Introducing a New Dog to Your Pack
As you may know, earlier this year, I added a new puppy to my household! It’s very exciting to get a new dog and integrate them into your existing group. Some dogs are wonderful at greeting their new canine siblings right from the get go. Others, need some time to warm up. So, how do…
Read MoreFunctional Rewards and How To Use Them
People who use positive reinforcement (R+) based training often catch a lot of flak for being “cookie pushers.” The truth is that yes, R+ training does involve the use of food because food is a primary reinforcer. This means that dogs need it to live so they have a high motivation to seek out food…
Read MoreMeeting Your Dog’s Needs
The best way to live in harmony with our dogs is to try and meet their needs. All dogs are individuals but some needs are universal. Let’s dive into their general needs and how we as owners can meet them. Physical: Dogs need physical exercise daily. Unfortunately, most of us could never run or walk…
Read MorePuppy Socialization: Do’s and Dont’s
Puppy ownership is on the rise, even though coronavirus quaratine and social distancing guidelines are creating unique challenges for socializing our new pups. Here are some tips for smart socializing. Do: Start Young Prime socialization age is from 8 to 16 weeks. Often, dog owners will avoid taking their puppies out in public because they…
Read MoreCreating a Training Plan
Let’s talk about how trainers come up with a behavior modification training plan. There can be many moving parts involved in a good training plan. Luckily, professional organizations like the CCPDT, APDT and IAABC have created a road map called the Humane Hierarchy. Below is an infographic showing the hierarchy and its steps. Humane Hierarchy…
Read MoreHow to Change Unwanted Behaviors
A lot of people come to dog training classes or private lessons to help learn how to stop unwanted behavior. I wanted to write this blog to help you understand how we address behavior change, specifically for unwanted behaviors. There are four ways to address unwanted behaviors that I will go over for you in…
Read MoreWhat to Teach Your Puppy First
You got a new puppy! How exciting! Did you know that training can start immediately? Because every interaction is training. What we reinforce with our pups will continue. So, what should you focus on reinforcing first? Name recognition: Your puppy has a new name, so it’s essential to help them learn that name. Start by…
Read MoreDog Friendly Gardens
Happy Spring! This year, for many reasons, I am taking up gardening! One of those reasons is to provide enrichment and healthy eating for my pups! Herbs and flowers are great ways to provide scent related enrichment to your dogs, by giving them novel items to smell! And a vegetable garden can be used to…
Read MoreMy Favorite Treats for Training
I often get asked about my favorite treats for training. After having been training dogs for more than ten years, I have plenty of suggestions! Single Ingredient Treats: For treats that need to be high value or for dogs with allergies and other food sensitivities, single ingredient varieties are great! Here are a few of…
Read MoreGuide to Dog Friendly Businesses
Get out and explore the Valley this summer with our exclusive guide to dog friendfly restaurants, bars, breweries, distilleries and wineries arounf the Lehigh Valley! Click here to download your free guide!
Read MoreHomemade Dog Treats
If you followed my Instagram stories earlier this week (@educaninedogtraining), you saw me go on a tear making different treats for my dogs. That is because I got some great stuff for Christmas that I couldn’t wait to use. Today I am going to share the different recipes, tools, and techniques I use to make…
Read MoreSetting Your Dog Up for Success
Have you ever experienced resistance from your dog during a training session? Have you found it difficult to get over certain snags during your sessions? Does your dog sometimes not respond to your training when other times they do? The reason for this May because of your training setup. Arranging antecedents is one of the…
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