Fearful Dogs Blog

I have found myself being taken to task, chastised and berated for putting information on my Fearfuldogs.com website that says that not all dogs can completely become desensitized and counter conditioned to the things that scare them. Some who label themselves trainers, and others who will not identify themselves at all, have claimed that this ...

I have been struggling this week with a website a friend shared with me. On the site a 'trainer', who seems to boast no qualification other than maybe owning the boxed set of TV's The Dog Whisperer DVDs, proudly describes and documents with chilling videos, how a 'dominant' dog was put in his place. The ...

It's hard not to do, and invariably we do it. We are working with our dog and getting good responses and rather than quit while we're ahead we push, one more time. When trying to work on a behavior modification protocol with a fearful dog (whether they are prone to fleeing or fighting), we give ...

Before there was the GPS unit there was the map and compass. It was imperative that anyone traveling into the backcountry, especially going off marked trails, understood how to use them. Despite common knowledge, compasses do not always point north, in fact they never do. They point to magnetic north which is different from 'true ...

I don't mean to downplay the importance of providing a dog with exercise, but the reason for getting dogs out for a good leg stretch goes beyond the attempt to tire them out. The frequently heard statement that a 'tired dog is a good dog', makes me cringe. A good dog is a good dog ...

For over 25 years I worked setting up and leading outdoor and cultural adventures for students and women's groups. Since I became obsessed with thinking about helping dogs with fear based behavior challenges, I've steadily begun to do less traveling. That and along with the fact that spring is in the air, I ...

It's not unusual when trying to sort out any behavior problems in our dogs to look for the simplest explanation for what is causing the issue. We hope that if we could only remedy that, everything will fall into place. Some of the common missing pieces heralded as the reasons for a dog's misbehavior include: ...

When it comes to many issues in this world, I am firmly on the side of pro-choice and self-determination. This includes the work and play I do with dogs, especially shy, fearful or anxious dogs. Think about it. If something scares or worries you, is your anxiety lessened knowing that you have no control over ...

Before I proceed, I have to respond to the title of this post with, "I only wish I knew." I have some ideas, but I suspect reasons vary from trainer to trainer and pet owner to pet owner. However, as someone who has done a bit more than just dip my toes into the pool ...