Veronica van der Wateren

"It's been my experience that you can nearly always enjoy things if you make up your mind firmly that you will." - the Queen of Octobers, Anne of Green Gables In my experience, dog training has become more of a meditative practice for me than simply a learning experience for my dogs. I have taken on many challenging training projects over the years. Some of my toughest teachers were my own foster dogs, the dogs I brought into my home to give a second chance at life. Some had never lived in a...

As we get closer to welcoming our new baby, preparing our dog is just as important as preparing the nursery. He's a huge part of our family, and this new chapter will be a big adjustment for him too. Our dog is independent, incredibly food motivated, and has shown some fear around children in the past. Because of that, we've started preparing well before the baby arrives. My goal isn't simply for him to accept the baby. I want him to feel confident, safe, and successful as our family grows....

I use social media in my work. There are so many helpful tutorials, creative training ideas, and accessible ways for dog owners to learn. It can be an incredible tool. And also… it can really mess with your head! One of the biggest issues I see is comparison. You are not comparing your real, messy, in-progress dog to someone else’s real life. You are comparing them to a final product. A highly edited clip of a dog performing perfectly, often after weeks or months of training that you do not...