Best Friend Dog Training

10/11/2025

Three times this week my Cyndy has shown me her protectiveness of me. Folks this is not something I trained in her. Protectiveness of your pack is instinctive. Each of those times something startled me enough my heart was pounding and I squealed and jumped. Cyndy placed herself in front of me and blocked ‘the danger’ from me!

10/10/2025

Obedience School Delinquent, part two

Last week I shared how to refresh your dog’s obedience by spending a week focusing on the SIT command. By now, he should be sitting much better for you and not jumping up the moment you say “good dog.” This week we add two commands to Obedience Remedial Training. Please keep in mind this series is written for dog owners who already know the commands but haven’t been using them. Future columns will address the how of these commands for new trainers.

Week two focuses on HEEL and STAY. Remember how nice it was in the weeks following your classes when your dog walked smartly at your side? Does he still do that or does he inch ahead of you until he is the clear leader of the walk? While I do not think it necessary to heel a dog at all times and never allow him the freedom to run, I do believe the owner must be in control of all walks. If you walk on a road, in a neighborhood, or a crowd it is imperative you dog walk in HEEL.

When your dog heels, he walks on your left side, his head beside your leg, watches you, walks your pace, turns when you turn, and sits beside you when you stop. He does not sniff, or watch other people or animals, and he never goes to the bathroom while heeling. This week you need to take your dog for a daily fifteen minute heel walk, as much as time and weather permits. Longer than fifteen minutes is great. And, be sure your dog relieves himself before the walk so he will not need to during it. Within one week of heel-walking you will enjoy the time together much more. An added benefit is heel walks tire him more because he gets physical and mental exercise. He will be more settled in the house on the days you take a nice heel walk.

STAY is probably the most misused and under-corrected of the obedience commands. You never use it alone, but as more of a clarification. When he is in a sit or down he should remain there until given another command, despite praise and distraction. Do not get in the habit of saying ‘stay’ every time you use one of the other commands. Use stay to inform him to get comfortable he will be there a while. When I say stay to my dogs, they usually sigh because it means they’re not getting up soon. I recommend using the word ‘stay’ when he will remain there over five minutes.

After last week’s concentration on the sit command and this week with stay and heel, your dog should be well on the way to returning to his obedience glory days. Be sure to use these commands. Incorporate them into your daily routine so you will never again need a refresher. Stay tuned next week for reviews of the DOWN and COME commands.

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09/25/2025

Because some days you just need to celebrate you dear friend’s newest book!!! If you love clean romantic suspense give Patricia Bradley a try! Especially if you love series, she has several awesome series!

09/24/2025

Obedience School Delinquent, part one

I often have clients say something like this: “I took my cocker spaniel to obedience class when he was a puppy. I guess you could say he flunked because he doesn’t remember any of the commands we taught him and he has no manners. Is there anything we can do to fix our obedience school delinquent?”

And my response is something like this: “Kudos to you for taking your dog to obedience school. You are already a step ahead of many owners of unruly dogs. I do not believe you or your dog flunked. What you missed is the follow up.”

Now, for a life analogy. I took calculus in college. I guess since my major was animal science, and I thought I wanted to be a veterinarian, the study of calculus was considered necessary. But, I worked with a veterinarian for eight years and I am not sure we ever used calculus. I certainly don’t use it as a dog trainer. And, you know what? I cannot do it now. Skills remain skills and improve with time only when they are used. This is true in any endeavor including dog training.

There is hope for your obedience school delinquent. He has not forgotten what the commands mean, he just doesn’t obey them because you don’t use them.

You can take another class if you wish and refresh both your memory and his. Or you can get the leash back out and take about four weeks to work on specific commands, polish his response, and apply them into your routine. This column begins a rough outline of your refresher course. The next three columns will continue. And, seek your trainer for additional help as needed.

