How do you celebrate Valentine’s Day without chocolate? Me, trying to think of some fun Valentine’s Day dog treats Well, unfortunately Chocolate and Champaign are off the menu. Instead, we’ve got some super delicious, cheddar, chicken, and bacon homemade Valentine’s Day dog treats to make. I know that cheddar, chicken, bacon doesn’t quite invoke a strong association with Valentine’s Day, so these treats get their valentines flair from their extra cute decoration, including dog-friendly, homemade sprinkles. Usually when I bake I follow a recipe. I’ve made my fair share of homemade dog treats ..read more

In this post: How do I know if my dog wants a belly rub? Why does my dog lie on his back?   Why is my dog lying on his back? Does he want a belly rub? When your dog rolls onto his back and exposes his belly many people exclaim how cute it is that he wants a belly rub. Unfortunately, this is usually not the case. Most of the time when your dog rolls onto his back he is telling you that he would prefer you to not approach, it’s kind of like a “tap out.” Often if you look closely at your dog you can see this position accompanied by stress signals like tongue flicks, a tense jaw, whale eye ..read more

In this post: Is growling bad? Should I let my dog growl? Do only bad or aggressive dogs growl? What do I do when my dog growls?     Is it bad that my dog is growling?   I’m going to say something a little controversial here, a dog growling is actually a good thing. It is a form of communication and it is a dog’s way of trying to avoid biting. I frequently have people tell me that their dog “bit out of nowhere,” and most of the time the bite was actually very predictable once you learn how to read your dog’s body language. In rare instances where a dog really does bite wi ..read more

In this post: Why do dogs yawn?  Is my dog always tired?  Why do dogs fake yawn?   Why is my dog always yawning? Is he tired?  Most of the time when presented with a dog who is yawning people say that the behavior is prompted by feeling tired. But, this is not always true! A dog who is curling up and ready for bed might be yawning because they are tired. In most other situations, however, there are different causes for their yawning. Verified in multiple studies, the main cause for yawning in dogs is as a response to stress. If you pay attention to when your dog yawns, th ..read more

In this post: Why do dogs wag their tail? Does a wagging tail mean my dog is happy?   Why do Dogs Wag Their Tail? A dog’s wagging tail does not indicate that they are happy, friendly, or want you to say hi to them. It does however indicate a willingness to interact. But, there are lots of different types of interactions. Jumping up and nipping someone is a type of interaction, biting someone is a type of interaction. Growling at someone is an interaction. Even if your dog is wagging their tail while they are jumping, biting, or growling, it does not mean they are happy or friendly. I co ..read more

In This Post: Is it ok to use treats to train your dog? How and when to use dog training treats Figure out which treats your dog considers high value The best treats for picky dogs/eaters What are the best treats to use to train your dog? Any products mentioned have been tried, tested, and approved by Leash and Learn dogs and humans. Items you buy through our links may earn us a commission.   Elevate your dog’s training with drool worthy, tail wagging, treats Training with the correct treats can make a big difference and help you reach new heights with your dog ..read more

  In a previous blog post I wrote about how much I loved licki mats. In a different blog post you might have seen that several of Nina Ottossons puzzle toys are on my list of favorite puzzle toys. So, it probably comes as no surprise that when I saw that Nina Ottosson had released a new puzzle-ized licki mat, I knew I HAD to get my paws on it. I excitedly headed online, searched for Lickin Layers, tried to order it, and (im)patiently waited weeks and weeks for it to arrive. It was so popular that it was pretty much immediately on back order. Earlier this week it finally arrived. If you d ..read more

Owners Operational definitions of behaviors displayed to survey participants in the intervention section. Behavior Definition Dilated pupils  The pupils are larger than they typically are. This also make the irises appear smaller than normal. Ears flattened  Puppy’s ears are pulled back against the side or back of their head Whale eye  Whites of the puppy’s eyes are shown, their eyes may appear bigger than normal.  Lip licking  The puppy quickly sticks their tongue out of their mouth and licks their lips. They may do this several times in a row, or just onc ..read more

In this blog post: The benefits of continuing education for dog trainers Why experience with dogs does not make someone a qualified dog trainer 6 different ways dog trainers can participate in continuing education The 3 top dog training and behavior conferences that I want to attend in 2023: The Canine Science Symposium, Association of Professional Dog Trainers Conference (APDT), The Annual Art and Science of Animal Training Conference This blog post is a follow-up to Is Your Dog Trainer Well Trained? How to Choose a Dog Trainer in 3 Easy Steps. That blog post talked about how to find a ..read more

Have you ever procrastinated on something for years, and then once it was over with you took a step back, a deep breath, and promptly wondered why you had procrastinated for so long? If you said no, congratulations! You’re a far more organized person than I am. I did this same song and dance recently. And at the end of it, I passed my test to earn my Certified Behavior Consultant Canine certification (CBCC) through the Certification Council of Professional Dog Trainers (CCPDT). I put this test off for years, I knew that I knew the material, but I was overwhelmed with trying to figure out how t ..read more