Does your dog love to chase down a ball, but won’t bring it back? The trick to turning Max into a true retriever is to have two balls; throw the first one, and as he runs out and grabs it, start to talk about and tempt him with the second ball in your hand. Entice Max back in your direction with the second ball, and wait for him to drop the first ball. When he does, throw ball number two, pick up ball number one and repeat!

Some dogs have a tendency to inhale or wolf down their food, which is not healthy. Trick Molly into eating more slowly by placing her kibble in a single layer on a cookie sheet. This way, she will not be able to grab big mouthfuls at a time. Instead, she will only be able to lick up a few pieces of kibble at one time, thereby slowing down her rate of consumption. An even better solution is to place her kibble in a Buster Cube, a kibble dispensing toy. Molly’s mealtime will then become a stimulating event, where she has to figure out how to get the kibble out of the Buster Cube, which is accomplished by pawing and nudging it.

If Lucy tends to bolt through the door each time you open it to let her in from the yard, teach her to wait patiently for permission. The trick is to open the door only enough so that she could squeeze through, but use your body to block her entrance. Each time she tries to push through, you silently push back. When you have successfully prevented her from rushing past you, close the door and walk away. Return a few seconds later and repeat. When Lucy chooses to pause for a few seconds, instead of attempting to bolt through the door, treat her by standing aside and give her permission to enter by calling her inside with a happy voice.

Do your dogs jump, whine and clamor over each other to get your attention every time you come home? Pretend you don’t have dogs at that moment. Wade through them without acknowledgment. This means no eye contact, no talking and no touching. While it may take a few minutes for Shadow and Sadie to calm down, continue to ignore them both until they have given up completely and have settled down once again. Then go to them, one by one, and calmly acknowledge them with a gentle rub and a soft voice. You can actually condition your dogs into not responding at all when you arrive home, as in time they will recognize that the fastest way to get your attention is to remain settled and calm.