We are celebrating two years in business today! What a two years it has been. From opening a business during a pandemic, to building our programs and our team in some big and unexpected ways, these past two years look nothing like we could have imagined. And we wouldn’t change it for the world.

We are so thankful for the 77 (wow!) families that have trusted us to help guide them and their dogs into a healthier, happier, more fulfilling lifestyle together. We know that it’s hard to ask for help, and it’s even harder to take that help and truly apply it to make some big lifestyle changes with your dog. So we thank you for welcoming us into your families and stepping out of your comfort zones.

This is just the beginning! We have some big changes in the works that will only increase our ability to help more dogs and their families in the Madison area. So stay tuned, you won’t want to miss out on what’s coming next!

We are dog trainers. I think you know that. Which means we spend a lot of time talking about how to work on your dog’s behaviors, work through issues, reach new goals. But did you know that we also use A LOT of play to help your dogs learn?

Playtime is a great way to connect with your dog, build a strong bond, have fun, release some stress, build confidence, try a new skill… and the list goes on and on.

So while we aren’t always playing with our dogs, it is an absolutely critical piece of the relationship puzzle that we don’t want you to forget about.

Want a well-rounded, confident dog? Get out and play with her. No agenda, no plan, just go and have some fun!

If you’re learning how to work with your new ET-302 system from E-Collar Technologies, you’re going to want to take it slow and really get to know your system. The buttons function differently when you have two dog collars paired to one remote, and it takes time and practice to get used to them.

We’ll run over the three main functions that we believe you need to know when working with your two-dog system:

• Setting each dog’s individual stimulus level
• Using the tone feature to communicate with each dog
• Turning each collar’s LED light on and off

There is so much more to e-collar training than these three basics. So don’t expect to learn how to e-collar train your dog from this video. But it is a great start to fully understand what the buttons do, how to communicate with each individual dog, and how to confidently start using your new system.

If you are looking to train your dog on an e-collar, please make sure that you are using a high-quality brand, and getting the help from a professional trainer. There are a lot of nuances that go into e-collar training, and with so many benefits available to you when working with this tool, we want to make sure you’re set up for success from the start.

Yes! Your dog is never too old for training. And neither are you!

Now that doesn’t mean that age doesn’t have an affect on your dog’s training. The older a dog is, the longer it has had to practice any number of behaviors, both good and bad. But don’t let your old dog fool you into believing that she’s too old and you’re now stuck with her behaviors forever.

Yes, it is true that we tend to see faster results when training young dogs and puppies. Dogs are very impressionable at a young age, they want to please you, and they think that you’re the best thing around. So of course we can teach them a lot!

But there’s also a lot to be said for learned behaviors: the longer a dog has to practice any given behavior, the more ingrained it becomes for her. If your dog gets to bark out the window every day, that’s going to be harder to work through than a puppy that doesn’t bark yet. If your dog pulls on the leash every time you step outside and has for the past four years since you brought her home, you’re going to have to unlearn that behavior and instill a new expectation for your walks. Compare that to a new pup that has no idea what a leash is or just how exciting the world is yet, and there’s a different level of training that needs to take place.

But again, please don’t believe that your old dog is a lost cause. Old dogs can and do learn new things every day, so there’s no reason that yours should be an exception. Take a look at this clip where we talk about how and why we can and should keep training old dogs. It’s god for them, and it’s good for you!

Let me start by making something very clear: it is always OK to ask for help. At some point we seem to hit this stage where we feel like we need to have everything figured out in life, that we’ve somehow failed if we can’t make it on our own. And not only is this simply not true, but it can truly hurt us. So before we get any farther into this topic, allow yourself to accept that you deserve support. For you, for your family, for your dog.

Now that we have that out of the way, let’s dive in to dog training! There are lots of reasons to ask a dog trainer for help, but we’ve boiled the list down to our top 6. These are the most common reasons that families and dog owners reach out for help to local dog trainers, so let’s dive in and see if you fall into any one of these groups. And if you do, understand that you’re not alone, and help is closer than you think!

