Author Archives: astoffel

It’s never the wrong time to load up on some new dog gear. We’ve compiled a list of our favorite dog toys, training materials, and safety gear to take the guesswork out of your shopping this year. Whether you want to spoil your pup with something fun, or you need an idea to start on your training journey, we have you covered! Dog Booties Let’s protect those paws this winter from the cold and iceContinue reading “Top Picks for the Best Dog Gear”

We often hear “That dog is so well-behaved! My dog could never do that!” I’m saying, no way! Any dog can learn how to be calm and relaxed around distractions if you take the time to show them how. Here’s Kasha, a 6 month old doodle, learning for the FIRST time how to relax around another dog. He absolutely loves people and dogs, so without boundaries, he would be in everyone’s faces trying to playContinue reading “Teaching the Place Command for Better Manners”

Training your dog is supposed to be fun! The trainers on YouTube and Instagram and out working in public make it look so easy. So why does it make you want to pull your hair out at times? All of the theories and ideas sound wonderful until you put them into practice. Then you realize that it’s a little bit messy, a little uncomfortable, and full of ups and downs. Even as professional trainers, weContinue reading “Training my dog is so frustrating!”

We all want a dog that can be involved in our family’s holiday activities. But what if that’s just not your pup? What if she gets overwhelmed with all of the cousins running around, or isn’t afraid to jump on the table to steal the turkey? That could easily ruin the day! Here are some basic tips that you can do to help your dog feel calm, relaxed, and stay out of trouble this holidayContinue reading “Holidays + Dogs”

Leash skills are the #1 request that dog owners come to us with. And that makes sense! Having a dog that pulls, lunges, barks, and completely ignores you on walks is incredibly frustrating. And embarrassing. And can make you feel trapped in your own home, unable to enjoy life with your dog. There is a simple technique that we teach to every dog owner, and it’s time we start spreading the word! It’s called: DrivewayContinue reading “Help! My dog pulls me everywhere!”

We are getting into some beautiful fall weather -our personal favorite for hiking with our dogs. Before you hit the trails, you may want to consider the following: Make sure you bring enough water for you and your dog. Confidently advocate for your dog by giving her extra space when you pass other people and dogs. Keep a close eye out for poison ivy. Brings treats to keep your dog’s attention and to reward forContinue reading “Hiking with dogs”

Just because your little pup doesn’t pull you around town as hard as the big Labradors and boxers, doesn’t mean it’s fun to have them twist, pull, zig-zag, and bark their way through the neighborhood. Little dogs (and their owners) deserve training, too! Questions we often get about training little dogs: How would you train my little one? The same way we train the big ones! With individualized training plans to meet your goals. She’sContinue reading “Little dogs deserve training, too!”

“Why won’t my dog listen?” This is a big question that we get a lot from frustrated dog owners. “Why won’t my dog… Come when I call? Stop jumping on visitors? Listen when it sees a squirrel? There are two main things happening here that we see pretty consistently across the board. First: whatever your dog is doing is much more rewarding that what you want it to do. Think about it. If the choicesContinue reading “Why won’t my dog listen?”