Recognizing Dog Stress Signals Decreases Bite Risk

Photo of a toddler reaching for a small dog. Understanding your dog’s dog stress signals is important to prevent dog bites, especially when your family includes a newborn baby, toddler, or child.

Understanding and responding to your dog’s body language and dog stress signals is a very important piece of keeping everyone safe and preventing dog bites. Parents, these safety tips are especially important when your home includes a family dog with a newborn baby, toddler, or child; also when guests come to visit. In this photo […]

A Family’s Hope With Dog Aggression

I’m sharing this story of a family’s hope with dog aggression, as I am so extremely proud of the progress we are making, and to educate and offer hope to other families. In complex dog behavior cases like this, it is important to look at the impact of many variables – genetics, physiology, environment, learning history among them.

I’m sharing this story of a family’s hope with dog aggression, as I am so extremely proud of the progress we are making, and to educate and offer hope to other families. In complex dog behavior cases like this, it is important to look at the impact of many variables – genetics, physiology, environment, learning history among them.

Labeling Your Dog Or Parrot: Do You REALLY Have a Good Or Bad Pet?

As people, we can have a tendency to refer to our pets as either GOOD or BAD, but the truth is, our pets really don’t see things the same.  GOOD or BAD are really just examples of labeling your dog or parrot (or other type of pet). Let’s explore this topic further.

As people, we can have a tendency to refer to our pets as either GOOD or BAD, but the truth is,
our pets really don’t see things the same.  GOOD or BAD are really just examples of labeling your dog or parrot (or other type of pet). Let’s explore this topic further.

Approach Avoidance Conflict In Dogs

If your dog or puppy experiences approach avoidance conflict, she may be curious but afraid at the same time. It is a stressful place to be.

If your dog or puppy experiences approach avoidance conflict, she may be curious but afraid at the same time. It is a stressful place to be.

Martin Luther King Jr. Inspires Training

https://somuchpetential.com/martin-luther-king-jr-inspires-training/

There are so many beautiful, important life messages shared from Martin Luther King Jr. This MLK quote: “You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step”, has so many interpretations. Some of those interpretations can have to do with dog training. In life, if we want to accomplish anything, we must […]

Managing Your Crawling Baby And Your Dog

For parents: managing your crawling baby and your family dog. Parenting tips to help you have harmony when your home includes a dog, baby or toddler.

I see so often in Youtube videos and online photos. A baby is crawling toward the family dog. (I also see babies and toddlers grabbing the dog, holding the dog’s collar, or putting a tiny hand in the dog’s food bowl) Honestly, these situations make me uneasy. I know there are very well intentioned, loving […]

B.F. Skinner’s Quote Reminds Us About The Fallback Of Punishment

This B.F. Skinner quote on behavior is an important reminder about the fallback of punishment when it comes to teaching and changing behavior: “A person who has been punished is not thereby simply less inclined to behave in a given way; at best, he learns how to avoid punishment.”

This B.F. Skinner quote on behavior is an important reminder about the fallback of punishment when it comes to teaching and changing behavior: “A person who has been punished is not thereby simply less inclined to behave in a given way; at best, he learns how to avoid punishment.” Such an important and valuable quote […]

Training Your Dog To Do Chin Rest For Cooperative Care

There are so many benefits to teaching your dog chin rest. Fear Free cooperative care and lowering arousal are among them. However, if you have already trained your dog to do a strong hand touch or nose targeting behavior, it can complicate this dog training lesson. No worries! It just means thinking creatively to problem solve. In this blog post, you will learn more why and how to train your dog chin rest.

There are so many benefits to training your to do dog chin rest. Fear Free cooperative care and lowering arousal are among them. However, if you have already trained your dog to do a strong hand touch or nose targeting behavior, it can complicate this dog training lesson. No worries! It just means thinking creatively […]

Your Puppy And Dog Are Always Learning

A letter from this puppy to all puppy and dog parents.

A letter from this puppy to ALL dog and puppy parents: Hi! I am focusing. My brain is at work. Every waking minute,every interaction,every outcomeis teaching me associations & expectations. You may not mean to, but these are some lessons you may be teaching me. Humans walking near when I have something I value mean […]

Teaching Fear Free Cooperative Care Pet Handling

Training for Fear Free cooperative care pet handling involves teaching an animal to be an active participant in handling and other husbandry behaviors. An important component of cooperative care is giving that animal the ability, choice and control to be able to say YES or NO to moving ahead.

Training for Fear Free cooperative care pet handling involves teaching an animal to be an active participant in handling and other husbandry behaviors. An important component of cooperative care is giving that animal the ability, choice and control to be able to say YES or NO to moving ahead. (This is referred to as agency.) […]