Using Primary and Secondary Reinforcers In Training

When it comes to training dogs and other animals, I like to use markers like a click or a word like YES! immediately after a behavior and before I present something my student values like food, a toy, a scratch on the head, or the opportunity to go outside. From an Applied Behavior Analysis perspective, […]

Love Means Using Positive Reinforcement

Valentine’s Day is approaching…the holiday of love. The trainer in me loves this quote by B.F. Skinner. Absolutely, love is the use of positive reinforcement and vice versa. In other words, love is about giving those in your life feedback that you like what they are doing by your doing something back that they value.

Add Snuffling To Your Dog’s Enrichment

How do you feed your dog? There are SO many ways you can make food time, enrichment time. Training is one way. Food dispensing toys are another way. Snuffle mats are yet another option.

Lessons Learned From Chicken Camp

To practice and strengthen my mechanical skills as a trainer, last week…I trained chickens! That’s right. I flew to North Carolina to attend a three-day chicken camp at TeamWorks Dog Training. There, my students were Ellen – a white leghorn, and Jane – a Rhode Island red. I was tasked with teaching them using clicker […]

Tips For Helping Your Dog Feel Safe

The other day I had an appointment for a dog that would react by trying to escape and hide, having an elevated heart rate, stiffened muscles, lowered tail, inability to take food. As soon as I walked in the door, he bolted from one place to another before running into his crate at the far […]

Managing Your Dog’s Arousal Around Kids

Parents, just a reminder, we know that many little kids like to run around, jump and yell. However, puppies (and a lot of dogs too) get amped up too just by being around that kind of activity. That can lead to your dog running, jumping, pouncing, nipping or biting, grabbing clothes or grabbing anything.  It […]

2020 Dog Training New Year’s Resolutions

Each year I publish some tips for dog training New Year’s resolutions, often with some changes. Here are a few ideas for 2020.

Cues vs Commands In Dog Training

When talking about dog training it is common for people to use the word COMMAND when talking about teaching behaviors, or referring to behaviors that dogs know. It is a word that is spoken probably without giving it any more thought than that, often, even by people who are using positive reinforcement to train behaviors. […]

Before Trying To Change Your Pet’s Behavior, Practice This

Management If you work with me you hear that word a lot. It is a part of any behavior modification plan.

Are You Helping Your Pet Succeed…Or Fail?

A dog training tip Always ask yourself: In this moment, am I helping my pet to succeed or fail in my lesson? Remember, if your pet is not doing what you want it to do, it is more than likely not a matter of being stubborn or dumb.