Honey and I have something in common. We like nearly everyone we meet. Can you imagine how uncomfortable it feels when one of us discovers we don’t like someone? I Just Hate Her The first time she called me, she spent half an hour on the phone crying about her landlord. Usually I’m quite patient …
Training & Socialization
Thinking of Getting a Puppy? Here’s What It’s REALLY Like!
Yeah, you know what puppies are like. Big eyes. Scrunchy little faces. Round bellies. Cuddly. Feet smell like corn chips. But do you know what they’re like once you get one home? I’m going to tell you. Meet the Puppy Luckily, I just happen to have a test puppy in my home. Bandit is a …
5 Rules for Making Good Dog Cues
My dog Honey is smart. I’m sure she’s capable of learning any number of behaviors. If only I could think of what to call them. It got me thinking: What makes a good dog cue? 5 Rules for Good Dog Cues Good training cues work for both the dog and her person. I think the …
My Dog Didn’t Bite, Thanks to Dr. Dunbar
Silent Terror It happened in slow motion. Layla, the Beagle we’re fostering, had climbed up on the back of the sofa to get a good view out the window. Honey, my Golden Retriever, was sleeping on the cushions below. As Layla began to lose her balance, I tried to catch her. I was too …
Why is the Dominance Theory of Dog Training Still So Darn Popular?
The Dominance Theory of Dog Training is Hooey The Association of Pet Dog Trainers considers dominance training harmful to your relationship with your dog. The researcher whose early wolf research inspired dog trainers to explain dog behavior in terms of dominance hierarchy now explains why that model is wrong for most wolf packs. And operant …
11 Insanely Useful Weird Dog Commands
Sign up for a dog training class and you’ll teach your dog some basic (and boring) cues: sit stay come Yeah, they’re helpful. But Honey and I have our own list of instructions. And they’re much more colorful. A Few Daily Dog Training Cues and What They Mean Cue What It Means Wait Stand or …
Do Dogs Blow Bubbles in the Bath? Train Your Dog Month Challenge
At the Honey Webster household, Train Your Dog Month ended not with a bark, but a whimper. And yet it was a big success. What were we trying to do? The Challenge The Association of Pet Dog Trainers issued a challenge: train your dog in January to build your bond. I loved the idea so …
When Is Your Dog Safe Off Leash?
Honey and I sat on the top step of our front porch like we had done dozens of times before. I could feel her excitement. But I was stunned when she took off running down the stairs and out into the street. Honey completely ignored me when I called her to return to me. Luckily …
Looking for Training Inspiration?
Have you joined the Train Your Dog Month challenge? If not, what are you waiting for? Maybe you need some inspiration from last year’s trainers. First thing you should notice? The Train Your Dog challenge is also a Train Your Bird, Train Your Cat, Train Your Ferret—heck, even a Train Your Spouse challenge. First we …
I Blame Canada for Making Me Turn (to) Tricks
I hope you’re happy. You damn cheese-eating Canadian, you. It wasn’t enough that you wanted to teach your dog tricks. You had to make me want to also. I’d curse you, Kristine Tonks…. If I wasn’t having so much fun. Why I Hate Dog Tricks I like dogs. I like them as dogs. Not babies. Not …