Author Archives for Sydney

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

Tips for Safe Spot and Bathroom Training Revised January 2025 Safe spot (a place for naps, resting, and preventing unwanted behavior) and bathroom training go hand in hand. A word on crates: No rule says you must crate-train your puppy. Everyone has different schedules and setups. If you decide to use a crate you must… 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

3 Simple Games to Play on The Move

Moves on the go! Teach your puppy watch, touch and a rock solid recall and hone these moves as you go on outings together. All of these behaviours have something in common. They reorient the pup back to you. This is helpful for building attention or asking for attention from your dog when you need it…. View Article

Puppy TOYtorial Part 2

6 Puppy Toy Choices Behavioural conditioning, choosing the right toy for the right outcome that’s what Puppy TOYtorial Part 2 is all about. Add sophistication to your puppy toy selection and game-playing with these six toy choices. Feel free to print out this handy list. If you want to learn more on this topic you… View Article

TOYtorial

A Lesson on the Finer Points of Toys Magic! I pull out ‘red ball’ and my border collie Fen is ‘in the game’. She is ready to work, play or ham it up. Whatever’s on the menu. Sure, dogs love to play. Dogs love to hunt for things, forage, chase, catch and tug. This makes… View Article