Essential Dog Training Skills & Techniques

This video shows how to teach your dog to wait calmly for their meal bowl without using punishment. Instead of taking the bowl away when they rush, we reward them for staying in position as the bowl gets lower, setting them up for success.

This is a real-life "leave it" scenario. When treats fell on the floor, I cued Candy to leave them. Because this was taught error-free with positive reinforcement, there was no fear or frustration, just calm cooperation.

Teach your dog not to bolt out an open door. This video demonstrates how to teach a solid door-wait by breaking it down into baby steps and using a leash for safety. An open door becomes a cue to wait, not to rush.

This video shows how to introduce a collar to a puppy in a positive way. By breaking it down into tiny steps and pairing each step with a treat, we make the collar and the act of putting it on a fun and stress-free experience.

Puppy biting is a normal developmental stage, but it's important to teach them appropriate behavior. Instead of punishment, the key is to redirect them to a proper chew toy and teach them how to cope with their big feelings.

Does your dog only listen when they see a treat in your hand? This video shows you how to fade the lure. Practice asking for a cue with empty hands, and only reach for the treat from a pouch or pocket after your dog responds.

My dog knows a cue at home but not outside. This is because dogs don't generalize well. This video explains the "3 Ds of Dog Training": Distance, Duration, and Distractions, and how to work on them one at a time to "proof" a behavior.

How do you handle mistakes during training? Don't repeat the cue, don't get frustrated, and be patient. If your dog is struggling, lower the criteria or end the session. It's a learning process for both of you.

Giving our dogs choice is important, but so is listening when they say "no". In this session, Candy's latency (response time) was slow, so I offered a reset treat. She chose to take a break, and after, she came back more engaged.