Dogs need you to be their advocate, not their alpha. Effective dog training is as entertaining as watching paint dry. It doesn’t attract attention or make for compelling TV. And while you can teach basic obedience like “sit” and “stay” in a day, making a dent in complex behavioral issues can take months—and often the improvements are subtler than the untrained human eye can notice. As a result, even the most well-meaning and committed dog owners become frustrated and exhauste

I just realized that it's been ten years since I started my little passion project, a dog walking business called Wanderpups. Technically, our ten-year anniversary won't be until November of this year, but I can still write about a few things I've learned as a dog-centric business owner for over a decade. 1) Every dog is an individual. This one seems obvious, but i've met hundreds of dogs and no two are alike. Often, a dog's breed is a framework for their tendencies, but t

Believe it or not, a day in the life of a dog walker is very hectic. Imagine having to get to anywhere between 10 and 20 houses a day in a very small window (most midday dog walks take place between 10am and 3pm). In addition to getting to the right place at the right time, dog walkers have to contend with personalities of different dogs, keys and lockboxes and codes, parking spaces, avoiding mailmen and other triggers for dogs, bad weather, and the list goes on... Even th

Every year, dogs enter kennels for the Christmas holidays, and come home coughing. Kennel cough, also known as bordatella, is a respiratory infection that affects dogs. It is caused by a number of different bacteria and viruses, and it is highly contagious. It can be transmitted through the air (most prevalent), through contact with contaminated surfaces, or through contact with infected dogs. It IS possible that bordatella can be spread on clothing or shoes from one dog t

✅FOOD PUZZLES/GAMES. Serve their meals in a food puzzle. Ideally daily, but even a couple times a week will help. Most companion dogs do not get nearly enough mental stimulation. Boredom can cause many behavioral problems. By making them work for their food, you will challenge their brain, break up the boredom of the couch between walks, and let them do what comes naturally for them, searching and scavenging. Solving a task like this will also help them build their confidence