Dog Training Blog Articles

Embedded in these blogs are Sam's beliefs on how to cultivate a good, strong relationship with your dog. Feel free to ask a question and he will respond or post a response as soon as he can.
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Anxious dog
January 30, 2024

Understanding Anxiety & Hyper-reactive Behaviour in Dogs

Long before we see the aggression and/or abnormal fear what we need to understand is simple: anxiety is the root cause of this  behaviour and we have perpetuated it.
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German Shepherd
March 14, 2009

Illness and Behaviour

"We have German Shepherd who's 2 1/2 years old. Recently, she is showing signs of timidness/shyness (ears pinned back, head down, and tail down) when some people ...
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Dogs Fighting
March 8, 2009

Aggression - The Cure - Handler

In this second part we will focus on who we need to be in order to cure aggression. Before we begin let us focus on what aggression is.Aggression in animals is the end ...
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Dog Bites Hand
February 19, 2009

My Viewpoint on Aggression

Regardless of genetics or breed heritage, no dog is born aggressive, anxious or unstable; they are simply a product of an environment or relationship based on a crass daily ...
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Boston Terrier
December 31, 2008

Aggression Towards Old Dog

"Our male Boston started attacking our older dog. It has happened a few times now without any warning. He shows no signs of backing down or stopping when it happens ...
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Hungry Beagle
October 8, 2008

Food Snarfing

"I am fostering a 7 year-old beagle...He will eat his food like he has never eaten before and if you put your hand down he will scarf it all. He doesn't even breathe....
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Pinscher with Problematic Behavior
September 11, 2008

A Min Pin of Mettle

"Miniature Pinscher goes out by herself.., but as soon as I close the door she comes running to the door. How do I get her to do her business outside instead of inside....
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Alpha Wolf
July 28, 2008

Alpha Role vs. Alpha Roll

What does dominant mean? Does it mean being physically or mentally harsh? Does it mean corrective training or using gadgets that either demean, cause pain, or in some...
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German Shepherd Puppy
July 27, 2008

Dog Kills New Puppy

Whether a dog accepts a person or other animals is based on how the human leader governs themselves first. In your case, the older dog was lead to believe that it is in...
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German Shepherd Puppy
July 25, 2008

The "Dirty Water" Analogy for Handler-Dog Training Issues

Obedience training can help dog behavior problems or be the beginning of creating more problems in your relationship. It all depends on how much Dirty Water is allowed...
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Clicker Training
July 8, 2008

To Click or Not to Click

"I am fostering a dog with severe aggression...I hear you’re the guy to go to for aggression, so I was wondering what your thoughts were on clicker training...
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Prong Collars
June 23, 2008

Prong Collars

Prong collar use causes an alienation from the handler due to forced acceptance in some from of a desperate measure of false control. Now who would want to follow someone...
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Pit Bull
June 11, 2008

Dutch Government Lifting Pit Bull Ban

The list that leads to dog problems is not breed specific. In a lot of cases, just plain owner and public ignorance is the key issue. I am all for breeding regulations which...
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Overweight Dog
May 24, 2008

Fat Dog

"My friends, family, and neighbors always poke fun at how fat my dog is and they keep telling me he needs to go on a diet. He looks happy to me, isn't aggressive in any way...
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Puppy Mill Environment
April 30, 2008

Puppy Mill Breeding Dog Rehabilitation

A Puppy Mill Dog is a captive-bred creature that does not get any affection or socialization. They usually begin life in a rabbit cage or chicken coop similar to a ...
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Rottweiler
April 25, 2008

6-Year-Old Girl Attacked by Dog

As a former breeder of Rottweilers, I have to ask how can it be that our cherished dogs who serve us, protect us, or aid us in any way get to the point where they harm one ...
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Maltese House Pet
April 23, 2008

House Pet Expectation Syndrome

Has anybody wondered why the average house pet seems to have trouble with anxiety, is overly hypersensitive, growls at dogs, children or their owners, or are just plain...
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Unfostered Dog
April 1, 2008

Dog Fostering Tips

The key to a fostering program is rehabilitation and knowing and understanding what role we play in this process. Through the years of teaching persons who are in fostering...
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Dog asking for attention
March 24, 2008

Managing Dogs Around a New Baby

My daughter recently had a baby. How can we reassure the dogs, who are used to being #1, and be able to bring the baby in without the barking and jumping?...
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Border collie
March 20, 2008

Aggressive Puppy

"When someone comes to the house, our puppy barks incessantly.  There is no stopping her. I'm afraid to have someone in the house for fear she will bite them...
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Sam and Cody
February 17, 2008

Genetics vs. Nurture

No dog is born shy, feral, aggressive, hyper or anxious. In my book, this falls on the interruption of human governing and misunderstanding. The only genetic aspect is the...
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Fearful Dog
February 7, 2008

Fearfulness in Dogs

“Can a dog be cured of its fearfulness of strangers and going out of the house?  My sweet, little female Dachshund is petrified of strangers and will not leave the house...
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Dog guarding toy
February 1, 2008

Food Aggression and Resource Guarding

“Marley, my 6-month-old Corgi, came to us at 8 weeks old with food aggression issues. He guards everything. He guards his water dish, food, toys, everything...
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Chihuahua
January 20, 2008

Submissive Urination

“My Chihuahua has been an intensely fearful dog since before we got him. He has a habit of peeing on or near guests because he gets extra excited and scared when there are ...
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Halti "Gentle Leader"
January 20, 2008

Gentle Leader and Other Training Devices

Tips for managing aggression and frustration in dogs that don't include demeaning tools such as the Halti or "Gentle Leader"...
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Puppy
December 23, 2007

Poop Eating

Dogs eat their stools for various reasons, everything from protein deficiency, behavior, or it just tastes good. Over the years I have seen stool eating becoming a predominant ...
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Biting Puppy
December 14, 2007

Biting Puppy

“Ludo, my 3 month old Great Dane, bites all the time and everything he can get his mouth on, including people. We first tried acting like it hurts when he bites us and get...
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Stressed dog
November 23, 2007

Reduce Your Dog's Holiday Overwhelm

I do get many e-mails roughly about the time between Christmas and New Year's regarding how the family dog either bit someone or might have growled at them...
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Well mannered dog
August 1, 2007

Teach Your Dog Good Etiquette

One of the biggest issues that I see with dogs today is the Decision Maker: the dog that leaves your side and runs up to everything it sees, whether it be a dog, jogger or guest ...
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