Before you hire a dog trainer, there is one extremely important thing you need to know: DOG TRAINING IS COMPLETELY UNREGULATED No licensing board. No minimum education requirements. No universal ethical standards. Nothing. Which means, legally and spiritually, anyone can wake up tomorrow and decide they’re a dog guru. No coursework. No exams. No supervision. Just a website, a logo, and an alarming amount of confidence. And yes, they can use methods that would get side-eyed (or straight-up...

With spring on the horizon, parks and sidewalks fill up with families and their pets. It’s common, and charming, to see children walking dogs. But I don’t recommend allowing children to walk dogs without active adult supervision. Recently, I witnessed a situation that perfectly illustrates why. Two young girls were walking a cute Labrador puppy. It looked idyllic, until another couple passed with their Doodle. The puppy bolted toward the Doodle and the leash was whipped out of the girl’s...

Christmas morning is magical. Twinkling lights, familiar traditions, and for some of us… a brand new furry family member. Welcoming a puppy or newly adopted dog during the holidays can be incredibly joyful, but it also comes with unique challenges. As a trainer , I work with many families once things have already gone off the rails, and I often find myself wishing I could have worked with those households earlier. Many common behavior problems are far easier to prevent than to undo later. If...