See how much fun Riker and Jubilee are having in these videos? That’s what training should look like — joyful, connected, and fun for both you and your dog. Not all training is upbeat and energetic, but it should always feel safe, kind, and connected. A friend sent me a post from a popular trainer whose fix for a distracted dog was to clamp its mouth shut and flip it onto its back. The result? The dog now listens to them and follows them everywhere. That broke my heart. Because I don’t ever...

I wish I could have a do-over with all of my previous dogs. With Jubilee, it took me way too long to realize she was in pain. Looking back, I feel so bad for her and what I asked her to do. With Enzo I didn't know enough about toy play so I built conflict into the game. Traditional games didn't work for him so we blamed the dog instead of the method. Maxi - oh she was the sweetest. I don't have a lot of regrets with her, I just wish I took more time to cuddle and hug her. Ramses - his illness...

I hear that constantly. Usually it's followed by: that method doesn't work, or my dog is different. Both might be true. But there's a third option that almost nobody considers: the method had prerequisites, and nobody told you what they were. The technique is the tip of an iceberg. The foundation underneath is what makes it possible. Miss a piece of that, and the technique fails — not because it's wrong. Here's an example. I recently shared how we train dogs to take a pill to earn something...