Wisdom of Life

Tips

Which Breed is Right for You?

Picking the Right Breed for Your Lifestyle Before you bring home your next dog, it’s a good idea to do some research on the various breeds you think you’re interested in.  While not every dog within a breed group are alike, there are some common characteristics and tendencies you should know about. I once spoke with a dear lady who said her dog was destroying her yard, digging, chewing and jumping all over them any time they went in the backyard. 

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Preparing for the 4th of July

Calming Your Dog on the 4th of July The fourth of July is an exciting time of the year for Americans.  The fireworks, firing up the barbecue, and gathering with friends and family, is cause for joy.  But for your dog, it could very well be the scariest day of the year!  Is there anything you can do to ease their anxiety?  In today’s blog I’d like to offer up a few calming tips that may be of some help to you. Exercise your dog early in the

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Go to Your Bed

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

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Bolting

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

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Target Practice

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

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Destructive Chewing

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

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