by The Life of Riley | Dog Communication, Dog Training, Positive Reinforcement Dog Training
Adolescent Dogs? It is widely accepted that adolescence in humans is a period of change that prompts big feelings, lots of uncertainty, independence, and at times, confusion. For people that live with human adolescents, much grace is needed to endure this period of...
by The Life of Riley | Dog Training, Positive Reinforcement Dog Training
Does your dog respond in ways that seem irrational or inappropriate to you at times? Reactivity or aggression is a very common reason for dog owners to reach out for help from dog trainers like me. Most often, there is a very good reason for the dog’s response,...
by The Life of Riley | Dog Training, Positive Reinforcement Dog Training
The Importance of Choosing the Right Dog Trainer! You love your dog and desire to create the most loving and mutually beneficial relationship possible with your beloved furry companion. In order to do that, the type of education and training you provide for your dog...
by The Life of Riley | Dog Fitness, Pet Health, Positive Reinforcement Dog Training
Does your dog stay physically active? We love our dogs and want them to live long and healthy lives. Providing physical activities to your dog’s daily life and keeping your dog active provides tremendous benefits, keeping it mentally engaged and physically fit....
by The Life of Riley | Dog Socialization, Positive Reinforcement Dog Training, Training Products
Taking our dogs to a dog park to run free and play with other dogs off-leash seems to be an ideal way to help enrich our dog’s lives so they can be their happiest. After all, dogs are social animals that love to play, and they have lots of energy they need to burn...
by The Life of Riley | Dog Socialization, Positive Reinforcement Dog Training, Puppy Training
In prior posts I’ve highlighted four areas to focus on with your new puppy in the first few months of its life to help it grow into a happy and emotionally stable dog in our chaotic human world (So you got a puppy?). The first and one of the most critical but...
by The Life of Riley | Dog Training, Positive Reinforcement Dog Training, Puppy Training, Shelter Dogs
Sniffing Brings us Joy! A Reflection from Riley Yay, it’s warm again and I love to walk in warm weather. My mom walks dogs every day for other people. Recently she had a request that did not make any sense to me – the owner of a dog she walks asked her not to...
by The Life of Riley | Cats, Dog Communication, Dog Training, Positive Reinforcement Dog Training, Puppy Training, Shelter Dogs
The 4th of July is a fun time to celebrate our freedom with friends and family while enjoying outdoor activities at picnics and festivals. One of the most anticipated events on the 4th of July is the evening festivities ending in an array of booming fireworks. Many of...
by The Life of Riley | Dog Communication, Dog Training, Positive Reinforcement Dog Training, Puppy Training
How Dogs Communicate Dogs communicate through their body language. With various body signals, facial expressions, and physical postures, dogs communicate how they are feeling in order to create positive interactions with each other and avoid potential conflict. Dogs...
by The Life of Riley | Positive Reinforcement Dog Training
As the year winds down to its last few hours and we anticipate what the new year will bring, my thoughts reflect on both the blessings that this year has brought in my life, as well as some heartache. I suppose that over the course of any year it would be unreasonable...
by The Life of Riley | Dog Socialization, Dog Training, Positive Reinforcement Dog Training, Puppy Socialization, Puppy Training, Training Products
Will life with your new puppy be all Unicorns & Rainbows? A new puppy is such an exciting experience! When considering adding a puppy to their household, most people visualize games of chase, soft cuddles, companionship, romps in the woods, strolls in the...
by The Life of Riley | Positive Reinforcement Dog Training
Recently I wrote about the risks of taking your dog to a dog park. It seems that dog parks are more trouble than they are worth, which is very unfortunate for dogs that love to play with other dogs. But, if you choose not to frequent dog parks as an outlet for your...
by The Life of Riley | Positive Reinforcement Dog Training, Shelter Dogs
With so many dog trainers and pet care providers out there, how do you choose the right one to work with? A booming industry The pet care industry has grown steadily for over 20 years. Now a significant factor in our economy, the booming business has many people...
by The Life of Riley | Dog Training, Positive Reinforcement Dog Training, Puppy Training, Training Products
I used to feel conflicted about using a crate for my dog. After all, we want our dogs to be happy, and giving our dogs freedom to go and do and be dogs brings them happiness, doesn’t it? Here is what I have learned about the benefits of teaching your dog to love its...
by The Life of Riley | Dog Training, Positive Reinforcement Dog Training, Training Products
Prong Collars… There really is a better way to handle your dog. Yes, even the big, powerful, forever-playful dogs. “Aversive techniques can elicit an aggressive response in dogs because they can increase the fear and arousal in the dog, especially in those that...
