The Dog Blog

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New and Experienced Owners

Freedom is Earned, It's Not a Right

I know how important it is to you to be able to give your dog(s) off leash freedom. And as a trainer, I want nothing more than to help you teach them to listen reliably when they are off leash. You... (continued)

Halloween Safety Tips

????Happy Halloween!!???? Although tonight is going to be a fun night for most of the kiddos, for many dogs it’s going to involve a lot more stress. People moving around in strange looking costumes, non-stop strangers at the door and, the... (continued)

Dogs and Calculus

When we raise our children from babies, it is understood and expected that they won’t understand our language or know our rules. We know that it will be our job to teach them, step by step, and then to remind... (continued)

Dog Park Etiquette: Having A Ball...Or Just Stealing Everyone Else's

Picture this: You and your dog are at the dog park playing ball. You've picked a quiet area out of the way of the regular play group crowd so that you'd have some space and wouldn't draw the attention... (continued)

Getting Your Dog Comfortable Being Brushed

For some dogs, regular brushing is a must, but often avoided because the dog is un-cooperative. Regular brushing not only helps to get rid of dead hair and skin cells, it keeps your house cleaner and also makes your groomers... (continued)

Should All Dogs Be Saved?

Telling someone that they need to euthanize their dog is the shittiest part of my job. I entered this career to help fix them, not to kill them, but once you’ve been in this career long enough you realize that... (continued)

Tips For Safe Playtime

Something I have been seeing quite a bit of lately are dogs who are getting really aggressive with their owners when they are playing with them or refusing to play altogether. A case in point was a puppy I... (continued)

Barking Angry Aggressive Mixed Breed Dog Running In Road

How To Stop A Dog Attack

Have you ever been charged at by an aggressive dog? If it ever happened to you, would you know what to do? Yesterday, my own dog was attacked. Well, almost attacked. But only because I knew how to stop it from... (continued)

Week Five: Teaching a Dog Not to Jump Up

In week five of our training series with reporter Maggie of A-channel’s Breakfast Television and her 7 month old Labradoodle, Lucy, we not only talk about how to discourage your dog from jumping up on you when you come home... (continued)

Selective focus on owner holding treat in hand

How to Fade the Food Lure

Having a dog that "only works for food" or "only listens if he knows I have a cookie" is one of the most common complaints I hear. So today I want to teach you how to eliminate the food lure... (continued)

Socialization Myths: Part 3

In this third and final video debunking two more popular myths around socializing dogs, you'll learn: ~ the only thing you need to know when it comes to socializing any dog ~ why less can be more when it comes... (continued)

What's Your Dog's "Type"?

A friend messaged me the other day saying he noticed that one of his dogs seemed to have a preference for playing with little white fluffy dogs, both male and female, and he wondered if this was normal? Dogs, like... (continued)

Children And Dog In Halloween Costumes For Trick Or Treating

Bark Box Halloween Fun

If you haven't heard of Bark Box, it's a monthly subscription of dog products that are sent directly to your door. Each box is full of toys and treats customised to your dogs size and each month offers a unique... (continued)

Balance in Exercise

Lately, I have been spending a lot of time telling people to change how they exercise their dogs. It is a common misconception - and one that I, myself, used to perpetuate - that dogs need a good hour or... (continued)

Beautiful Siberian Husky dog in winter forest

Overcoming Fear of Noises

A few years back I got a toaster. When I first brought it out of the box, it had to be run three times in a row to get rid of any chemical residue left over from the factory. I... (continued)

Cute purebred dog on leash and his owner in casualwear standing on trottoire

Week Four: Road Test – Taking Our Leash Manners to the City

In week four of our training series with reporter Maggie of A-channel’s Breakfast Television and her 7 month old Labradoodle, Lucy, we take the show on the road and do our lesson in downtown Sidney. We talk about how to... (continued)

Beagle dog pulling on the leash in sunny forest on path.

Pulling on Leash

One of the biggest complaints I get from owners is that their dogs pull on leash. Here I explain why your dog still pulls despite any training you may have done and a simple exercise to start teaching your dog... (continued)

How Taking Advice From Other Dog Owners Can Harm Your Dog

It doesn’t matter who you talk to, nearly every dog owner you meet is happy to give you training and behaviour advice about your dogs, even if you didn’t ask for it. While everyone is well intentioned in doing so, the... (continued)

Four Simple Ways to Stuff a Kong

I am ALL about problem behaviour prevention. After all, it's usually easier to prevent them than to fix them. Giving your dog something productive to focus on, like chewing on a well stuffed Kong, is one way to keep them... (continued)

Teaching Your Dog To "Find It"

It's that time of year where the weather is starting to become cold and gross, making the temptation to shorten your walks or cut the odd one out all together really high. But your dog still needs to exercise his... (continued)

Cleaning Dirty Paws Made Easy????

