Blog

(Mostly Archived)

Part Science, Part Art

Behavioral science is something I definitely talk a lot about on this blog and also when talking to my training students. I am a quite the behavior nerd and quite the science nerd (I may have concentrated in psychology and physics for my undergrad degree). It's really...

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Dogs don't come pre-programmed

"I have a [insert breed here] and he is just wild on the leash. He pulls and drags me all over the place. I have seen other [insert breed here] walking with other people and they walk perfectly by their master's side. Why won't my dog do that, how can I get him to do...

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Manners classes aren't right for everyone…

 Manners classes aren't right for everyone... I'm the first person to suggest getting a dog into a training class. I think it can be incredibly valuable for learning basic manner or a specific set of skills, for teaching a dog to work in that type of environment, and...

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Wordless Wednesday–Food Guarding edition

Okay, I lied, a less-wordy Wednesday Well, over the last 5 or so blog posts we've gone on an interesting journey from Shayne to food aggression. Shayne was quite the little food guarder when I got her. If lightly pushed, she would absolutely lunge/snap at people who...

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History doesn't tell all…

I've been ruminating over a video I saw posted online for a few days now. The video involved a TV personality trying to address food aggression with a yellow lab. In the video the person was trying to "claim" the bowl and the space around the bowl to make the...

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A look back…

After yesterday's post, I got to thinking about just how far Shayne has come over the years. I can certainly see the changes she's made even recently but I sometimes overlook just how far she has come since day one. It absolutely leaves me feeling warm and fuzzy...

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When it's done right, it's about the journey

I don't know Shayne's birthday... when I adopted her in the end of June, they said she was between 9 and 10 months old. So I've always estimated her birthday as around the middle of September (it works out since it seems many of my friends, family, and other pets seem...

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Technical Difficulties

I am sorry for the lack of blog posts the last few days. After nearly 5 years, my laptop died. I have been stuck using a phone and a borrowed iPad to answer emails and stay semi-connected to the world since Saturday. Well, I finally got my new laptop up and running...

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Does Your Dog Have C.L.A.S.S.?

I know I talk an awful lot about the CGC (canine good citizen) title/test but I wanted to share another program that I think, once it becomes more well known, will actually be my preference. The APDT (Association of Pet Dog Trainers) came out with a program about a...

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