A Journey Through Desperation - The Dark Side of Seeking Help for your Dog

The squeaky wheel gets the oil or so they say. Often we try hard to push problems to the side until they are too large to ignore. However doing this with our dogs usually only leaves us with desperation, disappointment and suffering.

ProfessionalMolly SumridgeOctober 24, 2017professional, Dog Training, trainers, aggression, problems, bad dog, emergencyComment

Your Ignorance is Showing

Assumption is present where empathy ends. To assume means you are looking inward at your own experiences and not at whatever you should be considering. In the case of a dog, to assume the reason for a behavior without observing it in some way and taking a history so that you can empathize and analyze is an exercise in willful ignorance. If labels and constructs are the first thing to come to mind when considering a quandary then your ignorance is showing.

Prioritizing Success with your Pet!

Any good dog trainer will tell you that if you want results, you have to put in the work. That doesn't always sound easy with the busy lives most of us have. But it is possible with these 5 steps.

Molly SumridgeMay 8, 2017Comment

Give The Gift They Will Actually Be Grateful For

When you give a gift to a pet, you are not giving a material object, you are providing a ticket to an experience between pet and owner. A moment in time that bonds two souls. You are giving them memories that will be cherished for a lifetime. That is an amazingly powerful gift that can cost as little as a few dollars.

Blog ContentMolly SumridgeDecember 23, 2016christmas, gifts, presents, holidays, shopping, giving, helpingComment

7 Fitness Tricks To Take Anywhere

Besides being great tools for building body awareness, these tricks will also give your dog a workout physically and mentally! Here are a few of my favorite, easy to train, fitness exercises - with no equipment needed besides some tasty treats and maybe a clicker.

TrainingMolly SumridgeAugust 10, 2016tricks, fitness, canine, training, clicker, yesComment

THROW OUT THAT BOWL! - FOOD TOYS

This secret is one that all the top trainers and dog sports competitors do because they know it works, it’s easy, and it sets their dogs up to be the best. It even helps solve behavior problems list fear, anxiety, sound sensitivity, boredom, rude behaviors, and even aggression.

Training, ToolsMolly SumridgeMay 23, 2016toys, food, calm Comments

Bound by Canine

Why, when we have so much in common, is our field so stratified? Why is there so much hate, bullying, and arguing when we all agree on the same fundamental topic - we love dogs? We are sisters and brothers, bound by canine.

ProfessionalMolly SumridgeMarch 24, 2016trainers, bullying, professional Comments

Expiration Date: Why I'm not renewing

Today I received final notice that one of my dog training industry organization memberships expired today. I've been thinking about the prospect of saying good bye to this membership for a long time and I can confidently say today that I'm glad I'm not renewing...

ProfessionalMolly SumridgeFebruary 24, 2016APDT, PPG, IAABC, IACP, trainers, membership Comments

[Guest Blog] Moving My Dog Training Business – From Texas to New York

First of all, yes, you read that right. I moved across the country to a city I had never been to – not even visited. I had no connections in the area and certainly no referral sources set up yet. Thankfully, years of being active online meant I knew a thing or two about online marketing.

Professional, Guest BlogMolly SumridgeDecember 4, 2015business, moving, dog training, digital marketing, google, seoComment

Socialization - That word you keep using... I don't think it means what you think it means...

The idea seems sound - take your dog out into public so they get used to people, other dogs, and their surroundings. The problem is, that this isn't how socialization actually works and to make matters worse, this may actually be causing your dog to act fearful or aggressive.

TrainingMolly SumridgeOctober 10, 2015shyness, adopt, shelter dog, rescue, socialization, fear, aggression Comments

2 Months!?! Where has the time gone?

Blog ContentMolly SumridgeOctober 10, 2015Comment

Early Bird shows how to be a dog friendly business without going to the dogs

Early Bird is a coffee, tea, espresso and mercantile business what serves prepared drinks and baked goods. Because of health codes, they cannot allow dogs in their estabilshment, but that doesn't mean they've forgotten their furry friends.

Professional, TravelMolly SumridgeAugust 20, 2015business, service dogs, coffee, out on the town, travelComment

Is Your Dog Really A Faithful Companion?

Our faithful canine companion...for us to celebrate something so widely, it can then be assumed that it is special and therefore not commonplace. If that is the case, what is really going on with the relationships of the 80 million dogs in the US?

Treat Pouches: Just 'cause you can doesn't mean you should

Treat pouches are the bags you hang from your pocket, tie around your waste, or clip on your belt. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes. But they have a dark side too... There are dog trainers out there, and owners for that matter, that feel that a treat pouch is the same as waving a treat in the dogs nose. Meaning that the bag is a bribe and without the bag visible, the dog won't listen. There are definitely many sides to this story and I will be sure to give you all of them.

Professional, Tools, TrainingMolly SumridgeJuly 15, 2015treat, pouch, tools, treats, food, corrections, tsst Comments

No-Pull Harnesses: Just 'cause you can doesn't mean you should

Designed with one goal; to stop a dog from pulling. No-Pull Harnesses are considered by some to be the holy grail of dog training devices. Others look at some of the options available and see torture devices. Some are designed with better control for the owner. Others are designed to make pulling uncomfortable. Some offer a quick on and off versatility, while others are so complicated owners can't put them on their dog correctly. In this article I will examine a variety of options on the market and how they actually work.

Walking All Night for Animal Care Professionals

Tomorrow night I will be up all night, walking. One step in front of the other, to fight for a cause no one wants to talk about. One step in front of another through the darkness that surrounds a topic that touches everyone yet forces people to hide their pain. Each step, from dusk till dawn, carrying the memory of those lost, and holding on to strength for those who suffer in silence. Walking through the streets of Boston, watching for a dawn not just to break the darkness of the night, but a dawn on a day when no one has to suffer alone. I've been there, staring off into the darkness, wondering when it will consume me. But there can always be a dawn if we are there for each other and getting help isn't stigmatized.

Molly SumridgeJune 26, 2015 Comment

E-Collars: Just 'cause you can doesn't mean you should

E-collars... aka stim collars aka static correction collars aka impulse collars aka Dogtra collars aka remote training collars aka shock collars... I could go on. Why so many names for the same device? Well that would be because of the constant shifts in marketing trying to find a catchy way to sell these devices. This is because e-collars are one of the most hotly debated topics in dog training. If religion and politics are off the table, then so are e-collars. For the remainder of this article I will only refer to the devices as an e-collar, out of respect for the conversation and to be sympathetic to those still trying to navigate the most treacherous minefield in dog training.

Head Halters: Just 'cause you can doesn't mean you should

No, that loop around that dog's face isn't a muzzle - it's a head halter! That contraption that wraps around the dog's face and neck and is supposed to give you all the control in the world when it comes to walking your dog... or does it? There are some heated debates surrounding the use of head halters, mostly concerned with safety and acclimation for the dog using it.

5 Reasons You Should Be Watching the SPARCS Conference

Today dog owners and dog training professionals are tweeting, and Facebook posting #SPARCS all over their feeds. Those of us who couldn't attend (that being most of us) are huddles around our computers and phones, trying to catch every moment possible of the streaming content. Why? What is all the buzz about?

Molly SumridgeJune 19, 2015 Comment

Dear Chris Pratt, - Some suggestions for the Dinosaur Whisperer...

...I was pleased though that even with limited access to enrichment, Indominus was very happy to interact with a treat ball when given the opportunity....

For The Love of Dog:A Kindred Companions Blog

For The Love of Dog:
A Kindred Companions Blog