It’s That Time of Year, When the World Falls In Love…. Holiday & Seasonal Care for Pets

It may be the time of year when the world falls in love, but the holidays stretching from Halloween to New Year’s can be a particularly tough time on household pets, especially with parties, house guests, and distracted owners. This stress can manifest in a variety of unpleasant ways, from… Continue reading

This candy is not for eating! — Part 3

This entry is part 3 of 3 in the series This Candy Is Not For Eating

Now that Halloween has passed, kids (and adults) all over the country are digging through bags of loot. Some candy is definitely preferred over others. Now might be a good time for a good candy blog post. So, remember that fantastically foul candy which made a better punisher than reinforcer? … Continue reading

Laura’s Coming to Wisconsin! 2-Day Clicker Workshop

Laura on ground laughing as Laev rolls on back

We interrupt this blog for a word from our sponsors! I’ll be in Wisconsin in a couple of weeks for a Core Clicker Seminar, a two-day hands-on intensive workshop for beginning to intermediate trainers and handlers. This is, if I say so myself, a pretty good training seminar. 🙂 And… Continue reading

When You Should NOT Socialize Your Dog — Part 2

Social, Civil, and Savvy: Training & Socializing Puppies to Become the Best Possible Dogs
This entry is part 2 of 2 in the series When You Should NOT Socialize

People attending a community event did not sign up to help your rehabilitate a troubled dog; they came to enjoy a social outing. Putting a stressed dog in their midst does not help the dog nor enhance their enjoyment. Continue reading

Why We Teach House Manners — Or, Good Training Should Be Idiot-Proof

Valenzia and groceries

Like many dog owners, I’ve gotten spoiled by having a mature, well-trained dog in the house. Naturally, when we first bring home a new member of the family, we are obsessed with teaching all sorts of critical foundation skills (targeting, door and leash manners, handling exercises, and so on). But… Continue reading