You feel overwhelmed by all of the information available

There is A LOT of information out there on dogs, animal behavior, vet care, behaviors you should encourage and discourage, and on and on and on. With everyone claiming to be an expert, it can be really hard to tell who has the best, most up-to-date, clear information out there.

And then we have to remember that every dog is different. So while a strategy might work great for your neighbor’s dog, that doesn’t mean it’s the best solution for you and yours. The behaviors you’re dealing with are different, your goals are different, and therefore, your training approach should be different.

So if you’ve been doing your research and you are struggling to sort through all of the noise to find what will work best for you and your dog, it’s time to talk with a dog trainer. Your dog trainer will help you break down exactly what you need to work on, and help you create a plan that works specifically for you. Getting advice and strategies tailored uniquely for your needs? Yes, please!

You’ve tried it on your own and you’re feeling stuck

We work with a lot of clients that really wanted to try things on their own before hiring a professional dog trainer. And there is nothing wrong with that! Whether it’s because finances are tight, because you think you can probably figure it out if you try hard enough, or if you’re just too stubborn to ask for help (at first), we support anyone that wants to train their dog in any fashion. Your methods might not be the best or the fastest, but who cares! As long as you’re trying, you’re going to see results. Period.

But let’s say that’s just not working for you anymore and you’re feeling stuck. Don’t keep struggling if something isn’t working! That will only lead to burnout and frustration, and eventually, you’ll stop trying. So when you feel like you’ve hit a wall, go talk with a professional dog trainer. They can give you a fresh perspective and get you on the right track again.

You have a solid foundation but want more

Lots of people have worked hard on the basics, and are doing really great with them. But what if that’s not good enough for you? What if you have bigger goals and dreams, and you want your dog to be the start of the neighborhood? Let’s do it!

And if you don’t know how to do it? That’s where a dog trainer can come in, yet again. Dog trainers work on all sorts of behavior problems, but they also know how to have fun and work on some advanced skills, as well. So whether that’s learning agility, getting a really solid off-leash recall so you can hike and camp with confidence, or if you want to do therapy work with your dog, there’s a dog trainer near you that can help you work on those skills.

You have specific goals that you need help with

Typically, we work with dogs and their families because they have a vision but don’t know how to get there. They want to take their dog hiking, but the dog CANNOT walk on leash without pulling them over. They want to enjoy quiet evenings at home but the dog won’t stop barking out the window, annoying the entire neighborhood. They want to bring their dog to the kids’ soccer games, but the dog can’t help but chase the ball every time it passes.

Whatever your goals may be, chances are, you’re not the first person needing help with it. Which also means that there is a dog trainer in your area that can help you work toward that goal pretty quickly and efficiently. So don’t be afraid to reach out for help – we’re all about including dogs in your lives!

You see safety-related issues arising

This is a big one that we want you to take very seriously. If your notice an safety-related issues arising, you need to reach out to a professional dog trainer right away. Don’t let the problem escalate and become much more serious. If you do, the stakes will be much higher, as will the price tag to resolve the issue.

Some common safety-related issues we see with dogs include:

• Resource guarding (growling over food, bones, toys, etc.)
• Reactivity (lunging and barking at dogs, people, bikes, cars, etc.)
• Biting
• Growling
• Jumping around and barking out the car windows (becomes very unsafe for everyone involved)

The sooner we can address these and any other behavior issues, the easier it is to work through them. On the other hand, if you allow your dog to practice any of these habits, the behavior will only get stronger and therefore will need more intensive intervention. So, please do yourselves and your dog a big favor, and get help as soon as you see any concerning behaviors. You’ll be so glad you didn’t wait until it becomes a much bigger problem.

You want to develop behaviors at a young age that will last a lifetime

Outside of simply working on behavior issues, there is a lot to be said for setting your dog up for long-term success. Now this is probably the hardest pitch we have to make to dog owners, because it is really difficult to spend money to make your good dog an even better dog. You have to really want it and see a vision of what life with a really well-trained dog could look like.

