It is so easy to find photos and videos of kids and dogs like this online. A young child showing affection to her dog by laying on top of her family dog while he is sleeping. In this image, it even looks like it may have been posed. In other words, someone (perhaps a parent or another trusted adult role model) asked the little girl to do this for the sake of an image. Let’s delve into this topic – should a child lay on a sleeping dog? [Read more…] about Should A Child Lay On A Sleeping Dog?
dog aggression
Do You Need To Be Firmer With Your Dog?
Do you have trouble getting your dog to listen? I got a call the other day from a woman who, when she was talking about training problems with her dog told me she knows she needs to do a better job of being firmer with him. If you are someone with this same concern, I want to encourage you to re-phrase how you are thinking about training your dog. Instead of thinking, “I have to be firmer with my dog”, I encourage you to think, “How can I do a better job of being someone my dog will WANT to listen to?” [Read more…] about Do You Need To Be Firmer With Your Dog?
Four Things To Bring On A Walk With Your Dog
Here are four things you may want to on a walk your dog, for dog safety and your own safety, just in case of imminent danger from an off-leash dog. [Read more…] about Four Things To Bring On A Walk With Your Dog
A Reflection: Helping Aggressive And Fearful Dogs
B.F. Skinner Reminder
“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.” ~B.F. Skinner [Read more…] about B.F. Skinner Reminder
From Fighting To Snuggling
Gayle and Joe called me to help with their soft coated wheaten terrier adolescent, Pyper, because she would not do what they asked including, and most annoyingly, that she absolutely would not come to them to come inside from the outdoors. They also were not able to walk Pyper as she would pull them on a taught leash toward whatever had caught her eye. Their other dog, schnoodle Bailey, had a barking issue.
As it turned out, when I got there, there was also an issue between the dogs. Bailey for the most part ignored Pyper, and was very clear in letting her young sibling know she did not want him near her when she had bones, was on the back of the couch (where she spends a lot of time) or when she was on Gayle and Joe’s bed. She communicated this with tight body muscles, a stare, a growl…or recently worse. The humans in this household have had to break up fights numerous times. [Read more…] about From Fighting To Snuggling