dog obedience class

Started working with a little Malinois puppy yesterday. A very high energy, high drive little girl. We talked about all the important steps they need to follow to raise her into being a good dog. The normal stuff like socialization, leadership, exercise, training, management, nutrition and one topic that is often overlooked or never discussed with puppy owners. It is extremely important and can remove a lot of stress from the owner’s life if followed and practiced. What is it that I speaketh of, you ask? I can say it in two words. I am talking about…… …..impulse control. This… Read the rest

You ever read any Shakespeare? Even though I love to read I never have. But I am familiar with some of his sayings. And one of his best quotes is: “There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so.” Not one to disagree with one of the most famous writers in the history of the planet, but I think he is one word off. I think it should be worded this way: “There is nothing good or bad but ACTIONS make it so.” It’s not our thinking, it is our actions that can make something bad or… Read the rest

Yesterday I posted a video of a reactive dog class that I am teaching. In the video you see six “reactive” dogs doing a sit stay very close to each other. I teach the class with no choke, prong or electronic collars. I am often asked why I don’t use choke or prong collars in class. My opinion is that you should never use an aversive collar in a group of other dogs. Especially when they are first learning. You see, many of the reactive dogs that I work with become reactive because of the very collars that are supposed… Read the rest

I had an interesting email sent to me yesterday. Here was the question/comment: “Hey Eric, why do you keep bashing +R (positive reinforcement)?” L.N. I replied: “I’m not bashing +R. Why do you think that? Thanks,” Eric Here was the response I got from L.N.: “The last few emails have suggested to me you’re either not a fan/ do not fully understand it/ or you don’t think it’s very effective for certain things. Have I misunderstood?” L.N. FIRST: I appreciate your polite email questions and have decided to share them with the ADTM nation. Second: I fully understand and use… Read the rest

Years ago when I was working as an animal control officer for the city of Fall River, MA I met and became friends with a guy I’ll call Eddie. Eddie used to have a habit of hanging out at the bars. He didn’t walk through the front door he would hang out back by the dumpster and wait for the empty bottles of booze to be tossed into the garbage. He would then gather up all the gin, tequila, whiskey and vodka bottles. He would pour the last few precious drops into a bottle that he called his “Coocoo juice.”… Read the rest

Thank you! Last week I asked for suggestions for my new dog training TV show I’ll be starting soon. I was flooded with emails. I am still reading them and having my crack staff sort and compile the response. Thanks to everyone that took the time to write. I really appreciate it! Anyway, many of them were funny and I had to share this one: “I have two pomeranian/jrt crosses, which when first brought home were two tiny, fluffy, cheeky, balls of fuzzy wuzz who I couldn’t correct sternly out of fear of giving them heart failure – and can… Read the rest

So every once in a while I’ll call my wife Rachael over to me to let her know I have something to tell her. When she gets to me I say: “You know, I’m kind of a big deal.” She replies: “Why because you have almost 12 million views on YouTube.” Then she usually adds: “That’s great honey. Can you take the garbage out now?” Can you imagine? She’s living with a celebrity. A minor celebrity I’ll admit, but still kinda famous. Totally unimpressed! Sure I’m no Caesar or Victoria Stilwell but I had no big name television station behind… Read the rest