But if you’re open to it, you should absolutely start training your dog young and early. This will not only set your dog up for a lifetime of success, but it will create a strong bond between you, and will also prevent a lot of behavior issues from ever arising.

So if you want a dog that can join you on every adventure, that can relax around your family and friends, that can join you on hikes and vacations and brewery outings and picnics, then you need to put in the work and teach your dog exactly how you want her to behave in those environments. And that means training. And a lot of it. And the younger you start, the stronger those behaviors will be as your pup becomes a dog. And again, a dog trainer can help you get there!

Conclusion

There are so many reasons to hire a professional dog trainer. And perhaps the issues you’re facing or the questions you’re asking aren’t on this list. That doesn’t mean you’re alone! You should still absolutely seek out professional help.

When you do start looking to hire a dog trainer, please remember that every dog trainer has their strengths and weaknesses, the things they are really good at, and things they may need to refer away. So make sure you ask some questions and find a trainer that can really help you with your unique goals. If you need some help with this check out our blog post on finding the right trainer for you here!

Do you know what it looks like to advocate for your dog’s space? Would you feel comfortable stepping in if you had to? Do you know why it’s so important for your relationship with your dog that you get comfortable advocating for her?

What Does it Mean to Advocate for Your Dog?

Advocating for your dog’s space means standing up for her in situations where she’s uncomfortable. It means that you’ll step in and fix problems that arise so that she doesn’t have to. And that’s how you build trust, respect, leadership, and a dog that doesn’t feel the need to intervene when life gets hard. Because she knows you have her back.

It’s so important that your dogs see you as someone that will intervene if she’s uncomfortable:

• Don’t like that stranger? Don’t worry, I won’t let them pet you!
• Afraid of that scary mailbox we’re walking past? I’ll give you some extra space.
• Don’t want to play with that dog? I’ll tell it to stop!

If your dog doesn’t trust you, she’s going to advocate for herself. That means growling, barking, lunging, biting, and doing whatever she needs to do to keep the annoying/scary/frustrating thing away. Which we don’t want!

This means that you need to be incredibly vigilant and aware of your surroundings so that you can catch your dog’s body language and respond appropriately. If your dog looks uncomfortable, help her through it! Stand up for her, create space, and watch her trust in you grow as she realizes she doesn’t need to constantly defend herself. This can be little things or big scary things. The point is, if you’re consistent in showing your dog that you have her back, she’ll start coming to you when she needs help.

See it in Action

Let’s see it in action in a pretty normal scenario: we have three dogs playing, but Copper (the older yellow lab) isn’t interested and is getting grumpy every time the younger two try to wrestle with him. He was giving off really clear but patient signals that he didn’t want to play at first: walk away, turn his head away from the other dogs, and eventually he chose to lie down on the other side of the room.

Now, if we let the dogs figure this out for themselves (which so many owners do), Copper will eventually growl, snap, or chase the dogs away. But we don’t want him to get to the point that he’s so annoyed that he gets to that he needs to take it that far. It’s not fair to him. He’s been very clear and appropriate in his body language that he doesn’t want to play, so why would we let it continue?

So we need to step in and tell the younger dogs, “not today, you need to give him space.” This doesn’t have to be a harsh correction, but it does need to be clear so they understand they simply cannot play with Copper right now.

This does two things:

1. It sets a very clear boundary for the younger dogs. There’s a lot they can do in their play right now, but playing with Copper simply isn’t one of them.
2. It allows Copper to relax in the space without constantly having to worry about defending his space. He doesn’t mind the dogs’ energy, he just doesn’t want to engage with it. And that’s ok! So let’s make sure he knows that we have his back so he can participate as much or as little as he wants to.

Conclusion

Advocating for your dog’s space doesn’t have to be an intense or overly emotional experience. As you can see in this video, it can be as easy as stepping between two dogs and redirecting them to a different activity. This is essential for building your dog’s trust and showing her that you will take care of her.

