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How can I make my dog obey?
Last week we discussed the reasons behind the frustrating problem of your dog disobeying you. (And if you haven’t read that piece yet, please go read it first before you go any further. Really. We’ll...
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Squirrels and rabbits and chipmunks, oh my!
It was the wee hours of the morning before I got a chance to walk my dogs. I had finally finished a couple of large writing projects whose deadlines had been breathing down my neck and was enjoying the...
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Tribalism in Dog Training: One Trainer’s Perspective
(Note: This piece was originally posted in January of 2012 on a different blog. It continues to spark valuable discussions and I’m reposting it here in order to encourage further dialogue.) There’s...
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“Get to” or “Have to”?
As a culture, we tend to view tasks that need to be done in two different ways. There are “get to” tasks, those that we enjoy and that we look forward to, and there are “have to” tasks, which we do...
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“Needs Training”
The phrase is everywhere. It’s in adoptable pet bios on Petfinder: “Great with kids but doesn’t like to share his food, so he needs an owner who will take him to training classes.” It’s in newspaper...
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[Mostly] Wordless Wednesday
Photo by Mike Bouchard Most professional dog trainers have a grasp of learning theory on par with most psychology professors. – Ian Dunbar
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The Importance of a Paycheck
Last week, we discussed the importance of generosity in training. This week, let’s talk about another key skill that makes professional trainers so successful: the rewards themselves. There are lots of...
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Got a minute?
The alarm on my phone chimes as I’m putting together behavioral case notes to send to a client’s veterinarian. I switch it off, then count 15 treats into my hand. Setting my phone’s stopwatch for one...
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The Fake Service Dog: a Concerning Trend
“Do you train service dogs?” the voice on the other end of the phone asked. It’s become a more common question over the past few years, as more owners are learning that they can owner-train their own...
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The Problems with Remote Collars
There are many different training methods out there, and each has its pros and cons. Today, I want to talk specifically about the use of remote collars (also known as shock collars or e-collars). Photo...
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