Your puppy was doing so well.

They were responding to cues, walking reasonably well on leash, and settling when asked. You were starting to feel like you’d found your rhythm together, and then, somewhere around six or eight months, something shifted. The dog who knew their name suddenly acts like they’ve never heard it. The recall that worked at the park is nowhere to be found. They’re pushier, mouthier, more easily distracted, and harder to reach.

Most owners assume they’ve done something wro...

“My dog is reactive.” “My dog is scared of other dogs.” “My dog is fearful.”

We hear these phrases used interchangeably all the time, as if fear and reactivity are simply two words for the same thing. They’re not. And the difference between them matters far more than most people realise.

Fear is an emotion while reactivity is a response. One is what a dog feels and the other is what we see them do about it. And because the same loud, dramatic behaviour can come from completely different emotio...

The walk was going fine.

And then it wasn’t. Another dog appeared around a corner, or a cyclist came too fast, or something you couldn’t even identify, and your dog exploded. Barking, lunging, pulling so hard you could barely hold on. Strangers staring as you apologize, your heart racing.

And now you’re standing there wondering: what was I supposed to do? What do I do next time?

This post is the answer to that question. Some things help, some things make it worse, and there’s a way of thinkin...

You know the walk. The one where everything is fine until it isn’t.

You’re rounding a corner, your dog is trotting along nicely, and then another dog appears. Or a jogger. Or a cyclist. Or sometimes nothing you can even identify. And in an instant, your dog explodes. Barking, lunging, pulling so hard you can barely hold on. You’re apologizing to strangers, crossing the street to avoid triggers, dreading every walk before it even starts.

If that sounds familiar, this post is for you.

Because t...

If your dog seems to be ignoring you, acting out, or just not getting it, the problem might not be your dog.

We work with dogs and their families every single day, and one of the most common things we see is this: a frustrated owner who has been trying hard, doing what they think is right, and genuinely can’t understand why their dog isn’t responding. And a confused dog who is doing their best with an unclear picture.

Most of the time, it’s not a behaviour problem. It’s a communication problem...

Most people think they have plenty of time to socialize their puppy. They don’t.

We hear it often. A new puppy owner comes in when their dog is six, eight, twelve months old, frustrated that their dog is reactive, anxious, or difficult to manage. And when we start talking through the early weeks, the story is usually the same: they waited until vaccinations were done, arranged a few playdates, maybe enrolled in a basic puppy class. They thought they were doing the right things.

The problem isn...

When people hear the word enrichment, they often picture a puzzle toy filled with treats or a lick mat covered in peanut butter. And while puzzles are part of enrichment, they are only one small piece of what thoughtful enrichment really looks like.

At Dogma, enrichment is not something we hand out to keep dogs busy or an added fee for your dog to enjoy as a quick activity. It is an intentional part of each dog’s day. It supports emotional regulation, confidence, problem solving, resilience, an...

One of the things I hear most often from puppy and dog parents is, “I just want my dog to be social.”

And I get it. We are taught that a “good” dog is friendly, playful, and happy to interact with everyone they meet. Socialization often gets framed as exposure plus play. Meet lots of dogs, play as much as possible, and everything will work itself out.

But after many years of working with dogs, I have learned that this version of socialization is not helping dogs and their families. In some cas...

For years, Dogma has been leading the way in Calgary with certified trainer-led day school programs. We’ve seen firsthand how much better dogs do when their days are structured, purposeful, and guided by professionals. While daycare keeps dogs busy, it often leads to over-arousal, poor habits, and missed opportunities to build the skills they need most.

That’s why we created DogmaElementary  - Calgary’s first certified trainer-led day school program with a detailed 16-day curriculum. This is no...