Adventures With Makai: Surviving the Canine Teenage Phase
We’ve officially got a teenager in the house! A teenage dog, that is. Makai is now about 10 months old and has entered the awkward phase of adolescence. Much like human adolescence, the canine version can be one of the toughest developmental stages to navigate. Fortunately, I’ve implemented some of my go-to strategies that I recommend to my clients to make this rollercoaster of growth and learning a bit more pleasant—for both myself and Makai.
Help! My Puppy Won’t Stop Biting Me!
Puppies bring so much joy to our lives—those adorable puppy eyes, floppy ears, sweet puppy breath kisses, and the uncoordinated pitter-patter of little paws are enough to melt anyone’s heart. But as much as we love them, it’s not all kisses and cuddles. Puppies bite. HARD (they don’t earn the nickname “piranha” for nothing)! Many new puppy owners are surprised by just how intense the biting can get. The good news is though, that puppy biting is not only normal, but essential to their development. Understanding why puppies bite and how to manage it can make this phase of their life much easier and more enjoyable for both of you.
Happy National Train Your Dog Month!
Happy National Train Your Dog Month! Even if dog training wasn’t part of your New Year’s resolution (that’s ok!), now is the perfect time to start—or restart your training journey. Whether you’ve just brought home a new puppy, have an adult dog you'd like to teach new skills, or simply want to strengthen your bond with your dog, positive reinforcement training is the best way to achieve great results while fostering a deeper connection with them.
Puppy Hack: Simplify Your Life as a Puppy Parent
Raising a puppy is a rewarding experience, but it can also feel overwhelming at times. There’s so much to manage, from vet visits and training to socialization and helping your puppy adjust to your home and routine. Puppies are full of energy, and there will be moments when you wish you could switch it off. I get it – it can be a lot. One thing that can be a total game-changer—both for your sanity and your puppy’s well-being—is enrichment, and the best part is, it’s surprisingly easy to implement!
Adventures With Makai: An Update on Our Alone Time Training
It’s been almost three months now since my husband and I adopted our rescue puppy, Makai, from the Connecticut Humane Society. Time is flying! Our boy is almost 6 months old already! Since the trials and tribulations of our first month, we’ve really settled into a nice routine and Makai’s making great progress with the positive reinforcement puppy training that we’ve been doing. All in all, he’s been learning growing, and developing beautifully… Except for alone time.
Adventures With Makai: Our Puppy Training Journey
It’s been almost two months now with Makai! He’s about 4 ½ months old, his adult teeth are coming in, and he’s already bigger than Roxi! He’s settling into the family nicely after the rocky first few weeks we had and we’ve made a lot of progress with puppy training through positive reinforcement training techniques.
Based on his age, his development level and his individual personality, here’s what we’ve been concentrating most of our attention on…
Adventures With Makai: My New Rescue Puppy
My husband and I recently adopted a new puppy! It’s been quite the whirlwind around here as we adjust to raising a puppy again. Take a ride with me as I recount the real, raw truth of what the first month has been like; not the edited, picture-perfect social media version that we’re all inundated with. The truth is it hasn’t been all sunshine, rainbows and puppy snuggles around here. In fact, there’s been very little snuggling and a whole lotta gnawing at our arms!
What Being a Positive Reinforcement Dog Trainer Means to Me
I proudly call myself a reward-based dog trainer. Sometimes I refer to myself as a positive-reinforcement dog trainer, a force-free dog trainer or a fear-free dog trainer. There are several names I (and my like-minded colleagues) go by because to be honest, none of these terms fit quite right. The science jargon and the layman’s terms don’t align, so I haven’t found the perfect “title.” Until I do, the name I call myself may fluctuate, but in almost 15 years in the animal training field, my values have never once wavered, nor will they ever.
Exercising Your Dog Safely in the Summer Heat
The dog days of summer are here! We just got through our first couple of heat waves, and we all know that there are more around the corner. Recently, on a particularly hot day, a client asked, “What do you do with your dogs on days like this?” So, this month I’m diving in to answer that question! How do we provide enough exercise and enrichment for our dogs when it’s way too hot to safely spend much time outside? It’s easier than you might think!
“Just Get a Second Dog.” The Answer to Your Dog’s Separation Anxiety?
“Will getting another dog cure my dog’s separation anxiety?”
