WoofGang LLC

10/23/2026

10/21/2026

Django (the tabby) tends to steal the food that Steffi brings up with her paw but I was happy to see that, at least on this day, they shared access and the work! Back and forth they went... we all could learn something from their peaceful cooperation!

10/19/2026

This beautiful girl is Sunny, the CavaPoo. On walks, she barks at people and at dogs. It's easy to assume that her motivations for barking are the same in every context, but that couldn't be further from the truth. We must be more discerning.

Barking can be a sign of frustration, fear, demand, social seeking, even simply excitement. The pitch of the bark is one indicator of its intent; higher pitched barking is social seeking while lower pitched barking as more threatening, a warning away. Also the rapidity of the barks tells you something, whether constant and frantic or periodic and waiting for more input. Finally and most communicative is the body language associated with the message -- body, tail, ears, eyes, mouth. Everything contributes to the message.

Dogs are master communicators, but the onus is on us to become master listeners. Otherwise key details of their message can get lost in translation. WoofGang can help! We offer in-person sessions as well as online training. Contact us at (646) 345-5116 to set up a session. Like this page for posts about all things dog! And sign up for the WoofGang emailing list... with tips, tricks, special offers and Mutt Morsels -- training tips that solve everyday problems.

10/14/2026

I am repeatedly warmed by Tilly's sweet nature and by Steffi's attachment to her. Steffi is quite literally sitting on Tilly's face and Tilly is tolerating it without reprisal. I would never have dreamed of such a sweet relationship between these two

10/12/2026

Say hi to Bo and Sunny, the pugs. Bo is a new addition to the family and he's fitting in beautifully. He's bonded well to his parents and he's gentle and tolerant of Sunny. Sunny, having been an only pup for a bit, is finding the adjustment a little challenging. Sunny doesn't want Bo touching her toys or lying in her beds.

As with any training approach, this will require management as well as training, especially in the near term. Management will mean keeping the dogs separated when toys are involved while they learn to share better. And teaching each dog to seek out their own place rather than coveting the other's.

Meanwhile, as with any multi-dog household, training Bo and Sunny to be respectful of each other will help them forge a good relationship. And making sure that each gets alone time as well as quality time with the human family will be essential to meet their individual needs. WoofGang can help! We offer in-person sessions as well as online training. Contact us at (646) 345-5116 to set up a session. Like this page for posts about all things dog! And sign up for the WoofGang emailing list... with tips, tricks, special offers and Mutt Morsels -- training tips that solve everyday problems. Simply click on http://eepurl.com/gQDqLX to subscribe and join! (You can unsubscribe at any time.)

10/07/2026

Another moment between Steffi and Tilly... Steffi wanting to be where Tilly is and Tilly tolerating Steffi's presence. Tilly used to be a little uncomfortable when cats came around her food, but she has learned that Steffi just wants to be near her and has no interest in her food so Tilly's unbothered by her.

10/05/2026

This is Tilly, the Shih Tzu, in her meerkat pose. This might not seem monumental until you compare it with Tillyon our last visit, hunkered down under her mom's chair. That she is out, mugging me for treats and attention and pulling out all the stops on cuteness, is a huge development!

Tilly shuts down easily, though. Push too hard or ask too much at once and she will end up back under that chair. So working with her -- helping her expand her horizons and better cope with the challenges of life -- needs to be very gradual. Trust and resilience are best forged when we are predictable, deliberate and patient. The slingshot approach of pushing too hard, only to have to backtrack, then pushing too hard again will bake a level of distrust and unpredictability into the very lifescape that we are trying to help her navigate.

Our dogs are all individual, unique learners and each will set her own pace. We must listen to her needs by watching her behavior and tailoring our approach accordingly. WoofGang can help! We offer in-person sessions as well as online training. Contact us at (646) 345-5116 to set up a session. Like this page for posts about all things dog! And sign up for the WoofGang emailing list... with tips, tricks, special offers and Mutt Morsels -- training tips that solve everyday problems. Simply click on http://eepurl.com/gQDqLX to subscribe and join! (You can unsubscribe at any time.)