In May, Jenn was interviewed by journalist Jodi Helmer on the training side of reducing anxiety in dogs. While most of the article focused on products that can be used to reduce anxiety, we wanted to share our full response to help pet owners maximize the benefit of these products, and understand the science behind it. Jodi: Is it possible to use training to help your dog deal with anxiety? If so, please explain. Jenn: Great question! Not only is it possible, it’s almost always necessary to use training to help your dog deal with anxiety. Most of the anti-anxiety Read More

Einstein was a 9 year old Golden Retriever who was quite the enthusiastic boy! He lived with his owner, Rebecca, and her 80-year-old mother. Einstein (affectionately nicknamed Einey), like most Goldens, got quite excited at times and had knocked Rebecca’s mother over on occasion, resulting in both a broken arm and a broken leg. Due to the hazard he posed to her mother, Einstein was on the verge of losing his home when Rebecca contacted us for help. Like many dogs, Einstein had done well in group classes but struggled to generalize the behaviors needed to home. He was in Read More

Cali was a 10.5 year old spayed female Labrador mix. At approximately 8 years old, Cali was attacked by an off leash dog during a walk and needed extensive medical care as a result. Two years later, Cali was attacked again at a dog park which sent her back to the emergency vet. Between the two incidents, Cali became proactively defensive around dogs and bit a family member while on a walk. The family member was trying to get Cali away from other dogs. At this point I was called in to help the family be able to safely resume Read More

One of the most common things that dog owners come to me to address is to “improve their dog’s socialization”. Usually this is an adult dog that is displaying what we call reactivity, or barking and lunging at other dogs (or people). There are two main points to take away here. Socialization is something that is done primarily as a puppy and is maintained throughout their life. Socialization means being comfortable in the presence of something, not necessarily seeking it out. As I mentioned in my previous blog post, puppies have developmental windows. These windows allow them to be more Read More

One of the most frustrating things for puppy owners has to do with developmental stages. Puppies go through several developmental periods that cause changes in behavior and responsiveness. Knowing where your puppy is in their development can help ease frustration for both of you, as well as better prepare you for navigating the challenges ahead. Pat Hastings, author of multiple award-winning books on puppy physical and mental development, goes in depth into each of the stages in her book, Another Piece Of The Puzzle: Puppy Development. I’ve summarized the periods most relevant to puppy and adolescent dog owners below, as Read More