Teaching a Reliable Drop Cue

Dog tugging on Kong Wubba

When we ask our dog to “drop” something, we are expecting him to let go of whatever he is holding in his mouth. Sometimes we’d like our dog to let go of a toy that we are playing with to keep him from getting overly excited. Other times, our dog might find something that could be harmful for […]

What is Clicker Training?

Dog on training

In the realm of dog training, two distinct camps exists, namely the ‘Traditional” and the “Positive Reinforcement” camps. “Traditional” dog training has been around for decades, possibly even centuries whereas training based on Positive Reinforcement and canine behavioural science is relatively new and has only gotten exposure and traction in the last 25 years. Positive reinforcement dog training […]

Unleashing your Dog

Dog off leash

For a lot of people, a dog that is able to behave and remain focused on his owner while off of the leash is the epitome of a well-trained dog. Teaching your dog to stay tuned into your movements and to respond to your cues quickly and consistently allows you to engage in a wider […]

The Benefits of Training Tricks

NYC Dog Trick Training Class

Most pet owners spend the majority of their training time working on basic manners like Come when Called, Stay, and Loose Leash Walking. Without a doubt, those are important cues and concepts for your dog to understand and be able to perform reliably. However, in my opinion, there is another type of training that deserves […]

Dealing with Excessive Barking

Dog Barking

Living with a dog that barks excessively can be very stressful. It’s hard to relax at home with a barky dog, it can be difficult to get along with neighbours if you have a dog that barks too much, and chances are, your dog is pretty stressed out as well. Excessive barking is a behavioural […]

10 Easy Ways to Incorporate Dog Training into your Daily Routine

Dog training at home

When it comes to training our dogs, one of the most common concerns we have is not being able to make time to train them. While it would be great if everyone was able to spend hours a day working with their dogs, for most people, it’s just not a realistic expectation, especially in Singapore. However, […]

Teaching Your Dog How to Swim

Eyes on the prize!

There are some dogs that are naturals around the water; they require no training and sometimes seem more comfortable with swimming than with walking on dry land. Other dogs, however, don’t have that natural instinct or desire to swim for hours, but that doesn’t mean that they can’t learn to be comfortable around around the […]

Dog Training: “Leave It”

West Highland White Terrier counter surfing

Teaching a Leave It behaviour is a great way to begin teaching your dog about self-control, especially around people, other dogs, or other items that he REALLY wants to investigate. It’s a way to teach him to ask for permission instead of just grabbing. Sometimes it’s not an appropriate time to play or greet someone […]

Five Common Dog Training Mistakes that People Make

Dog staring at treat

Dog training is meant to be fun! It’s an activity that you and your dog can do together that will improve your dog’s behaviour, as well as improve the bond between the two of you. However, it can also be very frustrating to work with your dog and not see the results that you want. […]

5 Most Common Behaviour Problems and How to Address Them

A puppy counter surfing

We all love our dogs, but at some point, most of us have to come to terms with some form of problem behaviour. Understanding why your dog does what he does can help use to determine how to handle the problem correctly so that we can resolve problems quickly. Here are the five most common […]

Should You Play Tug with Your Dog?

A puppy playing tug of war

In the past, there has been some debate about whether or not we should play tug with our dogs. The thought was that high energy games like tug were dangerous and encouraged dogs to bite.  It’s true that Tug is a game that can get a little too wild without proper rules and structure, but […]

5 Signs our Dogs Need More Mental Stimulation

A cute puppy with his mess

Dogs are intelligent, active creatures. Many of the breeds that are popular today were originally bred to do something – herd livestock, help us hunt game, guard their property from intruders, or exterminate vermin for example. While many of us don’t really have a need for a working dog to help us gather our sheep or pull […]