As many of you know I have a small farm in Connecticut. It’s not a working farm, but more of a hobby farm where I raise migratory waterfowl, chickens, domestic geese, and crowned cranes.

We also recently added a couple of horses as well. So it’s a good size spread with a lot going on. I love animals and this has been a passion project for a long time.

Predators on the Farm

Over the last year – like so many other people - I have unfortunately seen a marked increase of issues...

Ask any dog trainer or professional animal behaviorist and they’ll tell you they have at least one story that still makes their blood boil.

This is one of mine. All names have been changed to protect the “innocent”.

It never fails to astonish me when I am called into a lesson and the owners are considering getting rid of a dog because of a behavior that they (or someone they hired) inevitably caused.

I had a lesson with a woman that had previously been a client with a...

Dogs are great. There is almost nothing like the love and loyalty and joy that comes with canine companionship. What is better than a dog?

How about two dogs? Or three dogs?

What about more dogs?

At some point every pet parent begins to ask themselves that most important of questions…Should I get another dog?

That is quite a question. And don’t believe for one second that there is only one right answer. Like many questions when it comes to pet parenting, it all depends. On you....

When I was in my 20’s, I owned a Doberman named Tyler that would drive me crazy every time I would take him for a ride in the car. Since I had a job that let me bring my dog to work each day, Tyler was basically my shadow, and everywhere I went, he went. As soon as I would put him in the car to go to work, he would start to pace side to side and would whine, bark and cry out loud for my whole journey (about 30 minutes). I thought initially maybe he was scared, but he wasn’t...

Eventually, most of us will stumble upon a wandering dog. In some cases, those dogs are strays, but it can be tough to tell the difference. Dogs escape their homes without a tag and sometimes get dirty as they try to get back home.

If you’ve discovered a dog without a nearby owner, you may wonder what to do next. Here are some steps to take to help reunite a lost dog with his owners.

How to Help a Dog Find Its Way Back Home

Make Sure the Dog Is Lost

There are some telltale signs a dog...

Your dog is an important part of your family. You want to make sure your pet is safe and happy by your side, whether you’re going for a walk or snuggling on the sofa together.

Unfortunately, even the best-trained pets can sometimes escape. Keeping your dog on a leash or in a fenced yard is one of the most important things you can do to protect your furry friend, but even that isn’t foolproof. Here are a few extra steps you can take to ensure your dog stays where he belongs.

How to...

Naming a new puppy can be both challenging and fun. Whether you choose a name from a list of popular dog names or come up with one on your own, it’s a big decision. After all, you’ll be referring to your new pup by that name for a long time.

Once you’ve chosen a name, the challenge of teaching it to him begins. You’ll use it not only to show love, but to call your pet back after an escape or to get his attention whenever you need it. For these reasons, teaching your...

If you have a dog, you probably know just how much mischief he can get into with his mouth. That book or shoe he chewed up tells you that chewing is a favorite pastime, especially for younger dogs. Dogs love to pick up anything that smells like you - clothing, telephones, remote controls, etc. While sometimes this behavior amuses us, it can often be dangerous for your dog and expensive for you. Recently I worked with a dog who took batteries off of a counter, swallowed them whole and had to...

Are you ready for the arrival of your new puppy? This cute little creature is going to require a lot of work. The good news is, with training and the right supplies and equipment, raising your new puppy can be easy and stress-free. In the days leading up to your new puppy’s arrival, there are some things you can do to help transition your new puppy into a happy and healthy member of your family.

Getting Your Home Ready for Your New Puppy

Invest in a Crate

For your puppy’s safety...

If you’ve read through my dog training tips, you may have noticed that they focus heavily on verbal commands. But you can also communicate with your dog through body language in ways you don’t even realize.

Using Hand Signals to Communicate with Your Dog

When you accompany your commands with hand signals, you can get even better results. If your dog is hearing impaired or loses hearing in old age, these signals are essential for communication. They can also be used when a normal...