Resource guarding is the practice of protecting your stuff from threats. We all do it, and I have a massive ring of keys to prove it. I lock the door to our training center, my home, and my car when they aren’t in use. Why do I do this? To prevent people from stealing from me and destroying my stuff, of course. I also guard things that are far more valuable, like my daughter and my husband, from perceived threats. And, I must admit that I guard things of very little value whatsoever, such as my morning cup of coffee and my favorite dry erase marker. We guard things that hold value for us, and ..read more

It’s no surprise to anyone at this point that AGDT loves holidays. Thanksgiving is especially special to us because we are grateful year-round for what the community has helped us build, and all the dogs and humans we’ve met around the day. Seriously, at every company event, Amanda leads a gratitude circle. It’s part of who we are as a company, and we bring that with us into everything we do. Our clients are the best human beings we know––we see you actively working with your dog on the street, sharing advice, donating items to shelters and rescues, and we want to thank you for that.  We ..read more

a note from senior trainer Melissa Arbitman Wondering what this class is and why we are offering it? Wondering if it’s right for your dog? Do you think training is just for puppies? (It’s not!) Old Dogs, New Tricks is a class created partially from my experience as a dog trainer, but also from my years spent rescuing senior dogs. Having had several senior dogs spend their last years or months with me, I’ve seen a lot of the great aspects of having a senior, but also experienced different challenges that come in a dog’s golden years. I’ve put all of this together and designed this course t ..read more

It’s spooky season––the time of year where we’re most likely to sit down for a scary movie or two. But, as dog people, we have all likely noticed that the mortality rate for dogs in these types of films are quite high.  Think about it. How many times have you sat in a dark room with friends to watch a horror movie, only to have a camera pan over to reveal a dog and someone in the room goes: “Oh, no!” because they know what fate most likely awaits them. Dog deaths in films are predictable. In fact, there’s an entire website dedicated to knowing in advance exactly when a dog dies in film, t ..read more

Every fall, as we go back to school and overload our human schedules, dogs everywhere get a little bored. Bored dogs are expert mischief makers, and they give their humans a devil of a time during conference calls or when they are left alone (to chew up furniture) for hours on end. The solution? Give your dog a job too! That’s where puzzles come in. At AGDT, we recommend Kong to all of our clients as a tool to address an array of issues, from settling, to feeding, and even separation anxiety. It’s safe to say that we love Kongs!  But Kongs aren’t the only puzzle toy around. There are hund ..read more

The first time someone asked me if fetch was bad for their dog, I was amused. It struck me as a random bit of oddball advice delivered by an errant neighbor who tends to yap about their extensive (nonexistent) dog knowledge. The second time a client asked this question, it struck me as coincidental, and I chuckled at the happenstance. By the time several people asked about the dangers of fetch, I realized that there was a trend emerging. Soon, my fellow trainers were coming to me, “Have you seen this post on social media? So-and-so trainer is advising their clients to avoid playing fetch with ..read more

Let’s face it: the legalization of marijuana in 2021 brought an influx of cannabis to New York City. The industry is thriving, and access to the most commonly used drug is easier than ever. We see evidence of this on the Upper West Side. There are smoke shops on every block, clouds of smoke wafting up Central Park West, and edibles scattered across the street––literally.  Getting into the weeds: how poisonous is marijuana to dogs? The lethal dosage of THC for dogs works out to approximately 3 grams (or 3,000 milligrams) per kilogram of body weight. For context, name-brand edibles from any ..read more

Yesterday, my husband (the delightful owner of Salon Riz down the street) called me to report that the air quality index was 343. “That’s NUTS!” I exclaimed because it felt like the appropriate response.* Naturally, I don’t know a jot about air quality indexes. He could have said the index was 4 and it would have carried the same weight. It doesn’t matter that I didn’t know, because I am a scientist who is highly skilled at collecting observable data. Since the city was clouded in a murky brown haze, I deduced that an index of 343 was not awesome for breathing.  Luckily, everyone in NYC h ..read more

I stood on the corner of Central Park West and 85th street this morning taking in the incredible springtime air. Blossoms on the trees! Birds all around! My gaze came to rest on a poor soul struggling with her dog on leash. I watched casually as her medium-sized doodley dog first pulled her hard toward the park, then darted off to the left to chase a passing squirrel. He hit the end of leash hard and fell onto his back. He flipped over with ease, turned toward his person and licked her pants, then somehow ended up doing a full backflip during which he became tangled in the leash. Undeterred he ..read more

Did you know that dog training is a completely unregulated industry? It’s true–pretty much anyone can call themselves a dog trainer, no verification needed.  But that doesn’t mean things aren’t changing. Organizations like the Certification Council of Professional Dog Training (CCPDT) and the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC) have made the certification process part of their mission. Certification provides an important starting point for any pet parent seeking outside help for their dog’s behavior. If your dog trainer holds a certification, they’re guarantee ..read more