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!

Whether you are looking for the perfect gift for the dog lover in your life, you want to expand your collection of dog gear, or you are bored and simply want to try something new, there’s an option here for everyone. Now the hardest part is waiting for that shipment to arrive so that you and your pup can get started on all sorts of fun new adventures!

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 play and get attention. As cute as that is, it’s also pretty annoying. And rude. So we’re using the place command to teach him that he doesn’t get to be involved with everything going on around him.

Is this mean or unfair? Nope! It’s teaching him how to respect others’ space. And it’s giving him the manners he needs to enjoy life out in the world with his family.

Can you imagine bringing a dog out on a walk that is pulling and jumping and barking every time it sees a potential friend? Actually, I’m sure many of you can. But it doesn’t have to be that way. It can be so much better (and so much more fun) if you put in the work to teach your dog appropriate boundaries. Here’s how!

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, we have these feelings, too! When we start to feel discouraged, it’s important to take a step back and try to ask ourselves some deeper questions:

• Am I being clear with what I’m asking right now?
• Have we practiced this enough?
• Is my dog tired?
• Is my frustration showing in my tone or body language?
• Can I try teaching this in a different way?

If you’ve taken a step back and you still feel like you’re just not getting it, take a break! There is nothing wrong with a short training session (we actually encourage it). And there is nothing wrong with ending before your frustration gets the best of you.

In fact, did you know that we keep our training sessions short on purpose, with a long nap (for the dogs) in between each session? That’s because we don’t want to overload our dogs with too much information all at once. We want them to have a valuable learning experience, and then we want to give them time to process and soak it all in. So, short sessions may be just the thing you need to keep training fun, light, and successful for everyone!

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 holiday season:

• Exercise your dog before family arrives. Getting that extra energy out will help her relax more easily.
• Use the crate. There’s nothing wrong with creating some space and helping your dog relax as everyone comes in.
• Place time! If your dog knows the place command, have her place while family is hanging out. She can’t jump, beg, or trip grandma when she’s on her bed.
• Set boundaries for the kids! Don’t be afraid to tell the kids to give your dog space. Too much running, yelling, and high energy can get your dog worked up which will lead to problems. Tell the kids to let the dog relax on her own.
• Take breaks to play and unwind!
• Give yourself permission to leave your dog at home. We want you (and your dog) to enjoy the day. If you will be too stressed or constantly worrying about your dog, or if your dog will simply be too overwhelmed, it’s OK to leave her out of the festivities.

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: Driveway Drills. It sounds silly, but the method is simple yet powerful in communicating with your dog on leash. Check out our YouTube video for a 60-second demonstration on how you can get started today!

Whenever you’re starting something new with your dog, remember to start slow, take your time, and always end on a positive note. Have some fun with it!

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 for calm behavior.
• Don’t forget to find some shade and enjoy the views!

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’s scared of big dogs. Can we avoid them?
  • Nope! While we’ll never force her to be friends with the big guys, we are going to teach her to feel comfortable and confident in their company.
• I like when she jumps on me. Do I have to stop that?
  • Not necessarily… I will guide you toward behaviors that I believe will be healthier for your relationship, but as the owner, you ultimately get to decide what works best for you.

“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 choices were to either chase a squirrel all over the yard, or sit quietly and do nothing, of course your dog is going to have more fun blowing you off to chase the squirrel.

Second: you’re not being consistent in what you ask your dog to do. We get it -you’re busy, tired, and have a lot on your plate. Sometimes you’re going to let things slip and not follow through when you ask your dog to do something. We’ve all been there. But your dog is incredibly smart and picks up on those little moments. She begins to notice that you will let her behaviors slide sometimes. And once she figures that out, it’s game over because she’s going to keep testing your limits to see when she can find another moment to take advantage of.

So what can you do? Start by figuring out what motivates your dog -treats, toys, affection. And then work on being incredibly consistent when you ask your dog to do something.

Need help? We’re here for you! We know it’s not easy to fix old behaviors, so let us show you how we can make little changes with big results.