You Are Already Communicating Before You Do Anything
You walk into a room where a shy or fearful dog is present. You have not spoken, reached out, or…
What a Fearful Dog Is Actually Asking For
There’s a conversation happening every time a dog backs away from a stranger, shuts down at the end of a…
Why ‘Big Bucket’ Assessments Are Failing Your Dogs
Two dogs sit before you, both labeled “highly distractible” by the same assessment tool. Dog A’s head swivels at every…
Beyond Reactive and Stubborn: Why Vague Labels Fail Dogs
We love our labels. “Reactive.” “Stubborn.” “High drive.” “Shy.” Walk into any training facility or shelter, and you’ll hear these…
What Makes the Reactivity Repair Kit Different
If you’ve been working with reactive dogs for any length of time, you’ve likely collected techniques from various sources. A…
What Your Eye Misses: Hidden Traits That Can Determine Training Success
You watch a dog in training and see the obvious: jumps up on people, pulls on leash, doesn’t come when…
The First Piece of the Connection Puzzle: Why The Auto Check-in Changes Everything
Picture a jigsaw puzzle with five hundred pieces scattered across your dining room table. You’re staring at all those pieces,…
The Trust Fund Puppy: When Your Client’s Dog Has a Better Life Than You Do
You know those celebrities who are famous for… well, for what exactly? They appear to be utterly free of the…
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…
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….
