Boy, my dog loves to run off leash—tearing down the beach, chasing her ball in the park, or romping through the tall grasses on hikes. In the central coast area—Santa Cruz and Monterey Counties—we have limited areas where dogs are allowed off leash. And this can sometimes be tough when you have a dog that… [Read More]
Help, My Dog Is a Barkaholic!
My dog Shadow is a barkaholic. If there were a 12-step program for such a condition, she would surely be a good candidate to attend. She likes to bark when she is happy and excited, when she is concerned, when she would like something from us, when something surprises her, when other dogs bark, and… [Read More]
Dog Parks: The Good, the Bad, and How to Make It Better!
Dog parks, in theory, are a great idea. Dogs need to run free, stretch their legs, and play with other dogs! I have to admit that one of the biggest joys in my life these days is when my dog Shadow is racing around with one of her pals. In our central coast community with… [Read More]
The Magic of Classical Conditioning
When we are training our dogs, we generally use a process called operant conditioning. This is when the dog’s behavior determines the consequence. For example, the dog sits when you ask and you give him a treat. The dog sitting made the treat happen. But there is another type of learning that is often underutilized… [Read More]
31 Fun and Fabulous Rainy Day Activities for You and Your Dog (and only a few involve getting wet!)
It’s raining! Yay!! Having a young dog in the house, I know spending the day cooped up can be challenging. Today we are going to start learning about “Find It” games (like those Ari is doing in the photo). Below is a list of 31 other things you can do when it is wet and cold…. [Read More]
Why I don’t use these tools (and why I hope you won’t either)
In the past few years, I’ve notice a resurgence of outdated tools and methods used for training our dogs. Choke chains and slip leads, pinch collars, electronic collars, air horns and other tools that cause discomfort, pain, startle, and fear. I want to very clearly state that we do not use these methods at Good… [Read More]
The Nose Knows! Fun with Scent and Nose Work.
I’m fascinated by a dog’s sense of smell. I love to play scent games with my dogs. In fact, we’ve taken scent games to the level of ultimate fun—playing find it in the house, garden and even on walks. One time a few years back, I watched my dog Chance use her nose to explore our rather weedy… [Read More]
What’s Rewarding? Ask Your Dog
I was leading a training class the other day that included a mildly fearful dog. The dog was responding well to cues, able to do the behaviors, and seemed to be handling the environment. But she did not seem to be having a lot of fun. Her human companion suggested she switch from food rewards… [Read More]
Your Dog Is Wonderful
I have a challenge for you. Can you name all of the things that make your dog wonderful? Why do you like these things about your dog? My dog has many wonderful traits. Here are just a few. Chance is funny and she likes to tell us jokes in a very dog-like way. She is… [Read More]
A Few Favorite Dog Books
Are you looking for something to read on these dark winter days and evenings? Or perhaps a gift for your favorite dog-loving friend? I have a long list of dog books that I’ve been inspired by, learned from, and even found comfort within. Here are a few of my favorites. I’d love to hear about… [Read More]