Meghan Lytton

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...

Many of us have been there. It is a relaxing Sunday afternoon. We are finally getting the opportunity to enjoy that football game or book and our dog enters the scene and begins to bark! Maybe for a game of fetch, a walk, a treat or some affection? We satisfy our dog’s immediate need, head back to the living room and are the barking commences once again! This is appropriately known as “attention barking” and it can be extremely difficult to live with, especially if one has a persistent and...

A marker is simple. It “marks” the exact moment your dog did something right (“YES!”) or wrong (“NO!”). It is useful because it serves as a bridge, helping our dogs connect their actions with consequences, like a treat for doing something well! Once a marker is established, we can use it in many ways, including basic training, behavior change, and even cool dog sports and games. It is not a command, but rather a way of clearly indicating to your dog that they got it right (or wrong at times)...