Author: Dog Trainer College

What Temperament to look for in a Protection Dog

Many people have erroneous opinions about what the temperament of a personal protection dog looks like.  Some see the protection dog as a vicious, unpredictable dog just looking to “eat” someone.  Actually, the opposite is true. First, a protection dog is confident.  (Yes, we are aware of low-level trainers who say that a nervous dog… Read more »

Three Goals that we have for our Graduates

When the staff at Conifer Canine got together to create the Dog Trainer College, we had very clear goals in mind.  We wanted to produce graduates that not only know what they are doing as trainers but also excel in their skills.  Our dog trainer courses revolve around providing three necessities for becoming a well-rounded,… Read more »

Why a Personal Protection Dog?

Protection dogs use their keen sense of smell, acute hearing, and (it seems in many cases) a sixth sense of intuition, to keep their owners safe 24/7/365.  Nothing else compares!    As good as other means of personal protection are, they are limited: Protection dogs give the widest path of warning and therefore give the… Read more »

Dog Training Seminars and Workshops

Conifer Canine offers some very unique dog-related seminars and workshops.  These are not your run-of-the-mill dog training seminars rehashing boring outdated information.  Our seminars are very relevant, progressive, focused, and aim for the top notch in dog training material.  Check out the dates and admission (occasionally some are free) on our Upcoming Events page. Most… Read more »

How to Live with a Working Dog

So, you have decided or may be deciding to get a working dog.  If you’re ready for it, this is one of the smartest decisions you’ll ever make.  If you’re not ready for it, it can be one of the most frustrating things you’ve ever done.  Let us give you some words of tried/true wisdom!… Read more »

Will I be Able to Train Dogs after I take a Trainer Course

dog trainer courses

Occasionally someone will ask, “Will I be able to train dogs after I take a trainer course?” We know the vast amount of effort and material that is put into our dog trainer courses, so we want to give a resounding, “Yes.” Yet, the adage sneaks into the equation:  “You can lead a horse to… Read more »

How to Greet a Strange Dog

Americans are notoriously stupid when it comes to greeting a strange dog.  We do all the wrong things and then blame the dog when she reacts in an unfriendly manner.  Many bites could easily be avoided.  But it’s the dog who gets the blame, is labeled as aggressive, and may end up dying to compensate… Read more »

The Importance of Human Leadership with a Dog

dog

Nothing about dog training is automatic.  Some people are of the mistaken mindset that domestic dogs can simply perform as we want them to without any responsibility or direction on our part.  This mindset is a farce! A dog’s behavior is nearly always a reflection of his human.  If the human permits sloppiness in the… Read more »

A Very Brief History of the German Shepherd Dog

The history of the German Shepherd is the most detailed and documented breed in the world.  It will be impossible to include all of that information is this one blog article.  However, we’ll look at some of the highlights. The breed originated in the mind of Captain Max Emil Frederick von Stephanitz, a German cavalry… Read more »