What can cause anxious behavior in dogs? The causes are as varied as are the approaches for reducing that anxiety, and the cause must be explored in order to determine the best response. Some animals may be predisposed to developing … Continued
Even though few of us are fluent in the many dog languages, most of us can tell the difference between a friendly dog and an unfriendly one. The … Continued
It has abeen a sad week for the dog behaviour world with the passing of Dr. Sophia Yin. Dr. Yin quickly became a strong voice for positive training advocates, working tirelessly to make owners aware of the impact of human … Continued
What is the Difference? The discussion often comes up on the differences (or similiarities) between dog training and dog behaviour. People who are dog trainers will glibly point out that there ‘are no degrees in dog behaviour’ – this is … Continued
Punishment, or the use of aversives, force, coercion, or physical corrections in order to change an animal’s behaviour is commonly used by the general pet owner and by many dog trainers. Some punishments are seemingly innocuous, such as squirting a … Continued
Dog Collars I know that something as basic as dog collars might not require having an entire article written about it, but hopefully once you have read it, you’ll walk away understanding the differences between them all a bit more, … Continued
Conditioning is one of those terms people understand generally, but not specifically. I hear it used incorrectly by ‘dog trainers’ when they can’t explain a behaviour, much less change that behaviour. Here is a clinical definition of conditioning: In the … Continued
Using ‘Dominance’ To Explain Dog Behavior Is Old Hat A new study shows how the behaviour of dogs has been misunderstood for generations: in fact using misplaced ideas about dog behaviour and training is likely to cause rather than cure … Continued
I am constantly asked by people about dog parks. My response is always the same – I have a love-hate relationship with them. Dog parks can be fun for balanced, well socialized dogs as well as a place to help … Continued
How smart is a dog? The problem with understanding the intelligence of dogs is our obsession with comparing it to something – our human brains struggle with a reference point for that intelligence when there really isn’t one. There are … Continued