Update on NEW AKC Trick Training Titles
By Marie Macher Trick training is a fun, engaging, and great way to build a bond with your dog! Not only do you and your pup get to show off tricks to family and friends, but your dog is staying mentally stimulated while gaining confidence. As trick training can be practiced almost anywhere, it allows both social and reactive dogs the ability to participate, recently [...]
How to teach your dog to jump through a hoop
Here is a great YouTube Channel and tutorial on how to teach your dog to jump through a hoop. Kikopup has many of these videos that are clear and easy to understand. We highly recommend all of Emily Larlham's videos. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arW12GQCY7E&feature=em-uploademail
Pet Professional Guild announces scholarship program for members to further force-free education
Eligible candidates can apply for educational opportunities that support PPG’s stance on avoiding the use of aversive methods and equipment in animal care and training WESLEY CHAPEL, Fla. – Jan. 17, 2017 – PRLog — The Pet Professional Guild (PPG) is to provide a limited number of scholarships for members to further their education in force-free training and/or pet care. Under the PPG Education Scholarship [...]
PPG Publishes Open Letter to Veterinarians on Referrals to Training and Behavior Professionals
Expresses concern that, in an unregulated industry, pet s may be referred to individuals who do not use scientific protocols or adhere to the premise to do no harm, regardless of credentials Pet Professional Guild (PPG) has published an open letter to veterinarians and animal care professionals regarding the practice of referring clients to pet training and behavior consultants. In the letter, PPG expresses its [...]
Cheeseball Recall
By Brenna Fender If you need to work on getting your dog to come when called, here’s a fun game to try! Select an easy-to-eat, fairly dry, easy-to-toss, visible treat. The name of this exercise comes from the use of puffed cheese ball snacks (the kind humans eat!) as treats. Toss the treat a few feet out in front of your dog. Make sure he [...]
Pet Professional Guild Releases Position Statement on Pet Correction Devices
Pet Professional Guild Press Release PPG maintains that the use of the startle response is a “management technique that uses fear as the motivation.” Photo: (c) Can Stock Photo Pet Professional Guild (PPG) has released a new position statement on so-called “pet correction devices” that are used for the management, training and care of pets. PPG does not recommend such devices and the [...]
News Flash: Dogs Remember
Another great post by Pam Hogle on Pet Professional Guild. Science has once again confirmed the obvious: Dogs can remember things. OK, maybe I am being a bit hard on the researchers. They were specifically interested in whether dogs have episodic memory. Well, they call it “episodic-like” memory, since some would argue that only humans can actually have episodic memory. I’ll leave that argument for [...]
Don’t Be Callous: How Punishment Can Go Wrong
by Eileen Anderson I’ve written a lot about making humane choices in training and about the fallout that accompanies aversive methods. But there are other problems with the use of aversives besides the immediate fact of hurting, scaring, or bothering your dog. It turns out that using positive punishment is tricky. In the term positive punishment, positive doesn’t mean “good” or “upbeat.” In learning theory [...]
Don’t Punish Me!
A Look at Punishment in Dog Training By Brenna Fender Recently, I was at a competitive dog sport event. In the competition, each dog was supposed to retrieve an item and bring it back to his . This was a key component of the activity – repeatedly “fetching” and returning with the item. Except on this day, one dog, a rather sedate fellow of a [...]
Are You Really Performing Classical Counter conditioning?
by Eileen Anderson What do the following training descriptions have in common? "My dog's afraid of strangers. But when she stops barking and makes eye contact with me, I give her a treat." "I hold her foot. Then I give her a treat after I clip each toenail, as long as she stays in place and doesn't pull her foot away." "When we have guests, I [...]
Trick or Treat?
Choosing the Right Food Rewards for Your Dog By Brenna Fender If you attend a dog training class, you are likely to be asked to bring treats with you so that you can reward your dog. But how do you pick out the best treats for training? Criteria No matter what kind of treats you purchase or make, they should meet some basic criteria. Training [...]
Things You Don’t Know About Dog Training
By Brenna Fender There are many myths and misconceptions about dog training, some of which are broadcast on TV or written in popular books. Do you know the truth? You don’t need to worry about being alpha. Dogs don’t need to be rolled over on their backs, approached aggressively, or made to wait while their s walk through doors in order for dogs to “know [...]
