Nicole WildeMay 32 minUsing Competition to Train DogsI recently worked with a client who has three dogs. We’d trained each dog separately, and then decided to practice group recalls as well...
Nicole WildeApr 52 minBut is it a Conditioned Reflex?At a recent training session, I was talking with a client about the skills we would be teaching his dog. When I mentioned the recall...
Nicole WildeJan 202 minCognition Versus EmotionWhile many of my posts are prompted by experiences with my own dogs or others, this one started with a sentence from my latest (not yet...
Nicole WildeJan 42 minIt Just Makes ScentsA dog’s strongest sense is his sense of smell. Dogs can detect odors buried 40 feet underground, find hidden bombs, and even sniff out...
Nicole WildeDec 7, 20213 minThe After Fight CooldownMy dogs got into a fight this morning. It was over food. Well, not exactly food, but a daily supplement that looks and tastes more like a...
Nicole WildeNov 23, 20212 minWhen Canine Crankiness Isn't Just BehavioralI’m pretty sure every dog owner knows what I mean when I say a dog is getting cranky. Maybe you have two dogs and one is acting snarkier...
Nicole WildeOct 12, 20213 minIs Your Dog Spoiled?I have to say up front that I really dislike the word “spoiled”. When it comes to kids, it’s often followed by the word “brat”. I don’t...
Nicole WildeAug 6, 20213 minIs it Safe to Leave Your Dog with a Sitter?A recent article on the CNN website reported an incident concerning an owner leaving her nine-month-old poodle mix with a sitter she...
Nicole WildeMay 4, 20213 minDog Trainers to AvoidIf you’re reading this with the anticipation of hearing specific trainers’ names, sorry to disappoint you. Oh, sure, I could list local...
Nicole WildeApr 28, 20212 minDecisions, DecisionsThis morning as I let my dogs run down a secluded hiking trail ahead of me, Bodhi spotted a bunny. He froze in place, all of his focus on...
Nicole WildeApr 14, 20212 minThe Truth is Not Always EasyI hate being the bad guy. I’m a social person by nature, and I don’t like having to tell people things they don’t want to hear. But...
Nicole WildeApr 6, 20213 minA Quick Technique for Improving Your Dog Training SkillsWhether you’re a professional trainer or someone who trains their own dogs, there’s always room for improvement. But how can you get...
Nicole WildeMar 23, 20212 minDogs: Training Versus BiologyI recently got a call from a woman who has an 11-month-old Siberian husky. Sheila works full-time in a corporate office, while her...
Nicole WildeMar 3, 20213 minWhat To Do When Your Dog Won't ComplyIt’s all too easy to get frustrated when your dog doesn’t comply with a request, or worse, doesn’t even pay attention to you. I mean,...
Nicole WildeFeb 23, 20214 minFour Fabulous Ways to Get Bitten by a DogDog bites can be scary and painful, and can cause major damage. No one in their right mind wants to be bitten! But as a canine behavior...
Nicole WildeFeb 17, 20214 minDisclosure in Dog AdoptionsI was recently reading a dog-related magazine (I know, imagine that!) where a particular breed was being described. One aspect of the...
Nicole WildeFeb 3, 20215 minPandemic Pups Part II: Separation AnxietyPart I of Pandemic Pups discussed the challenges of socialization during the pandemic and offered tips on how to make it work. In this...
Nicole WildeJan 27, 20214 minPandemic Pups Part I: SocializationThe isolating aspects of the pandemic have caused feelings of loneliness to intensify in many people. To combat the emotional stress,...
Nicole WildeDec 19, 20203 minIs Your Dog’s Behavior All Your Fault?I recently had a phone conversation with a potential client that nearly caused me to explode. Fair warning, if you don’t want to read the...
Nicole WildeMay 22, 20202 minEnforced Togetherness: Love the One You’re With?Enforced togetherness brought on by stay-at-home orders has been a double-edged sword. I worry about things like how many dogs are going...