Author Archives: astoffel

Working through a dog’s reactivity goes so much deeper than you might think. We have to set up very clear expectations for behavior. We have to teach them how to achieve a calm mindset. We have to teach them to look to us for guidance. And we have to do that in so many environments until it becomes second nature. Scout has shown some reactivity toward cars, and will try to run away from loudContinue reading “Working with reactivity”

Molly is such a high energy dog that feels the need to be part of everything going on around her. That’s simply not feasible, and can be annoying and at times unsafe. In this video, we’re getting her all excited by playing tug with her for about 30 seconds, and then asking her to go on place. When on place, she is expected to stay on the cot and remain calm until released. When IContinue reading “Teaching an on/off switch”

Let’s talk about getting your dog in the right state of mind. Scout is here to work through several issues, but we’re diving deep into working on her anxiety. She really struggles with being alone -she barks, whines, paws on the crate door. The solution to all of that starts with getting her in the right state of mind. We want her to be calm and relaxed -not only for our sanity, but because it’sContinue reading “Training a calm state of mind”

Last week we showed you how to lure your dog onto the place cot with treats. Now we’re going to show you how we layer in the e-collar. This is the first step in teaching some great impulse control. As with any new tool, we are taking things nice and slow for Hank and working him at a very low level on the e-collar. Any time he gets confused, we’re going to use the leashContinue reading “Step two for the place command: layer in the e-collar”

You hear me talk about the place command all the time, and we’ve finally made a series of videos to show you the step-by-step process to teach your dog this wonderful command. Step one is simply luring your dog onto the cot and rewarding for any length of time that your dog stays on the cot. Don’t worry if they pop right off, this step is simply getting your dog comfortable on the cot. SomeContinue reading “Step one for the place command: luring”

Let’s talk about how our attention affects our dogs’ behavior. Your dog loves getting attention from you. All of the belly rubs, tug of war challenges, and late night snuggles are incredibly rewarding for both of you. You get the warm fuzzies when your dog is excited and happy to see you, and she feeds off of that happy energy. It lets her know that you’re happy with her, that she’s doing a good thing,Continue reading “Attention is a reinforcer”

If your dog is amped up when you pull the leash out, get them into a calm state of mind before you walk out the door or you’ll be fighting with that energy for your entire walk. Hank is getting the hang of this skill before we start on our morning walk! Great job, buddy.

Do you ever wish for more freedom with your dog; the ability to take them to your favorite places, introduce them to new experiences? Let’s tweak how you communicate with each other. When you simplify, clarify, and set boundaries, your dog will be able to understand exactly what you need from her. Once you’ve mastered that, the possibilities are endless.