Are you a predator stalking your dog? Or the prey your dog wants to chase? When people practice recall or engage their dogs in play, they often face the dog and move in toward them. Cues are typically reduced to a single word like “come” or the dog’s name, with the tone becoming more forceful if there’s no immediate response. Let’s clear something up right away: a reliable recall doesn’t happen just because you said so. Really. 😊 Your dog doesn't come when called because you’re the boss or...

One of the biggest reasons people end up in conflict with their dogs is because they believe the dog knows exactly what’s being asked—and is simply choosing not to do it. “She’s just stubborn.” “He knows better.” “This breed needs a heavier hand.” Labels like these turn your dog into the villain. And once we decide they’re being “bad,” it suddenly feels justified to correct harshly—or punish. But here’s the truth: More often than not, the dog is confused, overwhelmed, uncertain, or simply...

I’m SO excited to finally share this with you… the Real Life Solutions course is officially live! 🎉 I’ve joined forces with four incredible experts—Michael Shikashio CDBC, Jessica Wheatcraft CDBC, Amelie Martel CPDT-KA, and Jacqueline Drake CDBC, FFCP—to create the most comprehensive course available for dog guardians navigating aggression. And yes, I’m diving deep into the dog-dog aggression section. If you’re living with a dog who growls, lunges, bites, or just struggles to feel safe in the...