How to recognize whether your dog’s go-go-go behavior is really due to higher-than-average energy needs, or if it’s a sign of underlying anxiety or hyper-arousal issues. (and if so, what you can do to help).Read More

The top 5 behavior concerns we see arise when folks bring their dogs along on family holidays, as well as our favorite strategies for keeping the trip safe, fun, and conflict free for everyone.Read More

Exploring one of dog training's most popular maxims: "Only Say It Once." It's one of the longest standing and most widely accepted pieces of advice out there. But is it true?Read More

Discussing one of our simplest and most impactful handling techniques - the Protector Position - to decrease reactivity and improve overall responsiveness on leash.Read More

It’s spooky season! In this Halloween edition of the Dogs Unknown newsletter, we reimagine 5 popular scary movie titles…if they were made by dogs, for dogs.Read More

How to deal with unsolicited advice (and ignored instructions) from friends, family, and others.Read More

Several years ago, we started to wonder… What would dog training look like if every dog owner had access to simple, practical resources that helped them understand their dog’s natural instincts, innate drives, and individual behavior needs? What kinds of results could we help owners achieve if our training programs focused less on teaching “obedience”,...Read More

Parallels in Physical Rehabilitation & Behavior Modification Programs If you’re working on a behavior modification plan to help your dog with fear, anxiety, or aggression issues, chances are you’ve pondered (or asked your trainer) at least one of the following questions along the way: Is all this “management” really necessary right now? Aren’t we just avoiding...Read More

Most dogs who display reactive or aggressive behaviors – lunging, barking, growling – do so in large part because they FEEL a certain way about their triggers: fearful, anxious, frustrated, or some combination of the three. Just like with people, a dog’s emotions have a big influence on their behavior. If they no longer feel...Read More

By Dr. Emily Levine, DACVB & Dr. Chris Pachel, DACVB Practice makes perfect, right? This statement is true for dogs as much as for people!  The behaviors your dog “practices” are the ones likely to be repeated again in the future – regardless of whether those behaviors are ones we like, such as sitting on...Read More