Dealing with Separation Anxiety

SOME SIGNS OF SEVERE SEPARATION ANXIETY Scratch marks or actual digging by the entrances of any doors leading out of the house. Scratch marks at windows or on window sills. Drooling in the front of the dog’s crate by the gate. Drooling by the doorways or windows. Destruction of blinds, draperies and woodwork indicates the […]

Science vs. Training on TV

If You’re Aggressive, Your Dog Will Be Too, Says Veterinary Study ScienceDaily (Feb. 18, 2009) – In a new, year-long University of Pennsylvania survey of dog owners who use confrontational or aversive methods to train aggressive pets, veterinary researchers have found that most of these animals will continue to be aggressive unless training techniques are […]

Understanding What Your Dog Tells You

Turid Rugaas, a Norwegian trainer and behaviorist has been studying dogs for well over 25 years. She has done incredible research on how dogs communicate with other dogs, and also how they also attempt to communicate with us. If you want to get better acquainted with how dogs definitely communicate their feelings, please click on […]

Links to Find Positive Trainers & Behavior Consultants

If you need to find a trainer or behavior consultant outside of the southern New Jersey area, you can click on the links below. Do your research! Do not hire the first person you speak to. Ask these professionals what methods of training and behavior modification they use and avoid hiring anyone who uses aversive […]

Links to Excellent Books on Dog Training

The following is my recommended list of books on this subject; all of these books are available at .   Culture Clash by Jean Donaldson Don’t Shoot the Dog by Karen Pryor Aggression in Dogs: Practical Management, Prevention & Behaviour Modification by Brenda Aloff Canine Aggression Workbook by James O’Heare Cautious Canine by Dr. Patricia […]

BOREDOM BUSTING IDEAS TO HELP KEEP YOUR DOG PHYSICALLY & MENTALLY STIMULATED

                                         This picture is of “Gino” DeCarlo. He is a very tired & happy 6 month-old Boxer who just had lots of mental stimulation. He wants you to know that A TIRED DOG IS A GOOD DOG! […]

Your Aggressive Dog

All dogs are capable of biting. Aggression is normal canine behavior. What provokes a dog to bite depends on his genetic makeup and what he’s learned will work for him. Aggression is not curable. However, with behavior modification training, and sometimes with medication, we may be able to raise the dog’s bite threshold so that […]

Learn to Understand Your Dog!

Avoid “humanizing” your dog (known as “anthropomorphism,” which means giving human qualities to animals)! Your dog is not a human child wearing a furry suit. He’s a dog, and behaves like a dog. He doesn’t do things out of spite, he doesn’t get jealous, and he doesn’t choose not to listen to you. Dogs do […]

Introducing Shy/Fearful Dogs to People

 This article addresses shy/fearful dogs, but not dogs that will automatically go into attack mode at the sight of a stranger! If you live with a dog who displays this behavior, we will use other methods to re-socialize him, including using a muzzle.  We humans often exacerbate our dogs’ behavior problems. One thing that most […]

Important Advice for All Parents of Young Children

A dog is a dog, not a human child. A dog has no morals and doesn’t recognize right from wrong. A dog sees a young child as a “littermate” not a leader. Both dog and child need constant supervision when they’re together! Do not expect your dog to tolerate childish behaviors that cause pain and/or […]