Author – The Durango Herald

Try these helpful tips with your fearful dog

Often, the most obvious sign of fear in dogs is avoidance of things that worry the dog. Avoidance is powerfully reinforcing since it offers distance and safety from objects that the dog fear...

DATE: Oct 30, 2016 | CATEGORY: Durango Dog Tales

Dog adolescence: Size does not equal maturity

The most common definition for adolescence is that it is a transitional period of physical and psychological development that occurs between childhood and adulthood. Teenage huma...

DATE: Sep 18, 2014 | CATEGORY: Durango Dog Tales

Sometimes good intentions are not enough

There are many well-intentioned dog owners who find themselves coping with dog behaviors that they don’t know how to change. Most people truly love their dogs and want the best f...

DATE: Aug 21, 2014 | CATEGORY: Durango Dog Tales

Save fingers: Teach dog to take treats gently

Not all dogs are born with a “soft mouth.” Breeds like the golden retriever or cocker spaniel have a genetic advantage in this area because they have been developed to pick up and carry bird...

DATE: Jul 24, 2014 | CATEGORY: Durango Dog Tales

Fido home alone? Try these to entertain dog

Wouldn’t it be great if our dogs came with an “off” switch? We could work long hours without guilt, stay out as late as we please and even hold dinner parties while the dog simply was stored...

DATE: Jun 19, 2014 | CATEGORY: Durango Dog Tales

Three phases to teaching dog ‘come’ command

Last month, you learned the do’s and don’ts of the “come” command. This month, we will concentrate on the three phases of training this important command. 1) Round robins ...

DATE: May 14, 2014 | CATEGORY: Durango Dog Tales

Eight steps to teaching your dog to come

The “come” command is one of the most challenging things your dog will ever learn. Not surprisingly, it can be the most difficult command for a dog owner to learn, too. Does this...

DATE: Apr 17, 2014 | CATEGORY: Durango Dog Tales

Train your dog to be a perfect hiking companion

Colorado is a beautiful state with hundreds of miles of hiking trails. Combine this with a dog that would love nothing more than to spend the day wandering the backcountry with you, and you ...

DATE: Mar 20, 2014 | CATEGORY: Durango Dog Tales

With practice, you can ease dog’s separation anxiety

To the casual observer, separation anxiety is just an overreaction to an everyday event – the separation of a dog from its owner. To dogs with separation anxiety, isolation from ...

DATE: Feb 20, 2014 | CATEGORY: Durango Dog Tales

Crates are great for dog’s safety and training

With proper introduction, dogs usually accept crate training quite naturally. The ancestor of the domestic dog, along with today’s wild canines, are den animals. This genetic pre...

DATE: Jan 16, 2014 | CATEGORY: Durango Dog Tales

Socialization key to raising well-adjusted dog

Socialization is critical for dogs and humans. With exposure, humans become accustomed to a wide variety of people and environments and gain confidence in their abilities to cope...

DATE: Dec 19, 2013 | CATEGORY: Durango Dog Tales

Tips to thwart your canine escape artist

Many dogs never even think of escaping from the confines of their home while others see escaping as just a fun challenge in an otherwise boring day. There are many reasons that a...

DATE: Nov 14, 2013 | CATEGORY: Durango Dog Tales