Author Archives: astoffel

Are you feeling overwhelmed by the mountain of options available to you on your dog training search? You’re not alone! One of the most common dog training options is private lessons. So let’s break down this program so that you can decide for yourself if private lessons are the right for your family. What are Private Lessons? Private lessons are one-on-one training sessions with you, your trainer, and your dog. This training option offers youContinue reading “Are Private Lessons Right for Me and My Dog?”

Do you want to be one of those incredibly confident dog owners that can stroll down the street without your dog barking, lunging, pulling, and causing a scene? You can! And you don’t have to hire a dog trainer to get started. You may want to, but you don’t HAVE to. And we’re going to show you how with this simple drill that we lovingly call “Driveway Drills”. Understanding Why Your Dog Pulls on LeashContinue reading “Overcome Your Stressful Dog Walks with this 1 Change”

I have yet to have a client approach me and say “Allison, my dog’s leash skills are too perfect. Why isn’t she pulling and barking like all the other dogs?” It just doesn’t happen. What we typically hear is “My dog pulled me to the ground chasing the neighbor’s cat yesterday,” or “I have to walk my dog at 5am before anyone else is awake, otherwise she loses her mind,” or “I stopped trying toContinue reading ““Help! I Can’t Walk My Dog” -5 Steps to Better Walks with Your Dog”

Let’s talk about those dogs that seem bullet-proof around loud noises and lots of distractions. You know, the dogs that could take a nap in the middle of a thunderstorm or that could walk through a crowded market without flinching at all of the people and food passing by. Those dogs are the envy of every dog owner that struggles with a fearful or nervous dog. But those dogs didn’t just happen to turn outContinue reading “How to Overcome Your Nervous Dog’s Fears, 1 Controlled Experience at a Time”

So many owners come to us because they desperately need help teaching their dog to walk calmly on leash (or how to walk in a “heel” command). Perhaps you can relate with some owners that come to us in tears of frustration as they tell us: “He marks on something every ten feet. We can’t get anywhere on our walks!” “She lunges and barks at every dog she sees. She sounds so mean.” “My dogContinue reading “Leash Skills: Does My Dog Always Have to Walk in a Heel?”

We work with the brand E-Collar Technologies because we believe it to be a safe, effective, valuable tool to help you communicate with your dog. But just like with any tool, there is a learning curve. And that learning curve not only includes the basic mechanics of how and when to use it, but also understanding its basic functions. In this article, you are going to receive a to break down of the top tenContinue reading “Getting to Know Your New E-Collar in 10 Easy Steps”

The more traveling we do, the more we realize how fortunate we are to have so many wonderful city, county, and state parks so close to home. And you don’t have to travel far from home to feel the beauty and peace that comes with a wonderful and relaxing nature walk. So if you’re looking for a new adventure to enjoy with your dog, we highly recommend these state parks. They’re closer than you mightContinue reading “7 Beautiful Madison-Area State Parks Worth Exploring”

Everyone wants to give their dog off-leash freedom. It’s so fun watching them frolic and play, ears flapping in the wind. But when it’s time for fun to end, many dogs seem to “forget” their name. So what’s the secret for a reliable recall? A leash. Stop giving your dog freedom off-leash until you know she’ll come on leash. It’s that easy! Now go practice! *Obviously there’s a whole lot more work that needs toContinue reading “The Secret to a Reliable Recall”