Dogs Learn in Pictures
One of my mantras in dog training is “dogs learn in pictures.” Dogs take a snapshot of what their environment looks like when they get rewarded for doing something. (The “reward” is anything the...
Your Guide to Collar Safety
As you can imagine, safety is my primary concern when I have a dog in my care. And what’s the number one piece of safety equipment? Your dog’s collar. I’m talking about what...
6 Tips for the Greatest Dog Photos
Primarily, my profession involves training dogs and their humans. But secondarily, I take a TON of dog photos. Over the years, I have several tricks that I have employed to get a just right photo...
2 Rules for Using Treats with Come
There is a reoccurring theme that I hear every time I teach come: “I need my dog to come every time I tell them to, BUT I don’t want to use treats.” Honestly, a reliable come is your number one...
Teaching “Drop It”
“Drop it” is one of the most useful commands your dog can know. Not only because it’s hard to play fetch with a dog who never drops the ball, but also because you need a word that means “Yuck!...
The Power of Play
Training your dog isn’t something that happens during a group class or during a walk. You are training your dog ALL THE TIME (whether you know it or not). Every interaction. Every glance. Every...
Day Training = Faster Results
Here at Flying Colors, our flagship program consists of nine days of Day Training. We call it the Rock Star program. It’s the fastest way to see the best results with the least stress to the dog...
Field Trips for Success
If you want your dog to behave at the vet, the lake, and the park (and most of our clients DO want that!) it’s important to practice in a million different locations. Maybe not a million. Maybe...
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...