Exploring how dogs think and communicate. Training advice from a real dog owner based on all I’ve learned from training my own dogs.
Illinois keeps breaking tornado records, and while I can’t control the weather, I can control how prepared we are. Every month, my dogs and I run a quick tornado drill — so that when the sirens sound for real, we already know what to do. It’s a simple training scenario that helps us stay ready for real warnings.
Winter with one young Labrador has pushed me to get creative, slow down, and rethink what it really means to keep a dog engaged when the weather won’t cooperate. From canine fitness exercises to snowball fetch to hide‑and‑seek in the hallway, these small daily rituals have carried us through the longest winter—and reminded me that it’s never about tiring out your dog, but about doing something interesting with them.
Quill isn’t “naughty” when he steals my husband’s winter hat or raids the wrapping paper. He’s a young, intelligent Labrador trying to tell me something: I need something to do. I still interrupt and redirect him — of course I do — but I’ve learned to look deeper. Because good behavior isn’t magic. It’s needs being met, boundaries being clear, and partnership being practiced every single day.
For 143 days now, Quill and I have walked mid-mornings. While our new walking routine was born out of tragedy, those walks have become Quill and my favorite part of the day. In this article, I am going to share an update on our walking training, the importance of walking your dog, and how it can
Discover real-life dog training tips from a lifelong, devoted dog owner. Learn how trust, mindset, and relationship-based training can transform your bond with your dog — no harsh commands required.
After too many chaotic walks, grief, and missed training windows, I finally faced the truth: my reactive Labrador needed more than love—he needed a plan. In this post, I share our 90-day journey through reactive dog training, loose leash walking tips, and the Premack Principle, all while navigating dog walking after grief. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by your dog’s pulling, barking, or reactivity, this story offers practical tools, emotional clarity, and a reminder that progress is possible—one step and sniff at a time.
Peter Quill had his Awesome Mix—a cassette filled with memories, grief, and joy. My Quill has his own version: a vocal playlist of sneezes, sighs, and guttural sounds that score our days together. He’s the most vocal Labrador Retriever I’ve ever known, and each sound he makes is a track on the album of our…