Training Your Dog to Come When Called

The recall is the most important behavior you will *ever* teach your dog! It’s a skill that might save his life. Imagine that your dog is loose and headed for trouble. You want to know that when you call him, he’ll turn on a dime and start racing back to you so fast, it looks like his butt is on fire and you have the only hose in the entire town! Learn how in part one of a two-part article on Examiner.com.

On Your Spot Training

Teaching your dog to run to his dog bed, lie down and stay there until you release him is a very useful behavior. It's great for control around the front door, as well as for keeping your dog out from underfoot during specific times of the day.

Six behaviors every dog should know, part two.

Dog training is simple, but it's not easy! Time, patience and consistency are the keys to a well trained dog. In deciding what to train, the possibilities are endless, but some behaviors may be more useful than others. In this three part series, we examine six key behaviors that, when mastered, help make for a harmonious relationship between dog and owner. Today we look at the important skill of being alone as well as why it's beneficial to develop play skills in your dog. Check out part two of the series on Examiner.com.

Canine Body Language: Can You Read Me?

What's in a wag? Is a wagging tail a sure sign of a happy, friendly dog? Not always. Understanding the basics of dog body language can help keep dog-to-dog encounters safe and happy.

Six behaviors every dog should know, part one.

I recently saw a wonderful t-shirt graphic that could easily become my new mantra:

Time + Patience + Attention = A Well Trained Dog.

If you won't invest in the equation, don't expect the result.

Wow. Truer words have never been spoken! In the spirit of creating a well trained dog, I've come up with a list of six behaviors that I consider to be must-knows (along with tips on how to teach them) for today's canine companions. Check out part one of this three-part series on Examiner.com.

Top Ten Positive Puppy Products

Everyone loves a cuddly puppy, but not everyone realizes the amount of work that goes into raising one! Raising a puppy takes dedication, patience and consistency as you teach your new canine companion how to handle himself in our human world. It may feel like an uphill battle at times, but fortunately, today's puppy owners have a host of helpful products at their disposal. Check out my Top Ten Positive Puppy Products as featured on Examiner.com!

Housetraining 101

Pee happens... but one of the first lessons we need to teach a young puppy or new rescue dog is that we prefer it to happen outside! Management, supervision and patience will go a long way toward teaching your dog where to... um, "go."

Alarm Barking

Does your dog turn into a Barkasarus when people or other dogs stroll past your house? On the surface, you may like the idea of a Canine Alarm System, but be warned: Left unchecked, ongoing barking behind barriers such as windows and fences can, in some dogs, lead to other unwanted behaviors, including arousal and potentially even aggression toward other dogs when away from home - even in the friendliest of dogs.

Working Walks: Train as you go!

Walks aren't just for walking! Training your dog is like working out; you get the best results by sticking with your fitness program every day! The good news is that something as simple as a neighborhood walk can be a wonderful training opportunity.

Preventing Door Darting

Tips on teaching your dog to respect an open doorway, plus management tricks to keep him safe throughout the learning process.

Thanks to Aussie pup, Cash (and his mom, Moira), for playing the part of demo dog! Look for Cash again in an upcoming segment on housetraining.

Loose Leash Walking

Tips on teaching your dog to walk without skiing you down the street. Struggling with your own dog's loose leash walking? Take heart. It's one of the most challenging behaviors to train! All about practice and consistency.

Importance of Urban Socialization

Hope, the six-month-old Border Collie, joins us on an urban socialization adventure along busy Ventura Blvd. Regularly exposing your dog to different sights, sounds, smells and surfaces (in addition to manners training) is a great way to help create a canine companion who is confident and calm while out in public.