11/22/23 Anthony De Marinis, CBDC, ADT, LFDM, FFCP A common question I get asked is “Can puppies actually be aggressive?” The simple answer is yes. However, there are many reasons why a puppy can display aggressive behavior. Before exploring this further, let’s first explore what aggression is.  Aggression encompasses a spectrum of behaviors, ranging from minor posturing to serious, dangerous attacks. Though it is not common for a puppy to display serious and dangerous attacking type behavior, I want to make sure to explain what aggression is in the general sense.  It is also importa ..read more

If you are seeking help from an experienced and certified dog trainer and certified dog behavior consultant on Long Island, look no further!  Anthony De Marinis provides a variety of dog training and behavior modification services which include: In-home puppy training Obedience training Manners and life skill training Help with dogs who are reactive or display leash reactivity Help with aggressive behavior such as leash aggression, stranger aggression, dog aggression, resource guarding, territorial aggression etc. Behavior modification training for fear and anxiety Educating dog owners a ..read more

By Anthony De Marinis, CDBC, ADT, LFDM, FFCP If your dog growls, barks, lunges or fixates on other dogs, people, animals, vehicles or anything else, these skills may be helpful. Remember that each dog is an individual, which means each dog has their own reasons for reacting and needs their own individual training plan and behavior modification plan based on the reasons for their reactive behavior. Hiring a dog trainer and behavior consultant to help you in-person or virtually may be necessary in order to properly help your dog. Note: These skills do not guarantee proper behavior change. This b ..read more

By Anthony De Marinis, CDBC, ADT, LFDM, FFCP Reactive behavior, also known as reactivity or sometimes leash reactivity, is one of the most common behavior issues dog owners deal with. It affects all dog breeds and occurs in all types of environments: city, suburbs, rural etc.  What Is Reactive Behavior In Dogs?  Reactive behavior represents an emotional response to a stimulus (i.e., the sight, sound and/or smell of something) that triggers an abnormal level of intensity (i.e., an over reaction). A common example would be a dog who barks excessively when seeing someone (the “trigger ..read more

By Anthony De Marinis, CDBC, ADT, LFDM, FCCP Many people wonder if it is necessary to hire a dog training and/or behavior professional with particular credentials or certifications. When looking for a dog training and behavior professional, it can be confusing to figure out who is qualified and who you should hire. People call themselves dog trainers, certified specialists, behaviorists, behavior consultants, master dog trainers, and more! What do all these titles mean? My first suggestion would be to see what qualifications professionals have obtained, and do some research as to what al ..read more

By Anthony De Marinis, CDBC, ADT, LFDM, FCCP There are many different methods and philosophies regarding dog training and behavior modification. This surprises a lot of dog owners, as many think that there is only one way to train a dog. In fact, there are three main training methodologies or “camps” that trainers may consider themselves in.  Before I list these three groups, it is important to note that within each methodology or “camp,” there is a spectrum. Some professionals may be more extreme in the way they practice or what they believe.  The Three Camps In no particular order ..read more

By Anthony De Marinis, CDBC, ADT, LFDM, FFCP   “My dog is aggressive towards strangers.” This is a common problem among many dogs today. I noticed a large increase in dogs having issues with strangers or visitors after the Covid shutdown. This comes as no surprise as many dogs were not exposed to strangers out in public or visitors coming into the home. The lack of exposure or socialization seemed to cause many dogs to not know how to react in certain situations involving strangers or visitors. Aggression towards strangers and visitors can happen in the home, on the property or out in pub ..read more

By Anthony De Marinis, CDBC, ADT, LFDM, FFCP, CBATI, VSA-DT “Something is wrong with my dog.” “He keeps kicking his legs out and seems to lose control of them.” “It is like he has some weird sensation going through his body.” “He keeps looking at, sniffing and nibbling on his back anywhere between the spine to his hips.” “He runs away from himself as if he is afraid and something is bothering or pinching his back.” These were some of my initial observations that I started to tell my friend and veterinarian, Dr. Waters shortly after bringing Journey home. I picked Journey up when he was 14 week ..read more

Anthony De Marinis, CBDC, ADT, LFDM, FFCP, CBATI, VSA-DT So I thought it was finally time to write a blog on “What is aggressive behavior?”. After all, it is what I specialize in working with. So, after enough procrastination, here is a simple guide laying out what aggressive behavior in dogs is. This blog could go on and on forever (and anyone who know me, know that I go on and on!). BUT, I wanted to just give a brief explanation of aggressive behavior without going over the top. This blog is simply meant to help you understand what aggressive behavior is and why it might occur. So, let’s get ..read more

This Video Blog was provided by a podcast interview I participated with Nihal Salah from Rescue Tails podcast. Check out the Rescue Tails Podcast by clicking here!  CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE VIDEO BLOG VIDEO BLOG TOPIC: Reliable Recall In this video blog I am interviewed by Nihal Salah, host of Rescue Tails podcast, where she asked me about how to get a reliable recall in dogs. We discuss a specific video of my dog, Journey, chasing ducks in a pond and then coming back to me when I called him. Watch the Video by CLICKING HERE! The Secret Recipe To Recall Recall (coming when called) can be ..read more