Blog
Random thoughts from a Dog Trainer
Veterinary Professionals Aren’t in It for the Money — Here’s the Math to Prove It
Over the past several months, I have seen several posts on social media bashing veterinary hospitals for "not caring about saving animals' lives" or "only caring about money." There's a persistent myth that veterinary clinics are cash cows, quietly raking in profits...
Trusting Professionals: The Importance of Critical Thinking
Questioning Professional Authority A common theme I often hear or see is, "Well, so-and-so is a professional, so I went along with it because I thought they were doing what was right!" This statement is deeply troubling especially when it concerns our animals. It...
Oh No, She a Big Girl Now!!!
Recent studies have shown that responsible pet owners should keep their dogs intact, especially larger breeds, for up to 2 years (studies are listed here, here, and here). This means more and more regular pet owners are going to have to deal with things like their...
What’s in a Treat?
In welcome messages and over the phone, I always recommend dog owners bring three times as many treats to class or private lessons as they think they'll need. In this recommendation, I always recommend "small-moist" treats. After this statement, owners always ask...
Don’t Be a High Maintenance Girlfriend
Let's set the scene... You get a new puppy. You "ooohhh" and "aaawww" over this puppy. The puppy grows up and realizes there's a world out there! This world doesn't include you! There are sniffs, smells, other dogs, and PEOPLE!!! SO MANY NEW FRIENDS!!! What do you...
More posts
A Case Study: When Rehoming Your Pet Works Out
Meet Campbell Campbell is my 3-4 year old spayed, female cat. I got her October of 2022 from my laboratory instructor at Veterinary Technology school. Prior to living with me, Campbell lived at my instructor's house as a "semi-feral" cat. I was told Campbell does not...
Incompatible Behavior…What?
What is an Incompatible Behavior? The simple answer is a behavior that is taught, so the learner cannot do a less desired behavior. Let's think of a few examples of when this might be true. This works in everyday life just like it works in dog training, so we will use...
Fussy Eaters Anonymous
Most dogs will eat their food happily and readily, but what about our dogs who are a little fussier about eating? Do you have a dog who is a little reluctant to eat? Have you decided to switch from free feeding to set meal times? We may never know why some dogs are...
Bringing Home Puppy
New puppies are so much fun, but they can be a ton of work!!! I brought home a puppy a little over two years ago and the months and weeks leading up to bringing my little bundle of joy home were full of excitement and planning! So much planning and prep was going on...
Parasites & How to Prevent Them!
When we ring in a new year, many of us make pledges to live a healthier lifestyle. But what about a healthier lifestyle for our furry friends? Many pet owners take their dogs and cats to a veterinarian for annual wellness exams, and during those visits vaccinations...
Veterinary Waiting Room Etiquette
As a pet owner, dog trainer, and credentialed veterinary technician, I have spent a fair amount of time in the waiting room at the veterinarian's office. While in the waiting room, I have seen some close calls between dogs that were scary for someone who is fluent in...
Wildly Friendly Dogs
Let’s take a deep dive into why dogs jump up on people, how to prevent it, and how to retrain our dogs to not jump up. For many people a wildly friendly dog can be dangerous. Grandma cannot withstand the impact of Fido’s exciting greetings with his sharp nails and...
House Training Troubleshooting
House training, or teaching your puppy where you would like him or her to eliminate, is one of the most important skills a puppy can learn. Learning this skill can have a huge impact on the puppy's quality of life. If a puppy is unable to consistently eliminate...
Confessions from a Dog Trainer – Sit Fido Sit!
It never fails. Every new class session, every new private lesson, and every time I go to dog owners' homes, I generally hear the same thing. Frantic owners saying "Sit! Sit Fido Sit!!!" and "I promise Fido knows how to sit!" I am not entirely sure what is going on in...
When Saying Goodbye is Hard Enough
As an animal lover and pet owner, it is likely that you have experienced the difficult decision of having to say goodbye to your pet. The toughest part is when we humans must make that decision for our animals by choosing humane euthanasia. It might be an older dog,...