With terrible weather comes the need to wipe a lot of wet, muddy paws. A lot of people have trouble wiping their dogs feet because either the dog won't stand still or constantly pulls their feet away while you are... (continued)

charming-woman-in-pink-skirt-and-white-t-shirt-tra-2021-04-06-22-00-40-utc

Fun with Tricks: Teaching the 'Leg Weave'

Keeping your dog mentally and physically stimulated can be really challenging, especially if you have a high energy dog or one that is recovering from an injury. Teaching tricks is a great way to combat boredom while building a better... (continued)

Thank You Communicanine!

Thank you so much for taking on the challenge of training our little girl, Tia. You are the only one we had total trust and confidence in. Ulla, Doug & Tia the Soft Coated Wheaton Terrier, 5 1/2 months old.... (continued)

Week Three: Discouraging Jumping & Moving to More Distracting Environments

In week three of our training series with reporter Maggie of A-channel’s Breakfast Television and her 7 month old Labradoodle, Lucy, we talk about how to discourage your dog from jumping up on you. We also discuss why it's important... (continued)

3 Tips to Help Reduce Barking When Your Dog is Alone

We all know what a nuisance barking can sometimes be (especially if you own a Terrier like I do!), so to help you maintain a good relationship with your neighbours, I'm sharing a few simples strategies about how to help... (continued)

Funny dog portrait. Focus on a long tongue. Polish Tatra Sheepdog

Week One: Learning Loose Leash Walking

In week one of our training series with reporter Maggie of A-channel’s Breakfast Television, we introduce Maggie, her 7 month old Labradoodle, and teach the fundamentals of loose leash walking. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yV5M82V5cJk Additional Lessons: Week 2 – Learning the “Come” Command Week... (continued)

Socialization Myths: Part 2

This is part 2 of the series uncovering some of the more common misunderstandings about how and why to socialize your dog. This video will explain: ~ the behaviour changes you can expect as your dog grows up from a puppy... (continued)

How To Resolve Fence Fighting

Fence fighting is what happens when dogs on opposite sides of a fence or other barrier act in a barking, aggressive frenzy when they see one another. This barking can start off friendly enough but over time the frustration of... (continued)

Male cynologist with working dog, training outside

The Journey Is the Destination

I was talking to a client after class the other night about some of the challenges he’d been having with his young pup, the biggest of which being that she wouldn’t come when he called her. He mentioned that he’d... (continued)

The Key to Successfully Training Your Dog

We all admire those well trained dogs at the park or out walking with their owners and wish ours listened like that, too. Well, yours CAN listen like that and all it takes is doing this one simple step. Until next... (continued)

Housetraining 101

While there are no shortcuts to housetraining a dog or puppy, there are plenty of things you need to do to ensure the process doesn't take an unnecessarily long amount of time. Whether it's a puppy I am raising or... (continued)

Woman telling the dog that he is going have a brother

Preparing Your Dog Before Your First Baby Arrives

For some dogs, transitioning into life with a new baby is effortless. For others? Not so much. So I'm sharing with you some of the most important things to start teaching your dog NOW, before that baby arrives, that will... (continued)

Teach Your Dog To 'Get Dressed'

Does your dog play keep away when you want to put his collar, harness or head halter on? Here’s a simple hack: teach them how to co-operatively suit up to make heading out the door a hundred times easier.Please note:... (continued)

Two domestic dogs for a walk in the street.

How to Safely Introduce Two Dogs On Leash

The way dogs meet and greet each other when they are on leash can make or break their relationship and how much they like each other from the start. In this video, I share a really simple exercise to safely... (continued)

Portrait of Vizla dog standing on a meadow.

"Why?" And Other Questions To Ask When Training Your Dog

As a society, we are usually taught to follow what others tell us. Following the rules as they are laid out is favoured to critical thinking. When we're told that drinking two cups of milk every day is necessary for... (continued)

Week Two: Learning the Come Command

In week two of our training series with reporter Maggie and 7 month old, Lucy, of A-channel's Breakfast Television, we reviewed last weeks loose leash walking lesson with and introduced the come command. Plus, we talked about the importance of... (continued)

Charming lady posing with dogs outdoors.

Trail Etiquette: 5 Ways to Share the Trails

We undoubtedly live in one of THE. BEST. places to walk our dogs in all of Canada, but sometimes we share very different views on how to best share our walking spaces. Here are 5 simple etiquette tips for you... (continued)

happy-dog-on-a-pacific-northwest-beach-in-afternoo-2021-04-06-00-19-31-utc

Teaching Your Dog to Drop A Toy

Now, be honest. How many times has your dog picked something up that he shouldn't have or stolen a ball from another dog at the park and then, for the life of you, you couldn't get it back from him?... (continued)

Three Steps to Living With a Problem Free Dog

We all want live with a dog that has no issues. While there's no such thing as the perfect dog, there are 3 simple things you can do to ensure that your puppy or adult dog develops into one you... (continued)

low-angle-view-of-cute-little-dog-sitting-next-to-2021-04-04-08-32-15-utc

Get Your Socks On!!

