It’s sad, but true… Statistically speaking there are more dog and puppy adoptions in December than any other month, but this leads to January taking the cake for the highest number of surrenders to shelters and rescues. It’s wonderful that introducing a new dog to the home will likely bring […]

Is Santa bringing someone in your household a NEW PUPPY this Christmas? If so, here are some things that will make your life easier and help your newest family member adjust more quickly: 1) Use a crate: There are a variety of crates out there and there is one thing […]

Heart pounding… Panting… Shaking… Pacing… Vocalizing… Separation Anxiety It is just as uncomfortable and incapacitating for our dogs as it appears to be, and too many owners are creating this problem without even realizing it by having their dog become dependant on affection.  If your dog exhibits separation anxiety, it is […]

Hi, I’m Michelle and I’m an alcoholic. I don’t often speak publicly of my recovery from alcoholism, but the other night, when sitting in an AA meeting, something hit me…living life in active recovery from alcoholism parallels maintaining balance in dogs after training. I know this sounds a little crazy, […]

Training a puppy is a LOT of work!   Everything from crate training, the walk, potty training and teaching them not to chew the furniture is a full time job. First off, what I often tell clients is that they’re not just raising their puppy, but they are actually training […]

There are fewer topics today that hold the bar higher for polarizing opinions on the “right” way to do things than dog training (other than maybe raising a child).  Opinionated trainers as well as owners boisterously condemn the use of training tools or methods used by another because they don’t agree with them.  This […]

Crating a dog too often has a negative association among owners, but it has just as many benefits for the dog as it does the humans!  It is imperative that the crate is not used as a punishment, but rather a way to get your dog to relax and enjoy […]

I often talk about how structure can be a major game changer for dog owners with their pet’s behaviour, but what does it mean? Structure is an umbrella term for boundaries and rules given to your dog.  This includes crating your dog when you’re not home or at night when you’re sleeping, […]

Dog parks often times seem like a good idea to people who want the best for their dog, but are they really? Before I was a dog trainer, I used to take my dog to the local dog park every day so that my dog could socialize and run around […]

Dog need exercise, right?  Of course they do!  But what most dog owners don’t realize is that the structure of the exercise is most often more important than the type of exercise and the duration of it.  A complaint that I hear a lot from my clients is that they […]