Dog Exercise Guidelines for Every Breed
(Age-Appropriate Guidelines, Breed Considerations, and Risk Mitigation for Lifelong Health) Important DisclaimerI am not a veterinarian. The information in this article is compiled from publicly available scholarly research and general veterinary consensus for educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional veterinary medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Every dog is an individual, and […]
Teaching Dog Manners: A Comprehensive Guide
As a dedicated dog owner, you’ve likely experienced those moments when your furry friend’s enthusiasm crosses into chaos—perhaps an enthusiastic jump on guests or an endless barking session at the doorbell. These behaviors, while natural, can strain your relationship and make daily life challenging. But here’s the good news: teaching dog manners isn’t about suppression; […]
New Ways To Modify Dog Behavior Problems Using Enrichment
Many people ask: “how can I use dog enrichment for behavior problems?” As a professional dog trainer and behaviorist with nearly three decades of experience, I’ve seen it all—from destructive chewing and endless barking to aggression and separation anxiety. Traditional training often falls short because it focuses on commands and corrections without supporting your dog’s […]
AI Dog Training: A Cautionary Tale: (The Ultimate Guide to Using ChatGPT & AI for Dog Training and Health Advice)
My Disturbing Encounter Using AI Maybe you are about to enter something like this into your AI application: “How to Use AI (ChatGPT & More) to Train, Diagnose, and Manage Your Dog Like a Pro”. Well, maybe not that sensational, but you get the drift. But before you do that, keep reading… A True Story […]
When Is a Dog Truly Dangerous?
A Professional Trainer’s Perspective on Serious Aggression (Sam The Dog Trainer’s Perspective on Serious Canine Aggression and Abnormal Aggression) My Background Dealing With Dangerous Dog Cases After over 25 years working with dogs — from puppies to dogs with serious bite histories — I’ve learned that the question owners fear most isn’t “Will my dog […]
Resource Guarding in Dogs: Normal vs Fear-Based (Why It Matters)
There are two completely different phenomena that all get called “resource guarding in dogs.” The first is a behavioral disturbance that needs to be fixed. The second is addressed with proper training and management. Real-life examples I have worked with Case Type 1: A friendly young Labrador suddenly becomes frightened of the owner’s adult son […]
Hidden Pain, Hidden Trauma, and Hidden Dangers: The Real Drivers of Canine Aggression – Why “Sudden” Bites Are Almost Never Sudden
Why Rescue Dogs Bite Suddenly – Hidden Pain & Trauma Explained LEGAL DISCLAIMER – READ THIS FIRSTThis article is for general educational purposes only. It is not veterinary advice, not behavioral treatment advice, and not a substitute for professional medical or behavioral evaluation. Sam Basso is a professional dog trainer, not a veterinarian and not a board-certified veterinary behaviorist (DACVB). Aggressive […]
Dog Training: 100% Housetrained Video
Hi, I’m Sam the Dog Trainer. I’ve been training dogs for nearly 30 years, and I’m here to help you with your dog. It is so frustrating because your dog keeps peeing and pooping in your home… your poor dog still doesn’t understand that pottying in the home is unacceptable. Yes, I know you’ve tried […]
Dogs And Planting The Seeds Of Destruction
I was watching another one of those dog training videos that pop up in my social media feed. In this case, it was of a well-known dog trainer being rough with a puppy. This guy is known for using a lot of force on dogs. It is easy to use a lot of force when […]
Training French Bulldogs
I have trained a lot of French Bulldogs. I think the first one I trained would have been about 25 years ago. I was hired to give them a housetraining lesson. About 10 to 15 minutes in, I stopped the lesson. Something was wrong. The dog kept pacing and panting looking very upset. I started […]