Puppy Preschool vs Waiting Until Six Months: When Should Puppy Training Start?
Should you enrol your puppy in preschool or wait until they're six months old? Your puppy is already learning from the moment they come home. Discover why age-appropriate early training and thoughtful socialization can help build valuable foundations before adolescence begins.
How Do I Choose the Right Puppy?
Choosing the right puppy involves much more than picking the cutest puppy in the litter. Learn how breed tendencies, temperament, health, energy level, grooming needs, breeder practices and your own lifestyle can help you choose a puppy who is a better match for your family.
Group Classes vs One-on-One Dog Training: Which Is Right for You?
Should you choose a group dog training class or work one-on-one with a trainer? Both provide valuable—but different—learning opportunities. Discover how group classes build skills around distractions, when individualized coaching may be helpful and why some dogs and owners benefit from using both.
Hoopers vs Agility: Which Is Right for My Dog?
Hoopers and Agility both offer exciting opportunities to train, communicate and have fun with your dog - but the sports are quite different. Compare the equipment, physical demands, handling skills and benefits of each to help decide whether Hoopers, Agility or perhaps both are right for your team.
Can Senior Dogs Do Hoopers?
Growing older doesn’t necessarily mean giving up dog sports. With no jumps or weave poles and an emphasis on flowing movement and distance handling, Hoopers may be an enjoyable option for some senior dogs. Learn what to consider, how training can be adapted and why your individual dog’s health matters more than their age.
What Is Cooperative Care? Helping Your Dog Participate in Their Own Care
Cooperative care teaches dogs to actively participate in grooming, handling and everyday husbandry rather than simply being restrained while things happen to them. Learn how skills such as chin rests, paw offers and stationing can make nail care, grooming, medications and veterinary handling more predictable and comfortable.
How Do I Stop Demand Barking?
Does your dog bark at you for food, toys or access to something they want? Learn why demand barking develops, how our responses can accidentally reinforce it, and how teaching appropriate alternative can help your dog discover quieter ways to communicate.
Puppy Training Classes vs Private Lessons: Which Is Right for My Puppy?
Should you enroll your puppy in a group class or book private lessons? Both offer valuable - but different - learning opportunities. Discover the benefits of puppy classes, when one-on-one training may be helpful, and why some puppies benefit from a combination of both.
What Is Hoopers? A Beginner’s Guide to This Fun Dog Sport
Hoopers is a fun, flowing dog sport where dogs navigate hoops, barrels, tunnels and gates while being directed by their handler. With no jumps or weave poles and an emphasis on distance handling, Hoopers offers an exciting opportunity for dogs and handlers of many different ages, abilities and experience levels.
How Do I Trim My Dog's Nails?
Nail trimming doesn’t have to become a wrestling match. Learn how to safely trim your dog’s nails, introduce clippers or a grinder gradually, recognize the quick, use positive reinforcement and help your dog to become a willing participant in their own nail care.
How Do I Stop My Dog From Counter Surfing?
Counter surfing can become a persistent habit because occasionally finding food makes checking the counter worthwhile. Learn how management, positive reinforcement and teaching your dog an alternative behaviour such as settling on a bed can help keep four paws on the floor—and your dinner on the counter.
Owner-Trained Service Dogs: What’s Involved and How Professional Training Can Help
Considering an owner-trained service dog? Learn about foundation training, public access skills, disability-related tasks, suitability, time-lines, and how Paus-n-Train supports psychiatric and PTSD service dog teams through individualized one-to-one training.
Are Head Collars Effective for Dogs—and How Do I Introduce One?
A head collar can give some handlers greater control of a strong or pulling dog, but it shouldn’t replace loose-leash training. Learn how head collars work, their benefits and their limitations, and how to introduce one gradually so your dog can become comfortable wearing it.
What Can We Learn From Evidence-Based, Positive Reinforcement Dog Training?
Positive Reinforcement dog training teaches us much more than how to train dogs. Discover how understanding behaviour, motivation, communication and learning can help us become better teachers, recognize success, respond differently to mistakes and build stronger relationships with our dogs
How Do I Prevent and Manage Digging?
Digging is a normal dog behaviour, but that doesn’t mean your garden has to suffer. Learn why dogs dig, how to prevent unwanted digging, when enrichment may help and how a designated digging area can give your dog an appropriate outlet.
How Do I Prevent and Manage Destructive Chewing?
Chewing is a normal dog behaviour - the goal isn’t to stop it entirely, but to help your dog learn what is appropriate to chew. Discover how puppy-proofing, supervision, enrichment, appropriate chews and positive reinforcement can prevent destructive chewing while building better habits.
How Do I Crate Train My Puppy?
Crate training should teach your puppy that their crate is a safe, comfortable place to relax - not somewhere they’re sent to as punishment. Learn how to introduce the crate positively, build duration gradually, handle nighttime crating and respond appropriately if your puppy cries or becomes worried.
How Do I Housetrain My Puppy?
Housetraining a puppy is all about creating plenty of opportunities for success. Learn how frequent outdoor trips, close supervision, appropriate confinement, immediate rewards, and a consistent routine can help your puppy learn where to toilet—without punishment or frustration.
How Do I Stop My Dog From Jumping on Guests?
Does your dog turn every visitor's arrival into an enthusiastic jumping session? Instead of focusing on correcting the jump, teach your dog what you'd like them to do instead. Learn how preparation, management, positive reinforcement, and skills such as settling on a bed can help your dog develop calmer, more polite greetings—without yelling, pushing, or physical corrections.
Why Is My Dog Reactive?
Why is my dog reactive?
Reactivity is often misunderstood. Dogs that bark, lunge, or growl aren't usually being stubborn or aggressive—they're communicating that they're feeling fearful, frustrated, anxious, or overwhelmed. Understanding the emotion behind the behaviour is the first step toward helping your dog feel more confident. Learn what causes reactivity, common mistakes to avoid, and positive, science-based strategies to help your dog succeed.