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Anja Boecker

Anja Boecker

Dog Trainer, Behavioral Consultant & Author

Dog trainer in MunichDog behavioral consultant (IHK)Lecturer and author

Anja Boecker is a dog trainer in Munich, behavioral consultant (IHK), lecturer, and author. At her CityDogs dog school, she works with human-dog teams and helps dog owners better understand body language, everyday training, and behavior problems.

Articles by Anja Boecker (56)

The latest 24 of 56 articles

Dog owner training their dog outdoors, demonstrating the basics of dog training through positive reinforcement.

Dog Training: Basics, Methods, and Common Mistakes

Dog training starts on day one. Positive reinforcement is the most effective method: reward correct behavior, ignore unwanted behavior. The basic commands Sit,...

A dog stands next to a toy box and holds a toy in its mouth, ready to drop it into the box.

Teach Your Dog to Tidy Up: Step-by-Step Guide

Tidy Up is an advanced trick where your dog puts their toys into a box. The trick is based on fetch: your dog must be able to reliably pick up an object and...

A dog with its mouth open barks and looks attentively ahead.

Teach Your Dog to Speak on Command in 3 Steps

Speak is a trick that builds on natural behavior. Your dog barks anyway, you just give that barking a name. Capture natural barking, mark it at the right...

A dog lifts its paw and touches the flat hand of its owner in a high-five gesture.

Teach Your Dog High Five: Step-by-Step in 3 Steps

High five builds directly on paw. Instead of holding your hand horizontally, you hold it vertically with the palm facing forward. The dog lifts his paw and...

A dog sits upright on its hind legs with front paws bent in front of its chest.

Teach Your Dog to Beg: Step-by-Step Guide in 4 Steps

Beg (sit pretty) is an advanced trick where your dog lifts both front paws from a sit position and balances upright. Prerequisite: a reliable sit. Not suitable...

A dog places its paw over its nose, performing the cover nose trick.

Teach Your Dog to Cover His Nose: Guide in 3 Steps

Cover your nose (shame) is an advanced trick where the dog wipes a paw over its nose. Prerequisites: sit and down must be solid. The trick is built using a...

A dog weaving between its owner's legs and looking up.

Teach Your Dog to Weave Through Your Legs in 3 Steps

In the leg weave, your dog zigzags between your legs as you walk forward. The trick looks spectacular but is straightforward to build with treat luring. Start...

A dog in a bow position: front legs flat on the ground, rear end raised, typical play bow pose.

Teach Your Dog to Bow: Step-by-Step Guide in 3 Steps

In the bow (also called Take a Bow), the dog lowers the front legs and chest while the rear end stays up. The position resembles the natural play bow. As a...

A dog raises its front paw in a waving motion and looks attentively forward.

Teach Your Dog to Wave: Step-by-Step Guide

Waving builds directly on the paw shake. Instead of catching the paw, you pull your hand away so your dog scratches at the air with their paw. Mark and reward...

A woman walks with her dog on a leash at heel through a yellow rapeseed field.

Dog Commands: The 7 Most Important Basic Commands

7 basic commands form the foundation of all dog training: Sit, Down, Stay, Come, Heel, Drop It and No. The order matters because each command builds on the...

A white-and-brown puppy playfully nibbling on the ear of a black-and-white dog on a rug.

Building Bite Inhibition in Your Puppy: A Step-by-Step Guide

Puppies bite during play because they're exploring their world and testing their strength. That's normal behavior, not a sign of aggression. Train from the...

A brown and white dog with a pink harness lying relaxed on the ground, surrounded by grass and dry leaves.

Teach Your Dog to Lie Down: 4-Step Guide

Down is the second most important basic command after Sit. Training in 4 steps: slowly guide a treat from Sit down to the ground until your dog lies down....

An Australian Shepherd puppy with blue merle fur playfully begins exploring a meadow in the sunlight, while another dog joyfully follows in the background.

Puppy Training: The Essential Basics to Get Started

The socialization window (week 3 to 16) is the most important phase for puppies. Whatever your dog gets to know in this phase, he accepts more easily for life....

A woman in a blue jacket sits with her relaxed brown-and-white dog on a green rug and pets him.