“If he had the company of another animal, won’t that stop him from barking and feeling anxious?”
These are common questions I get asked as a certified separation anxiety dog trainer (CSAT) and ones I see posted frequently in Facebook groups and other social media platforms. It seems logical to think that if a dog is anxious or fearful while alone, the company of another dog or pet will help. Unfortunately though, it’s not usually that simple.
5 Things NOT to Do to Resolve Your Dog’s Separation Anxiety
Last month I discussed 5 things you can to do to resolve separation anxiety and/or separation distress. This month, let’s talk about 5 things not to do.
5 Things to Do to Resolve Your Dog’s Separation Anxiety
Separation anxiety is one of the most challenging behavioral issues a dog guardian can face. It’s more than just a minor inconvenience, it’s a very serious problem that affects a dog’s mental and physical health, as well as your quality of life. Fortunately, it can be resolved. With the right methods, your dog can learn to relax and even enjoy alone time!
Let’s dive into the five best strategies to employ to resolve your dog’s separation anxiety, so you and your dog can get back to living a happy, more relaxed life together!
My Top 3 Favorite Enrichment Activities for Anxious Dogs
Proper exercise and enrichment is paramount for all dogs to live happy, fulfilling lives and while it’s best to provide a variety of enrichment activities for your dog, dogs suffering from anxiety, such as separation anxiety, may especially benefit from enrichment that promotes relaxation and calmness to help lower their stress levels.
Before You Leave! Preparing Your Newly Adopted Dog to be Left Home Alone
Congratulations on bringing home your new dog! It’s an exciting time and there’s lots to do in order to help your dog transition into their new home. Along with picking out the perfect food, treats, toys and the comfiest dog bed, you’ll also want to prepare them for important life skills like spending time alone in their new home. Preparing them properly for alone time will help minimize separation related problem behaviors like separation anxiety or isolation distress.
Are You Rewarding Your Anxious Dog For Barking?
Picture this…you have a dog who barks and whines every time you leave the house. You’ve tried leaving them with toys and kongs, you’ve left calming music on for them and they get PLENTY of exercise. But no matter what, the barking just doesn’t seem to stop. Sound familiar? What should you do? Do you ignore it and let them bark it out? Or should you come back inside to stop the barking? Doesn’t coming back when they’re barking teach them to bark for whatever they want? Like most dog training questions, the answer is not a simple one, but one that deserves to be addressed.
Navigating the Holiday Season With Your Puppy
Do you have a young puppy (or maybe an overzealous adolescent dog)? Wondering how in the world you’re going to get through the holidays with your puppy AND keep your sanity? I’ve got some puppy hacks that are not only going to keep your puppy safe, they’ll keep you from losing your mind as well.
To Crate Train or Not to Crate Train My Dog?
“Should I crate my dog?”
“Crating my dog seems cruel. Won’t he be sad?”
“I’d prefer if my dog slept in her crate at night rather than with me. Is that ok?”
These are some of the common questions I get asked pertaining to crate training a dog. In fact, the topic of crating a dog can spark some pretty polarizing debates.
So, should you crate your dog or not? Well, like many dog training questions, the answer is, “it depends.”
Is It Separation Anxiety, Isolation Distress or FOMO?
As a certified separation anxiety trainer (CSAT), I get calls all the time from people concerned and confused about their dog’s alone time behavior and what’s causing it. They want clarity and answers and if you’re anything like them, you do too. So, let’s shed some light on things so you can better understand and help your dog relax when alone.
The Story of How Training Saved My Dog’s Lives
A couple of years ago my dogs gave me quite the scare by putting their dog training to the test. It was shortly after moving into our (then) new home and we were so excited because Shiloh and Roxi finally had a beautiful, fully fenced backyard to run in. All was good! That is, ‘til one morning, while I was outside on a Zoom call letting the dogs play in the sun, when I realized it was WAY too quiet. Something wasn’t right.
Help! I Think My Dog Has Separation Anxiety!
Does your dog bark it’s head off when you leave the house?
Or, maybe you’ve come home to your house utterly destroyed (how can they do THAT much damage in such a short period of time!?)
And what the heck, now they seem to have suddenly forgotten all of the potty training you’ve taught them because you’re finding puddles and piles upon your return. You took them out right before you left, surely they could have held it!