This post is a little different than my others because it's a giveaway! Ever wanted to put your dog on a pair of socks? Now's your chance, but only if you act quickly! The first 10 people to follow the steps below... (continued)

Puppy Socialization Tips While Social Distancing

If you’ve just brought a puppy home, you may be stressing out about how to socialize them right now with our current social distancing requirements. The good news is your pup doesn’t need to meet hundreds of people and dogs... (continued)

From Alpha to Understanding: A Dog Trainer's Journey

I used to be one of those trainers who taught using dominance as my base for all behaviour. Even after I transitioned into positive training, when a dog would act up I would still use that as my behavioural model,... (continued)

man and dog play together jumpng and having fun in outdoor leisu

The Key to Motivating Your Dog

If you find your dogs response to commands, especially around distractions, is lack luster at best, than take a look at what you're using for motivation. The type of rewards you use in training can make the difference between a... (continued)

Introducing a New Dog Into Your Home

It's SO EXCITING bringing home a new dog, right?! And we all hope that the new dog will get along beautifully with the dogs we already have, but that isn't always what happens. So to increase the chances of getting... (continued)

Dog Dressed As Businessmen Eating From Bowl Labelled The Boss

Who's the Boss?

No, I’m not talking about the 80’s TV show. I’m talking about the question I regularly get asked by my clients about my dogs’ relationships to one another. My answer? All of them are. Contrary to what some dog trainers might have... (continued)

Come Command Do's and Don't's

'Come' is the one command that almost everyone struggle's with at some point and, for some of you, that struggle is a daily occurrence. Let's be honest, most of us (yes, even me) have had the experience of being left... (continued)

Why Visiting The Vet May Solve Your Dogs Problem Behaviour

Behaviour problems can have many root causes. Many years ago when I worked as a veterinary technician, a client brought in a new dog who hadn't been to a vet in many years. She was 7 years old, growled at... (continued)

Getting the right focus

As I have a high drive dog, I have had many challenges curbing her energy and focusing her on a goal that is mine, not hers. Darcie is right on top of Sam's every move, never missing a prick of... (continued)

Middle aged woman outdoors with cute dog – Jack Russell Terrier in winter season

Three Easy Ways to Make Training Fun

Have you ever noticed that when you're having fun learning something, not only do you learn it faster, but you can't wait to do it again? Dog training is exactly the same - if either you or your dog are... (continued)

1beautiful-young-woman-holding-corgi-puppy-dog-pull-76WFDBB

Is Your Dog A Strong Puller? Try This

Head halters can be a really useful tool, especially if you have a powerful puller or a dog that is reactive when out on walks, as they give you way more control. The downside is very few dogs take to... (continued)

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How Taking Advice From Other Dog Owners Can Harm Your Dog

2021-09-02T15:52:10-07:002021-01-29|

It doesn’t matter who you talk to, nearly every dog owner you meet is happy to give you training and [...]

Tuna Fudge Training Treats
Tuna Fudge Training Treats

Tuna Fudge Training Treats

2021-09-02T15:52:11-07:002019-12-04|

These are healthy, easy to make training treats that appeal to even the fussiest of palates and can cater to [...]

Halloween Safety Tips
Halloween Safety Tips

Halloween Safety Tips

2021-09-02T15:52:11-07:002019-10-31|

????Happy Halloween!!???? Although tonight is going to be a fun night for most of the kiddos, for many dogs it’s [...]

Bark Box Halloween Fun
Bark Box Halloween Fun

Bark Box Halloween Fun

2021-09-02T15:52:11-07:002019-10-24|

If you haven't heard of Bark Box, it's a monthly subscription of dog products that are sent directly to your [...]

Teaching a Release Cue
Teaching a Release Cue

Teaching a Release Cue

2021-09-02T15:52:11-07:002019-02-18|

As important as it is to teach your dog what sit and down mean, it's equally as important to teach [...]

Overcoming Fear of Noises
Overcoming Fear of Noises

Overcoming Fear of Noises

2021-09-02T15:52:10-07:002019-01-27|

A few years back I got a toaster. When I first brought it out of the box, it had to [...]

Should Dogs Be Left To ‘Work It Out’ On Their Own?
Should Dogs Be Left To ‘Work It Out’ On Their Own?

Should Dogs Be Left To ‘Work It Out’ On Their Own?

2021-09-02T15:52:10-07:002018-11-11|

How many times have you heard someone say to you 'Let them work it out' when two dogs are in [...]

Proper Dog Etiquette
Proper Dog Etiquette

Proper Dog Etiquette

2021-09-02T15:52:09-07:002018-09-21|

Is it appropriate to let your dog greet and play with every dog they meet on the street? Since dogs [...]

Building Comfort Around Your Dogs Food Bowl
Building Comfort Around Your Dogs Food Bowl

Building Comfort Around Your Dogs Food Bowl

2021-09-02T15:52:09-07:002018-07-13|

True or False: You need to take your dogs food away from him while he's eating to teach him that [...]

Get Your Socks On!!
Get Your Socks On!!

Get Your Socks On!!

2021-09-02T15:52:08-07:002018-06-14|

This post is a little different than my others because it's a giveaway! Ever wanted to put your dog on [...]

A Channel Miniseries

Follow along in this 6-part series, as Darcie speaks to A Channel and gives a crash course in the basics of essential training techniques.

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