Dani Pedraza

Professional Dog Trainer

Dani Pedraza is a Professional Dog Trainer and a Co-Owner of The Big City Woof Walker with presences in NYC and Chicago. Dani is passionate about providing personal, quality pet service and treatment and is very knowledgeable about training dogs using positive reinforcement and a force-free approach. As a Certified Dog Trainer (CCDT), Dani graduated from CATCH Canine Trainer Academy’s Master Course program.

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Forum Comments (1)

Why does my dog lick my face so much and how do I get him to stop?

I think dogs learn this behavior when they’re puppies. They lick their mother’s face to let them know they want food. It could be that your dog is hungry, or it may be that your dog looks at you the same way they used to look at their mother.

Alternatively, if your dog is so excited that they won’t stop licking you, they may be overly stimulated. My first suggestion would be to put the dog on the leash. This way you are able to manage the dog and establish that owner-pet rapport. So if the dog is licking too much, refocus them back to something else by calling their name or presenting a toy. And then, that's your opportunity to direct them into the behavior that you want from them instead of all the licking.

Q&A Comments (20)

How do I tame my dog in the moment if they're too excited?

If a dog is too excited, the first suggestion would be to put them on a leash so that you are able to manage them more easily. Then, you can help refocus the dog and try to get their attention back on you. Call their name and try to motivate them to look at you. Once they do, that's your opportunity to direct them into the behavior that you want from them instead. You can ask them to sit, lie down, play with a toy, etc.

How do I get my dog to ignore distractions?

One thing that you can do is use a high-value treat that your dog will be more interested in focusing on rather than the distraction. It could be anything, like chicken, cheese, or deli meat. Anything that is really valuable and will make your dog want to pay attention to you. That would be the first step in making sure that your dog is able to quickly focus on you and snap out of fixating on that trigger.

What kind of treats should I use to get my dog's attention when they're distracted?

Use high-value treats, like chicken, cheese, or deli meat. You want to use something that will be more interesting than the distraction for your dog.

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Co-authored Articles (1)

How to

Use a Prong Collar on Dogs

A prong collar is a training collar used to teach dogs leash manners. Prong collars are different from choke collars in that they use prongs rather than metal links so when the collar contracts the loose skin around a do...