A Day With Dogs
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Grab great tips on socializing & training, the latest dog news, and cool stuff for your puppy.
8 Great Reasons to Go to Puppy Class
Do you know what happens in a good puppy class? Many people think puppy class is all about playtime and teaching a bit of basic obedience. Positive puppy interactions are part of puppy class. But these must be carefully orchestrated and supervised so all pups are...
8 Great Reasons to Go to Puppy Class
Do you know what happens in a good puppy class? Many people think puppy class is all about playtime and teaching a bit of basic obedience. Positive...
Are You Harnessing the Magic of Mat Training?
What's the Big Deal With the Mat? Whether you've taken an in-person class, been in one of my online groups or done in-person training with me, you...
6 Ways to Make Your Dog’s Next Vet Visit Better
A recent trip to the vet has made me realize I should dedicate a series to supporting our dogs and ways to prepare them for vet visits. Preparing...
Think You Don’t Have Time for Puppy Training?
It's back to school, leaving many of us struggling to get into regular routines and make time for everything. Where does that leave our dogs? If you...
How to Help Your Puppy Travel In the Car
Helping your pup learn to travel comfortably in the car should be part of their socialization. Car travel can be challenging for young pups because...
Do You Need to Power Up Your Puppy Pen?
As your pup matures, sleeps less and becomes more adventurous, they may start to fuss in the pen. The days of sleeping for hours are ending, and...
Do I Let My Fussy Puppy Cry It Out?
Depending on where you look, you will likely get one of two responses. Back in the day, the typical answer was yes. Let them ‘cry it out’ in their...
How to Make Your Pup’s Kong Food Puzzle Last Longer
Do you have a plan to power up the value of your pup’s pen or containment area? Whether you are just getting your new pup started or have an older...
How to Pick the Perfect Potty Spot for Your Puppy
Do you have a yard? Then taking a few moments to choose a perfect potty spot for your pup to do their business is a great idea. Young puppies are...
Can You Make Your Fearful Dog More Fearful?
I see a lot of clips and memes suggesting that paying attention to your dog when they are fearful reinforces the fear and will teach the dog to keep...
Cooperative Care Is The New Black in Dog Husbandry
Over the last few years, the attitude and approach to dog husbandry tasks have been changing. Although some may still be willing to get into a...
Bringing a New Puppy into A Home With a Dog
When we bring a second dog into the family, we usually have visions of the two playing together, sleeping together and being all round besties. Not...
Getting Off to a Great Start With Your New Dog. What Are You Waiting For?
As a trainer, the ideal situation with new clients is to meet them before they bring their new puppy or dog home. Helping them prepare with a plan...
I wish I Could Help, Sweet Pup
To the beautiful 'big puppy' I saw today, I'm sorry. I'm sorry that your mom is having a tough time on walks. I'm sorry she lets you drag her to say...
To Sit or Not to Sit – Is it a Good Choice When Your Dog Reacts?
When new clients describe what happens when their dog becomes agitated on walks, I hear the same thing again and again. Although specifics may...
The Magic of Mat Training
Many people think of their dog's comfy bed when the topic of mat training comes up. Of course, curling up in a designer bed is a reasonable goal,...
Help! My Dog Is Changing, and Not For the Better.
As young dogs mature, it's normal to see changes in their behaviour. Brain development, hormones, changes in sensory perception and social awareness...
6 Tips to Keep Your Dog Safe and Comfortable on Wet, Cold and Dark Days
As temperatures drop and days shorten, there are new things to consider and include in our daily care for our dogs. A few simple things can help...
A Dear John Letter From Separation Anxiety
No matter the dog issue they are struggling with, many people look for a quick fix and fast results. A snap of the fingers, and poof! The problem is...
How to Be Your Dog’s Best Friend At Halloween
Do you think your dog has a hard time at Halloween? Depending on where you live, your neighbourhood and your family, each dog will have a different...
Are Walks Making Your Dog Happy At Halloween?
Halloween can be a spooky time for dogs. Dark evenings make things harder to see. Costumes and noisy kids running around the neighbourhood. The...
Creating A Safe Place for Your Dog at Halloween
Holidays can be challenging for our dogs because schedules are often disrupted, and family members are busy with extra tasks and responsibilities....
Tips to Keep Your Dog Secure At Halloween
This time of year can be very scary for dogs. The shorter days mean going outside in the dark, which many dogs are wary of. The strange sights and...
I Think I’ve Taught My Dog To Pick Things Up On Walks! What Do I Do Now?
