As a dog trainer, the biggest mistake I see my clients make is that they are not anticipating the misbehavior and only reacting after their dog has reacted negatively to something or someone.  Reading your Dog  After a few months you should be able to ‘read’ your dog and anticipate what his next move is.  Whether it be to jump or bark or react aggressively to another dog while on the leash; you should see it coming before the act is accomplished.  The best way to stop unruly or aggressive behavior is to correct the dog before he becomes unruly; or when the idea pops into his head.  Body Language …

I am often told of young puppies being bitten by older dogs.  Some puppies then develop a fear of other dogs and some puppies can actually turn into adolescents or adults that are dog aggressive.  How can my dog not like other dogs?  When your puppy is with his litter and mother, he is learning dog on dog interaction.  But that interaction must continue once you adopt or buy him.  If you seclude your dog from other dogs, that builds frustration and the dog eventually learns to dislike other dogs.  Some dogs don’t like other dogs because at a young age they were dominated or bitten by another; that created a…

You are what you Eat  Feeding your dog is similar to feeding your child. The food must be good and unprocessed food.  Dogs that are having house breaking issues, aggression, hyper activity and other behavioral issues benefit from a well balanced diet that agrees with his stomach.  Does your food agree with your dog?  Your dog should eliminate as many times as you are feeding him.  For instance, if you are feeding two times per day, your dog should eliminate two times per day.  Of course, if he is snacking in between, an additional bowel movement is not out of the ordinary.  If your dog is eliminating multiple times per…

The only problem with small breeds is their owners! Too many small dogs have behavioral problems because their owners treat them like small, cute stuffed animals instead of dogs.  Many times they think it is funny when their 2 lb Chihuahua acts aggressively toward a stranger.  All of my dogs are treated the same, from the German Shepherds to my mini dachshund. Whether your dog is 2 lbs. or 90 lbs. it is still important that your dog realizes that you are Alpha, there are rules that must be followed and you, as Alpha, will correct the pack family for any misbehavior.  When you do need to correct your small breed dog, it is still important to remember that any correction you…

Owning a true working dog is a great experience, if you are working him.  Many people buy working dogs and then life throws them a twist and the working dog now becomes a pet.  Unfortunately, this cannot only be disastrous for the dog but the owners as well.  Most working dogs are dominant by nature and only respect one true Alpha human.  That’s what makes them great working dogs.  They are active, and strong, physically and mentally which makes them great working dogs but not so great family pets. When the Alpha human is not around, the dog takes on the role of Alpha to all in the home; including…

You have been training religiously at home and your dog is a ‘pro’ at his basic obedience commands…now comes the test, FIELD TRIP!  It is important that your dog will behave under all conditions, in all settings and under stress but make sure you have matched the dog’s training level with the stress/distraction level.  With that said, it’s important that your dog knows what you want from him before you add distractions. I always suggest beginning with minor distractions and then work your way up.  If your dog is distracted by other dogs, don’t go to a dog park and expect him to be obedient, but you can train in front of…

I received two phone calls in two days about adult dogs suddenly becoming aggressive.  Unless your dog has a brain tumor, the aggression wasn’t sudden but subtle and built up over a period of time until it became something you couldn’t ignore.    Temperament or Environment  Some dogs are born to be Alpha, they are arrogant and demanding.  Some dogs are born to be followers and will never push your buttons.  First thing to realize is you can’t train/change temperament; that will never change but when you are raising your puppy you can teach him or her what is and is not acceptable behavior.  If you do not like something your…