and some possible solutions. They wondered if short trips to some fun activity would help.
What we do about car issues depends a LOT on why the dog isn’t enjoying car rides.
Possibility #1: Motion Sickness
Some dogs don’t like riding in the car because it makes them nauseous. Over time, you may see your dog become more and more averse to even approaching the car because the car itself has become “contaminated” in the dog’s mind: “I feel awful in that thing so I don’t want to get anywhere near it.”
Pro Tip: just ..read more
Koinonia Dogs Blog
1y ago
Do you enjoy walking your dog? Does your dog enjoy walking? Why do you walk your dog?
“We have to walk the dog!”
Not many people have to be told to walk their dog. They know their dog needs exercise and they also believe that physical activity is key to good behavior at home.
Somehow, it’s become an unwritten rule in our culture that daily walks are what good owners do.
Do you really?
What if I told you that daily walks aren’t actually in every dog’s best interest? For some dogs, a walk might be more distressing than de-stressing.
Just as all dogs need food, but some are allergic to chicken ..read more
Koinonia Dogs Blog
1y ago
Accidents aside, one of the biggest dangers I see when transporting your dog in a vehicle isn’t actually during the drive (although that can be dicey if the dog wants to…“help”). It’s the unloading.
How many times have you danced around the outside of your car door trying to get it open without your dog escaping?
Folks, it doesn’t have to be that hard or hazardous! There are a couple of EXTREMELY simple, no-training-required solutions.
Option #1: Crate
Not everyone’s dog is small enough or car large enough for this, but crating your dog for travel completely eliminates the door dance. With you ..read more
Koinonia Dogs Blog
1y ago
A treat scatter is one of my favorite tricks for both preventing and fixing problem behaviors. It’s especially helpful for Rowdy Dogs who tend to find LOTS of things in life VERY exciting.
Getting your bouncy, loud Rowdy Dog to focus on the floor is a surprisingly simply solution for a number of problems!
What is it? A treat scatter is treats placed or lightly tossed onto the ground. That’s it!
Why does it work? Treats on the ground get your dog to focus on the ground instead of ___________. When the treats are hard to see, your dog has to use nose to find them and this helps lower his heart ..read more
Koinonia Dogs Blog
1y ago
“How do I correct my puppy?”
“How do I tell her that’s wrong?”
In short: I don’t.
Yep, as a professional dog trainer, I don’t really correct puppies. At least not in the traditional sense and not as my Plan A.
Before I lose you, let me explain.
#1 This does not mean I never say, “uh-uh…what do you think you’re doing?!…ouch…leave that alone…that’s enough...”
Yes, I talk to puppies and dogs, and yes, sometimes my words express displeasure.
However, I don’t, ultimately, expect those words to fix the problem — although sometimes I wish they would.
Instead, those words function as an interrupter t ..read more
Koinonia Dogs Blog
1y ago
It’s hard to select just a few “most important” things to teach a puppy. Everything feels important and necessary!
But if I had to prioritize just seven skills, these are them!
But First…
Let me make a distinction between Life Skills and Basic Obedience.
Just because a dog knows a lot of “commands” doesn’t mean he’s easy to live with. And just because a dog lacks formal education doesn’t mean he’s difficult to live with.
You’ll notice a lot of the items on my Most Important list aren’t basic obedience commands. Commands can be taught at any time and, although I believe training is very importa ..read more
Koinonia Dogs Blog
1y ago
Fostering can be such a great win for homeless dogs and adopters.
Not only is a home environment FAR less stressful for the dog than the shelter, but living in a home means we can get more information about what the dog is actually like in a home — his target environment.
Bringing an unfamiliar dog (often, one with little to no training history) into your home can be a challenge, though! Many dogs may have Rowdy Dog behaviors such as jumping, mouthing, and barking, and can be restless or destructive.
Here are my six top tips for helping smooth the transition, encourage good behavior, and make ..read more