In this guide, you'll discover 15 practical, positive training tips to help your pup stay confident and comfortable during the spooky season. From teaching stress-free costume tolerance to managing trick-or-treater chaos, building optimism around novelty, and even baking dog-safe Halloween treats—we've got you covered.

Whether your dog is naturally anxious or typically confident, these strategies will help you create positive associations with Halloween's unique challenges. You'll learn proven games and training techniques that not only help during Halloween but build valuable life skills your dog can use year-round.

Ready to transform Halloween from stressful to successful? Let's dive into our 15 tips that will help both you and your dog have a spooktacular Howl-oween! 🎃🐾

Confused by the myriad of dog training methods out there and wondering what's the best way to train your dog? Positive reinforcement has emerged as the gold standard in modern dog training—and for excellent reasons. This science-backed approach rewards desired behaviors rather than punishing mistakes, creating eager learners who genuinely want to cooperate. Unlike harsh correction methods that can damage trust and trigger anxiety, positive reinforcement builds lasting behavioral changes while strengthening your bond. Discover why professional trainers worldwide have embraced this humane, effective method and how you can use it to transform your relationship with your furry friend.

Positive Is NOT Permissive: How to Correct a Dog Using a Positive Approach
Positive dog training doesn’t mean letting your dog run wild—it means guiding them with calm, consistent corrections that build trust and reliability. By using humane interventions like the collar grab, putting a dog back on a leash, restarting the game, or walking them away from rewards, you can stop unwanted behaviors without fear or intimidation. Prevention tools, like leashing in high-temptation situations, help your dog avoid mistakes while learning what earns rewards. With this proactive approach, your dog learns that good choices bring good things, making them a well-mannered, confident companion.

Sharing your space with both a dog and a roommate can be incredibly rewarding, but also challenging when it comes to managing noise. Dogs bark, play, and sometimes whine, which can be frustrating for others who don’t share your love for your furry companion. Whether your roommate is a fellow dog lover or just tolerating your pup, reducing noise is essential to maintaining a peaceful home.

Bringing home a new dog can be one of the most rewarding experiences for your family and your resident pup alike. Not only do you expand your family, but you also offer your current dog extra companionship and playtime. Yet, as exciting as it is, it’s important to remember that building a strong canine relationship takes time and patience. Even if everything seems to start off smoothly, early dog-to-dog quarrels can happen easily and may set back their friendship. That’s why careful planning and a slow, steady approach are crucial.

Managing a multi-dog household requires careful planning, consistent training, and attention to individual needs. With the right approach, you can create a harmonious environment where all your dogs thrive.

Have you ever dreamed what it would be like to have your dog play a starring role in your wedding?

Including your furbaby in your big day can make the event even more special and memorable. However, without proper preparation, it can also lead to stress, unexpected distractions, or behavioral issues.

Here’s how you can ensure good behavior on your special day.

Does your dog jump on you as if they've got springs on their feet? Like it or not, we humans are to blame.

We not only permit this behavior, we encourage it. We know we shouldn't encourage jumping, but a fuzzy puppy is just too cute to resist.

We forget that cute behavior in a puppy can become a real nuisance when they grow up.

Ready to introduce your new puppy to your current dog? Before you do, read this article to guarantee a flourishing bond between your two pups.

Keeping your dog off the furniture is easier than you think with the right training plan. In this guide, you’ll discover simple, step-by-step strategies to prevent unwanted couch surfing, gently correct your dog, and make their own bed the most inviting spot in the house.

Whether you have a new puppy or an older dog stuck in their ways, these tips will help you create clear boundaries, maintain a fur-free sofa, and enjoy a harmonious home with your canine companion.

Working from home with a dog can be a blessing and a curse. On the one hand, it gives us extra time with the dogs we love, but on the other, our dogs don’t always understand work schedules and deadlines. Balancing playtime with work can be difficult, especially if your dog is used to a high level of attention and lots of play.

If you are someone who loves hiking and backpacking, there’s no doubt your four-legged companion would love to join you on this journey, too. While this can be great fun for you and your dog, it’s important to consider how to do this safely, so here are nine tips to make sure your and your furry companion remain safe on the trails.

How to Stop a Dog from Barking

Dogs and puppies bark for many different reasons—attention, boredom, fear, or excitement. The first step in reducing excessive barking is understanding why your dog is barking. Different causes of barking require different training approaches, so identifying the root reason is essential for applying effective, positive reinforcement strategies. Get expert tips from a certified professional dog trainer to help your dog bark less and be calmer.

How to Train Your Dog or Puppy to Settle Down

Doggie decompression uses gentle restraint or controlled confinement to help a dog or puppy learn to relax and settle. This technique can be an effective step in managing behaviors like hyperactivity and even separation anxiety. Learn positive, science-based strategies from a certified professional dog trainer to help your dog stay calm, confident, and comfortable when left alone or in stimulating environments.

Dog Training Tips: Learning how your dog thinks and makes decisions is the “KEY” to getting your dog to do what you want, when you want, without the need for yelling, intimidation or constant supervision.

Dog Training Los Angeles: It’s Your Choice (IYC) is a critical core foundation game because it sets the stage for teaching self-control over all future reinforcers (reinforcers = anything your dog likes or enjoys). It teaches our dogs that all things of value must be earned. The premise of the game is that the “work” is what earns the reward not just the presence of those rewards in the environment.

Dog Trainer Alexandra Bassett demonstrates how to train a dog to walk with a loose leash, meaning that they’ve learned not to pull you in order to get where they want to go,. Leash manners are taught in incremental steps starting by teaching a dog how to respond to leash tension, know as “leash communication,” and where you want them to position themselves while walking on a leash, which can be achieved by playing stationary and moving reinforcement zone games..

Dog & Puppy Training Tips: Dogs are social creatures that benefit from being included in family activities. However, if a dog is afraid of fireworks, Independence Day can be a terrifying experience for them. To ensure the 4th of July doesn't turn into a traumatic experience for both you and your dog, it's important to have a plan for keeping your dog safe and comfortable when the fireworks go off. Here are some tips from a Los Angeles dog trainer on how to get your dog or puppy ready for Independence Day.

At Dog Savvy, we believe dog training should be fun, easy, and effective. One of our favorite games? Hide & Seek. This simple game takes little effort but delivers big results—boosting your dog’s recall skills by creating strong, positive associations with coming when called. You can play it anytime, anywhere, and your pup will love it.

Understanding how consequences affect your dog is all you need to know to train your dog like an expert dog trainer. So how do you correct a dog using positive reinforcement dog training methods? Find that out and more on the Dog Savvy’s dog training blog ...