As a dog behavior consultant, I walk into many homes with senior dogs where the family has just welcomed a brand new puppy into the ..read more

Muzzles. The word alone can create thoughts of aggression or danger, often associated with a dog who is unpredictable or going to bite. But I'd like to take a step back and challenge this perception. Muzzles, basket muzzles in particular, are a misunderstood tool in the world of dog behavior. Rather than a symbol of irresponsibility, they can be hugely beneficial for both dogs and their owners. In this blog we will explore why basket muzzles are not just a good thing but a necessary and compassionate to for many people and dogs. Uses of Basket Muzzles It is important to remember that dogs ..read more

Guess what!? The old saying is simply not true. You CAN teach an old dog new tricks. And not only can you, but you SHOULD! Training older dogs can be a fulfilling experience that has many benefits for both you and your dog. With patience, consistency, and understanding, you can teach your senior best friend new behaviors and skills. Here are five easy tips to help you train your older dog and enhance their final chapters of life! Always Make Sure Training Is Fun and Confidence-Boosting I recommend positive reinforcement-only training for all dogs. But as our dogs age, it is not uncom ..read more

Dog training has evolved significantly over the last few decades, moving away from forced-based methods towards more positive and humane methods that involve rewards. One of the most effective tools in a modern dog trainer's tool kit is-- yep, you guessed it- FOOD! Sadly, outdated thinking leads many to argue that using food in training equates to bribery, which is cheating or harmful. In this post, I will explore why using food in dog training is incredibly important and why we need to stop looking at it as a bad thing. Humans Are Motivated By Food And It Brings Us Together I don't know abou ..read more

As a certified dog behavior consultant and dog trainer, I work with many client households that consist of multiple dogs. Something that comes along with that territory is working with feelings and behaviors between dogs who live together. It is not uncommon for dogs who live together to get into an occasional argument, scuffle, fight, (whatever you want to call it) that does not cause serious injury. When dealing with aggressive incidents between dogs who live together, below are three things that I recommend you do NOT do: 1. Do not panic First things first. I think it needs to be normalize ..read more

As our furry best friends enter their final chapters of life, it is crucial to recognize that their needs extend beyond only physical health. While many people might think to provide senior dogs with comfortable beds and joint supplements, the significance of positive mental stimulation is often glossed over. In this blog, I will dive into why mental stimulation is an essential component of senior dog care and well-being. 1. Cognitive Function Matters: Similar to humans, dogs experience cognitive changes as they age. Canine Cognitive Disorder (sometimes referred to as dog dementia) is a commo ..read more

It seems like human nature to react negatively when we hear a dog growl at us, someone else, or even at another animal. It is like a gut reaction for us to want to immediately step in and make that behavior stop. In addition, outdated and inhumane training advice also tells us that we need to stop a dog's growling by punishing them. Unfortunately, this advice is dangerous and can quickly lead to more severe behavior problems. Here's why: An important key to understanding this concept is to realize that dogs use their body language and behavior to communicate with us. In fact, their behavior i ..read more

The average age of a dog surrendered to a shelter for behavior issues is between 1-3 years old. This is not surprising to me. Why? Because adolescence is a ROUGH age for dogs. They have just exited out of puppyhood, which comes with its own challenges, and have now entered a period of big and complicated feelings. Not unlike humans, adolescence is a time where young animals mature into adults. They start to see the world from a new lens, which can often lead to behavior problems if we do not proactively help them through this period. Below are a few things to keep in mind when dogs go through ..read more

Expecting parents who have dogs in the home are often overwhelmed by the many things to do to best prepare for the arrival of their new baby. The internet is full of advice from a myriad of sources about the best way to help your family dog prepare for your new addition. This blog will go over one easy and very helpful skill to build in your dog to help ease the transition of bringing home a newborn baby or adopted child: teaching your dog to be relaxed and able to work on "dog projects" when separated from you. You might think this is an odd skill to teach because it has nothing directly to ..read more

Over the past 2 years, I have added several new species of companion animals to my very dog-oriented household. (cat and chickens) As a behavior consultant, this has given me the opportunity to go through the process of helping my dogs become acclimated to these new animals --- with the end goal of them being able to coexist in the same living space. Both of my dogs have some level of prey drive and had never lived with these species (to my knowledge) before, so I was unsure about what the outcome would be with these new additions. **This is a great place to mention the big disclaimer that wh ..read more