WEEK ONE you concentrate on the SIT command. Remind him what it means, praise him when he obeys and give those leash corrections you learned when he disobeys. Then apply it by making him sit before he goes out, before he eats, when company comes in, when he needs to calm down. Remember he can only get up when you release him. And, provide him with many distractions while he sits; bounce balls, leave the room, make intriguing noises, pet him, talk to him, etc.

Use his leash. He got lazy since your original classes ended. If you do this with no means of correction, he has no consequence for disobedience. Correct him for not obeying on the first command, and for not remaining in his SIT until released. The leash comes off after the polish weeks.

Do NOT use treats during this refresher. Give him treats as treats and make him sit when you do. But do not get into the habit of treating him for obedience. In the long run, it will hinder your work because when you stop using the treats he may stop obeying again. All he needs as a reward for obedience is praise, spoken and touch.

Take heart and follow these guidelines this week and look for next week’s additions. Your obedient class graduate is still in there and will come forth.

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09/10/2025

Mother Really Does Know Best

I love the show Too Cute! Each episode follows two or three litters of puppies from birth to weaning and going to their forever homes. I guarantee it will make you smile. And, if you’re like me it will make you want one of each of the puppies on the show! But, I digress.

If a mother dog observed the humans after they adopted her pups, she would most likely shake her head in exasperation. Grudge holding, withholding praise, lack of discipline, not teaching who is in charge, and reactions inconsistent with our body language make no sense to her. Long before you met your puppy she taught it pretty much everything he needed to know to be a good dog.

If it was possible to get advice from your puppy-mom before you bring it home, she might say something like this:

“I hope you will be the best owner for this little guy. He is quite a handful, I hope you know. Provide for his physical, mental, and emotional health, please. Always treat him like a dog and not a human. He is my child, your pet. He must have exercise and play, frequently. When he disobeys or behaves in any way unsatisfactorily, he must receive quick, efficient discipline.

Honest. This puppy does not understand slow correction. He learned very early with me that I will nudge, shove, or grab his neck and give a quick jerk to correct him. He also knows for total disrespect of authority, I will grab him by the throat, roll him over and pin him on his back until he submits. Now, maybe you don’t have to grab him by his throat, but you do have to establish your dominance and his submission. Now. Don’t wait until he becomes a brat.

Grudges are confusing to us. Once you correct him and he comes to you to make up, please do. He will not remember why you are still mad at him even a few minutes after the infraction. Quick discipline and quick return to normal are equally important. Praise him every time he obeys.

Oh, and be consistent. No must mean no. Don’t tell him “it’s okay” unless it is. If he is growling, even in fear, and you say “it’s okay,” you might as well praise him for growling. He’s also expert at reading body language. Long before you give a command or do almost anything, he already has an idea what’s about to happen. Use that to your benefit and be sure your actions match your words. Teach him the rules, insist on obedience, and you will be pleased. This guy wants to be your best friend. And he will succeed as long as you work at being his best friend, too.”

Well, I’d say she covered it pretty well and I don’t need to add anything.

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09/03/2025

AS promised here is part two on separation anxiety:

Dealing With Separation Anxiety: Part Two
Some behaviors I could write column after column about and still not give full coverage. Separation anxiety is one of them. There is no one-size-fits-all answer for separation anxiety. The suggestions from last week and this work for some dogs and require modifications for others.

Sometimes, separation anxiety is severe enough owners must counter condition their dogs. First of all, try to avoid overexcited arrivals or departures. While you may think it soothing to your dog to have you cuddle him when you leave and get crazy happy when you return, it is a bad idea. Parents know playing rowdy with a toddler before a nap will get him too fired up and unsettled. Exuberant greetings do the same thing with dogs and increase this behavior issue.

Use a specific phrase with your dog when you leave. Say, “I’ll be back soon.” Do not make a big deal about your exit. Place him in his crate or his room with one goodbye hug, but don’t get all mushy at that point. If you over cuddle him, he will sense your anxiety and become more agitated himself. He has no understanding your stress is from worry over his behavior. But he does know you are upset when you leave. Thus, he gets more anxious.

