The Dog Blog

If you're a dog parent struggling to give your pup enough mental and physical exercise - especially indoors - treasure hunts might be the activity you need. This simple activity has helped countless dogs (and their humans) find calm, focus, and fulfillment without complicated training or expensive equipment. My foster dog, Lacy, does a treasure hunt in the bedroom on a cold, snowy day Who This Is For Treasure hunts are perfect for dog parents navigating specific challenges: d

A snuffle box is supposed to be a fun, enriching activity for dogs - a way to encourage natural foraging behavior and provide mental stimulation. But new objects, strange textures, unexpected noises, and limited visibility can turn what’s supposed to be a fun food-finding game into a stressful situation. So what do you do, if your dog is scared of it? Lacy, my foster dog, feeling a little wary of this new snuffle box. Don't worry, we followed the steps in this post and got he

If you're reading this, chances are you care deeply about your dog's wellbeing. Maybe the weather has turned brutal. Maybe your dog struggles with reactivity and outdoor walks feel like navigating a minefield. Maybe you're dealing with an injury - yours or theirs - that makes regular long walks impossible. Or maybe your dog is bouncing off the walls despite those daily walks, and you're wondering what else they need. My dog, Minnie, looking outside at the snow and giving me a

When you hire a professional dog trainer, you're hoping for transformation. You imagine your reactive dog calmly walking past other dogs, your anxious puppy settling peacefully in their crate, your overexcited jumper greeting guests with all four paws on the floor. What you don't expect are the disappointments, confusion, and sometimes guilt that can come with the training process itself. These are the problems with hiring a dog trainer that we should talk more about. The Une

A friendly, practical guide from a dog trainer who's been there. If your dog treats your living room window like their own personal security station, you’re not alone. Alert barking at the window is one of the most common issues I help clients navigate, and it’s something my own dog, Minnie (rest in peace, sweet girl), used to struggle with, too. This is gross, but she used to spend so much time staring out the window with her nose pressed to the glass, the window was constan

Yes, you read that right. My former foster dog , Bentley - a tiny Yorkshire terrier - took a photo of his own bum. Even better, he did it almost two months ago without my knowledge, and I only just discovered it yesterday . He’s been adopted for weeks, and now I find this mystery photo sitting in my files. Want to see this selfie (annotated for your convenience)? This 12-pound dog jumped onto my office chair, climbed onto my desk, and walked all over on my keyboard and mouse

Confession: On walks, I let dogs walk in front of me. In fact, I prefer it. I’ve gotten some well-meaning advice from strangers (and family...): “You should keep your dog in a heel, walking at your side, because that’s what good dogs do.” Or, “If you let your dog walk in front of you, it means they don’t respect you and they think they’re in charge.” Or, the phrase that really grinds my gears, “Who’s walking who?” Are there times when a heel is useful? Sure! On