You’ve probably seen the diagram of what people expect training to look like. Always onwards and upwards. But this is not how things actually go. The path will have ups and downs. This is perfectly normal as learning is not linear. Reaching a goal does not require one...
It’s easy to get caught up in training and focus on the outcome. Having a good plan and being clear on your goals is great. Both are part of good training. But it’s helpful to take a step back and consider what you are doing from your dog’s...
Is it time to clean up your act? Using food is often given a bad rap in training. In both dog training and the horse world, it is blamed for a number of problem behaviours. “Using food is bribery” “My dog gets too excited” ”...
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...
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 likely are familiar with mat training. It is a foundation behaviour in all my training for good reason. The...
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 have a new puppy or young dog, it may feel like you have to wait to get started with them – you just...