Dog Adolescence Survival Guide
Puppies are great! Adorable little sponges that (typically) want to be near you instead of venturing far away, learn new behaviors fairly quickly, recall pretty well, and seem to learn so much in those first few precious months home. And then they hit 6 months and...
Puppy Socialization 101: Raising a Confident, Well-Adjusted Dog
By Rachel Moseley The critical socialization period for puppies is between 3-12 weeks of age. Ideally the breeder you got your puppy from has started this for you with carefully planned exposures and socialization opportunities prior to them coming home. Once they’re...
Top 5 Reasons to Crate Train Your Dog
Crate training isn’t just about keeping your dog confined—it’s a game-changer for potty training, safety, and emergencies. It helps puppies avoid accidents and saves your favorite shoes from chewers. Plus, it prepares your dog for vet visits or unexpected disasters....
Puppy Survival Guide
Rachel and Shanthi run the puppy training and socialization course at NWA School for Dogs. With years of experience and a passion for helping pups and their humans thrive, they’ve seen it all when it comes to puppy parenting challenges. From potty training mishaps to...
Why Clicker Training Works: A Science-Based Approach to Dog Training
“Clicker training” is the popular term for the training or teaching method based on what we know about how living organisms learn. Research has shown that any creature—whether a dog, cat, dolphin, parrot, fish, horse, llama, or person—is more likely to learn and...
Leash Foundations for Dogs
This was written many years ago when the school was at a facility with cement floors that we could use sidewalk chalk on. Nowadays, our high-tech waterproof floors don’t work with chalk, so we ask our students to stand perfectly still and reward their dog for paws...
Lockdown: A Detailed Protocol for Potty Training Difficult Dogs
Most owners who contact me about this protocol are desperate—ready to rehome their dogs because this behavior has become so problematic. These cases typically involve: Adult dogs (2+ years) who never learned indoors isn’t a toilet Shelter-raised puppies denied...
Engage-Disengage: Reactive Dog Training
One of my favorite techniques for working with reactive dogs is the simple yet effective "Engage-Disengage" method. It’s a game-changer for helping dogs learn to manage their reactions to triggers in a positive, stress-free way. Before diving into...
Train Smarter, Not Harder: 6 Tips for Effective Dog Training
Training your dog doesn’t have to be overwhelming—it’s all about clear communication, consistent rewards, and understanding your pup’s needs. In this post, we’ll share six tips to help you build better behaviors, from rewarding quickly and often to using high-value...
My Groomer Saved My Dog
My old girl is turning 12 in August. She gets around, but arthritis in her paws makes cutting her nails with traditional clippers very uncomfortable. Hannah Manesreh, with Lucky Dog Canine Grooming, gently takes care of Strega's paws in a manner that I can not. I...