Meghan Lytton

As a dog trainer, I see many well-intentioned owners working hard to do right by their pets. However, there are a few common pitfalls that I often encounter. These mistakes aren't just minor misunderstandings; they can fundamentally change the trajectory of a dog's training plan and ultimately impact their quality of life. 1. The "Fear" Label Trap: Mistaking Drive for Distress One of the more frequent mistakes I encounter is mislabeling a big reaction for fear. When we see a dog barking...

Resource guarding is one of the more common issues I help clients address. It is a normal dog behavior. In fact, an estimated 15–20% of pet dogs resource guard. Perfectly sweet, obedient, and well-bred dogs resource guard. When we are enjoying the company of our furry pals, it is easy to forget that over 80% of the world's dogs are free-ranging scavengers. Securing and protecting resources is a part of their DNA. Most of these cases involve communication (growling) rather than a bite....

In the world of 60-second Reels and TikToks, dog training looks like magic. We are constantly fed a diet of ACTION! CAMERA! VISIBLE RESULTS! happening right before our eyes. While it’s wonderful that good training is more accessible than ever, these highlights can create a false reality. A motivated, happy dog can learn to sit, down, or touch in a single afternoon (or even a few minutes!)! You can learn those skills from a fun class, a book or online. But those are skills ; they aren't...