Cool Activities for Hot Days
With toxic blue-green algae growing in many of our favorite doggy swimming holes like Washoe Lake and smaller pools around Lake Tahoe, avoiding standing water this summer is probably a good plan. But, what are you supposed to do to entertain and tire out your dog if it’s too dang hot to play outside? Teach a new […]
Kids and Dogs – Setting Everyone up for Success
The relationship between kids and dogs isn’t always as easy as it seems! Written by Ericka Kinsey, M.Ed., CPDT-KA, Family Paws Parent Educator Your child and your dog: Lassie Goals Most of us have visions of our children happily romping in the backyard with a loving dog, one who follows them around and spends the […]
The Golden Rule of Animal Training
The Golden Rule of animal training: Don’t ever, ever call your pet to you (or ask your bird to step up), then do something they don’t like. Animals are not stupid; they learn by association and consequences, and if there is an unwanted consequence for coming to you, they will be reluctant to do it […]
Puppy Socialization
Puppy Socialization: What it means and how to do it right It’s not just a buzz word! Socialization simply means “learning to live in a society.” For dogs, this means learning to live in a human society, which takes some active effort on our part. Most young social animals are very receptive to new experiences, […]
4 Tips for Introducing a New Pet
Trying to introduce another dog, cat, rabbit, or bird to your resident animals? Avoid disaster and lots of stress down the road by following these simple rules. Go slow. If you feel like you’re going too slowly, then slow down. The goal is that by the time the animals meet each other, they are so […]
Teach Your Dog to Wear a Head Collar
There are many brands of head collar (such as the Halti and Gentle Leader), but they all work basically the same way: by turning your dog’s head when she hits the end of the leash, you can redirect your dog easily, and discourage pulling on walks, barking, and lunging. They work essentially the same way […]
In Defense of Small Dogs
In our line of work, we hear debasing comments about small dogs all the time. They have a reputation of being “yappy,” “ankle biters,” and difficult to train. If you’re looking for agreement from a dog trainer, you’re talking to the wrong ones. We love small dogs. Many of us have small dogs, and they’re […]
Parvo and Rabies in Reno and Sparks: A Plain-English Explanation
You may have already heard that for at least the last year, veterinarians are seeing increasing amounts of Parvovirus cases in Reno and Sparks. A few weeks ago, a puppy in Carson City was discovered to have had rabies. What you need to know is why this scares everyone so much, and what you can […]
Training Treats for Dogs with Sensitive Tummies
Training Treats for Dogs with Sensitive Tummies Need to get some training done but dread being bombed right out of your bedroom, or cleaning up a mess? There are ways around that! Try these tricks and sleep sweet! Go natural. Sometimes what dogs are sensitive to is the coloring, preservatives, and fillers (like soy) in […]
Top 5 Preventable Dog Behavior Problems
This Training Tidbit is used with permission from our colleague, Carla Brown, of The Savvy Dog in Truckee, CA. Thanks, Carla! Owners whose dogs have “behavior problems” keep trainers (and shelters) busy. Many of the problems are a result of people not understanding how dogs think, learn and communicate. Some of the more challenging behavior […]
