
photo courtesy Flickr.com/kristenadams
Before we get started, there are a couple of things we need to get out of the way first:
One – Yes, you CAN housetrain your dog. It takes some commitment, but so does anything that’s worth doing, right? Take a deep breath. I believe in you.
Two – Accept that there WILL be accidents in the house. It’s not the end of the world, it doesn’t mean that you have a bad dog and it doesn’t mean that you are a bad owner.
Okay, so the anti-secret housetraining formula? …read more

photo courtesy Flickr.com/oakleyoriginals
1. A kiddie pool filled with sand and hidden dog toys and treats.
2. Paper towel/toilet paper tubes with peanut butter smeared inside.
3. Cottage cheese containers or empty yogurt cups with about an inch of chicken broth frozen at the bottom. …read more

Photo courtesy cptspock
The result?
A bunch of chewed up valuables, torn up couch cushions, dog poop in the garden, and a yard that was beginning to look like the surface of the moon. Not to mention the nasty habit he developed of lunging at visitors.
This is all kind of embarrassing to admit, because as a trainer, I was supposed to know better. Eventually I shaped up and started working with him appropriately, but the damage was done. …read more

Photo courtesy Flickr.com/meaganjean
Each of these solutions are based on the following basic process. Most behavior problems can be solved by following these three steps.
1. Dog misbehaves, so you take the Good Things away immediately the “Good Things” will vary depending on the situation. It might be attention from you, toys, or playtime.
2. Redirect the behavior by telling/showing the dog what to do instead, OR waiting until she does something good on her own.
3. The dog does what you ask, so you immediately give her the Good Things that she was after in the first place. …read more

Photo courtesy Flickr.com/marilynjane

photo courtesy Flickr.com/corndog_au
If you’ve adopted an adolescent dog, congratulations! The world needs more people like you.
Or, if you started out with a puppy and are ready to brave the teen months, congratulations! The world needs more people like you. …read more

photo courtesy of Flickr.com/itsholly
I’m also willing to bet that time is not REALLY the reason that you can’t seem to get much training done. Because whether you’re training Sparky to be the next Skyhoundz world champion or teaching him that your arm is not, in fact, a chew toy, significant progress can be accomplished with just a couple sessions of FIFTEEN MINUTES per day (okay. Maybe a little more for Skyhoundz). Surely, even the busiest of us can do that.
Speaking from experience, I know that the real issue is almost always a simple lack of motivation. You know what you’d like your dog to do (or not do), but actually getting out and making that happen can be a challenge.
“Motivational hacks” for …read more

photo courtesy of Flickr.com/helloturkeytoe
Picture this: You’re hanging out on the couch, watching TV or reading a book.
Fluffy is lying quietlyThen, the doorbell rings.
Your perfect angel is instantly transformed into a deafening whirlwind of “WOOWOOWOO!’s” and bushy hackles as she flies to the door to protect against the enemy at the gate. You follow, and open the door. It’s just the Fedex guy. You yell at Fluffy to shut up, but she refuses. You try to sign for the package and accept it from the delivery guy while also keeping Fluffy from launching at his throat.
I know, I know. Wow! you’re thinking. Just how can I teach my dog to do that?! It’s always useful to have a dog that barks and growls at visitors. It’s an added bonus if she doesn’t stop barking when you tell her to. After all, your judgement may not always be so great and that visitor who you thought was your grandmother might actually turn out to be a dangerous home invader intent on stuffing you into a closet and stealing your valuables. In which case, Fluffy’s insistence on yapping your guest to death would be a good thing.
Good news: this week’s lesson is even simpler than last week’s. It takes only two steps, but they are very powerful ones. …read more

photo courtesy of Flickr.com/alpharios101
Today’s how-to is all about how you can get your dog to bark incessantly, all day long!
Because who wants a dog who does something silly like wait quietly for you to come home?
With a dog who never shuts up, you’ll…
And the best part is, it’s really easy to teach your dog to bark all day. Dogs seem to catch on to this really quickly. Follow these simple steps and your dog will be yammering away in no time. …read more

photo courtesy of Flickr.com/dwimalu
The other dog (let’s call her Sierra) did not appreciate my obnoxious pup’s invitation and gave a sharp growl. No big deal, just her way of saying “get out of my face, punk. I have …read more