BEING MINDFUL I always think that the best way to “train” a puppy is by reinforcing them in time. Of course, that requires us humans to be mindful enough to notice and observe our dogs just as they observe us. So often, I hear people say that their dog has trained them well! And yes, in a way, that is true because dogs observe us with attention to the tiniest details in our behavior with amazing accuracy. Every movement, every sound, every action, and its consequence is registered by them. We humans, on the other hand – not so much. We are preoccupied with ourselves and somehow less concerned ..read more

Challenging Size Stereotypes: The Importance of Training Small Dogs Dogs’ intelligence and prowess are all too often measured by their size. Generally, it is assumed that larger dogs need to be “trained” just because of their sheer size. Sure, a Rottweiler can cause more damage than a chihuahua. But is that a reason to deprive a highly intelligent being of knowing what to do to live comfortably in our “civilized” world?  What if you were dealing with a short person? Would you say that they did not need to learn how to read or they did not need exercise because they were smaller? Of course ..read more

Let’s Say You Have a Persistent Behavior Issue With Your Dog: I hear these complaints worded in such a way a lot… Fill in the blank: “When I want them to ____” “when we say____”, “when they see____”, “when they hear____” “When they are _______they do not _____” “What should I do?” The frustrated dog guardian asks. “What have you been doing about it?” I ask in return. They reply: “Well… I try to ____, but they don’t hear me – they’re too excited.” In a way, you have already said why you are not getting any satisfying results. Your dog is too excited and distracted! It is well worth realizing t ..read more

Reward Placement I talk quite a bit about reward placement and delivery (thrown, rewarding directly to the dog, or on the floor in front of the dog, etc.); but I have not thought about clarifying the aspect of the timing of the reward. Reward Timing Here is a good example:  The other day I was with a client and noticed that her dog rushed through the door. Since she is worried about dog-on-dog encounters in the hallway, I mentioned that it might be helpful to teach the dog to wait as she opens the door. This would give both of them some space to see if the path is clear to proceed. Her r ..read more

BEING MINDFUL I always think that the best way to “train” a puppy is by reinforcing them in time. Of course, that requires us humans to be mindful enough to notice and observe our dogs just as they observe us.  So often, I hear people say that their dog has trained them well! And yes, in a way, that is true because dogs observe us with attention to the tiniest details in our behavior with amazing accuracy. Every movement, every sound, every action, and its consequence is registered by them. We humans, on the other hand – not so much. We are preoccupied with ourselves and somehow less conc ..read more

Common Puppy Behavior Challenges I often receive inquiries from people who are frustrated with their puppies’ overall behavior. “They don’t listen” “they jump” “they bark” “they pull on the leash” are very common complaints. Teaching Your Puppy Essential Skills I will then ask a couple of questions along the lines of: Have you taught the puppy some skills? The answer often is: They know “sit” “paw” and maybe “touch” or something like that.  Now: How could this be the basis of polite manners?  Let me remind you of how you yourself came to understand things. For example when you learne ..read more

Recently, I have seen a noticeable rise in the use of prong collars and choke chains on dogs and even tiny puppies. I find this trend deeply concerning and feel compelled to raise awareness about the cruelty of these devices. Consider the perspective of an excited puppy: “I want to jump because I am so pleased to see you, and I want to lick your face.” The prong and choke collar using typical human response? Physical correction! Or imagine the puppy catching an intriguing scent and wanting to investigate, only to be met again with physical restriction and pain or discomfort at a minimum. Such ..read more

I am pleased to share some exciting news. I was recently featured in not just one but two articles in NYMag’s renowned column, “The Strategist.” These articles, “10 Best Chew Toys and Treats for Teething Puppies” and “11 Best Dog Harnesses,” have allowed me to share some of my favorite tips with a wider audience. Contributing to these guides was so much fun, and I hope that my suggestions will help many dog guardians make smart decisions when it comes to the health and well-being of their canine companions. Best Dog Harnesses Article In the “11 Best Dog Harnesses” article, I was able to share ..read more

Do you remember the story of June, the rescue mini dachshund with the megaesophagus? Yesterday I got a text that June was able to stay alone without any signs of anxiety or barking for a whole hour! It is an excellent example demonstrating that separation anxiety is largely a function of dependency, helplessness, lack of confidence, and a sense of lack of control over the environment.  So, with a dog who is suffering from separation anxiety, all of these aspects need to be addressed by teaching them that they, in fact, are able to have control over their environment. Instill in them a goo ..read more

I find different behavior cases so interesting, challenging, and gratifying when I can find a way to solve the path. Today I went to see a dog with megaesophagus. This is a malformation of the esophagus that makes keeping food down very difficult. The dogs have to be put into an upright position in a special chair that looks like a prayer bench and need to be fed in small portions and then kept upright in that position for 30 minutes after eating. Clearly, in terms of training, that makes it much harder to reward them with food, even little licks of food. The human’s complaint was excessive ba ..read more