We write about the dog training topics our clients are always asking us about.
Ranger is a 4 year old Mastiff mix. He was rescued from the Guilford County Animal shelter in February of 2024. His owners reached out because he was showing signs of fear aggression to strangers walking past his home and was leash reactive on walks. It was getting to the point where Ranger would bark, growl and lunge and it was getting worse.
Read MoreBack in April 2024, I hosted a seminar with the SPCA of the Triad on introducing a new dog to your current pack. I figured I would share the information from the seminar here for those that weren’t able to attend.
Read MoreThe colllllllder months are coming but, just because it’s chilly outside, doesn’t mean the fun has to end! Walks are a great way to get dogs sniffing but, here are some ways to work their brains inside!
Read More“Fido, why are you so anxious? There’s nothing to be afraid of. You’re safe.”
This is something that I hear on a weekly, if not daily basis. It’s disheartening to see dogs pacing, panting, circling, and unable to get comfortable. My clients tell me “If I could only understand what’s making her so nervous, I’d help.” Understanding your dog’s emotions is not as easy as we humans would like it to be.
Read MoreAhh, you’re finally on vacation! :) Time to stretch out and live the good life. When you finally get the chance to relax, the last thing you want is to worry about your dog making a scene. Leash reactivity is stressful, especially when you’re in a new place. Luckily, there are tools that can help, starting with good management. I’ve outlined a few things to keep in mind below.
Read MoreBailey is a 9-month-old, male Aussie Doodle. I worked with him and his Dad on a few issues that came up since his rescue. As most owners with herding breeds have experienced, Bailey had a tendency to mouth when over-excited, to grab their attention, or to try and keep them playing. It was cute at first but, then lead to some pretty painful interactions.
Read MoreLet me tell you about Bondi and Teddy. What a pair, these two. When I first met Bondi, he was terr-i-fied and I mean terrrr-iii-fiiied of me. Poor thing would hide behind his owner and want nothing to do with me. I knew this going in and made sure to set him up in a way where he felt comfortable.
Read MoreMotley is a 6-month-old Blue Heeler mix who is always up for an adventure. She is full of energy and loves people so much. Her owners hired me to help her and her brother learn how to share and play nicely together.
Read MorePenny is a 7-month-old Beagle that is active and spunky, to say the least. We are currently working on resource guarding and leash reactivity issues, both of which are going very well.
Read MoreRyder, a 4-month-old Berniedoodle is my spotlight of the month. He was a day training client with the brain of a genius. He is one of those dogs that can learn anything in a matter of moments and it didn’t take long to realize.
Read MoreLeela is a wonderful dog. She is the epitome of sweet and I don’t think there’s another dog like her. I recently finished a package with her family and out of the hundreds of dogs that I’ve trained, she is on the list of most memorable.
Read MoreIf you know Teddy, you know Teddy. He is the friendliest puppy that I think I've ever met. His love of life is fantastic and he will never make you feel unwelcome. His owner signed up to help her understand how to train him to be polite and welcome into her friend's and family's homes.
Read MoreFostering has always been a joy for me to do. Ever since I’ve owned a home, I knew that I wanted to foster young pups. These two, Sam and Daisy are the sweetest puppies I have taken on. They are wonderful to be around, love to explore, and are happy to just lay in your arms and take a quick power nap. It’s nice to have puppies that are so self-sufficient, definitely not something I’m used to.
Read MoreBarley is fantastic. I met her in September of 2021 and we’ve been working on general obedience training. When I arrived to the first session, I found a sweet little puppy ready and willing to learn. She picked up everything very quickly and I was impressed with how much progress we made in one hour. Ever since that day, she has continued to blow me away.
Read MorePoppy is nothing short of adorable. Her owner was concerned about her progress with potty training as well as growing the bond that they shared.
Right from the getgo, I noticed Poppy wasn’t receiving the feedback that she needed from her owner in order to be successful. We introduced a clicker that was used to mark specific behaviors that were desirable.
Read MoreSince it’s the holidays, I decided to spotlight my own pup, Molly. I got her and her brother in 2015 before I was a trainer. Back then, I was a designer and very unhappy in the field. I decided to get a puppy to try and boost my spirits. I adopted them not knowing that my life would completely change. I am so grateful that I did because if I hadn’t, I never would have become a trainer.
Read MoreWhen I first met Sadie, back in March of 2019, I never knew how much I loved Chihuahuas. She and her sister, Emma, hold a very special place in my heart. When I first met Sadie, she was very fearful of strangers and didn’t know what to do when they came into the room. She would flee out of fear but then come back with vengeance. Her little bark was so cute but, I knew she was very afraid.
Read MoreEvery now and then, recently more so than before, clients tell me that someone they know either personally or from a third party was fearful with the breed they chose for their family. Statements like “Oh, _______ is an ‘aggressive’ breed. They would eat my ________ in a second.” Or “Oh, you should be careful with those _________ dogs. They are extremely unpredictable”. Breed biases are an ongoing problem and it’s important to not give blanket statements about any dog and instead learn more about their development.
Read MoreWhen I met Barkley, I fell head over heels. He is the sweetest thing on this side of the planet and I just knew we were going to have fun working together. His owners love him to the moon and back and at the time, they really couldn’t complain. He wasn’t a chewer, he came when he was called and was completely housetrained. Everything about him was perfect, except his walks. After each one, they were left feeling frustrated and clueless on how to help relieve his fears of other dogs. Leash reactivity is hard to witness and I empathized with his owners. It wasn’t their fault and my goal was to prove it.
Read MoreRagnar, the dog that taught me to love shepherds even more. When I met him at four months old, he was full of life and love and showed endless joy when he was outside. He was nothing but sweet and loved being around people. Every time I saw him, he’d light up and come into position. It was so much fun to see!
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