https://video.wixstatic.com/video/e309ee_0988197203fa4150ad2caae81142a0bc/360p/mp4/file.mp4 Rough Housing with our dogs: Innocent Fun or Slippery Slope? This is a video of a human wrestling with his dog and there is no doubt both human and dog are having a great time. This IS absolutely 100% play. There is not any aggressive behavior demonstrated whatsoever in this video. However... anytime we do anything with our dogs... we have to weigh risks v rewards. We often get clients that come to us and mention that their kids, adult family members or friends love to "rough house" with the dog. We sim ..read more

We all love our dogs- that is a given. We can love our dogs, enjoy our dogs and have a lot of fun with our dogs, but... that doesn't mean we have to allow them to do whatever they want whenever they want.. Boundaries are important. Without boundaries, dogs can easily become "pushy" and bratty. No one likes a bratty child and no one likes a bratty dog :) Not only is pushy and bratty behavior annoying but it is unhealthy. Dogs do best when they have clear boundaries and they fully understand the reward and punishment system that goes along with those boundaries. One of the most basic, simplisti ..read more

True Story: I was at a Charlotte, NC local hiking trail (different day then the picture to this post) with a dog in training for dog reactivity. The dog in training was ON LEASH with me. I also had my two personal dogs with me and they were off leash (and they have been properly off leash trained & years of experience with it). From about 50 yards away I saw a woman hiking with her Yellow Lab coming around a bend in the trail. The Lab was not on leash. The moment the Lab saw me and my dogs it took off full speed right towards us. I told my personal dogs to "sit" and "stay." They did. The ..read more

So there it is... you have worked with your dog and its training on a regular basis. You have been consistent, patient, and thorough. You have even hired a trainer! Yet... sometimes things are still not perfect. Fido's recall (coming when called) isn't always a "bee line" drive or Fido's sit is a bit sloppy some days or Fido reacted to another dog on a walk the other day. You and your dog have worked so hard and you have made so much progress! What happened in these moments? What went wrong? While owners may be quick to blame themselves, blame training or blame the dogs, we cannot forget one ..read more

Society has really pushed the idea of "You have to socialize your dog every chance you get." As a result, some dog owners feel the need to have their dog meet and greet every person and dog they encounter while out in public and I think this is a mistake. Let me first say I understand the importance of socializing dogs. I think dogs having some dog friends in their life is important. As a trainer, I also realize the importance dogs have in helping other dogs in need of behavior modification and rehabilitation. I think there are plenty of simpler and healthier ways for dogs to meet other dogs o ..read more

Dogs parks seem like such an idyllic place for dogs: lots of room to roam and plenty of doggie friends to meet; not to mention its pretty cool for us humans to meet other dog owners. While the allure of dog parks is strong, they are actually a very bad idea in my opinion. And yes, I am aware that many of you reading this have taken your dog to a dog park for years and have never had an issue. That is great! However, bad instances at dog parks are all too common. I always have to look at RISK v REWARD when doing something with a dog and when it comes to dog parks... It is simple: Dog parks pos ..read more

I am a big believer that most things in life that are worthwhile & rewarding take WORK: one's career, a relationship, health and fitness, spirituality, personal growth... all take WORK, and.... dogs are no different. If you are not willing to put in the work, then don't take on the challenge. "Dave, I just want to walk my dog, hold the leash and not worry and/or think about anything." Well...maybe you shouldn't have a dog I know it sounds callous but its truthful. Can parents take their 6 year old child through a zoo or amusement park and not worry or think about anything? Of course not. B ..read more

Things like Honesty & Integrity do not exist in a dog’s world. There are no such things as honesty or integrity to a dog. However.... OPPORTUNITY... now that absolutely exists in a dog’s world. Do not expect your dog to “do the right thing because that is the right thing to do.” True story: I had to take Sawyer to the Vet today for a routine Lepto vaccine shot. Now... Sawyer is a young, friendly, high energy, high drive, ready-to-go kind of dog. He is also very well trained. Due to COVID-19 my Vet clinic is doing curbside service. The Vet tech met me at my car and she took Sawyer on leash ..read more

We are attempting to help owners (who are not professional dog trainers) have the best and most successful relationship with their dog that THEY are CAPABLE of having. For those of you that do not know: I was a school teacher for 8 years before I got into dogs. Part of my teaching experience was teaching abroad for 1 year in Ecuador. Before going to Ecuador, I had traveled to Costa Rica to participate in a 3 week long Spanish Immersion program in which I lived with "Tico" families while taking classes for several hours a day. While in Ecuador, I hired a private tutor for 10 sessions to help m ..read more

Struggling with your dog? Have a dog that is stubborn, non-compliant, pushy, reactive and/or always challenging you in some fashion or another? If you have a difficult dog and continue to struggle with him or her (despite training), then more times than not there is an issue with the "big picture" of how your dog PERCEIVES you. Your dog probably perceives you as a buddy (someone they have fun with but really doesn't have any more "say" than the dog itself) and/or... a substitute teacher: someone not truly in charge. Most likely, your dog is given free choice, free roam, love, and affection mu ..read more