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The best in health, wellness, and positive training from America’s leading dog experts

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Training

Dock Diving: A Dog Jumping Competition

A Labrador leaps into a pool in a Splash Dogs contest, one type of dock jumping.
dog recall training

Daily Practice Makes for Perfect Dog Recall Training

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Coming when called – a “recall” as it’s often known in dog-training circles – is arguably the most important behavior you can teach your...

Ways to Combat Your Dog’s Indoor Urine-Marking

I can still remember the day, more than a decade ago, when I first realized with horror that our Scottish Terrier, Dubhy (pronounced Duffy")

Tracking Your Dog’s Training Progress

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Lately, it seems like there's an epidemic of people around me who can't see their own and their dog's progress. In a similar vein, I've been surprised by the number of clients who seem to take their dog's improvement for granted, yet continually expect more and more.
Cooperative care for dogs

Cooperative Care for Dogs: Giving Your Dog Choice and Control

My wonderful Scottie/Corgi/Poodle-mix, Bonnie, had long, fine, curly fur that tangled easily. She was relatively tolerant of my frequent insistence on combing out the...
Choosing to use respectful dog training language with your dog is important for both training and your relationship.

Words Matter: Respectful Dog Training Language

Why the words you use make a difference in your relationship with your dog – and perhaps even the success of your dog training program.

Feeling Alone in Group Training Class

Group training classes are a mixed bag of pros and cons. And I say this as someone who has made a fair amount of my annual income by teaching group training classes. I also attend group classes with my own dog. By design, the ideal candidate" for a positive-reinforcement group manners class is the generally happy-go-lucky
The alpha dog theory is widely discredited.

Debunking the “Alpha Dog” Theory

so he's trying it again.üIs this dog dominant or acting like an "alpha dog"? No; he's been trained to jump up and bite on cue."
Dog training tools like treat pouches and tethers can make positive reinforcement a daily habit.

Best Tools for Daily Dog Training

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When it comes to training our canine companions, there are a few important items — beyond essentials like a collar and leash — that you’ll want to have on hand to set you and your dog up for success.

The “I Come In Peace” Guarding-Modification Protocol

This article is a sidebar/companion piece to "Changing of the Guarder: Resource Guarding in Dogs." This guarding-modification protocol, created by my friend and fellow trainer...

Install an Off-Switch on Playtime

you are in for a lot more of the same."

Performance-Enhancing Herbs For Competitive Dogs

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In every obedience match, tracking test, field trial, agility event, show ring, athletic competition and puppy kindergarten class, owners and handlers are eager to find whatever strategies, products, and equipment will give their dogs an advantage. One healthy shortcut to the winner’s circle comes from Mother Nature, for with the help of medicinal herbs, dogs can concentrate despite distractions, relax under stress, keep their joints limber, improve their coats, increase their stamina and possibly even improve their sense of smell.