Have you been working on your dog grabbing stuff on walks? Does it feel like they are just picking up anything and everything now to get a treat?...
Are You Ready to Deal With Separation Anxiety in Your New Dog?
There are many things to consider when bringing a new dog into your life. Do you have the time and energy for a puppy, or would a mature dog be a...
What Do I Do If My Dog Gets Skunked?
Every morning I've been waking up to the pungent odour that means the skunks are active, and it's about to happen. Just like clockwork, a client...
4 Steps to Success With Your Mouthy Adolescent Dog
We all expect nipping and biting with a young puppy. But as our dogs grow and continue maturing, continued mouthiness can be concerning. The good...
Why Did My Dog Do That? How to Deal With Resource Guarding
I am often contacted by dismayed parents saying their dog has suddenly become aggressive. It doesn't take long to uncover that the incident occurred...
5 Ways To Make Time To Train Your Dog
One of the biggest training challenges many people have is finding time in their busy day to get some training done. The feeling of not being able...
Two’s a Crowd. Why Walking Your Puppy On Their Own Is Better
Do you have a young dog in a multiple-dog family? Last week, a question came up in my puppy group about going on walks. Their pup displays very...
Is Your Puppy Ready For More Freedom in the Home?
When you get a new puppy, it's a great idea to manage how much space they have and where they have access to in the home. This helps to develop good...
Building Better Connection on Walks By Giving Your Dog More Freedom
"I can't get my dog to focus." "My dog ignores me." These are common complaints from many parents about walks with their dogs. Realistic...
What’s the Rush? Building Better Habits at the Door
What happens when you grab the leash to head out with your dog? Does mayhem ensue? And how does the walk go after that? So often, we are in such a...
The Treat Toss – A Treasure in Dog Training
Years ago, tossing a treat was a simple way to check if a dog could re-engage. Throwing a treat a short distance from you onto the ground allows you...
Give Your Dog a Dash Of Fun At Dinnertime
Is your dog missing out on some fun? Here's a super-easy way to give your dog a dash of fun at dinnertime and make their meal marvellous! Let your...
Why Bother With a Click When Training Your Dog?
Have you ever used a clicker? Or a verbal marker? These are both tools used in positive reinforcement training. They've gained popularity over the...
Why Too Much Exercise Is Bad For Your Dog
I often have people reach out to me because they don't know what to do with their dogs. Following 'a tired dog is a good dog' adage, they rely on...
Your Puppy’s First Steps – 5 Best Lessons to Teach
There are so many things to teach a young puppy. It can be hard to know where to start. Parents usually focus on obedience behaviours like SIT or...
Are Your Kid and Puppy Utter Mayhem or Marvelous Together?
The thought of kids and the family dog usually conjures up images of playing in the yard, going to soccer games and cuddling on the couch. Often,...
Building Great Puppy Habits From Scratch
To help emphasize the importance of the first weeks at home, I used to tell new parents that their little puppy was like a blank slate. Those first...
Is Your Dog a Yo-Yo on the Long Line?
Is Your Dog a Yo-Yo on the Long Line? Using a long line gives your dog a lot more room to move than a standard leash. Even so, it can sometimes feel...
Why Does my Puppy Pick Up Stuff on Walks?
Do walks with your young dog feel like a constant struggle to stop them from picking things up off the ground? Or perhaps you even have to...
Your Dog, DNA and Training
Training Your Dog. What's Breed Got to Do With It? Should we modify our dog training based on what our dog is bred to do? This question was posted...
6 Steps to Success With Pesky Squirrels & Other Distractions
Do you feel like your training is failing? The training at home is brilliant, but everything falls apart as soon as you step out the door. So many...
Good Night, Puppy
Let's get a few things straight before we get started. You may have heard that letting your pup sleep on your bed will turn them into the boss of...
Why Puppy Playpens Fail
Puppies require careful management to keep them safe and build good habits Do you dream of your dog being free in the house, able to quietly...
4 Ways You Can Help Your Dog Get Settled in Your New Home
A Word About Yards Although a yard is something many of us may never have the luxury of experiencing, as dog parents, we all crave being able to...
It’s Almost Moving Day! 4 Ways You Can Help Your Dog
In the first part of this series on moving, I discussed the importance of planning and doing some preparation before moving day, to make the...
Housetraining High School – Learning to Ask to Go Out
With a slightly older pup, you will have the advantage that their body is capable of holding a larger volume of piddle and they will be capable of...
Is Your Dog Ready for Your New Baby?
Congratulations! Ideally, you’ve just found out the happy news and want to start preparing your first kid (the one with four legs) for the new...
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