A recent article in the Chicago Tribune discussed a new trend for high-rise apartment and condo buildings: attracting residents through their pets. Urban property managers are adding amenities for dogs, to attract potential buyers to their buildings. These amenities...

A couple of days ago, my dog Saint and I went to our local tennis court to play a game of fetch before I headed to work. This has now become part of our daily routine and his primary form of exercise. As I tossed the ball for Saint, I noticed a woman and her young dog (about 5 months) approaching the fence. More accurately, the dog was pulling her to us, dragging her along behind. As they approached, Saint showed no interest in them, even when she asked “Can we come inside?” I politely replied, “I’d rather not, because my dog’s not going to enjoy sharing his ball.”

As the director of training at a facility that also offers doggy daycare, I often get inquiries asking for help in socializing adult dogs with other dogs to stop leash reactivity, aggression, poor manners, and so on. I also see owners bring their dogs to daycare for the sole purpose to socialize with other dogs. With my background in human psychology

How many times do you pet your dog? How many times do you pet your dog outside? During a walk? In the dog park? We don’t think about it much, but most of us tend to pet our dogs only in certain contexts: when we come home from work

Having a calm, clear mind when working with your dog is an essential—but often overlooked—aspect of successful training. This is especially important when you have a sensitive dog who either gets nervous or aggressive around stimuli. Dogs can sense our...

It was a sunny morning on a spring Saturday, and I found myself in the bathroom. Yes, the bathroom. It wasn’t even 9 AM, and I found myself trembling, my heart pounding, and unable to control my anxiety. Trying to stay calm, I was making frequent visits to...

Earlier this year, Puffy, my soon-to-be-15-year-old dog, was diagnosed with Vestibular Disease. I heard him collapse one Sunday evening and rushed to hold him tight. All I could do was hold his body as my frightened little boy lost all sense of control....

As dog training becomes more popular, so do the articles, blogs, and stories about how dog training is great for the dog. Getting your pet enrolled in a positive training program such as group or even private lessons benefits your pet greatly. Your dog...

Congratulations on your decision to adopt a dog! We all dream of finding the perfect pooch to bring home and share our lives with. Finding the perfect dog is about finding the dog that is a good match for your lifestyle and needs. Here are some tips to...

On December 10th, 2014, the Chicago South loop area opened the Fred Anderson Dog Park. It’s a large park divided into two separate areas: a smaller section for smaller dogs, and a larger area for larger dogs. According to the South Loop Dog Park Action...

Four years ago, right around this time of year, I found myself getting ready for a second dog. As I started my training career, and after making great progress with Puffy, I found myself eager to train a dog from puppyhood. As I gained more knowledge and...

As many of my readers know, earlier this year we had to say goodbye to my beloved Puffy. This caused a few changes in our household. While some were natural, others were made by choice. One of the few changes I decided to make in Lilu’s life was to buy...

When I speak to students and clients about aggression, I often like to put them in the place of their dogs. It’s not a fun exercise but I feel that it’s a needed one because when we start to work with aggressive dogs we need to approach the work with...

A couple of weeks ago, I was helping my clients with their anxious and at times reactive dog at their downtown condo by Lake Michigan. While the lesson was to focus on his behavior towards strangers and dogs in the elevator and hallways, we came across a very unusual reaction.

Do you have a dog whose goal in life is to chase all the squirrels and bunnies in the neighborhood? A dog who can find even the smallest piece of food on the ground? Perhaps you have a dog who acts as if his mission in life is to greet every person he...