The dominance and alpha theories in dog training are very much still out there. From pet owners, I may hear things like, “my dog thinks he is the alpha in our house” or “I need to be better at teaching my dog who is boss.” Even if those words are not used, I often hear about people forcing their dog to do things or taking things from their pet. It is my hope that this post will encourage a different way of looking at your relationship with your pet.
Behavior Science
Explaining Extinction In Dog Training
Meet Cody. An almost one year old havanese who mastered the art of barking at, pawing (and scratching), and jumping on his human mom (I will refer to those behaviors as needs seeking behaviors) to get anything he wants in life. He used those behaviors frequently to get treats, attention, play interaction with his mom (or other people), or the opportunity to go outside. It was making life with him pretty intolerable. In this post, I talk about extinction in dog training and why just ignoring your dog is not the most effective way to stop unwanted behavior. [Read more…] about Explaining Extinction In Dog Training
LIMA – Least Intrusive, Minimally Aversive Training
When it comes to dog and puppy training (as well as training of parrots and other species), I believe whole heartedly in using and teaching the most positive approaches for creating behavior change. LIMA is an acronym for ‘least intrusive, minimally aversive’ training and it speaks so perfectly to my commitment to helping people and pets to live their best possible life together. The Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers (CCPDT), the Association of Professional Dog Trainers (APDT) and the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC) all came out in strong support of LIMA.. I wanted to share more about it and why it is important to me. [Read more…] about LIMA – Least Intrusive, Minimally Aversive Training
Reminder: Practice Using Positive Reinforcement Everyday
My reminder to you: [Read more…] about Reminder: Practice Using Positive Reinforcement Everyday
Good Dog Training Habits Build Good Dog Manners
In my dog training, I help such a broad range of people to have a well-mannered dog or with help for their dog’s behavioral issues like fear. Much of how I do that is coaching people on how to train their dog more effectively. Good dog training habits build good dog manners. [Read more…] about Good Dog Training Habits Build Good Dog Manners
When Multiple Cues Compete In Dog Training
I was watching a client show me how she asked her dog to lay down the other day. She first got food in her hand, then bent over from the waist, moving her food hand all the way to the ground while saying ‘down’ to her dog. Little did she realize that each one of those behaviors was serving as a cue to her dog, and multiple cues can compete in training, that can affect your training success. [Read more…] about When Multiple Cues Compete In Dog Training