Kayaking with Your Dog: A Guide For several years, I have wanted to get into kayaking with my pups. We love to get out and hike but kayaking allows us to see places we wouldn’t see otherwise, get out of the summer heat, and enjoy the tranquility of being on the water alone. But before […]

It’s been a year now since the Marshall Fire devastated our hometown of Louisville, Colorado. It’s the town we chose when we first moved to Colorado in 1996 because of the warm people and sweet small town feel. Louisville is where our daughter was born, and attended pre-school through eight grade. She was fortunate to […]

Getting a puppy is always an exciting time! Meeting a group of roly poly little furballs can be intoxicating and trying to pick just one, almost impossible. But when you’re selecting your new family member, avoid the temptation to bring home two sibling puppies from the same litter, at the same time. Many people who […]

We often hear from clients who are having issues with their dog getting into the trash when they’re not home, chewing the baseboards, chewing sofa cushions or pillows, chewing up socks and underwear, getting into the dirty laundry or stealing children’s toys. The list usually attributed to bad qualities of a dog goes on.   […]

Whenever we meet with a new client or send a dog home from our boarding school program, we usually recommend that owner crate the dog in the car. Most times they say, “I have a crate but it’s in the house.” That’s great. We are big proponents of the crate as a management tool in […]

Here’s how to lay the groundwork to ensure that your dog and your horse will become the best of barn buddies. Many of us wouldn’t think of heading out to the barn without a dog in tow. After all, dogs enjoy the fresh air, constant activity and room to roam of the equestrian life as […]

by Bernadette Pflug, CPDTBlackPaw Dog TrainingLafayette, Colorado We’ve had several dogs in for training recently who have had major fear issues. Often, they are behaving aggressively, either towards other dogs or towards people, in an attempt to increase their social distance from strangers or unknown dogs. It’s a troubling topic for owners who aren’t sure […]

Leadership In Dog Training vs Dominance Theory by Bernadette Pflug, CPDT BlackPaw Dog TrainingLouisville, CO   There has been much written about leadership in dog training. Many times leadership is mistakenly referred to as dominance, but how do these concepts differ? Leadership is defined as a person who guides or directs a group whereas dominance […]

4 Tips To A Better Barn Dog By Bernadette Pflug, CPDT If you’re like most horse people, you know a great barn dog. Every barn or trainer seems to have one. The mellow fellow who hangs near the arena, quietly waiting for his owner, never giving anyone trouble. Chances are, you have wished this was […]

By Bernadette Pflug, CPDTBlackPaw Dog TrainingLafayette, Colorado   Your puppy or dog wants to make you happy. Our dogs live for our approval, and no matter what the dog breed, they can learn the self control and obedience they need to maintain harmony in your household. I’ve been a member of the Association of Pet […]