Safely Celebrate the 4th of July With Your Dog!
The 4th of July marks a beautiful time of the year filled with barbeques, vacations, quality time with friends and family, and beautiful firework shows. Whether you are planning a trip out of town or simply a “staycation” – please take a moment to consider your dog’s needs during this time. To most dogs, this day (or week!) is filled with constant booming noises, bright lights crackling in the sky…
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Dogs hold such a special place in our heart and in most cases, are treated as another member of the family. According to the APPA – 37-47% of households in the United States own at least one dog. That adds up to about 70-80 million canines living with us as our domesticated buddies. Amazing relationships can form from dog-handler bonds and even link to assisting in lowering blood pressure, heart…
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Dogs Don't Generalize, So Socialize!
So many of my clients do a wonderful job working on behaviors in their home and keeping on track with the new training regime. They are often thrilled to see almost immediate results with their dog’s behavior – yet become so frustrated when the dog “reverts back to their old ways” in a new area. It is crucial that I stress the importance of constantly exposing and training your pooch in a variety…
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"Clicking" Your Way to Better Control in Dog Training!
I often tell my clients, “It is not always about what you DO in dog training, but what you USE.” My job as a dog trainer is to not only make each session easy for the owner to understand, but for the dog as well! This is precisely why I utilize “clicker training” for most of my cases ranging from basic obedience to aggression. For those who are unfamiliar with this tiny little box of wonderful – a…
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Introducing Your Adopted Dog To Their New Home!
First and foremost – if you are reading this blog because you have, or are exploring the idea of adopting a dog – thank you from the bottom of my heart! Working with rescues (not to mention having one myself) is THE most fulfilling and rewarding part of my job. I am able to truly witness a dog’s level of trust and forgiveness regardless of their past experiences – something I believe many humans…
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Spreading the Yellow Word in Park City!
In one of my past posts “The Yellow Dog Project”, I was ecstatic to come across a program set in place helping bring awareness to unapproachable dogs for a variety of reasons. Park City has since expanded exposure around dog parks, hiking trails, walking paths, etc. During one of my dog training sessions at Willow Creek Park in Park City this week, I came across an even more impressive resource…
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Getting a "Grip" on Anxiety in Dog Training!
In the past week, I have had two new cases dealing with dogs struggling from anxiety. It is common for a dog trainer to receive calls asking for help with aggressive behavior, however, nine times out of ten the dog is actually displaying high anxiety. This state of mind is all too common for owners not providing their dog with clear leadership and boundaries in their day to day routine. Dog…
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Dog Training at Willow Creek Park in Park City
Many of my clients have heard me say, “It is not always about what you do in dog training, but what you use.” Taking advantage of proper dog training tools can help make the process less painful and easier on both handler and dog. My “tool box” utilizes local dog parks as well! Park City, in particular, offers one of the best pup friendly parks I have ever experienced. Willow Creek Park (located…
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ASK THE DOG TRAINER! *Handling Dog Reactive Dogs*
What am I supposed to do when I’m walking my 2 German Shepherds on their leashes and an off leash aggressive small dog approaches? I get that people think small dogs are harmless. But when they have so much aggression, it triggers my kind dogs to protect themselves, me & my toddler in the stroller. Do I let them eat the small dog? I hope not. I sure don’t want to drop their leashes and run… I’m…
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ASK THE DOG TRAINER! *Car Herding*
I have a 2 year old black lab, and an approximately 12 or 13 year old large breed mix (who my husband got several years before I met him). They are both not cautious around moving vehicles and will run right up to them. They are never outside unsupervised, but the problem occurs because we rent from my in-laws and their home is secluded and has only a large front yard, which is not fenced, and has…
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