A Puppy Under the Tree

A puppy for Christmas is a gift that, as a professional trainer for over 10 years, I strongly encourage to be planned so that the entire family understands the commitment that gift comes with. Have no doubt: the pup will not be for the kids. The pup will be the responsibility of the adults in the family, and she will depend on them for her care.

Thinking About Getting a Puppy for Christmas? Go to Your Local Shelter.

Radical it may be to grasp, if we accept the fact that people want to bring a dog into their lives, and the holiday season might be a good time for them to do so, we can educate them on finding their perfect one in rescue.

California VS AKC

California appears set to ban sales of dogs, cats and rabbits at pet stores, just as hundreds of communities and some counties have done around the country. The California bill is aimed at changing how cats, dogs and rabbits become family pets, and has cleared the California Senate Business, Professions and Economic Development Committee with Read More

Why did my dog’s reactivity get worse, when I’m trying my best?

Does your reactive dog seem to be getting more fearful, anxious, or aggressive? Here are key strategies for change that you can put in place very easily.

Dog Reactivity – what actually is it?

Got a reactive dog? A fearful, anxious, or aggressive dog? A dog who barks and lunges at everything she sees? This is just for you!

Making the Most of What You Have (Training in Small Spaces) – Part 1

For about a year and a half, I was living in New York City. I went from living in a large house on 2 acres to a small one bedroom apartment near a park. In this three-part article series, I am going to share how I kept agility in my life while living in a Read More

How One Shelter Is Helping Mexico’s Homeless Dogs

Away from beach sports and tourist hustle and bustle, barking dogs greet visitors to the SPCA Puerto Vallarta in Mexico.

The Many Gifts of Sharing Your Home with a Dog

Pet parents often don’t realize that effective dog training can be very hard work, and that behavior change in their dog will only come after behavior change in themselves. Doing anything well isn’t usually easy.

Give Your Dog an Instant Safe Haven On Walks

We’ve all seen a small child clinging to Mom’s neck while he safely views the world from under her hair. A little puppy has the same need for a safe haven. You may have seen your own puppy hurtle in from the garden when there’s an alarming noise, and dive into her bed. Plunging into the Read More

V for Vendetta the Dog, A Success Story

V was a wild child. I got him at 6 weeks old and for the first 2 years of his life he had zero training. The only time I could get him to do something, or stop doing something was by raising my voice. I had no idea what I was doing. I was completely clueless.

Are Domestic Dogs Losing the Ability to Get Along with Each Other?

VSPDT Laura Brody discusses the topic of dog socialization and why modern domesticated dogs are showing more signs of dog-dog aggression than ever before.

Leave It

The 'leave it' cue teaches your dog an invaluable lesson in impulse control that can be useful in many situations. The 'it' in question might be food that has fallen on the floor, something your dog picks up on a walk, another dog, or even a child. Like the recall this is an important safety Read More

Victoria’s Tips for Keeping Your Dog Stress-Free Over the Holidays

It's hard to believe that Thanksgiving is right around the corner. Christmas decorations are already lighting up homes and businesses, and I even ran into Santa Claus at the mall! The holidays are a wonderful time to spend time with family and friends, but they can also be a challenging time when you have pets. Anxious or reactive dogs are especially prone to stress during the holidays. Here are eight tips for keeping your dog safe and stress-free this holiday season.

Cold Weather Safety in Dogs and Cats

While winter may be mild in some areas of the United States, in other areas, it’s virtually a wet and windy freezer. We humans have heaters, and special hats and winter clothes but what about our pets? What winter dangers do they face and how can we keep them safe? Keep Pets Inside and Read More

Dogs Help Our Health

After a terrible and restless night of trying to sleep and my analyzing thoughts about a work situation keeping me awake, I rolled over in bed to stroke my two senior dogs lying curled up beside me. Part of what had kept me awake was my blood pressure was up and I realized as I Read More

Positively Podcasts

Join Victoria and her co-host (and It's Me or the Dog alum) Holly Firfer as they discuss everything from the hottest dog-related topics of the day to the inside scoop from the set of It's Me or the Dog and everything in between. A fun, informative and lighthearted look into Victoria's life and work, the Read More