Dogs have a variety of different odd behaviors that you may wonder exactly why they do it. One of those behaviors includes shaking. Dogs shake for a variety of different reasons. Sometimes these behaviors can be explained, for instance maybe a dog just dog done swimming and it is cold. Sometimes there...

The operant conditioning technique This technique involves reinforcement, or punishment, for your dog upon completion of a behavior, a lot like you might train your children. It’s voluntary, your dog is an active participant in this process whether the behavior is positive or negative. Rather than rewarding...

Operant conditioning is, “a type of learning in which the strength of a behavior is modified by its consequences, such as reward or punishment, and the behavior is controlled by antecedents called discriminative stimuli which come to signal those consequences.” To break down operant conditioning,...

Have a new and untrained puppy? It may be a troubling time or a stepping stone to see if you could handle a child, but either way, there are some tips you should take into account and help you stay sane with your new puppy. The first few weeks are the hardest and we’re here to help you virtually....

Being a new puppy owner is exciting, but most don’t realize the work that may go into actually taking care of a puppy or even learning to train them. We have the best tips to help you get started when it comes to training your new furbaby and you shouldn’t take these like a grain of salt...

When people think of adopting a dog, most of the time, they don’t think of predatory aggression and expect everything to be swell automatically. Predatory aggression is very real in dogs of all kinds and a lot of people may wonder if it’s natural. They are animals, however, so a level of...

As life moves forward and changes transpire, sometimes we are put in a position that requires us or inspires us to make a move. Sometimes, that can be a hard task to endeavor when you are considering others besides yourself. The task is no easier when that special being your are considering is your most...

We’ve all heard that a dog is the best and most loyal friend a human being could ask for. When you think about it, they are also one of the easiest companions to pass time with. Not only are they always eager and willing when it comes to the next adventure, but they’re ALWAYS positive and energetic during...

  At our dog training facility in Northern Virginia, we often times deal with food aggression and resource guarding. Whether we’re aware of it or not, our furry friends are always in communication with us. Though a language barrier exists, our canine pals utilize other methods to get their message...

  Statistically speaking, though dogs are responsible for human deaths on a very low scale yet they do happen. Pit bulls are associated with almost one third of dog bite related fatalities and half of that can be attributed to Rottweilers. Therefore these two breeds of dogs, more than others, have...

  Roger Caras, the famous photographer and writer once said that “Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole,” and nothing can be truer than that. They share our lives and have become such an integral part that life without them seems colorless. Dogs smell you even when you’re...

Everyday at our dog training facility in Northern Virginia, we work with aggression in dogs (food aggression, dog aggression, people aggression, etc). Rehabilitation of any nature, whether it be man or dog has a complicated history. Yes, most dogs and people that tend to show signs of extreme aggression...

After training a few dogs and scanning them, scientists end result was that dogs too are people! It is just that because dogs can’t talk, scientists have depended on their behavioral interpretationsand come to a conclusion as to what dogs are thinking.  It is indeed a tricky job. You can’t question a...

At our dog training classes in Northern Virginia, we get asked this question all of the time! Once you’ve made the decision to get a family pet, a dog, there is still one choice remaining. Are you willing to put up with the necessary training in order to break in a brand new puppy or would you much rather...

At our dog training business in Northern Virginia, we always get asked about dogs’ emotions. Dog owners everywhere have been asking this question for years when looking at their furry friend: “What is he thinking about?” Recently, two studies have shown that a concrete answer to that question may...

Traveling is already a stressful endeavor. Traveling with a dog becomes even more stressful. If you aren’t well prepared, traveling with a dog can become dangerous. Designating and securing a spot for the dog in the back of the car is a must. Leaving a dog loose is a first worst mistake when traveling...

How often have we been placed in an ambiguous situation where we don’t know how to react. We take a cue from other people’s responses (in the hope that they are more experienced) and behave just as they do. This is called ‘social referencing’ and is very apparent in young children...

Wolves have been associated with human beings for a very long time and studies show that man first used wolves for food. Their bones were found alongside humans as far back as 400,000 years ago. Not all of them were wild, some were timid and knowing that food would be near human camps, started moving...

4 Questions about human-dog psychology answered by these studies. Can dogs actually look like their owners? A study was conducted by Roy and Christenfeld in 2004 that found dogs do resemble there owners. But, there is a catch. They found that only purebred dogs resembled their owners.

An article was...

  We’ve all heard of marker/treat training, clicker /treat training, or dogs doing detection; however, most people do not know that this is standard classical conditioning which was found by a man named Ivan Pavlov. When you think of, you automatically tend to associate him with the theory...

We do service dog and therapy dog training in Northern Virginia, so we always get ask about these certifications. Many people do not know the history of the service dog. Dogs have a rich history of interaction with humans. They also are known to have a sort of sixth sense when it comes to things like...

    We do diabetic alert dog training in Northern Virginia. Diabetic Alert Dogs are lifesavers for type 1 diabetes patients, specifically when they are hypoglycemic unaware, meaning that they don’t experience the usual symptoms associated with low blood sugar (shakiness, sweating, etc.).  Research...

Since we are the best electronic (shock) collar trainers in Northern Virginia, we often get asked about the affects of electronic collar training. It is not actually a “shock” at all (as some people call it), it is actually a very low level stimulation, much like stim pads that physical therapists...

While doing our boarding and training program in Northern Virginia, we always get asked questions about dog food and snacks! There are few things cuter than kids and their dogs. Best friends for life and inseparable, kids share everything with their dogs, including food. Parents may never know who really...

  It’s that time of the year! At our dog training center in Northern Virginia, Thanksgiving food always comes up! Your dog will probably be sniffing around the kitchen with high hopes as the turkey and other goodies are prepared for the Thanksgiving Day festivities.  As you sit down to a...

We always get asked about electronic (shock) collars and pinch collars at our dog training facility in Northern Virginia.  Many people refer to them as “shock” collars; however, they just give a low level stimulation (like stim pads). There have actually been studies and research that have...

We always get ask if we do shock collar dog training at our location in Northern Virginia.  We do not like the term “shock collar” and in fact, it’s incorrect.  The collars do not “shock” they provide a very low level contraction of the muscle, just like stim pads that physical...

While we do a lot of therapy dog training at our facility in Northern Virginia, many do not know the history of the therapy dog. Dogs have always been man’s best friend. While they may have started out as assistants for early man’s hunting expeditions, they have evolved into being spiritual companions...

We get asked service dog questions a lot at our facility in Northern Virginia. ADA (American Disabilities Act) is the governing body for these regulations. The American Disabilities Act has certain regulations in place regarding the definition and purpose of service dogs. This has been revised several...

Do you want your dog to do tracking in Northern Virginia? We can help! While a hunting dog may be motivating factor in breed choices and dog acquisition, there are some natural dog abilities that should be taken into consideration before training begins.  As far as scent training is concerned, dogs are...