New Study: What does it really mean?
There’s been a new study released that has been heralded by the “balanced” training industry as proof of what they have been saying all along. But is it? Here is a very thorough (and yes, it’s long, but it’s worth the read) explanation of the issues with the study. A Critique of the “Banana” Shock […]
Seven Ways to Get Behavior
Seven Ways to Get Behavior by by Karolina Westlund, PhD
“That’s NOT My Dog!”
More than once, this has come out of a client’s mouth in response to the ease at which I can get behaviors. It can be an ego boost to hear the surprise when I get a behavior quikly. But there are a few things to keep in mind as you begin your training journey with […]
Is clicker training just for pros? Five reasons why I think clickers are great for everyone
I’ve been told before that clicker training is too difficult for the general public and that only pros can handle the logistics of holding a clicker while training. I have had students tell me they just couldn’t handle it, and while I don’t push it, I always encourage my clients to give it a try, […]
Why does your female dog hump?
Many dogs hump. It can be embarrassing and concerning. It’s seems even stranger when it is your female dog doing it. Here’s a good article about the subject. Does Your Female Dog Hump?
Cues: What are they to your dog?
Anyone who has trained dogs in any capacity for more than a few years remembers when we used to refer to the cue as a command. Many don’t see the distinction, but there is one. A cue is a marker that indicates something should happen where a command is a demand for a behavior to […]
Keeping Kids and Dogs Safe-From Each Other – The Other End of the Leash
Keeping Kids and Dogs Safe-From Each Other – The Other End of the Leash — Read on here
Keeping your dog safe during the cold months
The Baby in the Bath Water
If you’ve been around me you know that I bristle at the use of the term “dominance” when explaining a dog’s behavior. Often I hear dog trainers say that dominance doesn’t exist. This isn’t exactly accurate. So why do so many trainers refuse to use the term? There is a theory in some circles of […]
When the Cue Just Won’t Work
It’s unfortunate, but sometimes we train a cue only to find that it later becomes useless. If you train enough, this may have happened to you. But why does it happen, and what can we do to fix it? In dog training sometimes we forget that the immediate consequence of a behavior is what causes […]