by Gordon Fontaine | Jan 3, 2021
“You cannot share your life with a dog…and not know perfectly well that animals have personalities and minds and feelings” — Jane Goodall. If you are a dog owner you probably agree with Jane. It has been proven that dogs have learned to read our actions and...
by Gordon Fontaine | Oct 29, 2020
Do you have to be the Alpha? Many people have heard that in order to train a dog, you must become their “alpha,” based on the belief that dogs are descended from wolves and need a strong pack leader (alpha). Even popular TV shows like The Dog Whisperer have...
by Gordon Fontaine | Sep 10, 2020
This everything you need to know guide is designed for people who want to train their puppy the Zen Dog way and learn the most important steps to take, what lessons to focus on, pitfalls to avoid—and can be read in less than ten minutes! The goal at Zen Dog Training...
by Gordon Fontaine | May 6, 2020
Zen Dog Training offers virtual puppy and adult dog training with private sessions! Zen Dog Training offers Private Training Sessions. Packages can be all Virtual or include both Virtual and Outdoor sessions*: Virtual Training sessions “In-home sessions” – conducted...
by Gordon Fontaine | Apr 24, 2020
The nature of how dogs learn must be considered when training Dogs learn by trial and error. In the wild or in people’s homes, they are motivated by figuring out what works and what doesn’t work. Contrary to what some people say, they don’t feel guilt the way humans...
by Julie Mendelsohn | Mar 9, 2020
Torture your Puppy?! When it comes to raising a Zen Dog, there are 7 Essential Puppy Lessons every new owner must master. However, the lesson that is most important to veterinarians, groomers, parents and owners who want their dog to grow into a canine good citizen...
by Gordon Fontaine | Jan 31, 2020
If you are a well-read new puppy owner you know the Socialization Period for puppies is between the ages of 3-14 weeks. This is the time in their lives when they are the most open and accepting to new experiences, people, places, and things. During this critical...
by Gordon Fontaine | Nov 13, 2019
The methods you choose for training your dog matter. Dog training in general has boiled down into two camps, with the all-positive-all-the-time (think: treats and clickers) at one extreme and on the other side, alpha-dog methods that encourage “dominance or...
by Emily Fleming | Oct 29, 2019
Bringing a new puppy into your life is exciting! With new puppy owners, the question we hear the most is: how do you integrate a puppy into the home and quickly teach them the rules? In some ways, preparing for a new puppy is similar to preparing for a new baby; there...
by Emily Fleming | Jul 30, 2019
Bringing a new rescue dog into your home can be difficult, as shelter dogs, older dogs, and puppies often need help getting adjusted to their new home. Typical problem behaviors that newly adopted dogs tend to struggle with are: Separation Anxiety, Resource Guarding,...