Crowdsourcing Alone-Time Alternatives
Alternatives to leaving your dog alone are plentiful, but you need to do some “crowdsourcing” to find creative options that work for you and your dog.
Addressing Behavior Problems Early
We know that addressing behavior problems early leads to effective behavior modification (for the better) and usually over a shorter period of time than resolving behaviors that have been practiced over a longer period of time. The trick is to acknowledge that a behavior quirk is emerging as a behavior problem.
Putting the Learner in Control of the Learning
I have had numerous conversations of late, with clients and other trainers, on the topic of Learner-controlled Learning. It is something I am very strongly in favor of, as a force-free trainer. Now, before you assume I’m advocating chaos and subversion, let me explain what I mean.
The Best of Health for Your Best Friend
They are members of our family, our best friends, and lifelong companions. You would do anything to help them. Do you have the information and skills to keep pace with their needs?
Road Trip! Taking Your Dog on Vacation
Taking your dog along on vacation can be great fun for many families. If you hate the idea of boarding your best friend while you motor off for distant fun, including her in the vacation plans may be a great idea. But it should never be a spur-of-the-moment decision....
Lures and Rewards and Bribes . . . Oh My!
If you've ever done any positive reinforcement dog training, you know that food plays a big part of the training process. Most dogs are highly motivated by food. They will happily engage in learning new behaviors with the promise of getting a yummy bit of something in...
What is Normal Puppy Behavior?
You've decided to adopt a puppy. Congratulations! Puppies are wonderful additions to your home. They are an endless source of entertainment . . . that is when they aren't making you crazy. If your prior dog lived a good long life, chances are pretty good that dog's...
In Praise of Good Leash Manners
Dogs that enjoy inclusion in their families’ activities usually share one characteristic: good leash manners. Think about those summer dog festivals or kids’ soccer and baseball games. For the most part, the dogs that get to join their families for these events walk...
Lessons Learned Backstage
Rosanne Hall, CPDT-KA, trainer at Cold Nose Companions shares this recent experience with her own dog: My deaf English Bulldog, Finnegan, recently “starred” in a play! My husband spotted the post on Facebook. “Chagrin Valley Little Theater needs a bulldog for...
The Problems with Labels
I caught myself doing something the other day that I try to keep my clients from doing: putting a “label” on a problem behavior. In my eleven-plus years of training, I have come to reject neat categorical labels for dog behavior. I got to that point by consulting with...
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