There’s an exciting shift going on in the world of dog training… and the dogs love it. We are training dogs effectively with pain-free methods. What do you want your dog or puppy to do? Sit, stay, come, be housetrained, accept a crate, walk on a loose leash, what else? Would you like to train your dog to do these things and more by using methods that are fun for human and dog and that involve no pain?

My dogs sit eagerly.

This website draws on the work of Dr. Ian Dunbar, clicker trainer Karen Pryor, Patricia McConnell, Emily Larlham, and many other dog training experts. (I am not an expert myself… see below.) This website began back in 2003, and now has over 300 pages of dog training tips, ideas about  living with dogs, dog supplies, and more. Use the search bar and the drop-down menus to look around!

More and more dog trainers have begun using these methods. That is what this website focuses on: the positive approaches to training dogs, ones that enhance your dogs’ natural trust and willingness. Whether you are starting out or already experienced, TRAINING-DOGS.COM offers you useful tips, tools, and tactics that have been proven by many people’s training experience, with dogs and with other animals.

There are thoughtful people who advocate the careful use of devices that do cause pain in training dogs, especially when the problem seems intractable. I believe that in training dogs, many methods will work and I generally respect others’ beliefs. But many dog trainers have crossed over to using only pain-free methods of training dogs. And that is what this website emphasizes. Most of these methods are based on scientific research into the use of positive reinforcement, while others are more intuitive. I’m interested in the effects of dog food on dog behavior, and write about that too.

I do not work as a professional dog trainer. I am a lifelong dog lover who has owned one or two dogs at a time for over 30 years. I have trained them all, and I have helped friends with their dog training. I also trained our llamas when my husband and I had a llama ranch. My husband Kelly and I have produced videos on llamas and on the work of Linda Tellington-Jones and Penelope Smith. I’m chiefly a writer and I used to be a librarian, so I have a lot of experience in evaluating books, DVDs, and other information. Now I enjoy applying this to one of my favorite topics: dog training.