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There is a lot of misinformation out in the dog world regarding the term dominance and alpha. The true meaning of dominance is a description of status within a stable canine social hierarchy.  A dominant canid controls priority access to a range of resources including food, choice sleeping spaces and breed rights. (Barbara Handelman, Canine … Continue reading Benevolent Leadership

How can we learn to walk with the dog?  Enriching our connection is the key.  Proper equipment can be helpful but is not the total answer.  I prefer to use front clip harnesses to help teach dogs to walk with out pulling, as they are less aversive than head collars and prong collars.  If I … Continue reading Walking With Your Dog

As a Certified Professional Dog Trainer, I adhere to the policy of Least Intrusive, Minimally Aversive (LIMA), approach to behavior modification and training.  This means that one of our very important tools is management.  What is the dog practicing?  How is he able to practice it?  Can we manage the environment to help manage the … Continue reading Management Is Key

We are members of the American Association of Professional Dog Trainers and Nan is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer - Knowledge Assessed.  Those associations require that we adhere to the use of LIMA, also known as least intrusive, minimally aversive training methods.  Using a set of humane and effective tactics we create plans that are … Continue reading We adhere to APDT LIMA position statements.

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