Joan the Dog Coach

March 23, 2008

“Kibble Hunt” for this predator!

Wow! What a fun day! My Mom the dog trainer and I played a new game today… I’m not sure why…something about a human holiday where moms, dads, and other adults hide eggs for children to go and find. I totally…

March 22, 2008

The hunt is on for my top dog!

I love Easter… Why? Because I get to play “dog mom” to my little one Poncho. I know I know, even though I am a positive reinforcement dog trainer here in Ventura at The Inquisitive Canine. I do know I’m an…

March 16, 2008

Therapy dogs and reading…

Let’s give a BIG shout-out to the Ventura County H.P. Wright Library! Why? Because of their “Paws for Reading” program. How wonderful it was to find out they offer such a delightful program to the children of our community –…

March 15, 2008

Ready, and ACTION!

Wow, mom might be in the movies! And a documentary at that…which means it’s important. Jennifer and Graham are journalism film students at the Brooks Institute here in Ventura. They feel very passionate about the “culture” of us canines,…

March 10, 2008

Dog Behavior: a realistic look

Poncho and I just got home from spending a nice romp on the baseball field. Before we walked around ourselves I spent a few minutes just watching the young kids with their parents playing catch, doing warm-up drills, and…

March 6, 2008

Positive Reinforcement and dog training – what is is?

The term “Positive Reinforcement” is such the “in thing” to say nowadays when it comes to training your pet dog – but what exactly does it mean? In a very small nutshell, it means adding something, or giving something,…

February 28, 2008

Recipe for dog training success!

When it comes to dog training, I’ve noticed that most humans focus on the final product, and not how to get there. Similar to going out to eat a meal – we focus on the finished yummy meal brought…

February 24, 2008

Dog Trainers Dream Team!

What a great day! Michelle, Lorrie, Anne, Amber, & Nathan…thanks to you all for heading south on a Sunday afternoon to “play” at the inquisitive canine. And thank you to family and friends for hanging out too! I know…

February 15, 2008

How long does it take to train my dog?

A FAQ I receive is: “How long will it take for my dog to be trained?” I hate to say it, but there is no simple answer…or magic wand. Every persons situation and dog is different. Whether it be…

February 14, 2008

Puppy Socialization – Risky Business?

Behavior issue risk vs health risk – always a touchy subject amongst veterinarians, dog trainers, and dog owners…IMO, education – where classes are specifically designed and geared towards puppy socialization and prevention of behavior issues in a safe, controlled,…

Author: Joan Hunter Mayer