A few years ago, my German Shepherd Dog Anya was selected for a part in a movie that was filming in New York City. Anya had to play the role of a stray dog “meandering” on the streets of Manhattan. “Meandering” was a big stretch for a bitch that does everything fast, but as always she lived up to my expectations and then some.   Although being part of a movie sounds glamorous and exciting, it involves a lot of sitting around waiting before there is any action.  We waited about five hours for the crew to get to our scene and prepare it.   Fortunately, it was a great June evening and the city was alive.  I had the opportunity…

By the time winter finally ends, most of us are just about going crazy from being cooped up indoors.   If you think you had “cabin fever,” imagine how your dog must feel!  So as you get ready to head outside to enjoy the warmer weather, choose some activities that you can enjoy with your dog. Bring on the sun, the swimming, and the hiking.  Just remember to consider your dog’s abilities, behavior, and needs. When you plan appropriately, you and your dog can share warm weather fun that is safe and enjoyable for both of you.   Safety First  No matter where you take your dog or what activity you choose, there are some basic safety considerations you must keep…

Often, my job consists of breaking a dog’s bad habits or changing bad behavior.  A family may have been trying for weeks or even months to correct an undesirable behavior, and they cannot understand why the dog is not responding to their training. When I am called in, I usually find that the dog IS responding to the training. The family has been training the dog to repeat the bad behavior by rewarding it in ways they don’t even realize!   Unknowingly Reinforcing Misbehavior  When your dog is doing something wrong, your first instinct is to get him to stop—in the fastest way possible. When you use these “panic tactics,” you are unwittingly rewarding the behavior and practically ensuring that it will be repeated in the future. Your actions indicate to the dog that the behavior must be good…

Preparing for a new puppy or dog in your home involves much more than buying a leash, bowls, and food. You must also prepare to adjust your schedule, your attitude, and the physical environment of your house.   Prepare your home to be a safe, healthy environment for a dog.  Prepare yourself to be your dog’s leader.  Prepare your schedule by making time for exercise and play.  Your dog will be a part of your life for many years to come. Get off to a good start by welcoming your new puppy or dog in the right way.   The Easy Part  The easiest part of preparing to welcome your new dog is getting…

(and Keeping Your First Dog Happy)  So you decided to add another dog to your home as a companion to your first well trained dog.  This might go well from day one. However, there is the possibility that your first dog will look at you as if you have lost your mind.  He may react poorly to what he sees as your temporary insanity. Fortunately, there are ways to minimize the chances that your first dog will become jealous, anxious, or just mad about the new addition.  Pack Walks  The best way to integrate a new dog is a “pack walk.” Walk with one dog on each side in proper heel position for a long, energy-burning walk. Walking together in this way communicates to the dogs that your little group functions as a unit with you…

Adding a new dog to your home could be a benefit to both you and your current dog. However, successfully adding a new dog depends on several critical criteria. Before you commit to adding a new dog to your household, consider your current dog’s manners and temperament; the new dog’s temperament and training needs; the time, cost, and energy commitment of adding a second dog.  New Dogs Don’t Solve Old Problems  Many people think about getting a new dog to solve problems with their current dog. This is never a good idea! You might think a new dog will provide more exercise for your current dog, entertain your current dog when you leave him home alone, be a playmate when you…

Avoiding Common Mistakes  Often, I am asked how to get an overexcited, out of control dog to listen. The fact is, your dog is always “listening.” However, humans and dogs communicate differently. So, the messages you think you are giving your dog may be getting lost in translation.  In the chaos of the moment, people will try anything to calm their dogs down. Unfortunately, most of these attempts lead to mistakes that only make the problem worse.  Mistake #1:  Repeating Commands Multiple Times    If your dog has not responded to your initial command, I guarantee you that he is not going to respond to the next five commands.  You may think you are showing firmness in repeating the commands; however, your dog has “tuned you out” and he will…

 Helping Your Dog Make the Transition from Summer to Fall  Summer has ended and the kids are back in school. For parents, this time of year often means that some peace and quiet return to their days as the kids return to school. For many family dogs, however, it means a complete upheaval of their lives! Rover spent the whole summer chasing the kids around and having constant companions during the day. Suddenly, his playmates have disappeared for large portions of the day. Even families without children tend to have a more relaxed “dog-friendly” schedule during the long days of summer. But in September, the “dog days” of summer have ended in…

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…