Teaching Self-Regulation Before the World Gets Interesting: Building Neural Pathways at Home
Most reactivity protocols start with the trigger. Keep the dog under threshold. Counter-condition. Desensitize. Click and treat when the dog…
The Observation Skills That Separate Good Trainers From Great Ones
There’s a moment in every dog trainer’s development when they realize the gap between what they thought they were seeing…
An Expensive Mistake
A handler approached Suzanne at one of her seminars, frustration evident in every word. “No matter what technique we use,…
Your Thumbs Are Enough: Training Reactive Dogs Without Physical Management
Inspired by a clip from her talk at the Aggression in Dogs Conference – Suzanne decided to write a blog…
Why Daily Observation Practice Transforms Dog Relationships More Than Any Training Technique
The most powerful tool for transforming your relationship with dogs isn’t a new training technique. It’s a practice you can…
There May Be Wisdom in Resistance
The dog who “suddenly” became “stubborn” about jumping. The retriever who “refuses” to pick up the dumbbell from the ground….
Why Your Brain is Sabotaging Your Dog Training
Your brain is lying to you about what you see. Right now, as you watch your dog, your mind is…
When Your Eyes Become Your Most Important Training Tool
Most people look at dogs constantly but rarely truly see them. There’s a profound difference between casual observation and the…
When “Reactive” Dogs Reveal Their True Selves
“Both of those dogs are reactive,” the trainer told me, gesturing toward two dogs whose behaviors had earned them that…
The Handler’s Role – Your Nervous System Is the Foundation for Relaxation
A lot of dog training is about finding ways to communicate to the dog what you want them to learn….
