jikhalsaJun 21, 2019Emotional Responsibility and Self-fulfilling Prophecies (“Expectancy Effect”) Anyone who has spent more than five minutes talking to us knows that we are big proponents of puppy parental responsibility—we all need to take responsibilit...
jikhalsaMar 4, 2019Clicker trainingClicker training is strongly based in behavioral science and is known as a form of “operant conditioning.” The point of this section isn’t to go into the det...
jikhalsaFeb 21, 2019Toys and chewingWe had initially titled this post “Unwanted Chewing” but chewing is such a natural activity for a dog we didn’t want the title to color how we talk about chew...
jikhalsaFeb 14, 2019Puppy training and socialization scheduleHere is our suggested schedule for minimum training and socialization for your puppy. If you are an overachiever, there’s a whole world of things you can do w...
jikhalsaNov 1, 2018KennelingWe strongly do NOT believe in kenneling as a way of life for pet, companion, and service dogs. (We are talking about kenneling, not crate training. We believ...
jikhalsaSep 22, 2018Puppy motion sicknessThe inner ears of puppies aren’t fully developed. If your puppy starts to salivate or even vomit in the car, place the crate as low and as much in the center...
jikhalsaSep 2, 2018Impulse controlImpulse control is the ability to control thoughts and behaviors in a way that allows good decision making. We expect this of all well-adjusted humans, and w...
jikhalsaMay 1, 2018Leash walkingGive it a few minutes (five minutes maximum) a couple of times a day and your puppy will be trained quickly. Remember your puppy is a baby and cannot take lo...
jikhalsaApr 4, 2018Puppies, hormones, health, and behaviorYour puppy will start gradually becoming a little man or little woman somewhere in its adolescent stage, between 5 and 9 months. Sex hormones don’t just appe...
jikhalsaSep 13, 2017Crate training your puppyDogs are den animals and innately feel secure in a den. The crate is your puppy’s den. A dog that is crate trained will always have a place to go where it fe...
jikhalsaJul 5, 2017Introducing your puppy to other animalsIt seems like an easy task, but there are a few things you can do to make your pet introductions go better. Introduction to other dogs in the house A “neutra...
jikhalsaJun 1, 2017Recalls (come, here)It’s canine nature to run from something chasing him, or to run after something that runs away. So when trying to get your puppy to come to you, if you run a...
jikhalsaMar 1, 2017Separation anxietySome dogs are genetically predisposed to separation anxiety, but it is usually a result of traumatic experience, abrupt change in routine, or even loss of an...
jikhalsaDec 11, 2016Boundaries and interruptionsWe work with our puppies using as much positive reinforcement as possible, since that builds confident, happy puppies (and who doesn’t want that). But, like ...
jikhalsaJul 11, 2016Puppy humpingThe last thing you want when grandma comes over is for your puppy to wrap its front legs around hers and have a socially awkward “go” at her. While this is n...
jikhalsaJun 4, 2016How to help your puppy adjust to loud noisesEvery dog has different innate tolerances and different early experiences that contribute to their ability to handle loud noises. You can help your dog by sl...
jikhalsaMay 3, 2016Puppy pantingMost puppy panting is NORMAL, particularly when they are sleeping. They are still growing and they can have some pretty active dream states. It doesn't look ...
jikhalsaMar 12, 2016Resource guardingSome breeds are more prone to resource guarding. In others it's all but a non-issue. If resource guarding shows up, you can implement simple protocols that s...
jikhalsaFeb 22, 2016Puppy zoomiesPuppy zoomies (as opposed to the zombies my autocorrect wanted me to write, which is pretty well the opposite of zoomies) are a period of crazy frenetic ener...
