We hear this question all the time. A client watches their dog walk politely next to us, respond smoothly to cues, and settle calmly during a session. Then they turn and say, half-joking, half-serious: “Why is my dog always good with you?”

If you talk to enough dog parents, you’ll start to notice a pattern. Many of them quietly carry a feeling that they might not be doing enough. Maybe they should be training more. Maybe their dog should already know certain things. Maybe other dogs are calmer.
Maybe other dog parents seem to have things more figured out.

Inside your living room? Angel. Outside in the hallway, park, or apartment building? Chaos. This is one of the most common frustrations in dog training. And it has nothing to do with your dog “testing you.”

It’s a moment that often happens quickly. Your dog walks over, leans in, and gives the baby a big lick across the face. Some parents laugh. Others panic. So what’s the right response?

Many parents notice a change in their dog after bringing a baby home. The dog that used to get all of your attention now watches as most of your time goes toward feeding, holding, and caring for the baby. So it’s natural to wonder: Is my dog jealous? In a human sense, probably not.

A new baby has just come home. Your world has completely changed. You’re exhausted, protective, and trying to do everything right. Then it happens. Your dog suddenly lets out a growl near the baby.

If you’ve ever found yourself thinking, “He knows this,” or “She does it perfectly at home,” you’re not alone. Many dog parents experience the frustration of watching their dog respond reliably in the living room, only to seem completely confused at the park. It can feel like your dog is ignoring you or being stubborn. But in most cases, something very different is happening.

When my dog is crying/whining in his/her crate at night, should I let them “cry it out”, so as not to encourage this behavior? This question is, by far, the most common question that I receive on crate training.