Similarly, when you arrive home, remain calm. It is best when you first walk in to either quietly say “I came back soon,”(which repeats your departure phrase), or say nothing at all. Enter the house, put your keys away, hang your coat up, be very calm and non-plussed. Over time, he will recognize your actions and words indicate all is well, thus reducing his anxiety.

It is best to begin this process is on a weekend. Start your day like a regular work day. However, when you leave, only drive around the block or take a short walk. Listen for his anxiety when you return. Come home as if it is the end of the day. But, since it is a day off, you can do this several times each day. He might surprise you and do much better by Monday. It is more likely you will work on this a few weeks before you see too much improvement, but it will come.

You may also take an old shirt that you wore for a while before you left and drape it on the doorknob to the room he’s in, or in the crate with him. Some dogs take comfort in smelling your scent on the clothing article during the day. However, be aware your dog may also tear the shirt in his anxiety. Be sure the shirt is old!

Obedience training will NOT solve the problem but does help with his insecurities. A dog that is not insecure is usually not anxious when we go away. Patience, time, perseverance, and assuring he is safe when you go away will prevail. One day he will be fine when you leave.

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09/01/2025

Dealing With Separation Anxiety: Part One

The question I received went something like this: “We have a 7-year -old lab that scratches the carpet when we are gone. We don't want to barricade him into one room during the day but we cannot trust him. When we get home and point to it, he runs away. But he doesn't stop doing it! It’s not every day, but it’s definitely an issue.”

Your dog suffers from separation anxiety. In order to give this subject full coverage, I shall break it into two entries.

I am not sure anyone knows what causes some dogs to struggle with this while others do not. And, contrary to how the destruction may appear, your dog is not getting revenge for being left home alone. The carpet scratching, any type of destruction or soiling is an insecure panic response at being alone. While, you may not be able to completely reverse this behavior, you can make improvements.

As with any behavior problem, a well-exercised dog is always a better adjusted dog. Your dog needs a long walk as close to daily as possible. (I know on hot days or in bitter cold this is difficult, but a game of indoor fetch and hide-and-seek-come helps on inclement days.) This will not solve the separation anxiety, but it lowers on your dog’s nervous energy level.

Confinement will minimize the mess you must clean up when you get home. It will also prevent injury. However, it is not a cure. If your dog used a crate as a puppy, he will remember that and most likely handle it well. If he was never crated, he may urinate, defecate, or even injure himself in attempts to escape. It is advisable to confine him to a smaller area in the house, and a room with a window he can look out may help distract him from his anxiety. Leave ‘busy’ toys around for him. Some of those Kong toys that you place treats or peanut butter in might help.

I know this is difficult, but, when you walk in the house and see the mess is not the time for punishment. Your dog knows he made the mess and shouldn’t have. Greet him calmly when you enter. Then walk to the mess and clean it up. He will probably watch from the other side of the room. You may tell him you are not happy, but yelling, hitting, venting your fury will probably increase his anxiety when you go away rather than improve it.

Sometimes a radio playing in the background cuts down on noises that make the dog bark. But remember your dog’s anxiety comes from being separated from you. It will take some time to address.

Speak with the veterinarian about his or her opinion of over-the-counter or herbal medications that may reduce your dog’s anxiety as you work through this behavior. And stay tuned in a few days for part two.

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07/25/2025

So I was watching some reels and one was of a dog with something in its mouth and the owner was saying “drop it” over and over .Cyndy sat up and looked at phone indignant because she didn’t have anything in her mouth!

Unlike a little later when I took this of her with her Dad’s car pillow!

07/23/2025

Top Ten Dog Owner Bad Decisions

I could make a much longer list, but let’s start with these! Here is my current top ten bad dog owner decisions. Then, maybe in a future column we can revisit this subject and list more.

