Before you and your inquisitive canine head out to the beach, hit the trails or visit friends this summer, take a minute to check out some of our dog training pro tips. Our love-of-dog training approach will help you keep your dog safe while having tons of fun-in-the-sun this summer! TIP #1: Use Positive Reinforcement to Strengthen Behaviors You Like and Want Did you … Read More
Whether you’ve just acquired a new dog, have been a longtime dog parent, or are growing your family with a furry addition, you might find yourself seeking practical dog training solutions to everyday challenges. And if you ask around, you’ll receive many opinions. Sadly, dog training is a completely unregulated industry. That means when making decisions about pet training and management, we have to rely … Read More
Did you know that June is National Foster a Pet Month? If you’re considering opening your heart and home to an inquisitive canine, we’re here for you! Whether your new foster – or furever – family member will be a puppy or adolescent, an adult or a senior, we want to take a minute to walk you through some of the initial planning and … Read More
Since launching The Inquisitive Canine, I’m often asked about a somewhat meaty topic in the field of dog training and behavior – using food in training. So I thought I’d serve up a heaping helping of expertise in dog behavior with a side order of pawsitivity, discussing the who, what, how, when, and where of using food for training your inquisitive canine. Q: Should … Read More
June is National Pet Preparedness Month. While we sincerely hope you’ll never have to face an emergency or disaster, we know that being prepared is the best way to safeguard you and your loved ones, whatever may come your way. We also know your pets are family and you’ll want to include them in your household’s preparedness plans. As you do, consider the following tips: # 1 … Read More
Long holiday weekends. Summertime. Finally! After a very long and trying year, people- and their pets- are more than ready for some outdoor adventures, including heading out to the beach, hitting the trails, and best of all, visiting friends. Before lacing up those shoes and leashing up your dog, we think this is a perfect opportunity to share some helpful and fun tips to … Read More
As National Rescue Dog Day approaches on May 20, let’s flip the script, and think about the ways that sometimes our dogs rescue us: Inspiration – Little did I know when we adopted a dog in 2003 that my life would soon go to the dogs! The original Inquisitive Canine, Poncho Gonzales Hunter Mayer sparked my interest in understanding the science of animal learning. … Read More
The Inquisitive Canine is a force-free zone. Albert Einstein once said, “Peace cannot be kept by force. It can only be achieved by understanding.” We agree – and find that training your dog is a fun way to strengthen your bond through collaborative understanding. We are proud to be part of the pawsitive cultural shift in dog training, using methods that enhance the human-canine … Read More
In my 16 plus years’ experience as a dog trainer and behavior consultant, there’s a hot topic that pet parents often ask me about: “Do you think it’s okay to let dogs sleep in bed with you?” My answer? “It depends.” When deciding what’s best for you and your inquisitive canine, some considerations include: Age of the dog: Young puppies (or new dogs who aren’t … Read More
A composed dog greeting, be it at home or out and about, is one skill that is of the utmost importance in our human world. Everyone appreciates a polite pooch — us included! Below, we outline how to teach your dog that sitting to say hello gets tons of attention – petting, praise, food, play – while on the flip side, jumping up gets … Read More