Author

Amber Pickren, Gentle Canine

Amber Pickren, BA, CPDT-KA, is the owner of Gentle Canine in Durango, Colorado. After earning her bachelor’s degree in psychology, Amber found her passion working with dogs and has never looked back. With a specialty in behavioral issues, she has been training dogs since 2004 and easily handled over 10,000 dogs in the span of her career. Amber and her husband Matt share their life with dogs Lilly, Imogene, and cat Dyno. They love getting out into the mountains and enjoy rock climbing, trail running and hiking with their four-legged adventure buddies.

Articles by Amber Pickren

Overcoming Canine Cabin Fever

During the cold-weather months, all of us, including our dogs, will face the dreaded cabin fever at some point. But keep in mind that even when you’re stuck inside with an energetic dog, it’s still possible to help him release some mental and physical energy with a variety of activities. Here are some tips to help keep everyone happy, even when the weather outside is frightful.

How to Keep Your Dog’s Four on the Floor with Visitors at the Door

No one wants their rambunctious pup knocking over grandma when she comes over to visit. We want our dogs to be happy to greet people while also minding their manners. Dog trainer Amber Pickren provides tips on how to help your dog properly welcome guests into your home.

Helping Your Dog Become a Perfect Outdoor Companion

There’s nothing better than having a canine adventure buddy, but where do you start? Before you explore the great outdoors with your dog, it’s important to understand their natural instincts and make sure you have a training plan in place. Here are some tips on preparing your pup for a lifetime of adventures with you!

Training the Ultimate “Crag Dog”

One of the best commands to teach your adventure buddy is “on your bed.” This is a great skill for “crag dogs” — pups that will stay put while their people are rock climbing. Read tips and watch a video by dog trainer Amber Pickren on how to teach your dog the “on your bed” command and use it for any outdoor activity where you don’t want your pup to wander, such as while climbing, camping or fishing.

Trail Etiquette 101: Training Tips for Off-Leash Adventures With Your Dog

Before hitting the trail with your pup, here are some general tips to help your training skills meet your adventure-seeking goals.

Trail Etiquette 101: 4 Tips for Safe Encounters With Off-Leash Dogs on the Trail

What do you do when you encounter unruly, off-leash dogs on the trail? Dog trainer Amber Pickren shares some tips to help keep everyone safe.

How to Share Paddleboarding Adventures With Your Pup

Stand up paddleboarding (SUPing) is a great workout for dogs, and it works on impulse control and focus in different situations. It also builds confidence and teamwork skills between you and your pup. Here’s an outline to help you get started!

Training Tips for Road Tripping With Your Dog

Road trips are a great way to get out and see new parts of the country. With endless miles of road to explore, why not explore it with your dog? With some planning ahead, training, and the right supplies, you can have a fun-filled, memorable road trip with your dog.

How to be a Trainer, Not a Tester: Finding More Success in Puppy Training

Getting a new puppy is a fun, exciting, entertaining and sometimes exhausting event. Once you bring home your new furry family member, you might be left with the “what now?” feeling. If there’s one thing I’ve learned with puppy training, it’s to have a plan and stick with it. Here are some tips for finding success training your new pup.

New Year’s Resolutions: 4 Training Tips for a Great Year

Ahhh . . . a new year. A clean slate. A chance to start over and do everything right this time. We all strive to be good pet parents, but busy schedules and competing priorities often make it hard to find time for training, exercising and bonding. But this year will be different! And here are four tips to help you become the pet parent you always wanted to be!

Helping Your Kids Become Little Trainers

Participating in training is not only good for Fido, it’s great for your kiddo, too. We often get asked how to safely introduce puppies to children. By having kids take part in training early on, you can help teach responsibility, taking ownership of tasks, and how to have a fun, appropriate relationship with dogs.

5 Things Your Dog Trainer Never Leaves Home Without

It’s important to be prepared for any adventure with your dog, especially because they often turn into great training opportunities. While packing for your dog can vary depending on the activity, here are a handful of training items that are sure to help with any outing.

Training Your Pup Downtown

Whether you live in a small town or a big city, spending time downtown provides valuable training opportunities for you and your dog.

5 Easy Ways to be Your Dog’s Best Friend FURever

We all know dogs are man’s best friend, but how to be a best friend to your dog can be confusing. By connecting with your dog, you will help him to feel balanced and be well-rounded. The bond you develop each day helps your dog learn to trust you and look to you for direction and guidance. Here are five easy ways to reconnect and strengthen the bond between you and your dog.

Too Busy to Train Your Dog? Here Are 4 Ways to Fit It In!

Sometimes it’s hard to get motivated to do the dishes when you get home after a long day, let alone get some dog training in. We have all been there, you walk through the door, take off your shoes, catch your breath from a crazy day, and your dog is sitting there staring at you… waiting to go do something. But never fear – when time and motivation are lacking, these easy tips will help you squeeze in some dog training and still getting some down time for yourself.

How to Train Your Dog to Come When Called

We all know the joy of taking our dogs on an adventure, unclasping the leash and watching them frolic in the tall grass, chase grasshoppers, and revel in the freedom of being outside and off-leash. However, before we can even get to this point, there is one big thing we need to make sure we are comfortable with — the recall. Check out our easy tips on training your dog to come when called.

How To Make Sure a Treat is Worth the Trick

The key to training with treats is to understand that not all treats are created equal. Here are seven easy tips to make sure your treat is worth the trick.

6 Ways to Make Your Vet Visits More Enjoyable

Visits to the veterinarian are a part of everyday life and can be stressful for dogs and humans alike. Since we can’t talk our pups through everything that’s going to happen — although we may try — here are some tips and tricks to help make these visits more positive.

4 Steps to Start Running with Your Dog

With the right training, your dog can be your best running partner. Here are some easy tricks to train your dog to jog with you, as well as tips for keeping your running buddy safe.