From the category archives:

Dog Training Classes

“What’s My Dog Saying?” Dog Body Language Seminar – March 9

February 21, 2013
What's My Dog Saying Seminar

Learn the “hidden” language of dogs –
It’s so much more than ears and tails!
Live a happier and safer life with dogs by understanding
what they are trying to tell you. They are speaking –
and with this seminar, you’ll finally be able to understand.

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dHarmony Workshop! Better Matchmaking for Successful Canine Adoptions

October 9, 2012
dHarmony dog adoption workshop

HAVE YOU EVER BEEN UNLUCKY IN LOVE? — Puppy Love, that is? Come to my exciting new workshop: “dHarmony: Better Matchmaking for Successful Canine Adoptions” Sunday, Oct 21 at Dairydell in Petaluma. Noon – 4:00pm Many dogs are needlessly surrendered and families torn apart by the stress of an ill-matched canine member. I can fix [...]

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The P-Word: Why “Punishment” Makes Me Cringe

March 11, 2012

As a dog trainer, nothing makes me cringe like the use of the P-Word: “Punishment.”  I have a visceral reaction to it, like I have to several of the other culturally and emotionally charged words in our English language.  Here’s why I react to the P-Word: From the get-go, dogs don’t know right from wrong [...]

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HEADWATERS OF THE DOG TRAINING DEBATE: The Myth of Aggression-Based Dominance

August 15, 2010

 Unless you’ve been under a rock for the last 20 years, you know that the dog training world is deeply divided on training philosophy and methodology.  I’ve been thinking a lot about this schism over the past couple of weeks, and I HAVE FOUND THE HEADWATERS! If I’m not mistaken, the entire rift can be traced [...]

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Many Are Chosen. FEW COME WHEN THEY ARE CALLED. Canines 3:17

August 8, 2010

You can’t argue with the Word of Dog. But I’ll give you some tips to help get your dog’s recall on the fast track to salvation. THE PROBLEM: If there is one command that gives owners grief, it is the “Come” command.  They scream, they threaten, they beg, they chase, they bribe and cajole – [...]

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DOGS 101: A Primer

August 3, 2010

1. First and foremost, dogs are animals that just happen to live with humans. We domesticated the dog, not because we wanted a companion, but because we needed their skills of hunting, killing and defense to help us humans survive and prosper. 2. Selective breeding has changed the “wrapping”, but not the contents. Domesticated dogs [...]

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SUPER MOMS: the Job, the Kids, the Dog… Oh My!

July 4, 2010

You’re home from work, trying to get some kind of dinner on the table, the kids are running wildly around the house and suddenly you hear “Mom! The dog is jumping on me! He has by Barbie and he won’t give her back”. Before you can wash the meatloaf off your hands to get in [...]

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RULES TO THE RESCUE: They Help a Rescue Dog Feel Secure

May 16, 2010

I was reminded yesterday as I consulted with a rescue dog owner, how little guidance there is out there for dog owners that adopt a rescue dog.  When they bring their new dog home, they do what they think is right to help them aclimate to their new forever home, but often do exactly the [...]

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The Secret to a Well-Behaved Dog: Lock the Liquor Cabinet!

May 9, 2010

Think of all the “naughty” things your puppy or dog has done over the years.  Were you watching when he did it?  Probably not.  Did you blame the puppy?  Probably.  Hmmm. I’d like to come to your dog’s defense, with different perspective.

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Leading Cause of Dog Bites – Owner Denial!

April 25, 2010

As we move into summer and the month of June, “National Dog Bite Month”, approaches, I think back years ago to when I was hired as a freelance writer to pen an article on Dog Bite Prevention for the National Safety Council. In the process I interviewed several top dog training and behavioral experts of [...]

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