WILL MY DOG ALWAYS NEED THEIR TRAINING DEVICE?

This is a GREAT question. It’s a question I get at every evaluation.The answer is a combination of personal choice + the dog’s behavior. Let’s start with personal choice.(Please be aware, we are starting from the assumption that your dog is already using a training device, and using it correctly)

DO I NEED TO PUNISH MY DOG DURING TRAINING?

That’s the million dollar question isn’t it? If you’ve looked into dog training, and talked to different dog trainers, I’m betting you received different answers. So…what is the right answer?No. You do not need to punish your dog during training. Deciding what type of training you want for your dog is a personal decision, and […]

SHOULD I GIVE UP MY DOG?

This is a hard question to ask yourself. Depending on who you ask, you may feel shamed and judged just for asking this question. Please don’t. I am here with empathy and honest advice, as I have been in your shoes before. So…should you give up your dog? There are two main factors I will […]

2 WAYS TO HANDLE FIREWORKS WITH YOUR DOG

It’s that time of year again! Hot summer days, weekends up the canyon…and fireworks season. I LOVE fireworks! And luckily, here in Utah, there are plenty to go around. However, your dog is probably not as enthusiastic as you about fireworks. In fact, some dogs are downright terrified. By the time fireworks season comes around […]

IS YOUR DOG OBEDIENT INSIDE THE HOME, BUT NOT OUTSIDE?

You have a great dog. He listens to you. He comes when you call. And he stops bad behavior when you ask…inside the house. Outside…you have a regular Mr. Hyde. You can’t make it around the block without your furry friend barking at other dogs, completely ignoring you, and even running away if you let […]

YOU CAN’T TEACH AN OLD DOG NEW TRICKS…OR CAN YOU?

Myth: You can’t teach an old dog new tricks. True or false? If you answered false, you are correct. You can always teach an older dog new tricks…or train an older dog. Just because you no longer have a puppy does not mean that your friend is unable to learn new obedience commands. Training might look […]

HOW TO STOP YOUR DOG FROM BEING AGGRESSIVE

It can be a scary thing to watch your dog bite a person. Emotions run high and you can be overwhelmed with feelings of guilt and shame. So what can you do about it? Here are 2 things to get you started on the right track.  (Here’s a link to my self-help videos to help […]

WHY I USED TO FEEL GUILTY DURING SUMMER

The sun was finally shining…tan lines were starting to appear…I could hear kids playing in the park…and yet I would feel guilty. Kind of a strange reaction…right?  Why would I feel guilty? I felt guilty because I couldn’t take my dogs out to the park and enjoy the sunshine with them. If I tied them […]

WAYS TO KEEP YOUR DOG SAFE AT THE DOG PARK

Guess what just opened today? The new dog park in Orem! Here are 3 ways to keep your pup safe in all the chaos: 1. Check out the dogs before entering Sometimes the dog park might not be safe for your dog. Take the time to walk the fence (outside the park) to check out […]

2 TIPS TO BOOST YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR DOG

Have a great relationship with your dog but want to take it to the next level? Here are 2 ways to boost your relationship with your dog. #1 – Playtime with your dog! Get some structured playtime in. Instead of having your dog just run around the backyard, buy a tennis ball and play fetch…or […]