There's a lot of debate in the dog training industry about what training methods work best, what tools and methods actually harm dogs, and what is "right" and what is "wrong" when it comes to training dogs. Let's look at the facts. Positive reinforcement Without getting too technical, positive reinforcement is a way of training that focuses on rewarding and encouraging good behaviors, rather than punishing bad behaviors. Research has shown that dogs trained with reward-based

October is National Pit Bull Awareness month! How much do you know about this loyal and loving breed? 1: The American Kennel Club (AKC) does not recognize the American Pit Bull Terrier as a breed. However, the United Kennel Club (UKC) and the American Dog Breeders Association (ADBA) do recognize the American Pit Bull Terrier as a breed. The term "pit bull" is commonly used to describe three breeds: the American Staffordshire terrier, the Staffordshire terrier, and the America

What is canine enrichment? Canine enrichment refers to any activity that enhances a dog's mental, physical, and emotional wellbeing, and often involves allowing them the freedom to just be dogs. Toys are one of the most commonly used forms of enrichment, but there are many others: games, puzzles, nose-work, long walks that allow time for sniffing, training sessions, dog sports, and more. Let's take a deeper look into canine enrichment. Why enrichment is important. Our dogs ar

There is a nationwide crisis when it comes to stray, abandoned, and surrendered dogs. I want to take a moment to just say thank you from the bottom of my heart for wanting to rescue a dog in need! Unfortunately, not many people can make any dog work for them. There’s a lot to consider : lifestyle, financial situation, personality, health and mobility, other pets or children in the home, etc. It can be difficult to think through all of these things, but it becomes a million t

Many dog owners put up "BEWARE OF THE DOG" signs to warn others that they have a dog, or to deter potential break-ins. While these signs are posted with the intention to protect ourselves and our dogs, in some cases these signs can actually work against us. Let's talk more about it: Semantics matter The words we use can matter a whole lot when it comes to the signs we use on our properties in regards to our dogs. Words such as "beware," "warning," or "caution" can be seen as

Sometimes it can be hard to tell if our dogs are playing or if a fight is about to happen. And sometimes, what we think is a gesture of play is actually an act of dominance or aggression. After all, teeth, loud noises, and making physical contact are often involved in both instances of play and fighting. Here are five common things to keep an eye out for when dogs are interacting to help you determine if they're playing or not. Play Bows You've probably seen these before (if

Dogs. They’ve been with us humans for thousands of years . They’ve been alongside us for so long that many of us feel it’s unnatural to NOT have a dog in our lives. So, we bring these adorable, loyal creatures into our homes and hearts with excitement and anticipation of blissful companionship and living happily ever after. Sometimes though, our daydreams are quickly interrupted by how much time our new buddy needs in ways we didn’t expect. Let’s explore three unexpected time