My dog has been declared dangerous-part 2. Not Every Declared Dangerous Dog Is Actually Dangerous
In most cases, dogs make bad decisions because they perceive they are allowed to. Here’s a great example. My newest addition, Garry, is a 6-year-old Staffy cross. He recently came to me because he was a client’s dog, and unfortunately his previous family are dealing with some very serious health issues. Garry is now with […]
My dog has been declared dangerous.
I have worked with many dogs that have been declared dangerous. In my professional opinion, most of these dogs are not truly “dangerous.” Most are simply scared and have developed poor coping strategies.As someone who has trained dogs professionally for 30 years and who works with aggressive dogs daily, I can say that almost all […]
When do I start training my puppy?
This is a very common question I get asked all the time. I’ve raised many pups over the years. Yes, I’ve made mistakes, but as the saying goes — we learn more from our mistakes than our successes. I’ve also studied under and learned from many excellent trainers along the way. I remember picking up […]
Uncomfortable Truths – Part 2
Uncomfortable Truths – Part 2 I had no intention of writing a Part 2 on this subject, yet I know there are other important points I left out. The reactions from a few people have confirmed in my mind that it needs to be said. Overall, the blog has been very well received. Part 1 […]
Uncomfortable Truths
Uncomfortable Truths I remember when I first began studying dog behaviour with trained professionals. I had to face a lot of uncomfortable truths about dogs and how they learn. These truths were presented with reason, facts, and proof. While I thought I knew something about dogs, I was wrong about many things I had learned […]
Beyond Puppy Classes
Beyond Puppy Classes When a new client reaches out for help with their dog, one of the first questions I ask is: “How old is your dog, and did they attend puppy classes?” Most people have taken their pup to classes. The reality is, many of those classes focus more on over-vaccination and pushing unnecessary […]
Resource Guarding in Dogs – Why It Happens & How to Fix It the Right Way
Resource guarding is one of the most common issues dog owners face: growling, snapping, or biting over food, toys, beds, or even YOU. It’s not your dog being “mean” or “dominant” in a bad way—it’s usually a symptom of insecurity, unclear leadership, or bad advice. Here’s the real breakdown on how it starts and how […]
Getting Your First Puppy
Bringing home your first puppy is a big decision — but also incredibly exciting! No one gets more excited about a new pup than I do. I love helping people welcome a new addition to their family. That fluffy cuteness and intoxicating puppy breath is pure joy. But once the initial excitement settles, there are […]
Why is my dog anxious?
Anxiety in humans is often a state of learned helplessness — something we can be taught. I’ve experienced crippling anxiety myself, but I learned the hard way how to overcome it: by confronting the things that triggered me. My anxiety came from years of abuse, neglect, and psychological/emotional manipulation as a child and young adult. […]
Why do my dogs fight with each other
I’m not sure why I’ve never done a blog or vlog about this topic before, but here we go. As this morning, two of my dogs nearly had a full-blown fight. Thankfully it was easy to stop because my dogs are well-trained and I knew exactly what to do. Then I saw yet another Facebook […]