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Latest Behavior Articles
Banking the Positive
'Banking the Positive' is actually a comment I wish I could take credit for, but it's actually something one of my clients said. She came up with it during a conversation we were having about her dog during some walk and train sessions.
The phrase perfectly captures several concepts ...
The Power of Play
By Margo Patrick
*This post is a selected entry from the Pet Professional Guild Writers’ Competition for Geek Week 2020*
My goal is to educate and facilitate health, wellness and communication through building or repairing the relationship known as the human animal bond, utilizing ...
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Why Every Cat Needs a Place to Hide
By Dr. Lynn Bahr
Has your cat ever gone MIA in your own home? I lost an entire litter of kittens once in a small 1 bedroom apartment. All five furballs disappeared while I was out running errands. Imagine my panic and the frantic search ...
The Opposite of Force
I think I’ve figured something out.
I continue to see the concept of choice bandied about the positive reinforcement-based training world. It can be a code word for a setup that includes negative reinforcement. “I’m going to do something ...
Zoophilia*: A Hidden Horror for Animals
I entered law enforcement at 20 years of age. When I retired 30 years later I thought I had seen the full spectrum of human abuse, violence and degradation. The cruelty of humankind no longer shocked me, though it wore me down.
Through the ...
An Open Letter to Veterinarians on Referrals to Training and Behavior Professionals: Recommended Best Practices
Dear Veterinarian,
There are numerous professional organizations that offer membership and credentials in the field of animal training and behavior. Few, however, hold their members to a strict code of conduct which involves the application of ...
New Puppy – What Now?
We're getting a puppy! How amazingly, brilliantly, wonderfully exciting.... then puppy arrives! No, really - having a puppy is an incredibly enriching period of our lives and we are indeed privileged to share our lives with these wondrous, ...
Clicker Training for Cats (3/6)
By Paula Garber and Francine Miller
Cats learn best when they are comfortable and free from distractions. They are sensitive and will flee from any threat or uncertainty (and we don’t work with them on a leash!) The best place to teach a cat ...
Did you cause your dog’s separation anxiety?
By Julie Naismith
“Is it my fault my dog has separation anxiety?” That’s the most common question dog owners have when they first find out their dog has separation anxiety.
It can be hard to ignore the suggestion that you caused your ...
Teaching Deaf (and Blind) Dogs to Use Their Mouths Gently
By Debbie Bauer
A common complaint among those who live with deaf (and blind/deaf) dogs is that they use their mouths roughly. This is very common throughout puppyhood and adolescence, but if dogs are not taught to use their mouths gently, ...