Recently, I worked with a client who has a young puppy and, like many well-meaning owners, they were determined to do everything right. They had heard how important puppy socialization is, so they went all in. Their puppy was going everywhere. Meeting everyone....
One of the most common sources of frustration in dog training is not actually the dog’s behavior. It is the expectation behind it. A puppy mouths your hands and someone says, “He knows better.” An adolescent dog pulls on leash or ignores a cue outside, and suddenly...
Confidence is not something a dog is simply born with; it is something that develops over time through experiences. One of the most powerful ways to nurture confidence in dogs is by gently introducing them to novel environments, meaning places, sights, sounds, and...
Learning how to socialize a puppy without overwhelming them is one of the most important things you can do to raise a confident, stable adult dog. Done thoughtfully, socialization builds resilience. Done carelessly, it can create fear that lasts a lifetime. Bringing...
So, you brought home a puppy. Congratulations! You’re likely currently dealing with a mix of “new puppy smell” and “why is my rug wet?” But now you struggle with what to teach your puppy. As a trainer with a background in animal behavior, I’ve...
Bringing home a new puppy is one of life’s greatest joys, but what happens when you bring home two at the same time? Whether it’s siblings from the same litter or puppies of the same age from different backgrounds, raising two puppies together can seem like twice the...
