Go Dog Pro

09/02/2026

We are told, correctly, that dogs are a lifetime commitment. What’s rarely addressed is what to do when a placement is unsafe or genuinely incompatible.

Most new dog challenges improve with time and guidance. A much smaller number involve safety risks, welfare concerns, or constraints that exceed what a household can realistically provide. It’s important to know how to recognize that difference.

When a New Dog Isn't the Right Fit: Why Love Isn't Always Enough

13/12/2025

It used to be that growling, lunging, biting, or fighting were all lumped together under the term “aggression.” As canine science has evolved, we’ve learned that reactivity isn’t a single thing. Depending on the dog, reactivity has different functions, each with its own emotional drivers, triggers, patterns, and a practical ceiling on how fixable it is.

By Ren Volpe

07/11/2025

You can tell a lot about a dog-and-handler team just by watching the leash. Is it loose and relaxed or pulled taut? In fact, the leash is a barometer. It tells you how the human and the dog are feeling in the moment.

Loose-leash skills matter for every dog. Walking a dog who constantly pulls is exhausting, but for reactive dogs, leash tension also reveals when stress is rising. When the leash is always tight, we lose our early warning system, those subtle shifts that show when your dog is starting to feel tense.

By Ren Volpe

04/07/2025

Does your dog want to greet every dog they see? You can teach them when it’s okay to say hi—and when it’s not. With clear cues and consistent practice, walks become calmer, more predictable, and your dog starts looking to you for guidance instead of making impulsive choices. It’s not magic. It’s training.

By Ren Volpe

05/03/2025

Is crating your dog really the best choice? While crates are often promoted as a safe space, excessive crating can lead to stress, anxiety, and even behavior...

11/02/2025

"... when you are considering enrolling a dog in a board and train program, ask yourself realistically what your expectations are. Are you hoping that by paying sufficient money you can have the Good Dog software package uploaded into your dog’s brain? Or do you recognize that board and train is just the beginning of your dog’s behavior change, and your own training, or that of whoever will be caring for the dog, is actually the most important component to changing a dog’s behavior? "

“Hi there. My name is John, and I have a 14-month-old Golden Retriever who has recently started guarding resources. He also pulls like a freight train on leash, and he’s constantly jumping on us, shredding things he steals in the house, and now counter surfing. We have three children and work fu...

08/02/2025

218.1K likes, 1728 comments. “A dog lives here 💛”