Nylabone Magic
Part of my job as a dog trainer is to teach dogs what NOT to chew on. Dogs need to learn to ignore the kids’ toys, the coffee table, and the kleenex box. But, dogs are dogs; they need to chew on...
Reflections on my “Challenging” Dog
It’s a new year. This is always a time for reflection and resolutions. Today I feel compelled to reflect on my partnership with a certain little dog. Her name is Wakey. Wakey’s mom (a...
Dog Myth Debunked – Abuse
My first dog was a lab mix named Bear. She was a painfully adorable puppy. I remember taking her to PetSmart once and a stranger asked to pet her. As the stranger lifted his hand up to pet her on...
Let’s Talk TREATS!
I often remind my clients to bring dog treats to class, but sometimes I forget to tell them which treats to bring. I know there are thousands of treats to choose from! Your choice of treats will...
My Dog Behaves Better “At School”
“My dog is doing great here, but she doesn’t act this way at home.” “I wish my dog listened this well at home!” “Well, OF COURSE she’s doing it. She’s at school!” I hear varieties of this trend on...
“Big Success” Moments and Why They Matter
A few weeks ago I had a HUGE success moment with one of my dogs, Wakey. I was at the park with my four-year-old daughter, and (of course) she wanted to walk the dog. With some trepidation, I...
That Dog Needs a JOB
There’s a common idea that has made its way into the opinion of the dog-loving public: certain dogs, especially “working breeds,” need a job. Border Collie getting into the trash? He needs a job...
Pedey’s Testimonial
This month’s testimonial comes from Jessica and Pedey. Pedey was wonderful with other dogs, but he was fearful of new people. He regularly lunged, growled, and snapped at strangers. With careful...
Eva’s Testimonial
When we first met Eva, she was a very energetic 8 month old German Shepherd… and her owner was quite frustrated with her unruly behavior. In fact, Megan described Eva as a “little...
Dog Training is Ongoing… And it’s OK
As a professional dog trainer, I often hear, “How long until my dog will be trained?” or, “How long did it take to train YOUR dog?” The reality is that dog training doesn’t fit into a tidy...
Testimonial: Pinckney Family
There are special challenges that come with acquiring littermates, especially when they’re puppies. When I first met Bailey and Riley, they were energetic Boxers who lacked manners and...
Fort Wayne’s Dog Friendly Stores
One of the rewards of having a well behaved dog is getting to take him into public and show off his awesome manners. Also, the more places my dog can accompany me, the less time he has to spend...