The Difference Between a Dog Command and a Cue
You may have heard different trainers refer to requests for specific behaviors as either “cues” or “commands”. What’s the difference anyway and does it really matter? Oftentimes, positive reinforcement trainers will use the word “cue,”...
The Secret to a Dog That Obeys Every Command Perfectly
We’ve all seen videos of dogs that can perform behavior after behavior perfectly. These seconds-long videos leave viewers wowed and inspired that their dog should behave just as perfectly. When I first developed an interest...
5 Easy Tips to Having a Well-Mannered Puppy
There is nothing more exciting than bringing home a new puppy. The warm snuggles, puppy breath, excitable kisses, and silly puppy antics bring joy to any home. However, after the puppy settles in, it becomes...
Taking Time To Paws And Be Thankful For The Flaws
Very few of us started out with the perfect dog. Many dog owners experience disappointment when their new dog doesn’t meet their expectations. When imagining what sharing our home with a dog would be like,...
Howl-o-Ween Safety Tips
For most people, Halloween is a fun time filled with parties, elaborate costumes, and delicious treats. Our pets are such an important part of our lives, it is only natural that we find ways to...
Grooming, Vet Visits, & Restraint – No Walk in the Park – Part 2
Last week, we discussed the stress that canines can experience when they are groomed or visit a veterinarian’s office. Restraint, handling, grooming, and veterinary care are all a part of keeping an animal healthy, but...
Grooming, Vet Visits, & Restraint – No Walk in the Park – Part 1
It's not uncommon to sit in a veterinarian's office and see dog after dog walk happily up to the door then stop to a screeching halt as the pet parent attempts to gracefully scoot their...
Adding a Dash of Positivity
I grew up with dogs being a huge part of my life. As I was growing up, training methods were shifting from punishment based to more reward based - but just as today, the shift...
Tips for Reducing Stress in Sound Sensitive Dogs
Happy 4th of July! While most Americans are planning a fun filled and relaxing weekend, those of us with fearful dogs are dreading this noisy holiday. Here are some tips to reduce your dog's stress...
How Positive Reinforcement Actually Helps Your Dog’s Overall Health
Aside from stating the obvious—that punitive training methods can cause physical harm to dogs—let's look at some of the ways that positive reinforcement actually helps a dog's health. Reduces Stress As we often read about...
Resolution To Keep Resolutions
It's that time of year again, where we look at our year in review and come up with our new year's resolutions. Many of us decide to make new year resolutions for our pets as...
Dogs and Furniture – Should I Let Rover on the Recliner?
It's no secret that many pet parents let their dogs share their bed with them or let them make the couch their favorite nap spot, but is this practice a good idea? I'll give you...
