Category: Dog Training

Pain or Intimidation in Dog Training – Beware!

Everyone with any sense knows not to hit their dog. I recently contributed so-called "expert opinion" to an article explaining why. It ain't rocket science. Here's what I wrote. _________________ Hitting, or causing your dog pain or fear in [...]

Fear/Anxiety Dos and Don’ts, Part V: The Big To-Do(s)

Canine Fear/Anxiety Dos and Don’ts Part V: The Big To-Do(s) Finally, a few big "Dos" for your fearful or anxious dog: 1. Obedience exercises. Fearful dogs in trigger situations can be helped by giving them something else to focus [...]

Fear/Anxiety Dos and Don’ts, Part IV: Avoiding Avoidance

Canine Fear/Anxiety Dos and Don’ts Part IV:  Avoiding Avoidance 1. Don't avoid! Don't cross the opposite side of the street when you spot your dog's arch-enemy coming your way; don't chart walks with your nervous dog on quiet mornings [...]

Fear/Anxiety Dos and Don’ts, Part III: Building Trust

Canine Fear/Anxiety Dos and Don’ts Part III:  Building Trust 1. Don't kill yourself trying to figure out why your dog is afraid - or even of what in particular. When I began my training career I would take extensive histories of [...]

Fear/Anxiety Dos and Don’ts, Part II: Leashing Up

Canine Fear/Anxiety Dos and Don’ts Part II:  Leashing Up 1. Don't use a back-clip harness, unless your dog's physiology requires it for health/safety reasons. (Physiological reasons might include a weak trachea or injured back or neck.) A back-clip harness [...]

Canine Fear And Anxiety Dos and Don’ts, Part I

I recently had the privilege to speak at yet another fun and educational seminar from the good people at Brooklyn Bark and FIDO, on "Canine Fear and Anxiety". The title of my talk was "Dos and Don'ts". I've distilled [...]

To Tyson

Last week I cried as a sweet, peaceful, loving dog stopped breathing in my arms. Then I cried tears of joy, as I watched him come back to life. I'd traveled that day to Sheepshead Bay to work with [...]

The Difference Between Assertive and Aggressive

In New York Magazine's blurb about Calm Energy Dog Training - under "Best Dog Trainer" in their "Best Of New York 2013" issue - they write "Newman's approach [is to] reconcile being calm and aggressive at once." If you know something about dog [...]

“Best Dog Trainer” – New York Magazine, March 2013

Extra! Extra! For all you literate pups out there whom I've had the honor of working with, you can now thank your owners and brag to your friends that your trainer was voted "Best Dog Trainer" by New York Magazine (NYMag.com), [...]