Click & Praise
Click & Praise By Angelica Steinker, M.Ed., C.D.B.C, CAP2 Imagine a reward your dog will never fill up on, a reward that can last exactly as long as you want, and makes your dog incredibly happy. No magic, no trickery, it's just good old praise. In the last few decades dog trainers and pet s have made the transition of moving from force training, using [...]
Play, Don’t Train
Play, Don't Train By Angelica Steinker, M.Ed., C.D.B.C, CAP2 Are your clients less motivated then you would like them to be? Stop telling them to train their dogs, and start telling them to play. It is often much easier to get them to be consistent when they are having fun. Are you feeling a little bored with your own dog’s training? Stop training, and start [...]
Is Your Dog Bored?
Is Your Dog Bored? Enrich Your Dog’s Life! By Kimberly Archer, Dog Behavior Technician Have you ever wondered what a day is like through your dog’s eyes? You may wake up, have breakfast, catch up on the news, do work, socialize with coworkers, relax with your partner, eat dinner, watch TV or read a book, and maybe even do some more socializing at a [...]
The Truth About Dominance Theory
The Truth About Dominance Theory By Angelica Steinker, M.Ed., C.D.B.C, CAP2 The truth is there is nothing noble in being superior to another being. The only real nobility is in being superior to your former self. -Whitney Young, Civil Rights Leader What is dominance theory? As humans we view the dominant animal as superior. Labeling one being as superior causes problems, both in human [...]
Preparing Your Dog For Your New Baby
Preparing Your Dog For Your New Baby By Heather Gibbs, CPDT-KA, ABCDT, SBA Overview Preparing for a new baby's arrival can be an exciting and stressful time for all family members involved - especially your dog! This article from Courteous Canine, Inc. contains information about how to prepare your dog for your new baby. For questions and training services to prepare your dog for your [...]
Pitfalls of Punishment
Author’s Note: Positive punishment is when you add something unpleasant when an undesirable behavior is displayed to discourage that behavior. Negative punishment is when you take away something pleasant when an undesirable behavior is displayed to discourage that behavior. Positive reinforcement is the addition of something pleasant when a desired behavior is displayed to encourage that behavior. Negative reinforcement is the removal of something unpleasant [...]
Muzzle Training
Canine muzzle training games to play with your dog.
The Sharing Game
The image above is an advanced version of the game, your coach will help you find the ideal starting point. By Angelica Steinker, M.Ed., PCBC-A, AABP-DBCT, CDBC, CAP2 Please note that if your dogs have a history of fighting, do not play the sharing game without the guidance of a professional. Safety is always first if you have any inkling your dogs may even become [...]
The Neurological Benefits of Counter Conditioning Leash Reactive Dogs
by Drayton Michaels Counterconditioning and desensitizing dogs when on leash also has neurological benefits © Can Stock Photo/Amaviael Creating new and better associations for dogs on leash when exposed to fearful/stressful stimuli is crucial, as it is better for all involved for the dog to be less stressed and less fearful. The goal is potentially a positive association is created, or at least [...]
Talking to Dogs
by Pam Hogle Photo by Deni Elliott A newly published study finds that dogs pay attention to both the way we talk to them and to what we say. Alex Benjamin and Katie Slocombe’s ‘Who’s a good boy?!’ Dogs prefer naturalistic dog‑directed speech looked at what they term “dog-directed speech,” or DDS, which is similar in tone and affect to baby talk. Their canine test subjects were all adult [...]
The Opposite of Force
by Eileen Anderson I think I’ve figured something out. I continue to see the concept of choice bandied about the positive reinforcement-based training world. It can be a code word for a setup that includes negative reinforcement. “I’m going to do something physically unfamiliar or unpleasant to you and you have the choice of staying here and getting a piece of food or leaving and being [...]
