Training

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 ...

It makes sense that people would ask me about fear periods in dogs. The most I feel comfortable saying (due to my limited understanding of physiological and neurological development) is that it is not uncommon for dogs at some time in their lives, to be more sensitive to learning to be afraid of things. A general definition of fear period frames what's going on in ...

Adolescence is challenging It’s routinely accepted that the adolescent period of a social animal’s life is challenging. This is especially true for those who engage socially with them. Having children is like choosing to buy a cardboard boat. You know that one day the ride is bound to get difficult.  It’s common to refer to our adolescent dogs in derogatory, albeit loving ways. I prefer ...

Shaping behavior in people Getting owners, handlers or caregivers of dogs and other animals, to use food without reserve or guilt, is one of the skills trainers need to master. It is not unusual for an owner to want to show me how they can get the animal to do something, without using food. I’ve had them take lead lines or leashes out of my ...

Is your resistance to using medications holding your dog back? Among the challenges we face training dogs struggling with problem behavior is the size of the margin of error we have to work with. Training can be done without medications, and should be done along with their use. Medications serve multiple purposes. They can provide the animal with relief. Extreme anxiety, chronic startling, debilitating inhibition ...