Treat Pouches: Just 'cause you can doesn't mean you should

Treat pouches are the bags you hang from your pocket, tie around your waste, or clip on your belt. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes. But they have a dark side too... There are dog trainers out there, and owners for that matter, that feel that a treat pouch is the same as waving a treat in the dogs nose. Meaning that the bag is a bribe and without the bag visible, the dog won't listen. There are definitely many sides to this story and I will be sure to give you all of them.

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No-Pull Harnesses: Just 'cause you can doesn't mean you should

Designed with one goal; to stop a dog from pulling. No-Pull Harnesses are considered by some to be the holy grail of dog training devices. Others look at some of the options available and see torture devices. Some are designed with better control for the owner. Others are designed to make pulling uncomfortable. Some offer a quick on and off versatility, while others are so complicated owners can't put them on their dog correctly. In this article I will examine a variety of options on the market and how they actually work.

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Walking All Night for Animal Care Professionals

Tomorrow night I will be up all night, walking. One step in front of the other, to fight for a cause no one wants to talk about. One step in front of another through the darkness that surrounds a topic that touches everyone yet forces people to hide their pain. Each step, from dusk till dawn, carrying the memory of those lost, and holding on to strength for those who suffer in silence. Walking through the streets of Boston, watching for a dawn not just to break the darkness of the night, but a dawn on a day when no one has to suffer alone. I've been there, staring off into the darkness, wondering when it will consume me. But there can always be a dawn if we are there for each other and getting help isn't stigmatized. 

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E-Collars: Just 'cause you can doesn't mean you should

E-collars... aka stim collars aka static correction collars aka impulse collars aka Dogtra collars aka remote training collars aka shock collars... I could go on. Why so many names for the same device? Well that would be because of the constant shifts in marketing trying to find a catchy way to sell these devices. This is because e-collars are one of the most hotly debated topics in dog training. If religion and politics are off the table, then so are e-collars. For the remainder of this article I will only refer to the devices as an e-collar, out of respect for the conversation and to be sympathetic to those still trying to navigate the most treacherous minefield in dog training.

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Head Halters: Just 'cause you can doesn't mean you should

No, that loop around that dog's face isn't a muzzle - it's a head halter! That contraption that wraps around the dog's face and neck and is supposed to give you all the control in the world when it comes to walking your dog... or does it? There are some heated debates surrounding the use of head halters, mostly concerned with safety and acclimation for the dog using it.

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Houdini Shiba No More! - The solution to your escape artist Shiba Inu

One of the greatest fears of Shiba owners is their dog getting loose and taking off. Because Shibas love the outdoors sometimes it seems like they will stop at nothing to sneak out the door and be 1/2 a mile into the neighborhood in no time. Before I started training dogs, I had my fair share of white hairs earned chasing a Shiba down the sidewalk. But those fears can be a thing of the past with careful management/prevention methods and some consistent and fun training.

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The One Way You're Failing Your Dog

A dog is not a toy on the end of a rope. A dog is not a silent partner to use at your beckon whim. You dog is not stubborn, willful or any other label you want to stick on them. You dog is a thinking, feeling, and communicating being, and you're failing them by not listening to them. I don't mean barks, yips, and yowls. I mean the dozens of messages a dog gives out to show how they're feeling that you're not paying attention to

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Clickers: Just 'cause you can doesn't mean you should

That noise making device, that is supposed to be some amazing elite tool. You either love it, hate it, or fumble around with it because you're supposed to like it. And then there are the owners/trainers who dabble just enough to have one in their training bag or kitchen drawer, but will not admit to using it. So what is all the hubbub with Clickers?

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Prong Collars: Just 'cause you can doesn't mean you should

There are many reasons owners choose prong collars to train their dogs. Sometimes it is suggested by a family member or friend. Othertimes it is at the direction of a dog trainer. It is important to make an informed decision before using anything on your pet. 

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7 Signs Your Dog Could Be Great At Dog Sports

Dogs jumping over bars at lightning speeds, twisting and turning and finally returning their full attention to their owner. Who hasn't wanted that relationship with their dog... One where owner and dog move in perfect sync together as if of one mind. And the truth of the matter is that this dream can be a reality for more dog owners than you may have thought possible. Here are 7 signs that your dog might make a great performance dog!

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