A growl is not a foul - why growling can be a good thing.

Witnessing a dog growl can be intimidating, at best, and frightening, at worse. Growling doesn’t have to be a bad thing, in fact, a growl is full of information for us.

DOGS, REACTIVE DOGS, PUPPIESVanessa CharbonneauSeptember 25, 2023

"No" is not a behavior.

It’s a natural reaction when our dog is being “bad” to want to tell them “no!” But is this really the best reaction?

DOGS, REACTIVE DOGS, PUPPIESVanessa CharbonneauSeptember 18, 2023

How can I be an advocate for my dog?

Advocating on behalf of your dog is the responsibility of every dog guardian, but it can be one of the hardest things to do.

DOGS, REACTIVE DOGS, PUPPIESVanessa CharbonneauSeptember 11, 2023

Group training is not the answer for your dog’s reactivity.

What if I told you that most dog reactivity training doesn’t involve other dogs. Sounds crazy, right? Maybe not.

DOGS, REACTIVE DOGS, PUPPIESVanessa CharbonneauSeptember 4, 2023

Help! My dog is a toy terminator!

Have you ever given your dog a brand new toy, only to have them destroy it within minutes? This is super naughty dog behavior….isn’t it?

DOGS, REACTIVE DOGS, PUPPIESVanessa CharbonneauAugust 28, 2023

The city dog and the country dog - urban living with a reactive dog.

What is really going on when you ask your dog to “sit” (or perform some other behavior that you KNOW that they know how to do), and they don’t do it?

DOGS, REACTIVE DOGS, PUPPIESVanessa CharbonneauAugust 21, 2023

But he knows this behavior! (So why isn't he doing it?)

What is really going on when you ask your dog to “sit” (or perform some other behavior that you KNOW that they know how to do), and they don’t do it?

DOGS, REACTIVE DOGS, PUPPIESVanessa CharbonneauAugust 14, 2023

We’re all just doing our best. Isn’t that enough?

While I may not be the dog guardian struggling to control their dog on a walk anymore, I used to be.

DOGS, REACTIVE DOGS, PUPPIESVanessa CharbonneauAugust 7, 2023

Leash length; the long and short of it.

Leash laws is a hot topic for me, and many other dog guardians. But why? In this blog I want to go deeper than the laws themselves, and talk about other reasons why these rules matter.

DOGS, REACTIVE DOGS, PUPPIESVanessa CharbonneauJuly 31, 2023

My dog doesn't want to say hi.

Leash laws is a hot topic for me, and many other dog guardians. But why? In this blog I want to go deeper than the laws themselves, and talk about other reasons why these rules matter.

DOGS, REACTIVE DOGS, PUPPIESVanessa CharbonneauJuly 24, 2023

"Good" behavior doesn't always equal "good" emotions.

Leash laws is a hot topic for me, and many other dog guardians. But why? In this blog I want to go deeper than the laws themselves, and talk about other reasons why these rules matter.

DOGS, REACTIVE DOGS, PUPPIESVanessa CharbonneauJuly 17, 2023

My dog won’t take treats - now what?

It’s not surprise that treats are used regularly in force free dog trainer. But what do we do when our dog WON’T take the food?

DOGS, REACTIVE DOGS, PUPPIESVanessa CharbonneauJuly 10, 2023

Leash laws: keeping dog guardians in the lead.

Leash laws is a hot topic for me, and many other dog guardians. But why? In this blog I want to go deeper than the laws themselves, and talk about other reasons why these rules matter.

DOGS, REACTIVE DOGS, PUPPIESVanessa CharbonneauJuly 3, 2023

Vet victory visits: from timid to triumphant!

It’s not uncommon for dogs to be afraid of trips to the vet clinic. But it doesn’t have to be this way!

DOGS, REACTIVE DOGS, COOPERATIVE CAREVanessa CharbonneauJuly 3, 2023