Life with Dogs - Family Dog Mediation

06/04/2026

One of the biggest mistakes people make with puppy recall is waiting until they need it.

A reliable recall doesn't start when your adolescent dog is chasing a squirrel across a field.

It starts when your puppy is young and happily disengages from a toy, a smell, a leaf, or some other distraction to come racing back to you.

Every time your puppy chooses to turn away from something interesting and orient toward you, they're building a habit that will matter later.

One of my favorite examples of this is Kim Brophey's "Refrigerator Hack"—calling your puppy away from something they're engaged in and rewarding them generously for choosing connection. It seems simple, but it's incredibly powerful.

The goal isn't simply teaching a dog to come when called.

The goal is teaching a puppy that turning toward you is one of the best decisions they can make.

That foundation is what gives you the strongest chance of having a reliable recall when the stakes are much higher.

05/29/2026

Many people believe confidence comes from exposing puppies to as much as possible. In reality, confidence develops when puppies feel safe enough to explore the world at their own pace.

I recently spoke with a family who worried their puppy was “behind” because she was hesitant around new people. Once they slowed down and focused on helping her feel secure rather than pushing her through experiences, she began approaching new situations much more comfortably.

How would you describe your puppy: naturally bold, naturally cautious, or somewhere in between?

05/28/2026

05/16/2026

One of the biggest misconceptions about puppies:

Over-arousal is often mistaken for stubbornness and rebelliousness.

Many puppies who are biting, barking, zooming, or unable to settle aren’t trying to be “bad.” They’re overwhelmed and struggling to regulate themselves.

Their nervous systems are immature. They need guidance, safety, rest, predictability, and support, not just correction.

This became a major focus in my new book because so many caregivers are blaming themselves (and their puppies) for completely normal developmental struggles.

05/06/2026

After stepping away from social media for quite a while, I wanted to briefly come back and share something meaningful.

Over the past year, I’ve poured a great deal of thought, experience, and heart into a project that finally became real this week.

My book, Raising a Calm, Confident Puppy: A Relationship-Based Guide to Early Puppy Development, is now available on Amazon.

This book was written for caregivers who want a gentler, more relationship-centered approach to raising puppies — one built on trust, communication, emotional safety, and realistic expectations rather than fear or rigid control.

Writing it challenged me in ways I didn’t expect, but I’m incredibly proud to finally share it.

Thank you to everyone who supported my work over the years, even quietly.

– Pat

Raising a Calm, Confident Puppy: A Relationship-Based Guide to Early Puppy Development

03/03/2024

For all of you out there contemplating or planning for a new puppy this spring please FOR THE LOVE OF GOD educated yourself first on the true needs of a puppy❗️ You can get all the information you need to get off to a perfectly wonderful start by preordering this amazing book❗️

Welcoming Your Puppy from Planet Dog: How to Go Beyond Training and Raise Your Best Friend

05/10/2023

I was drawn to take a more holistic approach to traditional dog training after discovering a much easier, more natural way for dog guardians to raise and co-exist with their dogs. After 30 years of practice, study and multiple certifications I finally discovered what our dogs really need from us in order to thrive inside of our humancentric world. The traditional training model of teaching obedience commands and changing behavior just wasn’t getting the results people were longing for. I have finally landed on a much more fulfilling and enlightening approach to having that magical relationship we had in mind when we envisioned what life with a dog could be.
Taking a more holistic approach to co-existing with our dogs not only benefits our dogs but us as well. When we change the way we view our dog’s behavior and how we feel about it we will start to see changes immediately. Our dogs are socially intelligent beings and have been living life up close and personal with us for thousands of years. They read our body language and facial expressions like the master observers they are, as well as knowing exactly where we are at physically and emotionally. They share all the same basic emotions that we do and they have a deep need to feel safe, understood, listened to and included within the family unit. They deserve to have autonomy and freedom of choice while simultaneously providing them with kind, realistic boundaries. Once we learn how to take this type of approach with our dogs the benefits are magical. Instead of issuing commands we can communicate easily and openly with what it is we are asking them to do. Our dogs are in our lives for a reason, not by coincidence. They are here to teach you things about yourself that no other human could teach you. They open us up to so many "self discovery" opportunities if we choose to listen, honor and observe what their behavior is showing us. Behavior is communication plain and simple. Nothing more, nothing less. Your dog’s behavior is not being used to get your attention as much as it's being used to seek a heartfelt connection with you.

05/01/2023