My Furry Valentine Volunteer Talks About Her Passion

For hundreds of Greater Cincinnati families and individuals each year, Valentine’s Day has come to be extra special as a holiday when they adopted a dog, puppy, cat or other small animal at My Furry Valentine. The event has grown to be the largest mega dog and cat adoption event in the region, and attracts […]

Even Tolerant Dogs Need Human Advocates

Tolerant dogs will still bite if pushed and their dog body language is not listened to. Certified Dog Trainer Lisa Desatnik, CPDT-KA, CPBC, talks about tolerance in dogs, why they still need advocates, and what you can do to help them succeed.

I see and hear the word ‘tolerant’ a lot when it comes to talking about dog companions; and thought I’d dedicate this post to sharing some thoughts on the subject, and why, even tolerant dogs need human advocates.

Find It Scent Game With A Towel for Dogs

Find It indoor scent game for your dog

Enrichment is so important for your pet. Here is a simple Find It scent enrichment game you can play with your dog or puppy. Remember to do this at your pet’s pace. If your dog is new to this, you may want to make finding the treats a lot easier by putting them within view […]

Reward vs Reinforcement In Training

Is a reward and positive reinforcement the same thing in dog training?

When I was working with one of my puppy clients the other day, a question came up about rewarding behavior. Since I teach the most positive strategies for changing behavior, we talk a lot about reinforcement and consequences in my visits. It occurred to me that the topic of reward vs positive reinforcement was worth […]

My Reflections On 2017

I always spend some time and energy at the end of the year thinking about the reasons I have to be grateful. Pictured are some of the many faces I am so appreciative to have had the opportunity to work with this year. What makes my pet training so fulfilling for me is knowing I […]

Use Clarity In Teaching Your Dog’s Name

Sam wanted to pop in again with a message on behalf of all of his friends. Think about how confusing it must be for your non-human companions to try and figure out what it is you want them to do, and what rules you want them to live by, if you are not providing consistent […]

Dog Training Tip: Problem Solving

Just a quick reminder…if are having dog training problems with motivation and your pet is not ‘getting’ what it is that you want him/her to learn, there are SO many possible reasons. It could be the environment is too distracting or your reinforcers are not valued enough or your timing is off or you are […]

Empowerment And Choices: Putting A Leash On A Puppy

“The power to control one’s own outcomes is essential to behavioral health, and the degree to which a behavior reduction procedure preserves learner control is essential to developing a standard of humane, effective practice.” – Dr. Susan Friedman  

Why You May Be Having Recall Problems With Your Dog

So often dog owners want to know why they can’t get their dog to come every time he is called no matter what he happens to be doing or where. “He can be stubborn.” “He has a mind of his own.” “His breed is like that.” These are all reasons I’ve heard people use.