Dogs And Calmness
I do not preach that one of your main training goals is to make dogs calm. I think it is counterproductive to keep trying to make dogs calm and often backfires. It is, for lack of a better description, unnatural to keep trying to suppress excitement in a dog. All the “calmness” strategies I see […]
Dog Training Small Details Produce Big Results
Back when I lived in Seattle, I was a member of a local Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu school. I highly recommend everyone try doing some form of martial arts. I benefitted greatly from the experience. There were many lessons along the way, both intentional and some that I learned through osmosis. For example, after one particularly frustrating […]
I’d Like A Dog With Power Steering, Please
How much training does your dog need? Well, that’s really up to you. Some just want a dog that they can live with, will Sit, and can go for a walk. Others take their dogs lots of places, or live a busy lifestyle that might include multiple people, places and animals. Then there are those […]
I Got The Wrong Dog
That morning, I’d arrived at the breeder’s facility to choose and purchase my first puppy. After spending time with the entire litter, there was one puppy that had chosen me. Of all the dogs, she was the one. When I exited the pen, I told the breeder which puppy it was. He confirmed which one […]
Good Dog Handling Is A Craft
What does it mean to be a good dog handler/ owner? You are someone who is skilled at managing your dog in any environment that you might reasonably find yourself. You have developed a useful craft, you are skilled at managing your own dog. Before I start training a dog, I always ask about the […]
The Musical Dog
Today was Day One of practicing my clarinet. I played for many years, many years ago… then I took over 25 years off, and now I’m starting all over again. Twenty five years of past experience is still in me. I know the best foundation for playing an instrument is to master playing perfect musical […]
Bullying And Dog Training
If you train dogs long enough, you will encounter bullies who will interfere in the training. I vividly remember several of these instances. I remember a fearful Boxer that was owned by a couple in Issaquah, WA many years ago. The husband was a jerk through the entire lesson and the wife acted very intimidated […]
Dog Training Perfection
If I am your dog trainer, do I expect you and your dog to do things perfectly? As I say over and over again, “advanced obedience is mastering the basics.” Here’s what I mean. I have a spreadsheet of almost all of the dog obedience exercises I teach, from beginning to advanced. That list has […]
Angry Dog Training?
Let’s be honest. If you can’t train a dog very well, and that includes how you manage yourself, your dog’s training won’t get any better by getting angry. No one wants to be around someone with a temper problem. No dog wants to be around someone with an anger problem, either. I learned long ago […]
Dog Training During The New Normal 2020 COVID-19
You are like a lot of dog owners. You’ve been cooped up at home with your family and your dog for a couple of months, waiting out the coronavirus lockdown. Some of you still have a job and worked through it all. Some had to wait it out, but are just now going back to […]