Is your dog ready for group classes?

Dogs must be safe and feel safe around people and other dogs before they are ready to learn obedience and basic manners.

Review the categories below to see which best describes your dog:
READY – Is safe with all people and dogs.
NEEDS IMPROVEMENT – Is safe with all people, but requires caution around other dogs (snarling, snapping, [...]

Tip: What to look for in the parents of your puppy

photo credit: janiejonesmt
So you’re ready to get your next puppy, and have done your research in choosing a breeder. Or maybe you’re about to pluck a puppy from a out of a litter that arrived with its mother. Of course you will want to know as much about your new puppy’s upbringing as possible, [...]

Your agility dog: Building focus and drive (Part One)

In agility or other dog sports, we often hear about a dog’s drive. Maybe someone has said your dog has a lot of drive, or could use more drive.
What is “drive”?
Sometimes you’ll hear people talk about different types of drive in dogs, such as fight drive, play drive or prey drive. For our purposes, we’ll [...]

Five reasons to avoid invisible fencing

Invisible fencing may seem like a good idea on the outset, but I believe the risks outweigh the benefits. Below are five reasons I think these fences aren’t the best option for containing your dog.

You still have to train the dog. Many people assume an invisible or underground fence is “plug ‘n’ play” — that [...]

Debunking dog myths

You think you know your dog? See if your dog has been subject to any of these popular canine myths.
Talk to anyone from your next-door neighbor to your cousin who shows dogs, and you’ll hear a variety of interpretations on dogs and dog behavior. Some of the most common myths I hear regarding our canine [...]

When to seek help with your dog

Most folks either know of or used to have a dog that was absolutely perfect — never made a mess in the house, didn’t shed, never jumped up, never barked inappropriately, never lunged at people or other dogs, never chewed the furniture, always laid quietly in another room during dinner, always paid its taxes on [...]