There are many things you can do as a perspective client to make taking this first step easier. Finding a trainer who has both dog and people skills, and who will work hard to find a training plan that is right for you is crucial, as well as hiring someone who understands the emotional weight of living with a behaviorally complicated dog.

And, if there was one piece of advice I could give every perspective client to save time and money in this process, it would be this…

We have reached the infamous “mud season”, or Maine’s attempt at springtime. As snow build-up finally melts, rains fall, and rivers flood, the earth becomes, essentially, an oversaturated mud pit. While slightly warmer weather might suggest spending more time outside, the thought of slogging through the woods with a dirty dog is often less than appealing. So if, like many of us, you are planning on spending a bit more time indoors, here are some enrichment ideas to help keep your dog’s needs met while we wait for summer. 

What exactly is “enrichment”? 

If you have a dog, it's likely you have heard the word “enrichment”. It is often used in marketing for products like puzzle toys, snuffle mats, and slow feeders, and indicates a toy that provides “mental stimulation” for dogs. But enrichment is much more than this…