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Try this simple (and polite!) greeting behavior: the hand touch. Teaching your dog to gently touch a person’s hand with their nose gives them a clear, appropriate way to say hello,without the chaos. Here’s how to teach it: Start with “Touch” Hold your hand a few inches from your dog’s nose. When they move forward and make contact, mark (“yes” or click) and reward. Repeat until they’re intentionally reaching for your hand. Add the cue Once it’s consistent, say “Touch”

Veterinary visits can be one of the most stressful experiences in a dog’s life, and for many dogs, being separated from their owner is the hardest part. Research shows that the majority of dogs display fear at the vet, with studies reporting that up to 78% show signs of fear on the exam table and many are reluctant to even enter the clinic (Döring et al., 2009; Edwards et al., 2019). But here’s the important part: Dogs are often more relaxed when their owner is present. T

Ever hear trainers talk about “Look at That” vs. “Engage/Disengage” and wonder what the difference actually is? They’re closely related, and both incredibly useful, but they’re not quite the same. Look at That (LAT) This game comes from Leslie McDevitt’s Control Unleashed program. The idea is simple: - Your dog looks at a trigger (another dog, person, etc.) - You mark (“yes” or click) the moment they look - Then reinforce The goal is to teach your dog that noticing the