It’s Shocking! By Lisa Ellman I saw a post on another trainer’s page that said the e collar is a game changer. Well, you can’t dispute that. In case you were unaware, what is now called an “ e collar” used to be called a shock collar, but I think that became...
Notes To Self By Lisa Ellman It’s time again to consolidate all the notes I’ve made about article topics into a mixed bag of information. Sometimes I’m out and see someone that could use a suggestion to make walking, or living, with their dog easier. But, after all...
Use the most effective tools: I suggest a Gentle Leader and standard 5-6’ leash. Teach alternative behaviors: Distract your dog by having them focus on you, heel quickly or sit and stay. Anticipate the behavior and be ready to get your dog refocused on something else....
Puppies are taught communication skills by their mother and littermates at an early age. In addition to vocalizing, they learn communication via body language. Just as we humans use body language to emphasize or reinforce what we’re saying, so do dogs. For...
I see this tag in department stores, boutiques and clothing tents on Venice boardwalk. Yes, one size fits all, unless your hips are too big, or if they would just put a teensy more elastic in the waistband. But what, you ask, does this have to do with dogs? What is my...
Although a litter is borne from one mother, it is possible there are multiple fathers involved. This means that the genetic predisposition of each puppy in terms of behavior, illness, colorings and all things biological may be difficult, if not impossible, to...
I often see the results of people acquiring a dog based on emotion instead of reason. Why is it that we sometimes spend weeks researching appliances or cars to find the best fit but often pick a dog (that may spend 14 years with us) spontaneously? Remember the box...
Recently, a friend told me she wants to adopt a dog. She wanted a German Shepard from a rescue organization, but that didn’t pan out. She’s looking for an “intelligent” dog, one that will fetch, be protective and (for some reason) “tilt its...
