START NOW!

Most of my work is primarily with complicated behavioral issues. There are a lot of dogs out there who are struggling mightily to succeed in our world, which means their humans are likely struggling too. The one thing all of these dogs have in common is that they were once impressionable, vulnerable puppies that needed different kinds of support, feedback and information than they were getting. We all tend to make a lot of assumptions and well-meaning decisions about our dogs and what they need. In truth, dogs really are not as simple as conventional wisdom would have us believe. I believe raising a puppy is not a do-it-yourself job, and I love to support families with young puppies to be sure they have the information they need. Through the years I have learned to see patterns and have gotten skilled at identifying “red flags” so we can address them before they become full-blown serious problems. Don’t wait!

Most people don’t realize how easy (and fun!) it is to teach their puppies the basics when they are just 2-3 months old, as well as how healthy early, non-aversive training is. Thoughtful, safe socialization is critical.

If you have a new puppy, take advantage of this precious window of time to give him/her a strong start in life! NOTE: if you have a puppy that is already exhibiting concerning behaviors (shyness, fear, aggression, etc.) please do not wait to get help. The odds that these behaviors will get better with maturity are very low. There will never be an easier time to address these issues than right now!

Some puppy resources:

The Ultimate Puppy Parenting Guidebook

“Ouch! Your Puppy Alligator” – Carol Byrnes

PLEASE NOTE:

I highly, highly recommend most puppies attend carefully selected puppy socialization classes to supplement in home training.

Please contact me for my current list of favorite places