Category: Dog Training
The Difference Between Corrections and Punishment
THE PROBLEM Many modern dog traineres call themselves "purely positive". Whether or not that's a good characterization (I don't think it is, since most endorse the use of things dogs hate like head-halters (Gentle Leader), "time outs", and crating), the [...]
Why “Luring” With Treats Isn’t How You Want To Obedience Train Your Dog
The vast majority of modern-day trainers will teach obedience commands by "luring" the dog to do the desired behavior. Usually with edible treats, but the same can be done with a ball, squeaky, tug toy, bone, or other desirable [...]
The Hidden Value of Hiring Hour-long Walks
Most city dog owners end up having to hire dog walkers or walking services to take their pups out. At least when the owners are busy or out of town. Many owners set up regular schedules, hiring walks every day. This [...]
The Failure Of Treat-Focused, “Purely Positive” Dog Training
So-called "purely positive" training is a huge new fad. It means you only reward your dog's good behavior; you never correct the bad. Most purely positive trainers are what I call "treat-focused", centering around giving the dog edible treats [...]
When is Crate-Training Helpful? (Not as Often as You Think!)
If you believe everything you read on the internet, you'll get the impression you're a bad dog owner if you don't "crate train" your new puppy or rescue. I disagree. Crating can definitely have its place, and its benefits. Problem [...]
Why Walk Your Dog? (The Answer May Surprise You!)
All good owners know they need to walk their dog. Granted, there are exceptions … like the nice lady who called me because her dog was chewing and destroying the house, and then looked surprised when I told her the problem [...]
“Don’ts” When Training Recall (“Come!”)
In my last post I explained why what I call "Leading" is a more helpful obedience ritual to have mastered than recall ("Come") when taking your dog offleash. Still, "Come" can be a very useful command, particularly in various [...]
Offleash obedience: the “Zig-Zag” lead
Ask anyone, including most dog trainers, what is the most essential offleash obedience exercise to practice, and 99 times out of 100 you'll hear "Recall" (aka "Come"). "Come" is an extremely important command to have under your belt. I [...]
Edible Treats vs. Situational Rewards
I consider myself a non-"treat-focused" dog trainer. This can be helpful when working with phobic or anxiety-ridden dogs who won't accept treats in key trigger situations, or also with hyper or dominant/demanding dogs who are more in need of calmness [...]