Building a Bond With Your Dog: What Really Matters

Dogs bond with the person who gives them dependable attention: whoever feeds them, trains them, goes on walks, and offers protection in tough moments. With...

Two black dogs sit on a meadow displaying their unique body language. The larger dog on the right has an alert posture signaling attention, while the smaller one is slightly tilted to the left. In the background, a dirt path and wide farmland extend under a cloudy sky.

Dog Body Language (4 Signals You Should Know)

Dogs communicate through body language, facial expressions and vocalizations. Tail wagging does not always mean happy: a stiff, high wag signals arousal or...

A small white dog with black and brown markings digs energetically in a patch of dirt surrounded by green grass. Its tail is curled and it seems focused on the ground ahead, perhaps trying out some new tricks to help break the digging habit.

How to Get Your Dog to Stop Digging (9 Tricks That Work Immediately)

Dogs dig for five reasons: boredom, prey drive (moles, mice), temperature regulation (cool earth in summer), hiding food, or breed predisposition (terriers,...

A fluffy brown poodle lies on a green carpet, showing impressive self-control while staring at small treats lined up in front of it. The light blue wall in the background adds to the calm atmosphere.

Impulse Control in Dogs: Tips for Better Self-Control

Impulse control is the ability to resist an immediate reward for a better outcome. It underpins every other command: a dog that cannot wait cannot stay, heel,...

A husky puppy sits on a leash in the grass and looks up at a person. Another dog and two people are in the background.

Puppy School: When to Start, What to Look For, and What It Costs

Puppy school between weeks 8 and 16 of life, after the first vaccination. Cost: 80 to 150 euros for a course (6 to 8 weeks). Marks of a good puppy school:...

A close-up of a Golden Retriever baring its teeth, possibly in a playful or defensive manner, with wide-open eyes. The sunlight highlights its golden fur, capturing the moment before it decides what to do when confronted with a curious dog.

Your Dog Bites? (5 Causes & What You Can Do)

Dogs rarely bite without warning. Growling, stiffening, whale eye, and lip licking are escalation signals that were either missed or suppressed. Most bites...

A fluffy white dog showing off its good training sits at a school desk with its paws on the table. In front of it are books and a pencil holder, hinting at its time in dog school, while shelves with various items blur in the background.

Dog School (The Best Path to Good Training)

A good dog school uses reward-based methods, keeps group sizes small (max 6 to 8 dogs), and separates by age and size. Warning signs: trainer uses choke...

A black Labrador Retriever gazes thoughtfully out a glass door, perhaps thinking about their recent training exercises. The dog's profile is visible and the light from outside softly illuminates their coat. In the background, a blurred view of a terrace and railing suggests an outdoor space to enjoy.

Leaving Your Dog Alone? (These Exercises and Tips Actually Work)

Separation anxiety affects up to 20% of dogs. Prevention starts in puppyhood: leave the room for a few seconds, return calmly, gradually extend absence. Signs...

A small, fluffy dog sits on a green carpet barking or howling. Yellow and gray cartoon lightning bolts and sound waves appear near the dog's mouth against a light blue background, illustrating loud barking - a habit you can curb with simple steps.

How to Stop Your Dog From Barking in 5 Simple Steps

Dogs bark for a reason: alert, demand, frustration, fear, or excitement. Identify the trigger first. For demand barking: completely ignore it (no eye contact,...

In a bright room with hanging coats and a closed white door, a fluffy dog stands on its hind legs looking at a smiling woman in black. Another woman in a sweater watches and laughs. They're clearly ignoring typical methods to stop a dog from jumping up!

How to Stop Your Dog From Jumping Up | 11 Tips & Methods

Dogs jump up because it works: they get attention, eye contact and often touch. To stop it, remove the reward: turn away, fold your arms, no eye contact. The...

A black and white dog with a pink harness sits on a meadow under a blue sky with clouds, holding a red leash in its mouth. In the foreground, an ID card with the dog's photo and a paw print graphic.

Dog License in the US: Requirements, Cost, Registration

A dog license (Hundesteuer) is mandatory in most German cities and municipalities. Cost ranges from 50 to 200 euros per year depending on the city. Listed...