So Much PETential

11/03/2025

Does your dog bark at what he sees outside the car window?

Here is an easy management solution to keep your dog busy with an activity, and not busy looking out the window.

My client gave her dog a snoop toy on the floor of her car. Some other ideas -

A frozen food stuffed dog toy
Soft food smeared on a lick mat
A chew toy

10/31/2025

Oh my gosh, Schitzel steals more of my heart every time I am with him. Today was rainy so we trained in a store. For a 5 month old, he was such a little star.

10/30/2025

It is always so bittersweet when I finish a package with a client. This photo speaks volumes for Caryn (human) and Vera (dog)'s relationship. I have loved working with and getting to know them, and seeing such great progress! When we began, Vera would bark and pull toward most people and dogs she saw. Watching them walk together down their street with a loose leash was heartwarming. (I may have shared that video a few weeks ago) I have a feeling I'll see them again...I'd love that.

10/29/2025

As a dog trainer, THIS is how I relate to my dog’s behaviors.

I remind myself often that…

Lack of certainty and predictability can make me stressed too.

I also do not like being pressured to do things.

I get grumpy when I am hungry or overly tired too.

In the moment, I am going to make choices based on where the value is for me.

I appreciate when someone has confidence in me to learn, to make my own choices, and to grow.

My favorite teachers, mentors and friends are people who understand that.

They bring out my best.

And THAT is what I want to do for my dog.

10/27/2025

Limited on time to walk your dog? I take my dog to heavily scented path close to my home and give my dog freedom to explore and use his nose. A sniffing walk has a wonderful decompression benefit. And my dog comes home relaxed and fulfilled. I bet yours will too.

10/24/2025

HALLOWEEN IS SPOOKY!
It can bring out the scary in dogs. Please consider these tips for fun and safe trick-or-treating.


And, VERY IMPORTANT – HAVE FUN!!!


Family Paws Parent Education

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10/23/2025

I love asking my students what they learned in my kids class. These girls shared their interpretation of the lessons in my kids class. My last class for 2025 will be December 3 in Wyoming Ohio at the Wyoming Civic Center. More info and registration is at: www.somuchpetential.com/kids-amd-dogs

10/22/2025

It used to be, my boy would sit beside my desk or bring me a stuffed animal to let me know it is break time. Lately he has started doing this.

10/22/2025

When practicing teaching your dog to come, remember to set things up for your greatest chance of success.

On this Cincinnati farm, this sweet adolescent collie, loves to explore and use her nose! We let her do that on a long line for safety. No recall practices while she was in heavy sniffing mode as, at this stage of training, she would not have been able to come when called. If she did check in, we’d certainly reinforce her!

Then we moved away to another area where we could have success. With very high value treats, still using a long line, we did a few repetitions of recall before calling it a day.

Lucky did great!

When teaching your dog recall:

Practice only when you can predict success.

Put the weight on the consequence of your dog’s coming when called behavior. What will you offer your dog that is of huge value when your dog chooses to respond?

Don’t practice this for long but make sure it is a lot of fun for you and your dog!

10/21/2025

Are you planning on dressing your dog in a costume this Halloween? I see a lot of dogs in costumes in Cincinnati. My little boy wears a pumpkin that attaches around his waist and neck, just as his harness does...so it really is no big deal for him. Especially since he wears winter coats made that same way in the winter. I wrote about some considerations to think about in this post.
https://rebrand.ly/Halloween-dog-costume

10/20/2025

When you are walking your dog, is one of your problems with loose leash walking that your dog likes to take off after what he sees as fun in the environment?

This is how I solve the problem when walking my own dog in Cincinnati.

We frequently walk where there are people, squirrels, and geese. I use a long leash so that he has freedom to sniff and move at his pace. Our SEARCH game is how my dog, Dawson, can now often walk past geese easily.

On this Cincinnati campus, I do shorten the leash when we are walking through a crowd of students, but the leash is loose. I also may choose to ask him to sit or lay down off the sidewalk to let them pass. Once the sidewalk is clear, I often send him on a SEARCH and then keep on walking.

10/17/2025

Cincinnati pet parents - I have a few more openings for my kids class in Wyoming Ohio next week. I teach children (age 6 to 11) what it means to be a good dog friend and teacher. We practice learning how dogs communicate, how they can help their dog behave better and how they can be someone their dog will want to listen to. Murphy is my helper dog.

You can register here: www.somuchpetential.com/kids-and-dogs