How to train dogs struggling with fear-based behavior challenges.
I started my deep dive into helping an extremely fearful dog in 2005. Over the years I was advised to try a laundry list of methods or protocols to help him. Some were good, others not, and still others left me shaking my head in wonder as to why they were suggested. Among the latter are protocols for getting scared dogs to approach people. I ...
It’s Unregulated There is no one over arching organization that sets specific standards for trainers. Anyone, absolutely anyone can call themselves a dog trainer. There are no gatekeepers whose job it is to protect consumers from hacks or hucksters. This also means that should a trainer do anything that injures your dog or makes their behaviors worse, there is less chance for there to be ...
Professional trainers with an education in behavior and learning make life better for dogs and owners. We understand the connections that are made when both dogs and owners are happy. Because owners who are happy with their dogs are more likely to keep them. And dogs who are happy with their owners pay more attention to them, which makes owners happy. These dog trainers use ...
THE E-COLLAR EFFECT Once in the habit of using equipment to train or contain animals, it paves the way for continuing its use. We also vary the way it’s used, or incorporate other equipment into our practice. Not all equipment is bad and some is necessary. Our dogs should be wearing equipment that includes visible identification should they go walkabout. We use leashes to keep ...
People can use verbal language, in some form or another, to explain themselves. We can share the reasons for mistakes or transgressions we have made. Our excuses may be accepted or not. Even when they are, there may be a lingering bad taste left behind. During a volunteer stint at a dog rescue facility I was reprimanded (quite severely as far as I was concerned) ...
We can apply the guidelines of science to the work we do with behavior. Knowing what counts as science and what sits or teeters in the realm of pseudo-science isn't easy. We started replacing magic with religion centuries ago, and continue to struggle to replace both with science. We should keep trying. Science is what got us to the moon. It's pretty amazing even if ...
It is possible to address behavior change in a dog without medication. There may be natural products that can support training that owners feel better about using. Perhaps the most natural way to change behavior is through good instruction. But here's the catch, it requires time, effort, and a level of technical understanding and mechanical skill. These may not be available to an owner or ...
Vocalizing is one of the first behaviors puppies perform. Along with rooting and suckling and dragging themselves along like seals, crying and whining were how they got needs met. It got mum’s attention along with being cleaned, and fed. It’s a well rehearsed and reinforced behavior. As puppies grow they begin to climb, not just on mum and over their siblings, but on any obstacle ...
A good trainer sees possibilities. They know what the final outcome looks like, sounds like, feels like. Good trainers recognize that choice is often a product of deprivation. The deprivation that increases motivation and the deprivation that excludes certain options as choices. Good trainers recognize that choice is often a product of deprivation. We recognize that an animal cooped up all day either in a ...
If humans enjoy anything, it's a good debate, a controversial idea, or an interesting piece of fiction. We talk about looking at different sides of stories, of hidden meanings, repressed (or not) emotions. It's a gift and a curse. When we are trying to understand why an individual does the things they do, it's often no holds barred. We explore their early lives, even imagined ...
