Behavior
THE BELLY BUTTON RULE
Until a dog has the skills to come into contact with the things that cause them to react negatively, don’t risk them getting in over their heads. Read more
The Behavior Sandwich
People often think of a dog’s behavior in much the same way as they think about a sandwich. It’s usually the meat in the middle that they are most concerned with. But behavior, like a sandwich has more going on than just the filling. What’s around the filling can matter a lot. Read more
Preparing Your Pup for a New Baby
While bringing home a newborn baby is an exciting time in any family’s life, many parents may be concerned about their pets sharing this same enthusiasm.
Understanding the Foundation of Fear in Dogs
Understanding the physiological effects of fear on a dog’s autonomic nervous system (ANS) is not just a bunch of big words tossed out to make me feel smart. Truth be told, it’s sentences like that that make me grateful for spell check. Read more
Should I Get Another Dog to Help My Fearful Dog?
It’s not uncommon for people who are living with a dog who is afraid of people or new environments to wonder if getting another dog would be helpful. It’s a generous thought but there are many potential pitfalls to take into consideration before making that leap. Read more
Tread Lightly
There seems to be a rash of redemption videos making the rounds online. Dogs who once were fearful are transformed into confident, huggable dogs by the deft handling and/or love of their savior. Read more
The Economy of Incentives and the Surprising Science of Motivation
“It has already been demonstrated that an essential element of organizations is the willingness of persons to contribute their individual efforts to the cooperative system…the contributions of personal efforts which constitute the energies of organizations are yielded because of incentives. Read more
Energy Wise
‘The Power Of Intent’ by Dr. Wayne Dwyer was being aired on PBS, though I’d listened to it on CD I decided that the message of his presentation was worth hearing again and so stayed awake to watch it. Read more
Don't Take My Lead On This One
Sunny came to us a dog with no skills for interacting comfortably with people. That was obvious, but what wasn’t obvious to me at the time was that being in a house was also a horrifying experience for him as well. Read more
Why Dominance Won't Die
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. Read more
How Safe is Your Child Around Dogs?
According to the CDC, 4.5 million people are bitten by dogs each year. One in five bites requires medical attention. And in 2006, over 30,000 people required reconstructive surgery to repair damage done by a dog bite. Read more
