Have you ever thought about why we don’t like going to the dentist? Or why we don’t like snakes, heights, sharks or Justin Bieber’s music? I can tell you why with one word: Pain. No one wants to get bit by a snake, fall off a roof, get in the water with a fish that has rows of razor sharp teeth or listen to Justin Bieber, because it is painful to think what could happen. Ashlyn Blocker does not feel pain. I’m reading a great book, “Barking Up The Wrong Tree,” and the author, Eric Barker, explains how Ashlyn has… Read the rest

Last week I took time out of my busy schedule and did a career day talk at the Somerset Middle School. My niece is a guidance counselor there and since I happen to be the world’s greatest uncle, I showed up and dazzled the eighth graders with my presentation on being a dog trainer. When they finished yawning each group asked the same question. “Have you ever been bitten?” I may be imagining this, but every time I told them I had been bitten about ten times and was once attacked it seemed to cheer them up. They wanted to… Read the rest

I was dog training in Bristol, RI yesterday when an amazing thing happened. It was completely unexpected. People cheered, they smiled, they were excited by what they saw. What was this incredible event? What had people excited and optimistic? Simple… the sun came out. And the change in people was noticeable. You see, I was on the Bristol bike path when it happened. As we were standing there everyone who passed was smiling, cheery, and talkative. But what they were most impressed with was Henley, a one-year old Goldendoodle who was doing “mostly” off-leash training. I say mostly because he… Read the rest

I have to share this with you. Wednesday night I was getting ready to do a seminar when my wife, Rachael, asked me to stop cracking my knuckles. I didn’t even realize I was doing it. You see, Wednesday night at 6:00 PM I held a workshop at the Bristol Animal Shelter. And before any talk, I always feel a lot of nervous energy. I know what you’re thinking. “The Amazing Dog Training Man getting nervous doing a talk on dog training?” Impossible. Preposterous. But true. I have spoken in front of thousands of people. I can’t even count how… Read the rest

High school was a horror show for me. No really, I’m not making this up. I was so bad in high school, had record setting detentions, and was suspended so many times I was eventually put into a program secluded from the rest of the school. I spent the entire day in a room with 15 other students. I have no idea how or why I graduated. I think the program was a place to house the kids labeled as problems until they quit or handed them a diploma and sent them on their way. Which is why I think… Read the rest

Years ago I worked as a private investigator. A guy I worked with told me an interesting story of a PI he worked with in New York City. His friend was called in to help a group of store owners get rid of some drug dealers that had taken up residence on their block. This was a tricky case. They could take pictures of drug action but the dealers knew they were being watched and were very careful. The PI’s couldn’t use force because that’s illegal, not to mention dangerous. This brilliant investigator came up with an ingenious idea to… Read the rest

Six months ago I decided to sit down and write a book. As soon as I sat on the chair, my two year old son decided he was going to climb on me. My daughter decided she wanted to practice her dance steps in front of me. My wife thought it would be a good time to plant a garden and the number of distractions never stopped. Writing a book is no easy task and it would have been easy to give up. But I soldiered on. And there is one reason why I finished it. The reason? I was… Read the rest

Does your dog embarrass you and freak out on leash? Do you walk your dog at 6:00 AM or 10:30 PM to avoid running into anyone with your dog? Do you think there is no hope for your dog and you must continue your lonely morning or late evening walks? Just this week I worked with two different dogs who were uncontrollable on leash… especially if they came across another dog. In one session we brought the dogs under control and walking calmly on leash. Did you know in most cases a dog that freaks on leash can be brought… Read the rest