Author: Nan Long

Congratulations to our new AKC S.T.A.R. Puppies Violet, Tucker, Sweet Pea, Voltron and their people! It's been so much fun working with all of you and I look forward to our continuing work together. Get a great start with your new puppy right away with our Whole Puppy Program. We are here to help you … Continue reading Our New AKC S.T.A.R. Puppies!

Probably the most important thing you can teach your dog is impulse control.  Using the Premack Principle, also known as “gramma’s law”, in other words you must eat your liver before you can have dessert.”  A good time at our house to work on it is at their dinner time.  I waited for the dogs … Continue reading Teaching Dogs Impulse Control

I have qualified for and have been accepted to take the Council for Certified Professional Dog Trainers Knowlege Assessed test.  I will be sitting for the test on September 28th.  In a largely unregulated industry, such as dog training, I wanted to make sure my alliance was with the associations with the industry’s highest standards … Continue reading Certified Professional Dog Trainer- KA

I recently came across an article written by the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior.  Called the AVSAB Positiion Statement, it is based on scientific studies (not your neighbor or popular television shows)  and they present facts regarding the use of punishment for behavior modification in animals.  Yes, that E-collar or electric collar some trainers … Continue reading Aversive Training Methods

Do you have an older dog that you are noticing changes in?  With age come both physical and behavioral changes, just as in humans.  Loss of hearing, problems with vision, mobility and health issues are just some of what they experience with old age.  A yearly or bi-yearly veterinary exam with blood work is essential … Continue reading Older Dog Challenges

How do you find a good dog trainer?  In an unregulated industry such as dog training, navigating the waters can be tough if you don’t know what to look for.  Now days lots of people are claiming to be a trainer.  Maybe they’ve watched reality tv shows and base their claims on that.  Anyone claiming … Continue reading Tips For Finding A Top Dog Trainer

Help!  The perfect puppy that was going to be “the perfect therapy dog” has just left the room at around 6 months of age.  It’s the final stage of puppy period and it is the most trying stage I see with clients.  It is the period that precedes adolescence and there is a shift of … Continue reading Where Did That Perfect Puppy Go?

There are typically three issues that most of my dog training clients are dealing with.  Maybe not always all three, but at least one of these is sure to be on their list.  My Dog Pulls My Dog Doesn’t Come My Dog Jumps. The problems arise from a miscommunication between dog and owner and lack … Continue reading Top Three Client Issues

New Puppy Training Essentials Yep, we did it.  We got a Boxer puppy and her name is Willow.  I've been a Boxer person for 35 years now, I know my breed. After having 3 rescued dogs in a row, we decided to get a new puppy from a conscientious breeder.  One who health tests, temperament … Continue reading Puppy Imprinting

Prevention and Treating Thunderstorm Anxiety It's that time of year that we don't look forward to with our dogs.  Those noisy angels bowling up in heaven and the crashing of cymbals from above, can be scary and foreign to a lot of dogs.  Imprinting young puppies with tapes of thunderstorms early on, can be very … Continue reading Thunderstorm Anxiety