Several years ago, we started to wonder… What would dog training look like if every dog owner had access to simple, practical resources that helped them understand their dog’s natural instincts, innate drives, and individual behavior needs? What kinds of results could we help owners achieve if our training programs focused less on teaching “obedience”,...Read More

A Behavioral Guide for Owners of Dogs Ages 6- to 12-Months Your puppy is growing up! As puppies enter early adolescence, it is important to understand that – just like human teenagers – their behavior will naturally change and develop, particularly when it comes to play with other dogs; listening skills & manners; and conflict...Read More

The Essential Info You Need to Get (& Keep) Your Pup’s Potty Training on Track! Potty training a puppy takes effort and consistency, but it is generally a fairly straightforward process if you follow some simple rules and guidelines.   KEY #1: MAINTAIN A PREDICTABLE SCHEDULE Maintaining a consistent, predictable schedule helps your puppy get...Read More

Puppies. So soft and cute. So snuggly and playful. And sometimes, SO BITEY. While 99.5% of puppy biting isn’t meant to cause us harm, those needle-sharp teeth can still really hurt! It’s not surprising that puppy biting is a behavior many owners want to curb ASAP. A certain amount of bitey, mouthy behavior is an...Read More

Parallels in Physical Rehabilitation & Behavior Modification Programs If you’re working on a behavior modification plan to help your dog with fear, anxiety, or aggression issues, chances are you’ve pondered (or asked your trainer) at least one of the following questions along the way: Is all this “management” really necessary right now? Aren’t we just avoiding...Read More

Do you have an active young dog who never stops moving, except when they’re asleep? Tether Time can be a great, effective way to teach puppies and adolescent dogs how to relax and settle at home. With practice, your busy young dog will begin to appreciate (or at least tolerate) The Art of Doing Nothing...Read More

Most dogs who display reactive or aggressive behaviors – lunging, barking, growling – do so in large part because they FEEL a certain way about their triggers: fearful, anxious, frustrated, or some combination of the three. Just like with people, a dog’s emotions have a big influence on their behavior. If they no longer feel...Read More

By Dr. Emily Levine, DACVB & Dr. Chris Pachel, DACVB Practice makes perfect, right? This statement is true for dogs as much as for people!  The behaviors your dog “practices” are the ones likely to be repeated again in the future – regardless of whether those behaviors are ones we like, such as sitting on...Read More

Is your dog an overexcited greeter when guests come to visit, or when you come home from work? If you LOVE that your dog is happy to see you and your visitors, but wish they were a little more calm and polite, try one of our favorite, simple solutions to reduce entryway shenanigans: The KONG®...Read More

By Lauren Jones Wenzel, Certified Professional Dog Trainer, Instinct Englewood Snowstorms. Ice. Sleet. Freezing temperatures. Salt on the sidewalks. None of those make for enjoyable outside playtime with your pup!  If you have a young or high energy dog, winter can present some real hurdles to providing enough physical exercise. Believe it or not, mental...Read More