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By Sharon Wachsler CPDT-KA KPA-CTP of atyourservicedogtraining.com It's back to school season, the dog days of autumn. Have you let your service dog training slide in the heat of the summer? Or has your training schedule fallen to the wayside due to symptom flares, vacation, or shuttling kids to camp? There is only one type of training that works: The training you do! Building regular dog training habits into your schedule really helps your dog maintain consistent progress. W

If your dog barks, lunges, growls, freezes, or completely loses their mind on walks or when guests arrive, you’re not alone—and your dog isn’t being “bad.” You’re likely living with a reactive dog. And while it can feel overwhelming and isolating, reactivity is both common and workable with the right kind of support. I want to be clear from the start: reactive dogs aren’t overdramatic, stubborn, or “too much.” They are dogs whose nervous systems are overwhelmed. The behaviors

Training a dog is essential for a happy and safe relationship between pet and owner. Yet, many dog owners still rely on aversive tools or fear-based methods, such as shock collars, choke chains, or harsh verbal reprimands. These approaches may seem effective in the short term but often cause lasting harm to a dog’s mental and emotional well-being. Positive dog training methods offer a kinder, more effective alternative that builds trust and encourages good behavior without fe