We thought this column – a rerun of Ask the Trainer from last year’s holiday season – would be helpful. Ann will post a new column next month. Enjoy! As dog lovers we tend to be extremely tolerant of what some might perceive as “unmannerly” behavior by our dogs. We’re used to our bulldog’s habit of smooshing his face (and sometimes-droolly mouth) up against our leg to say “welcome home.” We don’t mind when our yorkie jumps into our lap as we settle on the couch. And when our exuberant golden thrusts her nose “south of the border” we understand that she’s just reacquainting herself with us after a long day. While these normal dog behaviors might be no big deal on a regular day, imagine a

Q: Our 1.5-year-old lab mix is hyper and driving us nuts. He chases and nips at the kids and can't seem to settle down. EVER. We exercise him twice a day — a 30-minute jog AND a 45-minute walk in the evening. We've had a couple sessions with a trainer, and he suggested we look at his diet as a possible contributor to his crazy behavior. I'm skeptical. Does it really matter what kind of dog food we feed him? We use a popular brand from the pet store, medium price range. And NO table scraps or people food. A: Great question! Quick answer: I believe, YES, it matters what food your dog eats. We trainers are excited about the relatively new research taking place in the realm of canine nutrit

Last month the Ask the Trainer column gave advice on what to consider before adopting a dog, such as what energy level and exercise requirements would best suit your family’s lifestyle. Assuming you have honestly appraised the resources and time you have to give a dog, and you have identified your ideal physical characteristics (big or small, short hair or long, slobbery or not) and compatibility requirements (cat/kid/dog-friendly), then you’re ready to begin the search! Whether you’re seeking a mixed breed or a purebred (according to the ASPCA, approximately 25 percent of dogs in shelters are purebreds), you’re sure to find your ideal canine companion at a shelter or rescue organization.

Q: I have a 9 month old Lab-Pit mix I adopted three months ago from the shelter. He’s a really sweet dog and plays well with my neighbor’s dog, also a lab mix. We live near a fenced-in dog park and I’d really love to take him so he can socialize with more dogs, but a couple friends have had really bad experiences at dog parks and I’m nervous about going. Any advice? A: Great question! Dog professionals are all over the place on the question of dog parks. Depending on whom you ask, dog parks are the highlight of your dog’s day or the ideal setting for trauma, injury and lawsuits. I personally enjoy exercising and socializing my clients’ and my own dogs at the dog park, but I also know it’s

As dog lovers we tend to be extremely tolerant of what some might perceive as “unmannerly” behavior by our dogs. We’re used to our bulldog’s habit of smooshing his face (and sometimes-droolly mouth) up against our leg to say “welcome home.” We don’t mind when our yorkie jumps into our lap as we settle on the couch. And when our exuberant golden thrusts her nose “south of the border” we understand that she’s just reacquainting herself with us after a long day. While these normal dog behaviors might be no big deal on a regular day, imagine a gathering in your home for a special occasion (not to stress you out, but the holidays are here) and suddenly your dog is embarrassing you all over the

Q. I have a three year old Pomeranian/Bichon. She is overall a great dog, but I have a really hard time with her on walks. When she sees another dog she goes crazy and barks and whines. It's really loud and embarrassing. She is fine at the dog parks and doesn't act out, but when she can't go say hi, she freaks! She does this in the car too and it is really distracting. Help! What can I do?! A. It probably isn’t all that comforting to know, but there are many, many owners who share your frustration and embarrassment every single time they take their dog for a walk. You’d be surprised how many people walk their dogs at unusual hours – even drive to empty lots or out-of-the-way locations - t

Welcome to The Local Bark’s new column, “Ask the Trainer.” The training team at The Local Bark has been working with dogs and their owners for more than 10 years on issues ranging from basic obedience to severe behavioral problems. There is no single training style, philosophy, or tool that fits all dogs or all dog owners. Kristin Minnie, trainer and owner of The Local Bark, and I bring a variety of philosophies and experiences to each and every client. Our goal with this column is to be able to answer questions about dog-related issues – both common and uncommon – that will help dog owners not only have well-behaved dogs but also achieve a balanced, healthy relationship with them. At th