You’ll often hear me talk about ‘decompression’ leash walks for your dog or as they are referred to in the training world, ‘sniffari’ walk. But are you really decompressing and helping your dog or building up so much dopamine and oxytocin that you’re doing more harm than good? On a recent camping trip, my dog Louie had no off leash … Read More
Stop asking your reactive dog to Sit!
“I make him sit and try to get him to look at me”. I’ve heard this statement a hundred times from clients and potential clients that are working to help their dog’s noisy and upsetting behaviour on leash. Their dog is barking or leash pulling/lunging, and they are trying to get their dog to sit and watch and be calm. … Read More
Welcoming a new dog to the family
I’d been watching a Doberman mix on the SPCA website for a couple of months and talking with the staff about his needs and issues. April 1st I adopted ‘Lucas’ with the intention to work with him and then rehome him this summer because his issues, as they were described, were preventing him from finding a forever home. Lucas is … Read More
Pressure on +R Dog Training: Don’t give in to it.
In 2001, I wasn’t as knowledgeable about dog behavior as I am now or as confident so during a visit with a friend’s dog, a dog that had gone after my puppy on more than one occasion, I caved into the pressure of others around me; I allowed the dogs to visit without me in the vicinity. What I thought … Read More
Egos, Choices and Mirrors
‘Its just behavior’ she says! Working with dogs for many years, I’ve experienced allot of behavior that I could have taken personally. From humping, lunging, nipping and outright jaws clamping on my arm to ignoring me completely. Through all of it, I’ve never taken offense to these behaviors because dog behavior is neutral to me; its just behavior. My responsibility lies in how … Read More
Moving through the grief
Still moving through the grief of letting Sadie Mae go. 6 weeks since I’ve become dogLESS. Taking 1 day at a time as I’ve done with the passing of all my dogs. However, the most notable difference this time: no other dog to distract me. No excited greetings when I come through the door. No whining, shoe carrying, wiggly butt to … Read More
Puppy Nipping: Normal & Not Personal Pt.2
In my last post, I talked about how to get proactive to help yourself and your puppy get through the nipping stage that ALL puppies go through. This stage in a pups life is a very short one but getting through it can tax even the most patient person so setting yourself up for success just makes sense and involves … Read More
Premack Principle: Give the dog what he wants in order to get what you want!
The Premack Principle Definition: more probable behaviors will reinforce less probable behaviors I love the Premack Principle. I’ve really taken to applying it to Sadie Mae’s training and teaching my clients to use it in their own dog’s training regime. It might be a little hard to understand at first but when you see it in action, its easy … Read More
‘Go Sniff!” Say Whaaat?
If there is one thing I’ve learned working with dogs its that physical exercise is not the complete answer to giving our dogs a ‘work out’. They also need a mental work out. Dogs need to use their brains more often than we give them opportunity to. Unfortunately, its often not considered as important as physical exercise. There is no Sudoku for … Read More
My reactive dog; My Teacher.
Before Sadie Mae, I had never been a guardian to a reactive dog. It was a world completely unknown to me. Before 2004, I didn’t have a clue what was going on with a dog that barked and acted aggressively at the end of the leash. My advice was to U turn or walk on the other side of … Read More
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