My Best Buddy Dog Training

10/17/2026

We all know that dogs need physical exercise, but did you know that working their brains is just as important? A dog who gets plenty of physical exercise but never gets to think can still be bored, frustrated, and looking for their own entertainment. And trust me… you may not like their idea of entertainment!

So, let’s give those canine brains something to do! Easy brain games to try:

“Find It!” Toss a few treats around the room or yard and let your dog use their nose to find them.

Box Search: Put a few treats in an empty cardboard box and let your dog investigate. Add some crumpled paper for extra fun!

Food Puzzles: Use a puzzle feeder or stuff a Kong with part of your dog's meal. There are so many ideas out there.

Two-Ball Fetch: Practice bringing one ball back and trading it for another. Great for adding some thinking to a familiar game!

Which Hand? Hide a treat in one hand and let your dog figure out which hand contains the prize. Better yet, get three cups, hide a treat under one of them...the shell game!

Sniffari Walks: Forget about marching down the sidewalk. Let your dog sniff, explore, and investigate. Their nose is doing some serious brain work! If you are in a low distraction area, try using a longer line, 10-15 feet to let your dog explore!

Teach a New Trick: Shake, touch, spin, put your toys away… it doesn't have to be complicated. Learning something new is mental exercise!

Hide the Toy: Hide your dog's favorite toy and let them search for it.

Dog Sports! My dog Misty loves doing the canine sport called scent work. Agility, FastCat, etc...there are so many dog sport options.

And here's the important part: brain games don't have to be complicated or expensive. Your dog's natural behaviors—sniffing, searching, exploring, problem-solving, and learning—are all opportunities to exercise their brain.

A tired dog isn't always just a dog who has run a lot. Sometimes, a dog who has had a chance to THINK is a very satisfied dog. Give your dog's brain a workout today!

10/16/2026

10/16/2026

Best deal in town!

10/16/2026

Daisy update! “Good morning! Wanted to let you know Daisy is doing great. We actually had friends over Friday and last night. She did great. Letting everyone pet her and not barking at everyone. Her recall is doing great.” - Andi

10/16/2026

Halloween can be a LOT for a dog. Strange costumes, doorbells ringing, excited children, people appearing out of nowhere, and a constant stream of visitors can turn October 31st into sensory overload.

A little preparation now can make Halloween much easier:

Practice the doorbell. Teach your dog what to do when the doorbell rings—go to a mat, stay behind a gate, or settle in a comfortable area.

Introduce costumes gradually. Masks, hats, capes, and other strange-looking things can be scary. Let your dog see them from a distance and pair them with treats. No forcing!

Create a quiet retreat. Your dog should have a safe, comfortable place away from the activity. A crate or puppy-proofed room can be perfect.

Be careful with the door. With the door opening repeatedly, management is your friend. Gates, pens, leashes, or another secure area can prevent an accidental escape.

Prepare for the noise. Practice with doorbells, knocking, voices, and other Halloween sounds at a low level while pairing them with something your dog loves.

Good experiences build confidence. Flooding a dog with things they find scary can do the opposite.

At My Best Buddy Dog Training, we use science-based, force-free training to help dogs learn how to navigate the real world with confidence. www.MyBestBuddyDogTraining.com 24 years of experience helping dogs and their people!

10/15/2026

Halloween is coming! Is your puppy ready? Halloween can be a LOT for a puppy—strangers at the door, costumes, strange noises, excited children, and the doorbell ringing over and over. A little preparation now can make Halloween much easier for everyone!

Start practicing before Halloween:

• Practice hearing the doorbell and knocking without automatically rushing to the door.

• Teach your puppy that going to a mat, bed, or crate when the doorbell rings is a great thing.

• Let your puppy calmly see people wearing hats, hoodies, sunglasses, and other unusual clothing.

• Practice settling while there is activity happening around them.

• Give your puppy a safe, quiet place to retreat when things get overwhelming.

Protect your puppy from the candy! Chocolate, xylitol (birch sugar), and many other Halloween treats can be dangerous for dogs. Keep candy bowls and treat bags safely out of reach.

And remember: your puppy does NOT need to greet every trick-or-treater. If Halloween becomes too much, let your puppy relax somewhere quiet with something wonderful to chew or enjoy. The goal is NOT to make your puppy "tolerate" everything. It's to help your puppy learn that unusual things can happen—and they are still safe.

A little training before the costumes come out can make Halloween much less spooky!

Need help getting your puppy ready? Call, text, or email us. MyBestBuddyDogTraining.com

10/14/2026

I’m do enjoying working with Rosie! She is a shelter rescue puppy in fall on adolescence and when she arrived at her new home was petrified to go outside and unable to go on walks. Check out this video of her wonderful skills. Thanks to all the hard work she and her parents are putting in.

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

10/14/2026

Our client ZsaZsa has a new friend! Her mom raises these adorable little sheep and this little darling eight week old is hanging in the house for a little while until she gets bigger. I got to have plenty of lamb time today.

10/14/2026

Puppy Reality Check! Your puppy is not a tiny adult dog. Their brains are still developing, they are curious, impulsive, and really good at finding things you didn't even know you owned!

Chewing, chasing, grabbing things, having accidents, and struggling to settle are all part of puppyhood.

The goal isn't to expect your puppy to “know better.” The goal is to manage the environment, prevent unwanted habits from being rehearsed, teach appropriate behaviors, and give your puppy time to mature.

Crates, gates, exercise pens, supervision, enrichment, and lots of short training sessions aren't signs that you're failing—they're tools that help your puppy succeed.

Instead of asking, “Why doesn't my puppy know this yet?” try asking: “What can I do to help my puppy get it right?”

Want more realistic puppy advice? Check out our Realistic Expectations handout: https://www.mybestbuddydogtraining.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Realistic-Expectations-.pdf

10/13/2026

How we talk to and about our dogs reveals a lot about us. Check out this great article on the topic.

by Louise Stapleton-Frappell