by Denise Fenzi | Jun 28, 2018 | Generic training advice
Recently I was talking with a group of people about how I trained my neighbor’s free-roaming dog not to come through her gate and harass me and my dog. First I tried talking nicely to the dog. That had no effect. Second, I tried crossing the street. That seemed...
by Denise Fenzi | Feb 16, 2018 | Brito
For the new AKC Cue Discrimination Exercise, your goal will be to teach your dog to listen to a specific position cue like sit, down or stand without creeping towards you. How might you accomplish that? First I would suggest separating out the challenges. 1, Listening...
by Denise Fenzi | Jan 2, 2018 | Generic training advice
Recently, I wrote a blog on the meaning of silence. I discussed how we risk inadvertently communicating to our dogs that they are wrong if we create an association between silence/no cookies and errors. So what can you do when your dog makes an error, or when you...
by Denise Fenzi | Oct 8, 2013 | Musings
A Lure is something that you show your dog in order to get something else to happen. If I show my dog a toy to encourage play or energy, and then ask for work, I have used the toy to “lure” engagement and energy from my dog. If I show my dog a cookie (or...
by Denise Fenzi | Jul 31, 2013 | Musings
I am often asked how we should socialize our dogs so that they will grow up as well adjusted as possible. I think the answer is both simple and intuitive: The same way you socialize your small children. I know that many of you don’t have children but work with me...
by Denise Fenzi | Jan 9, 2013 | Most Viewed Posts, Musings
It’s easy to be a “motivational” trainer when everything is going right. Feed cookies, play with toys and watch the behaviors accumulate. It’s all good! What do you do when it’s not going so well? When you have a problem and you are...
