Just this week, I found myself explaining to clients that their sweet dogs didn’t need more socializing. They needed more space and time to feel safe. Their intentions were loving. They wanted their dogs to have friends, enjoy exercise, and feel comfortable around other dogs. Off-leash parks offered opportunities to meet dozens of dogs, and
Does Your Dog Need More Socialization—or More Space? Read More »
Where social Communication Happens The first few moments are so important. Everyone was watching for play. I was watching the pause from one dog. My German Shepherd, Drake, was greeting a smaller black-and-white dog. As the two considered each other, my attention settled on the black and white dog’s slight hesitation. She leaned back just
The space between two dogs Read More »
Understanding Why Some Dogs Struggle with Unfamiliar Dogs One of the biggest misconceptions in the dog world is the belief that a dog who hesitates to greet another dog is antisocial. In reality, many dogs who struggle with greetings are not aggressive, reactive, or unfriendly at all. They’re simply emotionally sensitive. These dogs often enjoy
When Dog-Selective Dogs Meet the Wrong Playmate Read More »
Hi! Judy here with more ways to support you! For years, dog owners have been told that socialization means more, more greetings, more places, more dogs, more interaction. And for resilient dogs, that approach can work just fine. But for many others, it quietly creates stress. After more than 25 years working in canine behavior,
Not All Dog’s Are Social- Read More »
You’re not alone—and your puppy’s confidence depends on getting this right. Do you ever find yourself wondering:“How much socialization does my puppy really need… and how do I know when I’m doing too much?” If you’re feeling unsure, conflicted, or quietly worried you might be doing too much, I want you to know this first:
Struggling to Know How Much Socialization Is Too Much? Read More »
The Socialization Myth What if the very thing you’ve been told to do to help your dog—traditional dog-to-dog socialization—was actually making your dog defensive or reactive? Dog parks, daycare, and pack walks are often sold as the gold standard for raising a well-adjusted pup. But the reality is far more complicated, and, for many dogs,
Traditional Dog-to-Dog Socialization Can Do More Harm Than Good Read More »
I continue to work with countless distraught clients who are desperate to stop their dog’s reactive behavior on a leash. I get it! When I adopted my 9-year-old Scottish Terrier in 2009, I felt the same isolation, stress and frustration. For two years, we trained diligently and, eventually, reached a point where we could walk
Causes of Canine Reactivity Read More »
My Goal for 2024 is to improve the social well-being of dogs like Greta, an adolescent German Wirehaired Pointer I had the pleasure of working with on New Year’s Eve. Greta was rescued by her humans 10 months ago. They had met with three other trainers to understand why she barked at dogs. They were
Not all barking dogs are afraid Read More »
December 6th., 2023 at 2 pm EST Hello, Canine Enthusiasts! I created this webinar on arousal as a result of meeting many stressed out clients with dogs who become overly aroused in some settings. For many, the question was “do I support my dog by tossing treats or do I teach a new skill in
Arousal in Dogs Webinar with Judy Read More »
Reactivity Defined: I will define another category of Reactive Dogs. In the past, I have written about dogs who are very social and react because they are “Persistent Players” and love to play with dogs. Our canine friends have different reasons for reacting at the sight of another dog. Once you are able to identify
Every Dog Trainer needs a Pablo Read More »
