Holiday Vacation for Shelter Pets
By: Melissa Kolmar, CPDT-KA, SBA As the community training wing of the SPCA Tampa Bay, we are big proponents for adopting shelter animals! SPCA Tampa Bay is doing a wonderful …
Happy Thanksgiving!
By: Melissa Kolmar, CPDT-KA Thanksgiving is Thursday and it is a great time of year to reflect on what we are thankful for. In theory, we should always take time to …
Thanksgiving Safety for Dogs
By: Melissa Kolmar, CPDT-KA, SBA It’s almost Thanksgiving time! It’s a great time of year where many gather with loved ones to celebrate gratitude. Let’s make sure to keep it …
Aversive Training Can Have Long-Term Effects
By: Melissa Kolmar, CPDT-KA, SBA If you have trained at New Dawn, the chances are good that you have heard us talk about the negative effects of using aversive training …
Building Your Connection
By: Melissa Kolmar, CPDT-KA, SBA This is my oldest dog, Chupacabra, who will turn 11 in February. She is my more sensitive girl, who is also reactive toward other dogs. …
Progressive Reinforcement Training Center
By: Melissa Kolmar, CPDT-KA, SBA We’ve talked before about how important it is to hear exactly what a trainer will and won’t do with your dog. There is a lot …
Halloween Safety for Dogs
By: Melissa Kolmar, CPDT-KA, SBA Halloween is my favorite holiday by far (it also happens to be my wedding anniversary)! It is important that we keep our dogs …
Denali’s New Life
By: Karey Burek, PhD On a hot day in late August 2018, Denali was locked in a cage, doused in a chemical accelerant and watched as the house was set on fire around her; I can only guess that …
12 Years of Freedom
By: Melissa Kolmar, CPDT-KA, SBA Those of you who have spent some time with me know that I really got into dog behavior when I began volunteering at the ASPCA …
ORT Liability Agreement
I/We hereby assume all risks of, and responsibility for, accidents and/or damage to myself or to my property or to others, resulting from the actions of my dog. I/We expressly …