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Fun Canine Nose Work in the Shelter
Congratulations to Kristin Laurene! This post won runner up in the 2022 Canine Scent Writing Competition.
It is definitely not a news flash to any dog owner that a dog’s sense of smell is its strongest. It is also not surprising to hear about dogs stuck in shelter environments getting bored ...
BARKS Podcast with Valarie Ross from Sits ‘n Wiggles R+ Dog Training: February 18, 2022
Join Niki Tudge and PPG Canine Committee chair Judy Luther as they Chat and Chuckle with Valarie Ross of Sits 'n Wiggles - Positive Reinforcement Dog Training in Cleveland, Ohio.
Listen as they ...
Aggression from Hearing Impairment?
By Morag Heirs
As any reputable behavior consultant will tell you, all animals presenting with a behavior problem should first be checked by a vet.
As behavior consultants, we work on ...
Latest Articles
The What, Where and When of Rewards
By Lily Mickleburgh
The use of rewards in dog training is becoming increasingly popular as an effective way of encouraging desired behaviours. However, subtle differences in what you use as a reward, where and when you reward them, can all change depending on your end goal. This may ...
Dogs and Marshmallows
I've been interested in dogs and self-restraint for as long as I have trained dogs. So, several years ago, a friend and I applied an adapted version of the Marshmallow Test to her guide dog. Alberta passed with flying colors. Her current guide, Koala, also aced the test.
For decades, the ...
Dog Owner Confidence Crash!
There's so much written about emotions of our dogs, how they're thinking and what they're feeling in various provocative situations and scenarios, but sometimes I think we, the dog owners, may end up being a little neglected! You can't successfully help dogs with behavioral or training ...
Winter Hiking Tips for You and Your Dog
Winter is here, but that doesn't mean you and your dog need to stay inside. A dog needs both physical and mental daily exercise. Hiking with your dog in the winter can be a lot of fun. But, before you walk out the front door with your dog in tow, you and your dog need to be prepared for your ...
Getting Started with Touch Cues
By Debbie Bauer
There are two types of touch cues - these are cues that you give to your dog by touching various parts of his body in different ways, to mean different things. If your dog can't see or hear you cues, touch cues give you the perfect way to begin communicating with him. Having ...
A Quadrant by Any Other Name is Still a Cornerstone of Operant Learning
This 2003 edition book is $4.89 on Amazon. Contents: priceless.
There is a science that deals directly with how organisms learn and how to use that information to change the environment in order to change behavior. It’s called applied behavior analysis (ABA). It is the applied version of ...
Getting Scientific about Dominance
By Don Hanson
What we know about the science of canine behavior and dog training is continually evolving. As such, every year I like to select a new book to recommend to my students, my staff, area veterinarians, and my colleagues that I feel will be the most beneficial to them and their ...
Give New Pets Time to Adjust
Getting a new pet is exciting and family members may feel eager to get started with all the fun they have imagined having with their new addition. That is certainly how I felt about every new animal which I took into my care over the years.
Even though the new pet may well be in a better ...
Want Your Dog to Listen? Stop Doing This!
By Yvette Van Veen
Dog training often boils down to a single statement. “I want my dog to listen.”
It’s a reasonable request and seems simple. We ask our dogs to do something. In return, we want the dog to listen to that request and respond in a timely manner. Training is the process ...