
Run, Forrest, run!
During one of my group classes last week, a question came up about how to safely run with your dog. This is a great question, with lots of different components to consider! Health check. First thing's first - talk to your veterinarian about your goal for your pooch. Discuss what "running" means to you -- a 30 minute easy jog is very different than training for a marathon. The average dog is most comfortable at a 2-5 mile distance, but there are some individuals who may enjoy

Oh, no! Here comes a dog!
Many dog owners struggle with meeting other dogs (and owners) while out and about. Especially if you are uncertain of how your dog will react. You hold your breath, tighten up your leash, prepare for the worse, and... often times, you get the exact reaction you were hoping to avoid! Leash reactivity is a very common challenge we face, and over time it becomes a deterrent to getting our dogs the exercise they need. Here's the problem - we are frequently contributing to our dog

The Problem with Pulling
I fielded a call today from a gentleman whose 3 month old Doberman pup was pulling – hard – on leash. This is a common complaint for large breed dog owners. The truth is that small breeds also like to pull, but most of us are strong enough that it doesn’t bother us enough to worry about it! However, pulling does pose hazards to large and small breed dogs alike, as well as their owners. Where does this pulling come from? Dogs have a strong “opposition reflex”. This means that