A: Dogs understand context and associations. Basically, if you grab your dog's collar firmly, walk them to the crate with a verbal scolding, close the door behind them with intention; that is considered using the crate as punishment. You've essentially told the dog that this is the place they're going to go when they are bad. 
Let’s not make the crate a negative place for your dog. A positive attitude is essential! It's imperative that you teach the dog how to replace the bad behavior they've just performed with a positive behavior. This is something that we would be learning in a training session

When a dog is in training, most often a puppy, it's not uncommon for an owner to need to take a breather. No matter how much you love your puppy, they were born very cute for a reason…. to make sure you don't strangle them. Setting up a routine in which your dog spends time in their crate for short periods of time while you're home is essential. This can help your dog understand that separation from you is not a scary thing. Make a list of absolutely fabulous things your dog loves, then only give them those rewards in their crate. 
Examples: Kong stuffed with peanut butter, cream cheese or puréed pumpkin etc. Creamy textures make it very difficult for your dog to resist; also feeding your dog in the crate can make it a positive association.

A: If you find that your puppy pees multiple times when they're outside or the amount of pee seems like several small puddles, there is a possibility of a UTI. Young female puppies are more prone to this; unless you discuss it with your vet, a Urinalysis is not typically covered under puppy visits. So don't assume anything just because the puppy just visited the Vet. Unless given symptoms, the Vet has reason to assume the puppy is anything but having normal potty training issues. If you suspect your puppy has a UTI better to be safe than sorry. Call your vet, UTIs can be very painful and the longer a puppy suffers from it the worse it can get.

A:First make sure the puppy is fully emptying their bladder or finishing their bowel movements. Some puppy may get distracted and cut off the process to early. Especially if you use treats to reward them. Be sure not to praise or acknowledge the “Good Potty” until they completely finish. Then you can throw them a party and reward good behavior. If the puppy associates “Good Potty” with treat, and you say it in the middle of the potty, they may stop and come to you to get their treat. Then they forget everything!

A: In the majority of my potty training consultations, clients tell me they almost never catch their puppy in the act of pottying. If that is the case, there is no way to explain to the dog, after the fact, what they've done was wrong.

If your puppy is having accidents and you're not catching them, in the act, you need to be supervising your puppy 100% of the time. They are too young to have all that responsibility of free roaming.

A: There are many theories out there when answering this question! 

My opinion is…. your puppy is just learning how to function in the human world. If you are not there to show them what they've done wrong, they have no reason to fix the problem. You MUST supervise an untrained dog!

If you catch your puppy in the act of peeing or pooping in the house; give them a firm verbal “No”, perhaps even clap your hands loudly to startle them. The next step is imperative! Immediately take them outside to finish so that you can reward them. You must show them what behavior was wrong and how they can replace it with a positive behavior.

 

A: Absolutely!!! Treats are great and in my opinion are an essential part of training; However they can become a crutch. 

As with any learning, the student must be motivated and the teacher must be skilled in order to have success. If weaned properly, the trainer/owner can easily begin to teach the dog to have a strong work ethic and to work to please them. 

However, without a training plan, the dog can learn within days that a treat must be present to perform a behavior. Stop this from happening by educating yourself on how dogs learn. Understanding the 4 quadrants to learning and mastering your timing can allow the trainer/owner to shape the behavior properly.  

A: Aside from any medical conditions your puppy might have, like a UTI, the puppy is most likely not going potty in front of you because they think that's a bad behavior. Make sure that if your puppy has an accident in the house, you're not taking them back to the scene of the crime and scolding them for it. This only makes them hesitant to go potty in front of you. As they associate their pee and poop in close proximity to you, as a bad thing, they may hold it until they can hide.

Also, if your puppy has not gone potty outside and you know they need to; keep them on a leash attached to you and take them out every 10 minutes until they relieve themselves. Make sure to reward them when they do go potty outside.

A: This can be a very deep rooted behavior issue that will most assuredly require professional training. But just to give you an idea of what is going on I will address this briefly.

This would often be described as leash aggression or barrier aggression. Most dogs displaying this behavior have had negative experiences while on leash. These negative experiences do not have to be anything extreme, sometimes the event is not even detected by the humans. Rest assured this behavior does not just happen without provocation. 

This is a growing issue in the dog world and dog trainers all over are having more and more cases like this pop up. Get a professional to help you with this! I assure you, the dogs that are being barked at by your dog…. they are starting to develop an issue of there own!!!! This has a HUGE ripple effect.

A: Ok so this one's a doozy!!! Being the Lightening State, Florida has such dramatic thunderstorms. One could describe Florida weather as a bipolar, unpredictable freak of nature. Born in the state of New York, I get to say that. Ha Ha Ha! 

Okay so back to the issue at hand, Sound Phobia. As it implies, this describes the fear of sounds but in particular LOUD unexpected sounds. It may require a Behavior Modification Protocol to be put in place and in some cases Drug Therapy in conjunction with the Protocol. 

Having an assessment of this behavior by a professional will allow the actual triggers to be identified. It is not as cut and dry as you may suspect. Animals have been able to detect the barometric pressure dropping forever. This is a survival skill. Something that simple can trigger the dog and the anxiety begins. At that point, the anxiety may be undetected by the owner and that is where we begin our protocols.

Fireworks are easier to prepare for and much easier to help the dog cope with.

This not a quick fix and by far not an answer that can be provided briefly.

This is one of my favorite parts of the way a dog thinks! Dogs, like many animals, have the ability to learn things contextually. Simply put, where the dog trains the most will be the place they will perform the behavior the best. Understanding the stages of learning can help you provide the dog the motivation they need to succeed. So this means. short periods of training in ALL available environment. This will make for a well rounded puppy student. Not to mention, you will grow as your dog’s Trainer/Owner every time to train together. This makes for a beautiful partnership!! Ohhhh, it gives me goosebumps as I type this!! What an honor to be able to communicate with another species!!!!

A: This process begins as a young puppy and has a lot to do with the dogs temperament. Some dogs have no issues, while others display fear of restraint for puppyhood. The major issue is fear of the unknown! Never would the dog experience this type of grooming in their world. Humans have created dog breeds that have specific grooming requirement.

Start by educating yourself on what your dog breed requires for grooming as well as what the puppy will experience at the Groomer. Same goes for the Vet. Things like being placed on a elevated table and tethered can feel, to them, like they are choking or caught on something. Being stood over and restrained by a Vet Tech can simulate a aggressive action by an older dog. There are many theories out there about how dogs think. I can only share my opinion and teach you from my experiences.