Behavior/Training

Mar 14
3 min

When is a Dog Off-Leash Ready?

On a recent morning photo walk at a local park, I spotted an animal racing up a hillside. Was it a coyote? A bobcat? Nope! It was a blur...

1,467 views0 comments

Nicole Wilde

Jan 18
3 min

When Dogs are Riding a Stress High

I was walking at the park with a friend recently when we ran into a man walking his dog. I had chatted with the man on other occasions,...

4,810 views0 comments

Nicole Wilde

Nov 17, 2022
2 min

When Hand Signals Come in Handy

Often when I’m working with training clients, they seem impressed that their dog can respond to a hand or arm motion alone without a...

363 views0 comments

When Walking Your Dog is Downright Scary

Nicole Wilde

Oct 31, 2022
3 min

When Walking Your Dog is Downright Scary

If you have a dog who is reactive to other dogs, going for a walk can be a scary experience. There you are, wanting to get some exercise...

419 views0 comments

Nicole Wilde

Sep 13, 2022
3 min

What Constitutes a Deal-Breaker?

I recently had a training call from a woman who was very distraught. Between crying jags, she explained that she was afraid she was going...

1,203 views0 comments

Nicole Wilde

Jul 19, 2022
2 min

What are "Red Zone" Dogs, Really?

If you’ve watched television in the last 10 years or kept abreast of dog training culture, you’ve probably encountered the term red zone...

924 views0 comments

Nicole Wilde

Jul 11, 2022
2 min

Do Older Dogs Care Less?

You might be familiar with the adage about how, as we get older, we care less about what people think about us. I wonder if the same...

576 views0 comments

Nicole Wilde

Mar 3, 2021
3 min

What To Do When Your Dog Won't Comply

It’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,...

811 views0 comments

Pandemic Pups Part II: Separation Anxiety

Nicole Wilde

Feb 3, 2021
5 min

Pandemic Pups Part II: Separation Anxiety

Part I of Pandemic Pups discussed the challenges of socialization during the pandemic and offered tips on how to make it work. In this...

559 views0 comments

Nicole Wilde

Jan 16, 2020
2 min

Startle…and Attack?

Dogs have an instinctive startle reflex, just like humans do. Upon hearing a loud noise or being touched when not expecting it, most of...

197 views1 comment

Nicole Wilde

May 23, 2019
2 min

Frustration Tolerance

Have you ever been in the supermarket and seen a child pointing at something on the shelf, imploring his mom to buy it? The mom says no....

169 views0 comments

Should You Expect Total Compliance from Your Dog at All Times?

Nicole Wilde

Mar 28, 2019
3 min

Should You Expect Total Compliance from Your Dog at All Times?

In a recent conversation with another dog owner, I heard this phrase: “She’s being a little s#*%!” When I asked what the woman meant, she...

52 views0 comments

Nicole Wilde

Mar 21, 2019
3 min

Walk This Way

I remember a conversation I had a while back with a friend whose dog Charley, a 3-year-old Lab, is a big lug of a sweetheart. On walks,...

77 views0 comments

Nicole Wilde

Feb 21, 2019
3 min

When “Come!” Means “Run the Other Way!”

Here’s a conversation I’ve had many times over the years with owners of small dogs: “He won’t come when I call him. He’s so stubborn!” ...

76 views0 comments

Nicole Wilde

Jan 9, 2019
4 min

Learned Helplessness

Bob and Molly have a female spaniel mix named Ginger. Ginger is known to have fear issues, specifically, a fear of Bob. This Bob-o-phobia...

84 views0 comments

Nicole Wilde

Dec 18, 2018
3 min

Sudden Changes in Behavior

I recently received an email asking for a training referral. The sender had two senior dogs, and the younger of the two was suddenly...

59 views0 comments

Nicole Wilde

Nov 28, 2018
3 min

Is This Dog Truly Aggressive?

A two-year-old dog is adopted from a rescue. The dog has not had any socialization. He does not seem to know how to play with other dogs,...

45 views0 comments

Nicole Wilde

Sep 7, 2018
3 min

Of Hanging Dogs and Unheeded Advice

This morning, I saw a man hang his dog. Granted, the dog was wearing a body harness, but it was still disturbing to see the four small,...

30 views0 comments

Nicole Wilde

Jul 26, 2018
3 min

Cooperation Versus Coercion

I’d like you to imagine that you are a young, not-yet-verbal child who is entering a foster home. Naturally, you are a nervous about...

21 views0 comments

Nicole Wilde

Jun 5, 2018
3 min

The Truth About Consequences

I was sitting across the kitchen table from my dog training client, trying to get a word in edgewise. The woman herself wasn’t the...

35 views0 comments