10. Impulse buying or adopting is almost always a bad decision. Research whether to get a puppy or an adult dog, purebred or mixed breed, large or small, long or short-haired, purchase or adopt, etc. The options are infinitely varied. Don’t rush the decision.

9. Excusing bad behavior. While we can usually explain the cause, it is never excused. Making excuses for bad behavior will most likely get you in trouble with neighbors or friends when your dog’s behavior affects their well-being.

8. Not correcting bad behavior is even worse. I don’t believe there is a dog alive that is not skilled at looking so pitiful we almost apologize to him for his behavior! The thing is, uncorrected dogs are confused. Please know correction does not mean abuse. It means replacing all bad behavior with proper. I will dedicate a future column specifically to corrections.

7. Using paper in housebreaking actually slows the process. Before a puppy is weaned its mother teaches it to never soil its space. Housebreaking should broaden said space. Paper training confuses your dog.

6. Choosing to not use a crate sets dog and owner up for trouble. After the initial times he cried when placed in the crate your puppy will get used to it. He will probably begin going to it on his own when he wants to sleep. Not confining a puppy in a crate when he’s alone can lead to # 9 and #8.

5. Allowing your dog to ride in the car with his head out the window is dangerous. Your dog could fall out, jump out and get hurt or killed. If you slam on the breaks, his neck could break when it collides with the door frame. PLEASE DO NOT DO THIS.

4. Bribes backfire. There is a fine line between reward and bribe. Be sure if you use treats to train your dog it is always a reward after the fact. Never show the treat ahead of the behavior.

3. Walking your dog down the street or sidewalk without a leash is almost as bad as the head out the window. Even the best trained dogs can be startled and jump into the path of a car.

2. Thinking a dog does not need obedience training.

And the number one bad dog decision:
1. Not providing your dog with EDA. Exercise, discipline, and affection given to all dogs in that exact order is the single most important thing every dog owner can do to insure their dog will be their best friend.

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07/13/2025

I apologize for not posting my Life in the Doghouse entries for a while. Here's the first of several for the hot days.

When Exercise Is Not What Your Dog Needs

Several years ago, I was at the York Kennel Club Dog Show. It was the second weekend in July, and it was hot. All over the fairgrounds they had small kiddie pools with blocks of ice in them. They encouraged people to allow their dogs to lie in the icy cold water to cool off. At a dog show you’d expect responsible dog owners would attend.

Ten minutes after I arrived an announcement came over the fairground system for the owner of a specific car to go retrieve his dog from the car, it was in distress. This announcement happened three times. The final time they informed the owner they broke into the car, had the dog and he should come to the main desk to reclaim his dog and pay the fine. At a dog show no less!

So, if you know this information feel free to tune in next week. But something tells me there are still people who need to be informed. Dogs’ normal body temperature is 102.5F. Even on cool days they are hotter than we are. Panting is an efficient cooling mechanism in dogs. However, dogs get overheated faster than us, and they go from heat exhaustion to heat stroke quicker. Heat stroke is most often fatal for dogs.

Good rule of thumb for you: if it is hot enough all you want to do is find a pool or an air conditioned house, keep your dog inside. Walks, runs, hard play, outside training should all be saved for early morning, after dark, or not at all on hot days. Swimming is the only acceptable exercise for her.

I know I repeat the importance of exercise in my columns. But never risk your dog’s life to get said exercise. On hot days give your dog mental exercise. If you work her mind she will still be stimulated and not get too ‘rammy.’

Play fetch inside. Make her SIT before tossing her favorite toy. She must wait to run after it until you release her. In an air conditioned house you can play this as long as you wish. Hide and seek is another good one. Place her in a SIT or DOWN and go to another room. Call for her to COME. When she finds you have her SIT in front of you and give her a piece of a treat. Again, you can place this as long as you wish and in the process you are working on the COME command.

When summer heat rises to the levels we’ve seen for the past weeks now, keeping cool trumps exercise for your dog. Soon enough things will cool down and you will resume your daily walks and runs. In the meantime, the three most important things your dog needs are; INDOOR exercise, discipline, and affection!

