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 your dog seems friendly off-leash but barks and lunges when restrained, you’re not alone. Learn why leash reactivity happens—and how to help your dog stay calm, confident, and in control around other dogs.

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.”

One of the most common questions people ask during walks is: “Is it bad if my dog walks in front of me?” Many dog owners have heard that letting a dog walk ahead means the dog is trying to assert dominance or take control of the walk.

Colorado culture is built around outdoor freedom. And it’s natural to want your dog to experience that with you. But here’s the honest truth: Off-leash training isn’t about freedom. It’s about responsibility. And most people try to earn freedom before they’ve built reliability.

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.

You ask for “sit.” Nothing. You reach into your pocket. Suddenly? Perfect obedience. If this feels familiar, you’re not alone. A lot of dog parents worry they’ve “bribed” their dog or created a treat-dependent monster.

You say it once. Nothing. You say it again. Still nothing. By the third time, maybe louder, they finally respond. It feels like your dog is ignoring you. But here’s the truth: Your dog probably isn’t being stubborn. They’re responding exactly how they’ve been trained.

Imagine for a moment that you are casually walking down the street with your spouse, and all of a sudden, you catch a glimpse of your favorite celebrity (i.e. Beyoncé or Brad Pitt), and you literally CANNOT believe your eyes.

Almost immediately, you start sweating uncontrollably in your state of discombobulated excitement (“is it hot in here, or is it me?!”).

Meanwhile, your spouse, who is completely oblivious to your mini freakout, casually asks you where you would like to go for lunch.

… In other words, dogs were happier when they earned a reward by performing a task, rather than just being freely handed a treat.

Why teach your dog to perform a “down-stay”?

1. It's a great impulse control exercise.⁣

2. It could be an alternative to undesirable behaviors we experience. ⁣

The best way to “speak dog” is to train your dog by utilizing positive training methods that reward the behaviors you want and that tap into your dog’s way of learning.

For a dog, personal space is of great importance, and as such, lip licks & tongue flicks can be used as an indication of a personal space violation.

Yawns are some of the most common communication signals dog owners observe in their dogs.