by Pam Hogle | Dec 28, 2017 | Training
A few days ago, I heard a story on the radio about police dogs and their handlers. The reporter was talking to a retired police dog handler who now trains dogs and works as an expert witness. What he said...
by Anna Francesca Bradley | Dec 21, 2017 | Animal Behavior, Pet Guardians, Training
Christmas will be here again before we know it – sadly, every year, dogs can become casualties during the festive season. So how can we ensure that everyone has a fabulous time including our furry friends? Here are a few …
by Eileen Anderson | Dec 18, 2017 | Animal Behavior, Learning Theory, Training
It just occurred to me that it is super easy to make assumptions about how much our dogs prefer a particular food toy, or even whether they really enjoy them that much. Don’t yell at me. To be clear: I …
by Daniel Antolec | Dec 12, 2017 | Advocacy, Animal Behavior, Current Events, Pet Guardians, Training
People around the world enjoy the winter season and many nations celebrate a version of Saint Nicholas. In the United States I witnessed an increase in commercialization and marketing hype since I was a child and Christmas decorations now appear …
by PPGWorld | Dec 12, 2017 | Advocacy, Animal Behavior, Learning Theory, Pet Guardians, Training
Shocking pet dogs remains a common, if controversial, training practice worldwide. In this open letter, Pet Professional Guild (PPG) combines decades of research, the opinions of certified animal behaviorists, and the question of ethics to explain why using electric...
by Karen Baragona | Dec 10, 2017 | Animal Behavior, Training
I’ll give you the moral of this story first: Make peace with muzzles. Be OK with dogs who wear them, applaud owners who use them, and put one on your own dog if the situation warrants it. Now I’ll tell...
by PPGWorld | Dec 8, 2017 | Animal Behavior, Pet Guardians, Training
By Debbie Bauer There is a myth that deaf dogs can be “dangerous” because they will bite when they are startled or woken up. Could this ever happen? Yes, it could. But it could also happen with a dog that...
by Pet Professional Guild Cat Committee | Dec 6, 2017 | Animal Behavior, Learning Theory, Pet Guardians, Training
By Paula Garber and Francine Miller Why train a cat? Why indeed. Myths about the trainability of cats abound: “Cats can’t be trained because they’re too independent.” “Cats are difficult to train because they are not food motivated.” “Cats don’t...
by PPGWorld | Dec 4, 2017 | Animal Behavior, Learning Theory, Training
By Julie Naismith Rewards-based training is the best. Dogs love it because it’s fun and it doesn’t involve fear or pain. And best of all, it works. In fact, research shows that it works better than any other method. Hands...
by Anna Francesca Bradley | Dec 1, 2017 | Animal Behavior, Training
Everyone knows that worldwide there are millions of dogs in the most awful predicament. The lucky ones are rescued, rehabilitated and await homes in shelters – so, why not be their saviour? Rehoming a dog is a richly rewarding experience …