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Attitude is Everything, My Positive reinforcement philosophy
There’s always a lot of discussion, or fighting sometimes, about ethics, ethos and methods like positive reinforcement and punishment in the dog training world. So much that it can become difficult to know what’s right or who’s talking the most sense. Right now...
Why comparison sucks, except when it doesn’t
"Comparison is the thief of joy" is attributed to several people including Theodore Roosevelt, which probably means it was someone else. Regardless of who said it first, I think I agree mostly. It probably depends on how you are doing the comparison. For most people,...
Reasons dog trainers get better results than the average dog owner
We aren’t magic. Much as that would make our lives easier. But that’s a good thing because it means that anyone can learn to do what we do. Dog trainers get better results, or results more efficiently, because we've honed our skills over the years. The only reason it...
How to achieve easy living with your dog
I live with three spaniels currently. At one point I lived with two German Shepherds, a saluki and two spaniels. I always felt I should even things up with another sighthound. But didn’t want to seem like a crazy dog lady. I often get asked "how do you manage?", but...
Living with a Dog Behaviour Problem Means Honouring the Dog You Have
Living with a dog behaviour problem is by definition challenging for us. If we didn't find the behaviour difficult to live with, we wouldn't define it as a problem. Our dogs are individuals with an entire set of genetics and learning histories that make them into who...
Why Teaching a Collar Grab Might Save Your Dog’s Life
How I Lost My Dog Recently I lost Flint, my working cocker spaniel. Actually, I hadn’t entirely realised I lost him before he reappeared. Teaching the collar grab was the reason I got him back so quickly. I was moving equipment for Thursday night classes from my back...
How Start Button Behaviours Can Improve Your Training
Start button behaviours can really help you power up your training. They are especially helpful for dogs fearful of certain stimuli like noises or vacuum cleaners. They are also useful for procedures where we need to do something to our dog like grooming or putting on...
Living with an old dog is hard
You’re preparing to say goodbye knowing that in all likelihood you’ll be the one to decide when. It’s been over 4.5 years since I put my beloved Khanu to sleep. I still miss him every day. I often cry whenever I think about him. Yes, that means I cry over him a lot....
Dog Training Lingo: What’s the Difference Between Habituation, Desensitisation, and Counterconditioning?
You’ve heard the terms habituation, desensitisation and counterconditioning but you’re not sure what they mean or why each one is important. They seem to be flung about with abandon and sometimes combined and it’s all a bit confusing. So what do they actually mean? At...
Dog Trainer, Dog Behaviourist and Veterinary Behaviourist: What’s the Difference?
You know you need some help with your dog but you’re not sure exactly who to ask. There seems to be a lot of choice and it’s just not clear what the difference is between a trainer or a behaviourist–and you’ve just found out there are veterinary behaviourists, too!...
