Diana Simonsen Dog Training

06/01/2026

Many of you are aware that we have two dogs. The last few months, we have been taking one of them, Axl, to Canine Good Citizen training, or what I have been calling "Doggie Class."

I am very grateful to Diana Simonsen Dog Training for letting me practice some "Dogtography" during class on Saturday, as I would like to add more pet photography to by business. If I get permission from the other owners, I will post pics of some of the other dogs in the class.

Canine Good Citizen training is about teaching owners how to help their dogs be good canine citizens, as with most dog training, it is also "human training." :-) In the class we work on navigating life situations such as "Reaction to other dogs", "Accepting a friendly Stranger", "Sitting for Petting", "Walking through a crowd", and several others. We develop skills such as "Loose Leash Walking", "Sit/Stay", and "Recall" to help navigate these situations. Axl struggles with many of these, and is making great progress. In the class we use the "Positive Reinforcement" style training.

NOTE: Dogs are on leashes and harnesses during the class. The pictures that show Axl without leash & harness, the leash and harness were removed digitally in Lightroom/Photoshop.

05/28/2026

Independence Day is always stressful for pets, but this year marks the 250th anniversary of the United States, so celebrations and fireworks will likely be even louder and more intense than usual.

Taking action now gives your dog time to build positive associations with loud noises before the event. Since desensitization is gradual, starting early is the best way to prevent panic once fireworks begin.

An excellent tool for this training is the Canine Noise Phobia Series Fireworks CD by Victoria Stilwell. It allows you to play real firework sounds at a very low volume while rewarding your dog, gradually increasing the level as they become comfortable.

You can find the training CD here to help prepare your dog for a calm, safe holiday:

Is your dog scared of fireworks sounds? Does his demeanor change every time the 4th of July, Guy Fawkes night or New Year’s Eve rolls around? Fireworks phobia is a very common condition among dogs all over the world. The terror that results from the loud booms, whistles and screeches can be an inc...

05/28/2026

Would you like to help your dog have a relaxing nail trim, ear cleaning, eye drop administration, and other care needs? I highly recommend this Cooperative Care course taught online by Laura Monaco Torelli - Animal Behavior Training Concepts
https://karenpryoracademy.com/live-classes/cooperative-care-with-laura-monaco-torelli/

05/27/2026

Wonderful resource from Valerie Bogie and Pet Harmony!

If caring for a dog with behavior problems has left you exhausted, guilty, and isolated — there's a name for what you're feeling. Learn what pet caregiver burden is and how to start feeling better.

05/27/2026

When a dog is described as “not food-motivated,” it can frustrate efforts to use positive reinforcement effectively. Caring for an unreliable eater can be stressful for everyone involved.

05/15/2026

Excellent way to teach attention Nicole Wilde, Author

My last blog post was about paying attention to your dog. Now let's look at the other side of the coin: your dog paying attention to you when asked. It's one of the first skills dogs learn. Normally—at least the way I’ve always taught it—a dog is expected to give eye contact when hearing their...