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 of action and clarity on what to focus on is ideal. This proactive approach also prevents common pitfalls that arise in...
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 hi to every dog. I’m sorry that she can’t hold on to you and has to just let...
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 when the dog had a prized object or just picked something up that was unsafe and needed taking away. The people...
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 different behaviour depending on whether he goes out with the other dogs or he goes on his own. It is common for people to...
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 habits, including housetraining and reduce your chasing around putting out ‘puppy fires’. Eventually,...
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 LEAVE IT because they are handy skills. IF you have loads of time, you can get going on a bunch of different behaviours,...