Author Archives for Sydney

I Sit. You Sit.

Watch Me Move Body language is the subtext for us humans but for our pups, it is their first language. They take their cues from other dog’s body postures and subtle movements as well as being masters at watching people move. We can inadvertently appear threatening to a dog by the way we move or… View Article

Watch Out For Problem Patterns

Prevent – It’s a thing Brushing, flossing and visiting the dentist helps us maintain healthy teeth and prevent gum disease. If we don’t brush our teeth one night we won’t suffer the next day. However complications may come later on in our life if we miss years of proper oral hygiene. This is the way it… View Article

Patience

A New Year As we come to the end of this year and look forward to… WAIT! (cue sound of screeching breaks). Let’s pause for a moment and consider the last sentence, specifically the words ‘look forward’. Merriam Webster’s definition of the word patience is “the capacity to accept or tolerate delay, trouble, or suffering… View Article

3 Reasons To Train Your Puppy

See Me, Hear Me We all want to be heard and understood. I remember being at a workshop many years ago, can’t remember when or where, listening to Ian Dunbar (one of my heroes) tell a moving story about the sad fate of many dogs. In brief, I will recount it in my words. It’s… View Article

Make A Habit of It

Your good habits are what will determine your new pup’s behavior. Little things that you do on a regular basis can make a marked difference as the big picture unfolds. We often don’t see the benefit or the fallout from our choices until later. If you handle your pup’s nails every Wednesday and Friday, trim… View Article

The Magic Lives In The Details 

  Hello! Is Anyone Home? We could take many lessons from dogs. How about the lesson on being present? They love it when you pay attention to them. Did you know this is a key component of good training? The difference between a great training session and mediocre one is the attention to detail. Mental presence helps create a connection with your dog. The… View Article

Minding Your Pees and Poos

When you learn to toss a ball in the air you also learn to catch it. They go together the same way confinement training and bathroom training go hand in hand. You teach them simultaneously. Hmmm, What came first, the chicken or the egg? The first thing most new puppy parents face is teaching the… View Article

The Benefits of Working With A Dog Trainer

Shouts from the rooftops ring out across the land. We’re getting a puppy! Exciting times to be sure. The time to call the dog trainer is before the new addition comes home. A good coach will help you be ready and thinking about the right things to focus on from day one. Many dog trainers… View Article

5 Ways You May Be Stressing Out Your Puppy

1. Not providing enough structure. Structure in the form of a crate, exercise pen, baby-gate or leash is a must for a new puppy. You can not expect him to make the ‘right’ choices until teaching him what they look like. That is way too much responsibility to pile on a pup. Too much freedom… View Article

Socialization Deconstructed

“I’m So Confused” There is a great deal of confusion surrounding the term socialization and what it means for a puppy. The term comes from the description of specific stages of canine development. A pup goes through two socialization periods. In the primary socialization period they learn how to be a dog, in the human… View Article