09/24/2026
For over 30 years I've provided professional dog training services from livestock herding lessons, basic obedience training and including super high functioning Service Dogs.
Of course, with the passage of time and experience, my understanding of dogs AND people has grown and I continue to share those lessons to clients.
ONE thing remains TRUE - even after so many decades. The very best way to learn how to train a dog is to watch well socialized dogs interacting with each other and then emulating their methods to the best of a human's capacity to replicate the lessons.
Puppies Betsy R. and America came in from the backyard, and instead of turning up the hall to my office, where they stay during the day, they raced over to Gracie, a 13.5 year old Border collie that was laying on her favorite bed. She wasn't pleased with their rude behavior, and Gracie corrected them. You may hear a bit of "joy" in the tone of my voice because, hey, dogs are far better at communicating boundaries with each other than we humans will ever hope to be. It was a good lesson; "don't wake a sleeping elder."
I ushered the pups through the kitchen to my office, and they encountered 13 year old Feather (a Border collie with a few health issues.) She wasn't going to tolerate having the pups race into her space, and America got a perfectly timed, appropriately measured correction.
By the time we got to the office, Feather had turned around to join us and took a place on the big bed she enjoys napping on.
This time, all she had to do was GIVE A WARNING (lip curl) and the puppies stayed well out of her space - without receiving another correction. The puppies learned with a "one and done" because Feather had provided perfect information for learning.
Her warning was quiet. No frantic energy. No raised voice. No anger. No disappointment. No frustration. No extra energy - only enough to communicate her standards.
When someone asks me "how do I correct my puppy," I share: "Remain calm and quiet. No frantic energy. No raised voice. No anger. No disappointment. No extra energy - just enough to communicate your standards." That's how dogs do it.
