What’s Up With “Sit”? Does your dog know how to sit? Trick question! Of course they know how to sit. All dogs know how to sit. Just like they know how to walk and eat. But did you teach them to sit on cue? Probably. Almost every dog I work with has already been taught “sit”. I’ve just been thinking a lot lately about why humans are so obsessed with telling dogs to put their butt on the floor. Maybe because it’s the easiest thing to teach? Maybe because we think we are in control if we can make the dog do something? I was at the vet clinic the other day and there was a lovely, elderly golden re ..read more

ENRICHMENT (Fulfilling a Dog’s Needs) While we tend to think that all behavior problems in our dogs require a training fix, it is often the case that dogs do things we don’t like simply because their needs are not being met. What are a dog’s needs? Their physical needs are fairly obvious and most people do OK with those: • Health and hygiene – your vet and possibly a groomer can guide you here) • Diet and nutrition • Safety and security – actual safety and whether they feel safe or not • Physical exercise – although contrary to popular opinion, more exercise is not a cure-all Other needs may ..read more

Dogs and Quarantine I have to laugh when I see something online telling you how to entertain your dog during the quarantine. If the humans are at home, the dogs are getting way more entertainment than they usually get when they are home alone all day. They’re getting lots more walkies too, from what I’ve seen on the streets. But here’s something you might want to think about. Dogs can get used to a routine (especially one they like!) pretty fast. If . . . I mean, *when* you suddenly go back to work, your dog might not be too thrilled about losing his all-day BFF. Separation anxiety is not a fu ..read more

Lifesavers No, not the candy. Lifesavers for dogs. What things are so important for a dog to learn that they could literally save their life? Socialization A lot of people think this just means playing with other dogs. That’s a small part of it. I think it’s pretty important for a dog to be able to get along with others of their species, but frankly it is quite possible to live with a dog that doesn’t care for other dogs. What about a dog that doesn’t like humans? What about a dog that is terrified of the world outside his own house? These are much bigger issues and they are part of “socializa ..read more

Puppy Shopping List Puppy food (preferably what puppy was eating before, then switch brands slowly if you want to, variety is a good idea if it doesn’t upset puppy’s stomach) Treats for training (small, soft, easy to break up into tiny pieces, not crumbly) or use bits of real meat. If puppy will work for his regular food, you can use that for training. Food and water dishes (metal or ceramic, not plastic) Crate (buy adult size with a divider, or puppy size and replace when adult. Crate space should be big enough to lie down, stand up, turn around comfortably and stretch out a bit, but not pott ..read more

Car rides not fun? Does your dog get car sick and/or scared when he rides in the car? Many dogs do. One study showed 21% of dog owners report this issue. Many puppies get car sick because their inner ear, which helps with balance, is not fully developed. If a puppy has spent weeks associating the car with nausea, they may become so anxious about car rides that they still continue to get sick even later after they would have outgrown the purely physical problem. The first thing to do to help your dog is determine if the problem is motion sickness, anxiety or both. The best way to do this is to ..read more