Teaching your dog impulse control is an important life skill that can help keep them safe and curb unwanted behaviors like darting out of doorways or jumping on people. Impulse control means teaching your dog to wait for permission before engaging in a specific activity. Many dog owners struggle with teaching their dogs to wait …
Dog Training
Working with a professional dog trainer after I adopted Sitka was one of the best decisions I made for the both of us. I felt resistant at first because I believed that needing to hire a professional meant that I had failed. However, I realized that I had plateaued with my knowledge and wasn’t reaching …
Like many, I learned about balanced dog training and the use of aversive tools like the prong collar and e-collar after exhausting the use of positive reinforcement only training with a challenging dog. Prior to using them, I misunderstood how the tools work, due to widespread misinformation about their usage. After talking with many friends, …
Many dog owners talk about crate training benefits, but if you’re new to dog ownership or you’ve always had a dog that does well free roaming in the home, then you may wonder what the point of crate training is and whether it’s really necessary. The benefits of crating a dog go beyond just keeping …
If you have a reactive or nervous dog, it can make life a bit more challenging. It can be especially stressful when it comes to introducing your nervous dog to other dogs and people. I have always had reactive dogs and have a very soft spot for them. They have taught me everything I know …
Hiking with a dog that has leash reactivity can be extremely frustrating. From owners who do not obey leash laws to those who allow their dogs off leash with no recall, finding safe spaces to enjoy the outdoors with your dog takes work, skill, and planning. Other dog owners may tell you that your dog …
Teaching a few basic dog training commands right off the bat goes a long way in terms of obedience, relationship building, and leadership. The biggest keys to success for teaching these essential commands is consistency, clear communication, and accountability. Working with your dog daily will result in better proficiency with obedience. For example, I set …
Many dog owners have the idea that meeting every dog you pass during a walk is an essential part of dog socialization. It is not. On-leash greetings are actually the opposite of what you want to do. Rather, they are a great way to cause fights, reinforce poor behavior, and damage the bond between you …
Over the years, I have learned much of what I know about dogs from my favorite social media platform, Instagram. When I was struggling with Laila’s training, I was introduced to the world of balanced training for dogs, and began to look for dog trainers to follow on Instagram in order to absorb all that …
You got a new dog! Woo hoo! How very exciting. Dog socialization is probably pretty high on your to do list for this new pup. In fact, it’s on my list of things to do after you get a new dog. Maybe you’re thinking that you need to take your dog to the dog park …