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05/31/2025

This is from my years as writing the column Letters to the Doghouse and a future manuscript by the same name!

Top Ten Dog Owner Bad Decisions= I could certainly list many more than ten bad decisions owners make, but let’s start with theses. Feel free to message me for more information!

10. Impulse buying or adopting is almost always a bad decision. Research whether to get a puppy or an adult dog, purebred or mixed breed, large or small, long or short-haired, purchase or adopt, etc. The options are infinitely varied. Don’t rush the decision.

9. Excusing bad behavior. While we can usually explain the cause, it is never excused. Making excuses for bad behavior will most likely get you in trouble with neighbors or friends when your dog’s behavior affects their well-being.

8. Not correcting bad behavior is even worse. I don’t believe there is a dog alive that is not skilled at looking so pitiful we almost apologize to him for his behavior! The thing is, uncorrected dogs are confused. Please know correction does not mean abuse. It means replacing all bad behavior with proper. I will dedicate a future column specifically to corrections.

7. Using paper in housebreaking actually slows the process. Before a puppy is weaned its mother teaches it to never soil its space. Housebreaking should broaden said space. Paper training confuses your dog.

6. Choosing to not use a crate sets dog and owner up for trouble. After the initial times he cried when placed in the crate your puppy will get used to it. He will probably begin going to it on his own when he wants to sleep. Not confining a puppy in a crate when he’s alone can lead to # 9 and #8.

5. Allowing your dog to ride in the car with his head out the window is dangerous. Your dog could fall out, jump out and get hurt or killed. If you slam on the breaks, his neck could break when it collides with the door frame. PLEASE DO NOT DO THIS.

4. Bribes backfire. There is a fine line between reward and bribe. Be sure if you use treats to train your dog it is always a reward after the fact. Never show the treat ahead of the behavior.

3. Walking your dog down the street or sidewalk without a leash is almost as bad as the head out the window. Even the best trained dogs can be startled and jump into the path of a car.

2. Thinking a dog does not need obedience training.

And the number one bad dog decision:
1. Not providing your dog with EDA. Exercise, discipline, and affection given to all dogs in that exact order is the single most important thing every dog owner can do to insure their dog will be their best friend.

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12/27/2024

The Most Dangerous Type of Dog
A question I am frequently asked: What kind of dog is the most dangerous?

My answer might surprise you. I could break down the breeds and mixes and try to pick which one is the most dangerous. Many media outlets do that exact thing. I pretty much disagree with any article which chooses a specific breed as the most dangerous dog.
You asked what kind of dog is the most dangerous. If you’ve read my columns often, you know I frequently start with the simple answer, and then clarify. So, the simple answer is the most dangerous dog is an untrained dog.

I know, I know, this is my livelihood. I wouldn’t be in business if I didn’t believe in it. But this is a SERIOUS subject. Dogs are dogs. They are not human. They are not nearly as much members of our family as we are members of their packs. Watch a documentary on wolves and you will see the way a pack operates. Watch any reputable show about raising puppies, especially the one called Too Cute! Each week the show observes three litters of puppies from birth to going to their human homes. I love the show on many levels, but my favorite is how it shows the mother teaching her pups about pack rules.

Long before you bring a puppy home it has already begun learning about being in a pack. And when owners fail to train the dog, it creates its own rules. He can easily become dangerous to any human who does not respect ‘his’ rules.

This means that, for the most part, the most dangerous dogs are pets whose owners never bother to train them. It’s a human issue not a canine one. Teach your dog the rules and you will have a happy dog. There is no room for anarchy or chaos in the dog world! Dogs need to know the rules of the pack in order to be happy, healthy, thriving best friends. An untaught dog has no boundaries and cannot function, so he will either be confused or make his own rules. Confused dogs and those who make their own rules quickly become the most dangerous dogs.

The only people who should not take their dogs to some type of obedience training program are people who do not own a dog. :)