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BARKS Podcast with Annie Phenix of Phenix Dogs

Join Niki Tudge as she Chats and Chuckles with Annie Phenix of Phenix Dogs about using emotion and connection in training, and much more! Annie’s new book, Positive Training for Aggressive and Reactive Dogs: Proven Techniques to Help Your Dog Recover from Fear and Anxiety and Enjoy Walks ...

BARKS Podcast with the PPG Advocacy Panel: Discussion #8 – When and How Should We Advocate for Outdoor Pets?

By BARKS from the Guild

When and How Should We Advocate for Outdoor Pets? Join the Pet Professional Guild (PPG) Advocacy Panel for a discussion on When and How Should We Advocate for Outdoor Pets? Pet ...

My Animal Is Not Food Motivated – AT ALL! [Your 9-point motivational checklist]

By BARKS from the Guild

By Ryan Cartlidge Have you ever wanted to train an animal that was ‘not food motivated’? This challenge is something I have often heard people tell me over the years! And I ...

The ‘Quick Fix’ – Not So Quick After All

In today's society, it seems everything has to happen 'now.' Results are expected instantaneously and I think, sadly, this notion has to a certain extent worked it's way into how we think, feel, and live our lives with our dogs too. Time is precious, and we haven't always got space for ...

Teach Your Dog to Cooperate with Grooming and Vet Visits

By Debbie Bauer Brushing, combing, cutting toenails, being held for vet examinations and treatment - these things are a part of life for our dogs. These aren't events that will happen once and never again. Instead, these are lifelong skills that our dogs will need to learn to deal with ...

The Last Trip To the Vet: What If Your Pet’s Last Breath Is on the Operating Table?

Alex in the foreground, with Rusty and Andrew behind him—photo from 1993. Yes, they are in a bathtub. Many years ago I lost Alexander, my dear, dear cat to stomach cancer. This was before veterinary medicine had the technology that’s available today. It was also before I took as proactive an ...

Beating the Winter Blues

This winter has been very challenging, especially for those of us living in the northern half of the United States. Winter has behaved like a house guest who does not know when it is time to leave. As I type this and look outside I still see thick snow and packed ice, with temperatures about ...

Skipping Reinforcements? Rethink That

By Yvette Van Veen We’ve all heard it. “When do the rewards stop?” The knee jerk reaction by many, especially on social media is to cave, to placate, to give the client at least some of what. ” Variable reinforcement, skip rewards. It will actually make the behaviour ...

What Makes a Pet Fence Humane?

By Jennifer Smith of EasyPetFence.com, a PPG corporate partner Dog trainers, animal shelters and pet owners alike choose to fence-in yards for several reasons. For one, pet fencing allows dogs and cats to exercise; play; and socialize with other animals. Fencing is convenient for pet owners ...

BARKS Podcast with DogBiz founders Veronica Boutelle & Gina Phairas: March 5, 2019

Guests: dogbiz founders Veronica Boutelle and Gina Phairas Topic: Is It Your Time to Go Full Time? A lively, informative discussion on starting a dog training business— the start up process, what it takes to be your own boss and make it as a dog trainer, avoiding common mistakes and ...

Portland Blog Competition: Changing a Dog’s View of the World

By Kathleen Godfrey As a trainer, my goal is to help to help both dogs and their guardians have the best possible life together. New client Angie heard about me through a friend I’d helped the friend work with a rather “wild” foster dog (he was truly a good dog, he just had no idea what ...

Create Sensory Spaces for Dogs

An article from Australian Dog Lover on how to create a "sensory garden" for dogs was a nice escape from the cold of a Montana winter. It's filled with great tips for creating mental stimulation for dogs that you can adapt to any space. The author describes watching how her dog used their ...