Collars, Leashes and Harnesses (oh my)

Posted on May 14, 2012 by

Go to anywhere dogs hang out (parks, pet stores, city streets, etc.) and take look at what their all being walked on. Chances are you’ll see a myriad (my word of the day that’s fun to say) of collars, leashes and harnesses. So many choices out there, but which is the best for you and your poochy pal? Ask ten different people and you’ll get ten different answers. Many people have a favorite that they will happily tell you all about, others have only used one specific type and have never experimented with anything else, while others have tried them … Continue reading →

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Should You Vaccinate Your Dog?

Posted on May 7, 2012 by

One of the big debates in the world of dog ownership is the subject of vaccines. Are they necessary? Are the dangerous? There’s plenty of information out there but it all conflicts with one another and seems to change by the day. Although I am far from an expert on the topic I though I would give you my take on them since my dog, Hayley is due for her rabies shot this month and it’s fresh on my mind. When I adopted Hayley ten years ago not only was I not a dog trainer, but I was a pretty … Continue reading →

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Adoption on Steroids

Posted on April 30, 2012 by

For the past three years the Best Friends Animal Society has held their Super Pet Adoption weekend in both LA and NY. And for three years straight I’ve be honored to be a small part of this amazing event. To say this event is big, doesn’t really do it. To say it’s humongous is getting closer but still can’t accurately describe it. No matter how descriptive I can get on this page it will never completely paint you a picture of the magnitude of the Best Friends Super Adoption atmosphere. A couple of trainers from this area volunteered to help … Continue reading →

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Talking Dogs: Episode 5

Posted on April 26, 2012 by

Here’s the latest episode of my online video show with Jeff Coltenback. In this edition we talk about different natural supplements you can use to help behavioral issues. In the viewer question segment we address barking and pet loss. I also play (what I think) is a very funny joke on Jeff toward the end of the video. Check it out and let me know if it cracked you up too. If you want to check out some of the products we discuss head over to the Talking Dogs web page and the links are in the show notes.

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Conflicting Advice

Posted on April 25, 2012 by

One thing that you’ll notice when you have a dog is that everyone you come in contact with has some great nugget of advice to offer you. Getting all this free information is nice, however it’s often very contradictory. The breeder or the rescue where you adopted the dog tells you one thing, your vet tells you something different, the guy at the local pet store tells you something else, then you’re Uncle Sam tells you something totally different, while your neighbor is adamant on against everything everyone has told you, but eagerly shares his wisdom with you . . … Continue reading →

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Talking Dogs: Episode 4

Posted on April 18, 2012 by

Here’s the latest episode of Talking Dogs with Jeff and Fern. This one is all about socialization, which in my opinion is THE most important thing you can do with your dog. Do me a favor, if you like it share it on Facebook or any other social media outlet (check out the nifty icons below). And your comments are also always welcome.

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Why NOT to “Win Over” a Shy Dog

Posted on April 17, 2012 by

For a dog lover, a shy insecure looking little dog can really pull at the old heart strings. You see this scared fur ball and want so badly to help him get over his issues and realize how great us human are. You also feel that, as a dog lover, it’s your duty to make him feel better. So you try to show him how cool and nice you are by slowly moving toward him with your hands outstretched in friendship, while making kissy noises. Although I know your heart is in the right place, by doing something like this … Continue reading →

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Talkning Dogs – Episode 3

Posted on April 12, 2012 by

Here’s the latest episode from my online video show with Jeff Coltenback. In this edition we discuss some supplements that you can add to your dog’s diet to improve their health and wellness. We also answer some viewer questions and highlight a rescue story.

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Kids and Dogs – Part 2

Posted on April 10, 2012 by

Last week I told you all about the very best dog breed (statistically) with kids. If you missed it, check it out here. Today I want to talk about how to manage interactions between kids and dogs so that both species enjoy the encounters. The big thing you have to remember is that they are going to do some really dopey things. Stuff you are totally unprepared for and that you would never in a million years expect them to do. No matter how good you think they are, they will push their boundaries and, at times, totally ignore everything … Continue reading →

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Kids and Dogs – Part 1

Posted on April 4, 2012 by

It happens to me at least once every few weeks and it’s always the same. I’ll be doing a session with a family and they’ll ask the question that’s on every Mom’s and Dad’s mind: what’s the best kind of dog to get for children? Parents who want to bring a dog into the family dynamic are understandably concerned about the safety and well-being of their kids. The problem with all these parents is that they ask me, the supposed expert, for advice but are rarely satisfied with my answer – and always refuse to believe me. What they want … Continue reading →

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