A Dog Training Tip: Practice Consistency
Sam wanted to pop in again. He has a feeling many of his friends are just as confused. It is important to remember, we have a lot to do with the success of our pets. If we don’t provide clear criteria and cues on what behaviors we want to see (and reinforcement for those behaviors), […]
Kathy Sdao: Teaching and Loving Your Older Dog
I found a picture the other day of our dear Butch doing a behavior he was most known for, sitting up with his front paws in the air. It was something we didn’t need to teach. Butch would walk up to anyone and just sit like that, and undoubtedly we got a lot of questions […]
Cincinnati Fundraiser To Raise Money For Canine Cancer Research
Chris Pike, director of marketing & promotions for the National Canine Cancer Foundation, shared his story with me last year – a very personal reason for wanting to help raise money to fight a disease many other dog owners will experience.
Effectiveness Is Not Enough In Animal Training
I was one of more than 500 trainers from across the globe who convened on Dearborn, Michigan in March for the Karen Pryer Clicker Training Expo. It was a phenomenal opportunity to learn from some of the best trainers and behaviorists whose focus is on modifying behavior in the most positive way. What also made […]
How To Stop Your Dog From Jumping On People
(my Hyde Park Living column) I was talking with a friend the other day about a very large ten month old puppy she was visiting. The minute Linda walked into the house 60 pounds of pure love was on top of her. A habit that was started months earlier when little Henry was a small, […]
Considerations Before Buying Or Adopting A Puppy
I’ve heard so often from people who specifically looked for a certain breed of puppy to bring into their family with expectations for that dog’s temperament. It’s important to remember that, just as with people, every puppy is an individual. That’s why we say behavior is the study of one. And even the most accepting […]
Dog Training Tip For Independent Thinkers
Do you live with a furry, independent thinker? Have you ever tried teaching through shaping? It’s a fun way to get your dog engaged in the learning process. I explain in this blog post.
Dog Training: Teaching Your Dog To Come When Called
Are there times that your dog turns a deaf ear when you call him to come? Like when he is outside smelling flowers, in pursuit of a squirrel or playing in leaves? It can be pretty frustrating, I know. People will tell me their dog is stubborn or obstinate or it is something about that […]
Dog Training Tip: Keep Training Sessions Short
The other day, while watching television, I used commercial breaks to practice a few things with our Sam. In the two minutes of time, we were able to work on combinations of sit/down/stand/stay, hand targeting and weaving through my legs. In another break, I took out my circular pie pan and practiced stationing to it […]
Habits Of Good Dog Training To Improve Shaping Skills
Training using shaping is teaching a behavior by teaching successive approximations or steps toward that final behavior. I wrote about shaping in a previous post. Here are some tips for improving your shaping skills. To read my original post, please click here.