Training & Management

Successful dog trainers know the power of rewards. They know to be consistent. And they know dogs are always learning. But few put all this together to realize the big secret that every dog trainer needs to know–you can use your habits to train your dog.

Every time I hear the pop of a firecracker, I wince. Between Canada Day and U.S. Independence Day, millions of North American people and pets feel stressed and afraid of the sound of firecrackers. But even if your dog isn’t afraid of fireworks, there’s one thing you should never do.

Because we live on the water, it’s vital that our dog Honey knows how to swim. But even if you don’t live on a boat, knowing your dog can swim is important for summer safety. Here are a few tips on how to teach your dog to swim.

I looked down and had only one question: Who stole my polite, well-trained dog? And why did they leave this hell-spawned doppelgänger in her place? I had to find a way to calm my dog. She had apparently gone crazy. Time to play nose work games to calm my dog.

Recently we learned a new skill on the boat. As with most things, it got me thinking about dogs. And how important it is for us to use the right words to talk to them.

We never have enough time in the day. How can we fit training our dog into an already full schedule? Here’s my miraculous way to find time to train your dog.

Sure, I can make Honey sit, stay, and come to me all day long. But the best way to improve her recall is through play.

There are two kinds of people in this world: people who think nothing bad will ever happen and people like me. You know, waiting for a disaster to occur any minute. Luckily, I’ve taught my dog Honey the emergency word every dog needs to learn. Just in case.

For training Honey, we have a clicker, loads of treats, and some fun toys. We have leashes. Before we moved onto the boat, we had several books. But our most powerful training tool is something we rarely hear anyone talking about. Can you guess what it is?

My dog Honey isn’t perfect. But she has a very reliable recall. Most of the time. But there are three “must knows” for helping Honey to have a perfect recall. And I bet they’re the same three thing you must know to keep your dog’s recall strong.