Blog — dogtraining

People are great!   This is just one of the exercises you can do to help your dog make positive associations with people. Over the years as a dog trainer I have seen a lot of success with this simple exercise. This is of course just one piece of the puzzle but a good one to start working on if your dog isn't sure about new people or is a bit scared. The goal of this exercise is for your dog to make positive associations with people, whether it's seeing people, people approaching, people coming into your home etc. We are...

Why teach recall?  The recall command will be one of the most important things you can teach your dog. It can literally be a life saving command if your dog ever gets out. You want to be able to call them, have them come and also check in by sitting at your feet. Many commands take a couple of weeks for dogs to learn like the sit or down commands so you might expect the same with recall but this one can take a few months of work to perfect.  Work on recall every single day just like you would...

What should walks look like with your dog? Your dog should be able to get some much needed exercise while also being able to explore and sniff around. Dogs' noses are amazing and some sniffing around here and there not only helps your dog gather a ton of information about their environment but it is also good for their mental health. It shouldn't be a free for all especially if you can't get your dog's focus outside. Walks are a great opportunity to do something fun with your dog and bond with them. You want your dog to be able to explore...

Working for resources One way to provide some mental stimulation and enrich your dog’s daily life is to have them work for their resources. Not only is it great for their brain but it also gives them a job which is important. Another benefit is that it establishes good leadership on your part and you will start noticing that your dog is overall listening better. What are resources? Usually when we think of resources we think of food and treats, right? It goes beyond that, anything you provide to your dog that they enjoy is considered a resource. Sure food...