"I want my dog to like..."

These are the words people often say to a professional dog trainer at the beginning of a behavior modification program. "I want my dog to like...other dogs...dog parks...kids...riding in the car... playing with a particular toy...etc." Although the specifics often change, the general idea is always the same. Basically they not only want to minize their dog's negative reation to something, but they also want their dogs to learn to like something that they currently have a strong aversion to.

I strongly believe this expectation sets you, your dog, and your dog trainer up for failure. As such, I file it under the heading of "unrealistic expectations."

Unrealistic Expectations are what my fellow trainer Laura and I focus on in our latest Doggie Dish audio podcast. We believe every pet owner should understand why it's so important to eliminate unrealistic expectations before starting a training protocol.

You can listen to this informative podcast from our website, or subscribe to Doggie Dish on iTunes. And please come visit us on Facebook.

Having Your Dog's Attention...

...is the title of our the latest podcast from Doggie Dish.

Having your dog's attention is important if you want him/her to listen to you. In this podcast, we supply you with practical ideas for keeping your dog's attention on a regular basis.

Listen to "Having Your Dog's Attention,"
on Doggie Dish Podcasts

Check it out: An Article about Dog Agility

I've published a new article about dog agility on my sister blog site: Los Angeles Dog Doodles. This is the first of several articles about dog agility, it's pluses and minuses, and the "where's," "what's" and "how's" of it all. Over the ensuing weeks, many aspects of the sport will be covered, from introduction to agility, to tips for competing. Information will be geared towards both, agility just for fun as well as, competitive agility. I'll also provide information and links to valuable sources regarding equipment, and agility trainers.

Check it out if you've ever wondered about this cool dog sport.

Stop by frequently to take a look, and also feel free to leave comments about your own dog agility experiences.