Want a strong bond with your dog that can carry you through some pretty tough situations? Stand up for her when she needs help so that she doesn’t have to. Advocate. And watch her trust in you become something you’ve only dreamed of.

All of our puppy owners out there are likely falling madly in love with their sweet little pups. The snuggles, the puppy breath, the enthusiasm to do literally anything you ask of them.

And all of our owners with 9-14 month old dogs are wondering “Where on earth did my sweet puppy go??”

We call this fun age the “teenage phase”. By this age, your cute little puppy has grown into her adult-sized body, hormones are raging, and she’s feeling a little extra confident about herself. Which is exactly when we tend to see some undesirable behaviors pop up and your pup will likely start testing your boundaries. A lot. Kind of like you probably did as a teenager yourself.

So what can you do? First, remind yourself that this is a normal developmental stage. Your puppy isn’t broken, or bad, and you haven’t done anything to cause this.

Second, fall back on your training, routine, and structure. Go back to the basics and give your dog some extra training time to remind her of the rules. “No, we do not jump, or pull on leash, or bark, or tackle the kids, or… But try these behaviors that are appropriate instead.”

This stage is never easy, but it does pass. And you can get through it a whole lot quicker if you set some clear boundaries.

We hear a common question from families with multiple dogs that we want to address: “Why does my dog love her brother and they can play so great together, but she really doesn’t like other dogs?” So let’s talk about what’s going on here.

Familiarity

To start, there’s a lot to be said when it comes to familiarity. Your dogs are around each other all day every day. Even if they don’t have personalities that make for best doggy friends, they’ve likely learned how to co-exist pretty well together. They may even love each other’s company. But when you first introduced them, that probably wasn’t the case.

Dogs that live together learn each other’s quirks, how they communicate, what each one likes and dislikes, and they’re able to use that information to create a good relationship. It’s the same for us humans: you may have grown up with siblings that you wouldn’t have chosen to be friends with, but you figured out how to co-exist, and maybe even shared some great experiences together.

Personality

This one is critical. As we said above, your dog likely has a good relationship with her brother because they’ve learned how to live well together. But that is not the case with any other dog you come across. And in fact, it’s very normal for dogs to not love every other dog they meet. Those friendly, life of the party, gotta love and say “hello” to everyone are the exception, not the rule, to dog behavior.

Think about your own personal relationships with people. You have your close-knit group of friends that you really enjoy. You have personalities that you’re drawn to that you find really fun to be around. And you also have personalities that you shy away from because that person is perhaps too loud, inappropriate, aggressive, etc. There may be absolutely nothing wrong with that person, but you simply aren’t a fan and don’t want to be friends. And that’s OK!

Your dog is the same way. Other dogs can give off bad vibes, can be too loud or pushy, or perhaps there’s nothing particularly wrong with the dog, but they just don’t click together. And again, that’s OK! We’d rather your dog be great friends with a few dogs, than to try to force friendships with everyone when the match just isn’t right.

Play Style

And lastly, we’ll talk about play style. You may find a great fit for your dog personality-wise, but they may have very different play styles. Some dogs like to play fetch, some wrestle, some chase, some don’t want to play at all. And all of these different play styles are perfectly appropriate. But mix two dogs with different styles of play, and you can create a problem really quickly.

So if your dog runs into another dog that just doesn’t match her play style, it’s OK to walk away and find another match. Again with the human analogy: we wouldn’t be successful at shoving an introvert and an extrovert alone in a room together and asking them to hold a long conversation. But two extroverts, and you’re more likely to see a successful encounter.

Conclusion

There are so many reasons why your dog might not like other dogs, and we really won’t know the reason until we see her try to interact with new dogs. But it’s perfectly appropriate, and good, for her to be picky about who she chooses to play with.

So don’t worry if your dog only loves her brother, but struggles around other dogs. As long as she’s fulfilled in other ways, she doesn’t need a bunch of doggy friends. She has you, and if that’s enough for her, then it’s enough for us!