Focused Dog Testimonial I know, isn't he cute? Well, Buddy's personality was more like that of a terrorist before training. He's a much happier dog now that he focuses on me and what I want. He has his set backs but with reinforcements and consistency in home training he's much more obedient all the time.   I am so impressed with Matt's gentle but firm, patient methods that give dog and master a real connection. I've

Go to Your Bed Recently I've taught my dogs the "Go to Your Bed" cue.  Today I'd like to explain the benefits and how easy it is to teach your dog to do the same.  At times it can be useful when a visitor drops by, and other times you may want to use it as your family sits down for a meal together.  It's important to keep it positive and fun, as we never want this to come across as a punishment to your dog.  Their bed should be a pleasant place

Separation Anxiety One of the things we love most about our canine companions is how they bond closely to us, and love us unconditionally.  Sometimes that emotional attachment becomes so great that our dog can develop a certain amount of anxiety when we leave them.   It’s not uncommon for a dog to show signs of stress when their owner leaves, and there are some things you can do to alleviate that.  With that said, Separation Anxiety can be

Problem Solving- Bolting   Does this sound familiar:  The moment you open the door, the dog runs out and the chase is on!  In some cases your dog's life could be at great risk, especially if you live on a busy street like we do. To say this is a serious issue would be an understatement.   If this is an issue for your dog, I have a few tips that may be of some help. Quite often I've discovered that dogs who bolt are rarely exercised.  Or

Target Practice Today I’d like to encourage you to teach your dog to hand target.  This is something that will pay rich dividends.  Right now I’m working with a dog that is afraid of strangers.  One of the benefits of hand targeting is it can help our dogs to learn to approach and interact with strangers.  It's part of my treatment plan for this particular dog.  It’s also a great way to redirect your dog away from certain things.  For

Problem Solving – Chewing Today I want to partially address one of the most common problems among dog owners.  Virtually every dog owner has lost a pair of their favorite shoes, or had to give up a piece of furniture, because their dog destroyed it by chewing.  I recall when we first adopted Stella, she loved to chew on our base boards of all things!  Our other dog Beasley had a fascination with our sprinklers.  Not only is this frustrating

Coprophagia (Stool Eating) There are a few things are dogs do that we’re rather embarrassed to mention.  I think it’s safe to say Coprophagia (Stool Eating) would fall into that category. It’s important to come to understand why it occurs.  Here are some common reasons: The dog isn’t being fed enough. The dog is fed a very poor-quality food and is suffering from malnutrition or a vitamin/mineral deficiency. The dog has a medical problem.