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If you're on this page, you already know how destructive chewing can be - it's frustrating!

The combination of management and proper training (which gets to the root of the problem) are your keys to success in eliminating this behavior.

I'm going to tackle those exact subjects as briefly as possible for you in this post, because I know how valuable your time is to you. You want answers - now!

So without further ado:

The first thing I tell my clients at the first training session is: you have to correct the relationship between you and your dog (and between your dogs, if you have multiple). You have to set rules in place that are based in fairness and set the calm tone you want for your household.

This isn't about authoritarianism, but rather celebrating...

It's no fun for you or your dog when dealing with allergies.

You try changing their food, special shampoos, creams... some people even turn to medication, which usually makes the problem worse!

How? Certain medications can be harsh on your pet's immune system and/or allow for yeast take-overs.

In order to relieve symptoms for good, we must eliminate the cause. This leads us down the rabbit hole of diet and nutrition. Oh I've been down that rabbit hole - for over 15 years! Let me tell you: it's definitely worth it to solve the root cause of the problem - which, without fail - is always food. However, doing all that research takes time, dedication, and LOTS of reading!

I want to point you in the right direction and give you a quick fix today, but beware: putting a bandage on the problem ...

Hi, I'm Heather Smith! I've been training dogs professionally since 2015. I help my clients by looking deep into the behaviors of dogs to find the root causes of certain behaviors. This is the job of a behaviorist (think of a behaviorist as a detective of the dog world).

Most often, I notice that people just don't know how to read a dog's body language, which can worsen and even cause undesired behaviors. When people learn to read and communicate with dogs effectively, beautiful things happen!

The dogs feel more loved and understood, and the people feel less frustrated because the communication barrier has been removed! Are you ready to understand your dog better?

I find myself recommending a book titled "On Talking Terms With Dogs: Calming Signals" by Turid Rugaas to most of my...

Are you searching for a veterinarian in State College? How about Altoona, Clearfield or Lewisburg areas?

I've compiled a list of vets in Central PA to help my clients and other local pet lovers find care for their furry friends. It includes vet clinics, their hours, addresses, phone numbers, and websites - all in one list!

Download a copy of the list free of charge at https://www.petloverspassion.com/pl/2147563956

Don't hesitate to share the above link with your friends so they can benefit!

Much Love,

Heather Smith, ABCDT (Animal Behavior College Certified Dog Trainer)

I am excited to announce the release of Pet Lover's Passion Membership!

This is a dog training and cat training membership community for all pet owners who want to strengthen their relationship with their pets while working on problem-solving behaviors and teaching tricks and sports.

Inside, you can gain access to member-exclusive monthly Q&A sessions, and special blog posts. Join a like-minded community of pet lovers and be inspired to make the most out of life with your dogs and cats - we're in this together!

With your membership, you can:

- Ask your training questions in a monthly Live Q&A and listen to past recordings

- Access a library of Pet Lover's Passion content from all platforms

- Participate in surveys to shape the future content of Pet Lover's Passion

- Access...

Calling all coaches and entrepreneurs!

I’m looking to interview dog owners (purely for my own research) to help me build a new program I’m working on. It would mean the world to me if we could hop on a quick call and I could ask you a few questions. OR if you know of someone who fits this description, please encourage them to get on my schedule to book a call. Book in for a call here: https://calendly.com/petloverspassion/call or fill out an online survey.

The deadline for participating in this interview is October 22nd.

Share this post with your friends! https://www.petloverspassion.com/blog/interview 

The Difference Between a Dog Trainer and a Behaviorist

Not all trainers can also call themselves behaviorists. The difference between the two is: trainers have knowledge and experience in different training methods, while behaviorists have deep insight into the thought patterns of animals (or humans) and are adept at discovering the root causes of behaviors.

For example: Trainers often teach tricks, sports, train service animals, and solve common nuisance behaviors, while behaviorists are called in to deal with aggression cases, severe anxiety issues, reverse negative associations, and most importantly: get to the root causes of behaviors and figure out ways to solve them.

Over my years of experience, I can say with confidence that I am both a trainer and behaviorist.

This is why my...

See how I got my dog to sit at a candlelit dinner with me and get some great ideas for your own doggy photo shoot. National Dress up Your Pet Day is January 14th 2021. Dog photography is a great bonding experience for you and your dog!

I had a lot of fun taking all of these pictures with my dog, Jasper! He looks so cute in a tie, does he not? Drop by on YouTube and give my video a "like" - it really helps me out a lot. Thank you!

Do NOT light a candle in front of your dog. This dog is highly trained for this trick.

 Enjoy, and remember to create lasting memories every day!

♥ Heather

Are you feeling anything less than optimistic? Then I have some words to pick you up :)

2019 was far from great. I told myself “2020 will be my best year yet!” with much enthusiasm. Well… as far as events go, this hasn’t been a great year, but for my self-development and healing – it has! I’ve learned so much about myself and others. I’ve met some true, TRUE, friends – the kind I’ve always dreamed of.

2020 may not have been my “best year yet”, but it has been the best year I’ve had in a while (and the best is yet to come!). That should be our goal for every year that follows – to be our best year yet! You see, it’s not about what happens in the world around us that determines whether we have a good...