Talkin' Trash on the Street
Dogs who lunge and bark at passing dogs on the street are usually doing so due to fear or anxiety.
Giving your dog a correction for her behavior tends to make it worse. A more effective approach is to change her feelings about other dogs from one of fear to one of happy anticipation!
Do Your Business!
Want your dog to eliminate on command? It's easy! Look for cues that she's preparing to go, like circling or sniffing. Then use your command, like "Do your business." Softly praise her as she goes. You can even give her a treat afterwards to sweeten the deal. If you do it enough times, she'll eventually "do the deed" on command!
The Chessie Unleashed!
Prodigious working/sporting dogs, some Chessies have been known to retrieve upwards
of 200 ducks and geese in a day’s work!
Meet the Trainer
Dog trainer Laura Garber, CPDT, is a professional member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT) and is certified by the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers (CCPDT), the first national certification for dog trainers. She is an approved AKC Canine Good Citizen (CGC) Evaluator.
Laura worked as a behavior counselor in the behavior department at the
ASPCA in NYC, where she specialized in the behavioral evaluation
and rehabilitation of the shelter dogs.
Her education includes an honors certificate from the
Dog Trainers' Academy
at the San Francisco SPCA and a training internship with the
Monks of New Skete.
She regularly attends seminars and conferences in dog behavior, behavior modification and training.
Seen on the famous Animal Planet TV show Animal Precinct, Laura taught the defensive handling component of the ASPCA's NYC Volunteer Disaster Assistance workshop, and she's been a guest lecturer and "Ask the Trainer" speaker for shelters and pet stores throughout the northeast.
Laura has authored articles about dogs and dog behavior in the animal-centric magazines The Animal Companion and Your Pet Connection, as well as the magazine Chilltown. She has prepared the pamphlet "Bringing Up Puppy" about the proper training and socialization of a new puppy, for distribution by shelters and breeders.
Laura believes strongly in strengthening the bond between human and companion animal. For this reason, she regards training as an exercise in building relationship rather than obedience. Such an approach promises greater understanding and symbiosis within our family packs.
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Testimonials |
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“Laura returned my initial email query promptly and set up an appointment for that week.
I told her that Rudy responds badly to the doorbell ringing, so Laura suggested she
phone upon arrival instead. I was able to unlock the door and Laura was able to enter.
Laura had instructed me to keep Rudy on leash and he barked like mad, but she continued
to give me instruction on what to do (and what NOT to do) and Rudy settled down to the
point of allowing Laura to play ball with him. Laura emails me after each visit and
meticulously explains each exercise she suggests. As Rudy needs a lot of exercise but
sometimes suffers with leg pain, Laura has introduced some "mental activity" games to
keep Rudy's mind active even if his body is mostly resting. She assesses Rudy's behaviors
and then crafts a positive and rewarding scenario which is easy for both the dog and the human to follow.
It's been a long road, but I feel like we have finally found our own "dog whisperer".” Ellen Scheurer, Hoboken, NJ |
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“Laura Garber is a truly amazing dog trainer.
She is an absolute wealth of knowledge regarding dog behavior and will explain
things to you about dogs that you didn't know existed. This woman is right on
top of her game! She can and will gladly give you reasons behind everything she
does with your animal and can date it back to dog history. My dog, Wes, knows
basic commands and is 100% house-broken because of Laura. She is extremely
humanistic and no-nonsense. She cares, and people know her in the community.
If you have issues with your pet, you must allow her to handle them one at a time.
She will do the job with impressive, humanistic methods that a lot of us didn't
know about growing up with animals. Go with more than four sessions –- it just
makes sense –- if you're looking to really help your dog.” Dr. Michael and Mrs. Piper Magera, Hoboken, NJ |
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“I hired Laura to work with my dog after I rescued the dog from a shelter.
Laura's knowledge of animal behavior and temperament were evident from the moment
we began working together and her friendly, positive-reinforcement approach to
training made for a fun and educational experience all around. I highly recommend
Laura's services.” Valerie Boccadoro, Hoboken, NJ |
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Call Laura at (646) 345-5116 if you'd like to set up a private consultation. Or stop by and visit with her at Cornerstone Pets in Hoboken on Sundays from 12 to 2pm. She'll be happy to answer your questions, trouble-shoot a behavior issue, or just give some fun training tips.
We'd love to hear from you! Feel free to send questions, comments, or suggestions for the site to info@myWoofGang.com.
WoofGang Handouts:
Brochure :: new! Bringing Up Puppy (excerpt) :: Training Tips :: House-Training 101 :: Crate Training :: Kongs Fit for a King :: Bringing Home a Shelter Dog :: Canine Diet