There are many who, if they passed us on that day, would have thought, because this dog did not bark or lunge at the person or car he saw at a distance…that he was FINE. He may have looked like he was enjoying being on leash in the community. What do you think? Actually, while he may look fine, this is a fearful dog with anxiety. The story of his dog behavior is below. NOTE:  If you have not already read my first post about dogs that are fine, please click here to read it first.   I wanted to share this from last fall to help educate. There are many who would not have recognized tha ..read more

Is your dog fine? When clients tell me their dog was FINE at the groomer, FINE at the vet, FINE when accompanying them to a busy park, FINE when children are running and screaming…my question to them is, “What does FINE look like in that context?” FINE can look like lots of things. It can represent so many different behaviors and emotions. And it can be interpreted and visualized differently by different people. Often though, when people tell me their dog was FINE, their dog was actually not FINE – okay, my interpretation of FINE anyway. Here are a few ways I may define fine in dogs:   Th ..read more

Ugh, you are on a very important Zoom call and your dog will not stop barking at your feet! Or your doorbell rings and your dog begins barking, twirling and jumping on you as you go to open the door. You are frustrated. You want to stop your dog’s bad behavior. This is a reminder to you…the time to teach your dog what behaviors you would rather him do in any given situation is often NOT when that situation is happening. Plan ahead. Put management into place. Teach your dog good manners behaviors ahead of time. Practice. And practice more. Remember, your pet is doing what behaviors work to get ..read more

When you are cooking in your kitchen, what does your dog typically do? What would you like for your dog to do? Mikhayla Hughes-Shaw with WCPO’s Cincy Lifestyle program filmed this dog training tip with me last year where I talk about teaching your dog good manners in the kitchen. If you do not want your dog to be getting in your way or getting onto the counter, plan ahead. Either put a management/prevention plan in place to keep your dog from practicing unwanted behaviors, or use that time to practice teaching your dog what you would rather your dog do instead. Special thanks to my buddy ..read more

When I am training a dog (or other animal), you hear me use words like GOOD! and YES! a lot. You also often see me pull out a clicker. There is a lot more to me using those sounds than my simply expressing my excitement. They are training tools, called markers, that help my student learn what I am teaching. Why should you use a marker in dog training and pet training? Let’s explore that in this blog post. They help by telling the animal THAT very specific behavior at just that second did is a behavior I want to see. Also, the sound is a predictor of something ahead that the animal values (ofte ..read more

When you and others think about dog training, typically what comes to mind is teaching your teaching your dog to sit, lay down, come when called, stay in position, walk on a loose leash and other active behaviors. Yet teaching your dog to settle is a valuable lesson. It is easy to assume that since your dog will go to a comfortable spot and nap when he is exhausted, that he knows how to turn off and settle. However, that is not the same as your dog or puppy being able to lay down and chill in certain contexts or environments – like when you are talking to a guest, cooking, sitting in a park, o ..read more

In search of gift ideas for kids who love dogs? Here are a few suggestions…whether your child is interested in learning about dog training or baking dog treats. Have other ideas for me to include? Please send me a message! Educational Children’s Books About Dogs Doggie Language, book by Lili Chin This small and wonderful book is an awesome, easy-to-read illustrated guide to seeing and understanding your family dog’s subtle visual cues and interpreting your dog’s behaviors to communicate. The more we notice and listen to what our dogs are trying to tell us, the more we can improve our re ..read more

Furthering my passion for helping to strengthen the relationship between families and their dog, a few years ago, I pursued and graduated from a 13-week program to become a licensed Family Paws parent educator. A new baby, toddler or young child can be stressful for the family dog. Family Paws helps parents of infants and toddlers anticipate, prepare and establish guidelines that lead to increased safety and decreased stress for all family members. Why did I become a dog trainer, and why did I pursue the Family Paws license? Family Paws featured me in their social media with this interview. Re ..read more

This post is for young families that include a dog. As an expecting parent, will it help your dog to accept your newborn baby if you bring home the baby blanket for your dog to sniff – in advance?  Here are some parenting tips to consider when it comes to minimizing family dog stress, dog and baby safety, and dog training for new parents. “Bring home the baby blanket for your dog to sniff” is one of the most common pieces of advice expecting parents may receive. Hospital nurses even sometimes give parents baby blankets to take home to their dog, before bringing home their baby. I certainl ..read more

Dog Training is about teamwork. The way I see it, teaching and learning is a collaborative effort. My student and I are a team. It is my goal to create an environment that is going to inspire the learner in front of me to want to participate, not through force but through choice. I value my learner’s feedback. I become a more effective dog training when I pay attention to the dog’s body language, interest in the lesson, and ability to get what I am teaching. That input will help me to know whether I am on the right track or whether I should step back and strategize what I can change about that ..read more