‘What do you think of Cesar Millan?’

I get asked that question a lot.
The short explanation is that it’s a television show — entertaining to some, I’m sure, but not particularly useful to pet owners watching the show, and potentially dangerous to dogs and people alike.
The longer explanation is here, or here.
For you geeky behavior types, Eric Goebelbecker over at Dog Spelled [...]

Why Puppy Kindergarten is vital for your dog

Do you have a puppy between eight weeks and three months old? Then there’s not a minute to lose: enroll your new friend in Puppy Kindergarten!
The American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior recently released a position statement recommending puppy socialization classes for puppies three months of age and younger. This recommendation is an exciting acknowledgment [...]

The 15-minute feeding schedule

What is the 15-minute feeding schedule?

It’s the simplest way to alter the way your dog interacts with you, with the least effort on your part.

Roundup: Your adolescent dog

A roundup of articles to help you and your pup sail through the choppy waters of adolescent months.

“Adolescent Changes” From Dog Star Daily. No, you’re not losing your mind — the cute puppy who would never leave your side is now blowing you off and stealing from the trash. Learn what to expect, and take [...]

Three simple strategies for training your dog not to jump up

photo credit: CarbonNYC
Teaching your dog not to jump up on you or your guests may seem like an impossible task, especially if you have a dog who loves people (and people who love dogs)! How many times have your guests been greeted at the door by your overenthusiastic canine’s nose and front feet, while [...]

How old should my puppy be before I start training?

“How old does my puppy have to be before I can begin training?”
This is a question I am asked often. The puppy in this video is 10 weeks old; but you don’t even have to wait that long! “Training” starts the day you bring your new dog or puppy home to live with you — [...]

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 [...]

Want a smarter dog? Try target training

An easy way to add to your dog’s repertoire of tricks or commands is to teach her how to target objects.
Targeting (or “target training”) means your dog pays attention to, and then performs an action based on, a particular stimulus (usually an object such as your hand, or a target stick). A dog putting his [...]

Dog chases squirrel: Predatory arousal and calming signals

This dog gives us an excellent look at arousal; in this case, predatory arousal. Note her dilated pupils and wide-mouthed panting. Watch during the first five seconds of the video as she licks her lips — this is a calming signal asking the person with the camera to please “back off.” Keep an eye on [...]

Classes near Athens, Ohio

Our group classes are tailored so you and your dog can gain positive, consistent behavior in the real world. We take you beyond commands to the world of animal behavior. Our positive reinforcement techniques make learning fun and effective. Not 100% satisfied? Take the class again for free!
A new class series will begin in mid-March. [...]